9 Day Cairo and Luxury Dahabiya Nile Cruise

ou will have time to enjoy a peaceful breakfast before your guide arrives to show you around the pyramids of Cairo. You will enjoy a private guided tour of Giza Plateau, which is home to spectacular pyramids of Mykerinus, Chefren, and Cheops. Your adventure will also take you to the Valley Temple and the Sphinx.

Your day’s adventure will wrap up at the Sakkara Complex, where you will find the Djoser Pyramid. This is the first pyramid ever created in this region.After an enjoyable visit to Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, you will return to your hotel where you will be spending the night.

Overnight: Cairo Hotel

Day 3 of your 9 day tour of Cairo and Dahabiya Nile Cruise begins with another enjoyable breakfast in the hotel, and then you will be guided through a personal tour of the magnificent Grand Egyptian Museum, located near the Giza Pyramids. This state-of-the-art complex is the largest archaeological museum in the world, showcasing over 100,000 artifacts that span 5,000 years of Egyptian civilization. Marvel at the complete treasures of King Tutankhamun, displayed together for the first time since their discovery, including his legendary gold mask, jewelry, and royal possessions. The museum features colossal statues, immersive digital galleries, and interactive exhibits, all set within striking modern architecture with panoramic views of the pyramids. You will discover a variety of ancient artifacts throughout the museum.

You will enjoy lunch in an authentic Egyptian restaurant before traveling to the Saladin Citadel. You will find the Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque inside the citadel.

Next up is a tour of some amazing churches, including the Hanging Church. Ben Ezra Synagogue will also be covered.

The Khan El Khalili Bazaar will be your final destination for this day's adventure. You will have the opportunity to shop while taking in a spectacular show of Egyptian culture.

After a wonderful day out, you will be driven back to your hotel where you will once again be spending the night.

Overnight: Nile Cruise

An early start this morning for your domestic flight to Luxor, On arrival you will be met and driven directly to the riverbank to embark your floating home for the coming days — the Princess Farida Luxury Dahabiya, an elegant, traditional twin-masted sailing vessel offering an intimate and authentic way to experience the Nile, far removed from the large cruise ships.

After settling into your cabin and enjoying lunch on board, spend the afternoon exploring Luxor’s East Bank: the vast Karnak Temple complex, the largest religious monument ever built, followed by the graceful Luxor Temple, especially beautiful when illuminated after sunset. Return to the dahabiya for dinner and your first overnight moored in Luxor.

Overnight: Luxor / Nile Cruise

This morning, cross to Luxor’s West Bank for a fascinating tour of the Theban Necropolis: descend into the richly decorated royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings, admire the striking terraced Temple of Hatshepsut carved into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari, and pass beneath the towering Colossi of Memnon. Afterward, a scenic 35-minute drive brings you to a quiet village just before Esna, where you rejoin the Princess Farida.

Sail on to Esna and experience the passage through the historic Esna Lock — a memorable slice of everyday Nile life — before continuing to sail towards Edfu as the sun sets over the river. Dinner and overnight on board while cruising.

Overnight: Luxor / Nile Cruise

After breakfast, disembark for a delightful and distinctly local start to the day: a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets of Edfu to reach the magnificent Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples anywhere in Egypt thanks to the desert sands that once buried and protected it for centuries. Explore its towering pylon, hypostyle halls and inner sanctuary before returning to the dahabiya.

Spend the rest of the day sailing gently south towards El Selsela (Gebel Silsila), a dramatic sandstone gorge that once supplied stone for many of Egypt’s great temples — a wonderfully peaceful stretch of river on which to relax on deck, read and watch rural Egypt drift slowly by. Dinner and overnight on board.

Overnight: Nile Cruise

Continue sailing this morning to Kom Ombo, where you will visit the unique double temple dedicated jointly to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus — twin sanctuaries mirrored side by side — and the adjoining Crocodile Museum, home to beautifully preserved mummified crocodiles once revered in antiquity. Sail onward to Aswan, arriving in one of Egypt’s most scenic riverside cities.

In the afternoon, tour the mighty Aswan High Dam, an engineering marvel that reshaped modern Egypt, before taking a short boat ride to the enchanting island Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and rescued stone by stone from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Return to the dahabiya for dinner and overnight in Aswan.

Overnight: Aswan / Nile Cruise

After enjoying a good breakfast on board, you will disembark and one of our consultants will escort you to Aswan airport where you will then board your flight back to Cairo.

On arrival in Cairo you will be met at the airport and taken to your hotel, where you will have the remainder of the day to yourself.

Overnight: Aswan / Nile Cruise

All good things must end, and unfortunately your Cairo and Dahabiya Nile cruise vacation must end too. Enjoy a lovely breakfast while you allow your mind to dwell on the many great experiences you’ve recently had, and promise yourself you’ll return. After breakfast you’ll be collected and taken to the airport for your flight home. Bid Cairo and Egypt farewell, and fly off into the sunset with memories you’ll cherish forever.

Overnight: Nile Cruise