13-Day Luxury Egypt: Cairo, Abu Simbel & Sanctuary Sun Boat III Cruise

08:30–12:30 – Morning at the Giza Plateau (Entrance Included): After breakfast, join your private Egyptologist guide to explore the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the Valley Temple, and the Great Sphinx.

13:00–17:00 – Lunch & Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square (Entrance Included): Savor lunch at a fine restaurant overlooking the pyramids, then visit the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to view royal treasures and pharaonic artifacts before returning to your hotel (dinner on own).

Overnight: 5-Star Luxury Hotel in Cairo (Night 2 of 4 in Cairo) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

09:00–12:00 – Morning in Coptic Cairo (Entrance Included): After breakfast, visit the Hanging Church, the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus (Abu Serga), and the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo with your Egyptologist.

12:30–17:00 – Lunch, Citadel of Saladin & Khan El Khalili (Entrance Included): Enjoy lunch at a traditional restaurant, tour the medieval Citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, and stroll through Khan El Khalili Bazaar before returning to your hotel (dinner on own).

Overnight: 5-Star Luxury Hotel in Cairo (Night 3 of 4 in Cairo) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

08:00 – Morning Flight to Aswan & Embarkation: After breakfast, transfer to Cairo Airport for your included morning flight to Aswan and board the intimate 5-star Sanctuary Sun Boat III in time for a gourmet welcome lunch onboard at 12:30.

14:30–17:30 – Afternoon Philae Temple & Granite Quarries (Entrance Included): Visit the island Temple of Isis at Philae by motorboat and inspect the Unfinished Obelisk, followed by an evening welcome reception and dinner onboard in Aswan.

Overnight: Aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat III in Aswan (Night 1 of 8) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

08:30–11:00 – Morning Navigation & Kom Ombo Tour (Entrance Included): Enjoy breakfast onboard as the Sanctuary Sun Boat III sails north to Kom Ombo to visit the twin Ptolemaic Temple of Sobek and Haroeris and the Crocodile Mummy Museum.

14:30–17:00 – Afternoon Temple of Horus at Edfu (Entrance Included): After lunch onboard, continue sailing to Edfu to visit the remarkably preserved Temple of Horus, followed by afternoon tea and dinner onboard moored in Edfu.

Overnight: Aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat III in Edfu (Night 2 of 8) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

08:00–14:30 – Morning Sailing via Esna Lock to Luxor: Savor breakfast and a leisurely morning on the sun deck as your boutique river yacht sails from Edfu, crosses the Esna Lock, and glides north into Luxor (ancient Thebes) with lunch served onboard.

16:00–18:30 – Late Afternoon Luxor Temple Visit (Entrance Included): Disembark with your Egyptologist to explore the colonnades of Luxor Temple and the Avenue of Sphinxes as the monuments are illuminated at dusk, followed by dinner onboard in Luxor.

Overnight: Aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat III in Luxor (Night 3 of 8) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

08:00–12:00 – Morning West Bank Exploration (Entrance Included): After breakfast onboard, cross the Nile to explore three royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon.

12:30–18:30 – Afternoon Cruise North to Qena: Return to the Sanctuary Sun Boat III for lunch and sail north along a rarely traveled stretch of the Nile to Qena, enjoying dinner onboard moored in Qena.

Overnight: Aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat III in Qena (Night 4 of 8) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

08:00–11:00 – Morning Excursion to Dendera Temple (Entrance Included): After breakfast onboard in Qena, visit the spectacular Greco-Roman Temple of Hathor at Dendera, famed for its intact turquoise astronomical ceiling and subterranean crypts, then sail back to Luxor over lunch.

15:00–18:00 – Afternoon Karnak Temple Tour (Entrance Included): Explore the monumental Karnak Temple Complex and its 134-column Great Hypostyle Hall with your Egyptologist, followed by dinner onboard in Luxor.

Overnight: Aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat III in Luxor (Night 5 of 8) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

05:00–07:30 – Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight (Included): Rise early for an included sunrise hot air balloon ride floating silently above the temples and tombs of Luxor's West Bank, followed by breakfast back onboard.

10:00–18:30 – Afternoon Sailing & Egyptian Cooking Class: As the Sanctuary Sun Boat III sails south through the Esna Lock to Edfu, enjoy lunch onboard and participate in an interactive Egyptian culinary class with the onboard chef before an Egyptian-themed gala dinner and Galabeya evening in Edfu.

Overnight: Aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat III in Edfu (Night 6 of 8) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

08:00–14:30 – Morning & Midday Nile Cruise to Aswan: Enjoy breakfast and lunch on deck as the vessel cruises leisurely southward past lush palm islands and golden desert dunes back to Aswan.

15:30–17:30 – Afternoon Felucca Sail & Farewell Dinner: Glide around Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Botanical Island aboard a traditional wooden Felucca sailboat in the late afternoon, followed by a farewell gala dinner onboard in Aswan.

Overnight: Aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat III in Aswan (Night 7 of 8) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

08:30–12:00 – Morning Aswan Cultural Tour (Entrance Included): After breakfast onboard, visit the Aswan High Dam overlooking Lake Nasser and explore the acclaimed Nubian Museum showcasing 5,000 years of Nubian heritage.

12:30–19:30 – Afternoon & Evening Onboard: Return to the Sanctuary Sun Boat III for lunch, afternoon tea on the sun deck, and your final evening dinner onboard in Aswan.

Overnight: Aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat III in Aswan (Night 8 of 8) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

07:00–12:00 – Round-Trip Flight Aswan–Abu Simbel–Aswan (Entrance Included): Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Aswan Airport for your included round-trip domestic flight to Abu Simbel to explore the colossal rock-cut Great Temple of Ramesses II and Temple of Queen Nefertari overlooking Lake Nasser.

13:30–15:30 – Connecting Flight Aswan to Cairo & Hotel Check-in: Board your connecting flight from Aswan back to Cairo and transfer by private luxury vehicle to your 5-star Cairo hotel for your final evening (lunch and dinner on own).

Overnight: 5-Star Luxury Hotel in Cairo (Night 4 of 4 in Cairo) | Meals Included: Breakfast

Flexible Departure Transfer (Scheduled 3 Hours Before Flight / Up to 17:30): After breakfast at your hotel, meet your private driver at the scheduled time matching your international flight (up to 17:30 reference drop-off) for your transfer to Cairo International Airport.

Meals Included: Breakfast