11 days, 10 nights
Egypt Under Sail
Luxor, four nights on a dahabiya from Esna to Aswan, Cairo and a day in Alexandria.
Luxor, Egypt · Photo: Anthony Chen
Day by day
Day 1
Arrival in Cairo
Arrival at Cairo airport, where we meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Overnight in Cairo.
Day 2
Pyramids of Giza
After breakfast, visit the Giza Plateau: the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, and the Sphinx, then learn how the ancient Egyptians made papyrus. Return to the hotel. Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Optional extra: Visit to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square.
Day 3
Flight to Luxor, Karnak and Luxor Temple
After breakfast, fly from Cairo to Luxor, where our representative meets you, and check in at your hotel. In the afternoon, visit the vast temple complex of Karnak, then Luxor Temple, with its great statues of Ramses II. Overnight in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4
Luxor’s West Bank, Esna and El Hegz Island
After breakfast: Visit the Valley of the Kings, where 62 painted royal tombs have been found, the terraced Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the two giant Colossi of Memnon in front of the temple of Amenhotep III. Continue to Esna, 60 km south of Luxor, and board your dahabiya for lunch, then sail to El Hegz Island. Overnight on board.
Meals: Full board
Optional extra: Sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the temples and tombs of Luxor’s West Bank.
Day 5
El Kab and Edfu
Breakfast on deck and sail to El Kab to visit its temple, then on to Edfu, about 5 hours. After lunch, visit the Temple of Horus, the falcon-headed god, then continue to El Fuza Island. Dinner and the night on board.
Meals: Full board
Day 6
Gebel el-Silsila and Maneha Island
Early sailing to Gebel el-Silsila to visit its temple, then 4 to 5 hours under sail to Maneha Island. Dinner and the night on board.
Meals: Full board
Day 7
Kom Ombo, Daraw and Aswan
Sail to Kom Ombo and visit the temple, then cross the river by motorboat for the market at Daraw, famous for its camels. Lunch, then about 5 hours of sailing to Aswan. Dinner and the night on board.
Meals: Full board
Day 8
Philae, flight to Cairo
After breakfast, visit the Temple of Philae, dedicated to Isis on an island in the Nile. Fly from Aswan to Cairo and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast
Optional extra: Early-morning trip to Abu Simbel, the rock-cut temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, returning to Aswan around midday.
Optional extra: Motorboat trip to a Nubian village: swim in the Nile, visit a traditional house and the village school, and ride a camel if you like.
Day 9
Free day in Cairo
Breakfast and a free day in Cairo. Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast
Optional extra: Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Coptic Cairo with the Church of St Sergius, where the Holy Family is said to have sheltered, and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
Optional extra: Dinner cruise on the Nile with belly dancing and a whirling dervish show.
Day 10
Day trip to Alexandria
After breakfast, drive about 3 hours to Alexandria, the city of Alexander the Great. Visit the Roman catacombs on three underground levels, the Citadel of Qaitbay on the site of the ancient Lighthouse, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Return to Cairo. Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11
Departure from Cairo
Breakfast and transfer to Cairo airport for your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
Cancellation policy
- Cancellations must be approved in writing; an unapproved cancellation is treated as a no-show (100% of the price).
- Up to 31 days before arrival: no charge.
- 30 to 15 days before arrival: 50% of the package price.
- Less than 15 days before arrival: 100% of the price.
Children
- Under 2 years: free of charge.
- 2 to 5 years: 25% of the adult price.
- 6 to 11 years: 50% of the adult price.
- 12 years and over: adult price.
- Child rates apply to children sharing their parents’ room (maximum 2 children per room). Airline tickets may carry an extra fee per child.
Plan this tour
Tell us your dates and whether you are arriving or leaving by cruise ship. We reply with hotels, availability and a quote. An enquiry is not a booking.
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