The trip
Overview
Egypt unfolds slowly on this seven-day journey, which begins among the great pyramid fields around Cairo and ends in the temples and royal tombs of Luxor. Between the two lies the Nile itself, sailed at an unhurried pace aboard a traditional dahabiya.
The route takes in Saqqara, Dahshur and the Giza Plateau before an evening flight south to Aswan. From there you board a shared sailing boat with a private double cabin and spend three nights on the water, calling at Daraw's camel market, a Nubian town, the twin temple of Kom Ombo, the sandstone quarries of El Selsela, Bisaw Island and the Temple of Horus at Edfu.
Alongside the celebrated monuments there is time for the everyday: breakfast in a village home, fishing with local boatmen, lunch and a short cookery lesson with a farming family on Luxor's West Bank, and a final day in Cairo taking in the Grand Egyptian Museum, Al Muizz Street and Khan el Khalili. The order of visits may vary to suit sailing conditions and local arrangements.
Highlights
- ✦Three nights sailing the Nile aboard a traditional dahabiya
- ✦Saqqara, Dahshur and the Giza Plateau with a guide
- ✦Kom Ombo, El Selsela and the Temple of Horus at Edfu
- ✦Village life and Nile fishing at Bisaw Island
- ✦Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut
- ✦Lunch and a cookery lesson with a local farming family
- ✦Grand Egyptian Museum, Al Muizz Street and Khan el Khalili
Day by day
Day 1
Pyramids and onward to Aswan
Begin at Saqqara with the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the Pyramid of Teti and selected nobles' tombs, then continue to Dahshur for the Bent and Red Pyramids of King Sneferu. After lunch, visit the Giza Plateau to see the Great Pyramid, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx. In the evening, transfer to Cairo Airport for the hour-long flight to Aswan and on to your hotel.
Day 2
Board the dahabiya
Breakfast and check out in Aswan before transferring to the dahabiya around midday. Settle into your private double cabin and enjoy lunch as the sailing begins, watching riverbank life from the deck. Dinner is served on board with the night spent near Daraw. An early departure to the rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel can be arranged as an optional extra, allowing three to four hours' driving each way.
Day 3
Daraw, Kom Ombo and El Selsela
Explore Daraw's market and a camel barn with your guide, then visit a Nubian town before continuing to the temple of Kom Ombo, unusually dedicated to both Sobek and Horus the Elder. Return to the boat for lunch and sail to El Selsela, an ancient sandstone quarry with riverside shrines. Continue towards Bisaw for a barbecue dinner under the stars and an overnight on board.
Day 4
Bisaw Island and Edfu
Breakfast in a local home or on board, followed by a walk through Bisaw Island's farms and village lanes and the chance to join local fishermen on the river. Sail to Edfu for the well-preserved Temple of Horus, with its imposing entrance, courtyards and carved walls. Lunch on board as sailing continues, with dinner and the night spent near El Hegz.
Day 5
Esna and the temples of Luxor
Sail to Esna and disembark to visit the Temple of Khnum, the restored caravanserai and the local market. A drive of around an hour brings you to Luxor, where you tour the vast Karnak complex and Luxor Temple, learning how successive rulers shaped ancient Thebes. Check in to your Luxor hotel for the night.
Day 6
West Bank and return to Cairo
Cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, where the tombs open on the day depend on local arrangements and ticketing, then the terraced mortuary temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Lunch is shared at a farmer's home with a short cookery lesson, or at a local restaurant if you prefer. Transfer to Luxor Airport for the flight to Cairo and your hotel. A sunrise balloon flight can be requested separately.
Day 7
Museum and historic Cairo
A guided visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum introduces ancient Egypt's collections, including treasures associated with Tutankhamun, followed by lunch. Walk Al Muizz Street past mosques, traditional houses and medieval buildings, dressing conservatively for religious sites, then finish among the craft stalls and busy lanes of Khan el Khalili.
When to go
Planning around seasons, regions and style? Read the full Egypt destination guide →
What’s included
- ✓Guided sightseeing throughout with an expert local guide
- ✓Three nights aboard a shared dahabiya in a private double cabin
- ✓Hotel nights in Aswan, Luxor and Cairo
- ✓Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo
- ✓Meals on board the dahabiya as described
- ✓Transfers between sites, airports and hotels
Not included
- —Optional Abu Simbel excursion
- —Entry inside the Great Pyramid
- —Camel ride and sound and light show at Giza
- —Sunrise hot air balloon flight over Luxor's West Bank
- —International flights
