Premium Islamic Cairo & Nile Treasures: Train & 5★ Cruise Experience (itinerary under review)

A full day dedicated to Egypt’s most iconic landmarks. Stand in awe before the Great Pyramids of Giza and the mighty Sphinx, monuments that have stood for millennia as wonders of the ancient world. Pause for Ẓuhr ṣalāh nearby before continuing to Saqqara, home to the pioneering Step Pyramid of Djoser – the earliest large-scale stone structure in history – and the Imhotep Museum, showcasing the genius behind Egypt’s first architect. Return to Cairo for the night, with an optional Sound & Light Show at the pyramids to round off the day.

Today focuses on Cairo’s Islamic heritage. Begin at the Citadel of Saladin, a medieval fortress that dominates the skyline, and step inside the ornate Mosque of Muhammad ʿAlī. Continue to the architectural masterpiece of the Sultan Ḥassan Mosque and the historic Ibn Ṭūlūn Mosque with its vast courtyard and spiral minaret.
Pay your respects at the blessed shrines of Sayyida Nafīsa (RA) and Sayyida Zaynab (RA), both deeply loved figures in Islamic tradition. As the day draws to a close, join the evening prayers at the scholarly Al-Azhar Mosque, a beacon of learning for over a thousand years. Free time afterwards to relax in Cairo’s famous tea houses before boarding the overnight sleeper train to Luxor (approx. 10 hrs), a unique experience of travel through the Egyptian night.

Arrive in Luxor, the world’s greatest open-air museum, and transfer straight to your cruise ship – your home for the next three nights. Cross to the West Bank of Luxor and uncover treasures of the New Kingdom. Explore the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, were laid to rest in richly decorated tombs. Continue to the dramatic Temple of Hatshepsut, dedicated to Egypt’s only female pharaoh, before stopping at the monumental Colossi of Memnon. Return to the cruise for dinner and overnight in Luxor.

This morning, visit the magnificent Karnak Temple complex, a vast religious site with towering columns and sacred lakes, followed by the elegant Luxor Temple, beautifully aligned with the Nile. After lunch, your cruise sets sail for Edfu, passing riverside villages and palm groves along the way. Sit back and enjoy the scenery as life unfolds on the banks of the Nile. Overnight onboard.

Begin the day with a horse-drawn carriage ride to the impressive Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, rich in relief carvings and mythology. Continue sailing south to Kom Ombo Temple, dramatically set on the riverbank and dedicated to both the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon-headed Haroeris. Sail onwards to Aswan, arriving in the evening. Overnight onboard the cruise.

Disembark to explore Aswan, a city of beauty and calm. Visit the enchanting Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, and admire the scale of the modern High Dam. Later, enjoy an excursion to a colourful Nubian village, with its warm hospitality and vibrant traditions. For those wishing to see one of Egypt’s greatest highlights, an optional early-morning excursion can be arranged to the awe-inspiring temples of Abu Simbel, a UNESCO World Heritage site carved out of rock by Ramses II (approx. 4 hrs each way). In the evening, leave the cruise and board the overnight sleeper train back to Cairo (approx. 12 hrs).

Arrive in Cairo in the morning. Depending on your flight schedule, you may join Jumuʿah prayers at either Al-Azhar Mosque or Al-Ḥusayn Mosque before transferring to the airport for your onward journey.