This morning we arrive in Aswan and transfer to our hotel overlooking the Nile which is at its most picturesque here, with cascading rapids, lush green islands, and feluccas sailing to and fro. Aswan itself is a melting pot of African and Middle Eastern cultures, most easily experienced by wandering through the busy markets. It's also part of the ancient region of Nubia, which comprised parts of present day southern Egypt and northern Sudan around the Nile rivers. Many descendants of the Nubian people still live here and we'll visit a local Nubian village to see their colourful houses, simple way of life and to enjoy a traditional lunch.
We continue our tour this afternoon with a visit the Temple of Philae, a beautiful island complex dedicated to Isis and reclaimed from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, which we reach by a scenic boat ride. The evening is then free to look around Aswan's spice and general markets, and to walk up and down the popular Corniche, on the banks of the Nile. An option is also available to take a camel ride through the sands on the far bank of the Nile to St. Simeon's monastery. If you've chosen the Abu Simbel option then head to bed early this evening to be ready for a very early start tomorrow morning.
Nile Cruise Upgrade:
For those passengers who have chosen to join our optional Nile Cruise upgrade, you will boat the 5-star Nile Cruise ship today, after visiting the Nubian Village, and then spend 3 nights onboard. While on the boat you enjoy the comfort of an en-suite AC cabin, a restaurant, bar, sun-deck, shop and plunge pool. All meals on board (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners) are included, generally all buffet style. Drinks are not included but may be purchased on board. Single cabin supplements apply, and triple cabins are not available. The itinerary for those joining the cruise upgrade is set out below:
DAY 3: Philae Temple and Nubian Village. Board Nile Cruise.
We awake this morning to see one of the most beautiful stretches of the Nile in Egypt in front of us. The river here is dotted with islands and felucca sailing boats and Aswan itself is an intriguing mixture of African and Middle Eastern cultures which can be easily seen by strolling through the bustling markets. You have some free time this morning to explore, walk along the Corniche on the banks of the river, or take a trip to the Nubian Museum, which has a collection of artefacts from the Nubian people. We check out of our hotel and onto our Nile Cruise boat for lunch before our organised sightseeing in Aswan starts in the afternoon with a tour to the Temple of Philae. This beautiful island temple is dedicated to Isis and was saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. It can only be reached by a scenic boat ride. The rest of the day is free though an option is also available to take a camel ride through the sands on the far bank of the Nile to St. Simeon's monastery.
If you upgrade the sleeper train to a flight to Aswan, then is also an early morning optional visit today o the UNESCO world heritage site of Abu Simbel, built by Ramses II (depart Aswan around 03.30am). This is an amazing site that was completely dismantled and rebuilt when Lake Nasser was flooded.
DAY 4: Nile cruise to Komombo & Edfu.
We spend the day today sailing down the Nile, enjoying our time relaxing on the sun deck and and watching rural Egyptian life pass us by. Our first stop is at the beautifully situated riverside temple at Komombo. This somewhat unusually styled temple is in fact a double temple, with one side being consecrated to Sobek, the crocobile good and the second dedicated to Horus - the falcon-headed Sky God. We then continue sailing on to the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Most cruise boats will overnight here, though some may continue on all the way to Luxor today.
DAY 5: Edfu temple, Optional Luxor temple at night.
This morning we explore the Temple of Horus, the best preserved temple in the whole of Egypt, it has many inscriptions in the Coptic language and is adorned with paintings. We then sail onwards, passing through the lock on the Nile at Esna, before arriving in Luxor. Luxor is built on and around the ancient site of Thebes, and has the greatest concentration of ancient ruins in the Nile Valley, if not the world. To the west, across the Nile, lies the City of the Dead, with its mortuary temples and rock carved tombs, and to the east stand the Temples of Luxor and Karnak.
In the evening we offer an optional walking tour of the smaller Luxor Temple, which is in the centre of town and is colourfully lit up by night.
DAY 6: Luxor, Optional West bank tour, Optional Karnak temple.
You have a free day to explore the ancient city of Luxor or to take some optional tours.
- West Bank Tour - this trip departs early to avoid the heat of the middle of the day and crosses the Nile to visit Luxor’s West Bank. Home to the Valley of the Kings, the dusty tombs in this ancient burial site are still revealing their secrets today and so it remains one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Our tour includes several of these Pharaonic tombs, as well as the temples of Queen Hatchepsut and Medinat Habu, and the huge Colossi of Memnon.
- An optional spectacular hot air balloon flight over the west bank of the Nile is also available this morning (expect a very early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises).
- After lunch we offer an optional tour tp the huge temple complex at Karnak , once the religious centre of Thebes and Upper Egypt. It was linked to Luxor by an extensive avenue, lined with sphinxes, and the whole complex was in turn linked to the Nile via a canal through which moved the sacred boats of the god Amun. Entering through a smaller sphinx-lined avenue, built by Ramesses II, you come to the immense pylon entrance. Inside the huge Courtyard are three chapels dedicated to the gods Amun, Khous and Mut. The remarkable Hypostyle Hall has 134 towering columns, each carved with scenes of gods and pharaohs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions adorn the walls.