9-Day Luxury Egypt, Dahabiya Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel Sun Festival
Duration
9 days
Max Group Size
12
Departure Type
Guaranteed
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Physical level
easy
Operated In
English
Age Requirement
6 - 80 Ages
About this tour
Celebrate the biannual Abu Simbel Sun Festival and sail the Upper Egyptian Nile aboard a boutique luxury Dahabiya yacht on this 9-day (8-night) private luxury tour combining Cairo, Luxor, a 4-night Esna-to-Aswan Dahabiya sailing voyage, and the Abu Simbel Sun Alignment spectacle. Accompanied throughout by a private licensed Egyptologist guide, this journey includes 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 5 dinners (20 meals in total), plus all domestic flights (Cairo–Luxor, Aswan–Abu Simbel–Aswan, and Aswan–Cairo).
Your 8 nights of luxury accommodation include 3 nights at a 5-star luxury hotel in Cairo (Nights 1–2 and Night 8, Bed & Breakfast: e.g., Four Seasons Cairo or Marriott Mena House), 1 night at a 5-star heritage hotel in Luxor (Night 3, Bed & Breakfast: e.g., Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor), and 4 nights aboard a boutique luxury Dahabiya sailing yacht from Esna to Aswan (Nights 4–7, Full Board: e.g., Dahabiya Rois or Nour El Nil). Pickup on Day 1 at Cairo Airport is flexible to match your arrival flight (08:30 reference), and drop-off on Day 9 is matched to your onward departure flight (up to 17:00).
Explore the Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, and Egyptian Museum on Day 2, fly to Luxor on Day 3 for Karnak and Luxor Temples, and tour the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple on Day 4 before boarding your Dahabiya at Esna to sail to El Kab, Edfu, Gebel El Silsila, and Kom Ombo (Days 5–6). On Day 7, witness the sunrise solar alignment illuminating the inner sanctuary of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel (or private morning flight visit outside festival dates) and tour Philae Temple in Aswan on Day 8 before flying back to Cairo. Practical Note: Rated Easy (ages 6–80).
Route
- 1CairoAfricaEgyptStart
- 2El GizaAfricaEgypt
- 3SaqqaraAfricaEgypt
- 4LuxorAfricaEgypt
- 5EsnaAfricaEgypt
- 6EdfuAfricaEgypt
- 7Kom OmboAfricaEgypt
- 8AswanAfricaEgypt
- 9Philae (Temple of Isis)AfricaEgyptAswan
- 10Abu SimbelAfricaEgyptEnd
What makes this tour special
Itinerary
Flexible Airport Meet & Assist (08:30 Reference / Flight-Matched): Meet your private tour representative upon arrival at Cairo International Airport for fast-track customs assistance and a 45-minute private transfer to your 5-star luxury Cairo/Giza hotel (e.g., Four Seasons Hotel Cairo or Marriott Mena House; meals on Day 1 are not included).
Overnight: 5-Star Luxury Hotel in Cairo (Night 1 of 3 in Cairo) | Meals Included: None
08:30–12:30 – Giza Pyramids, Valley Temple & Great Sphinx (Entrance Included): After breakfast, join your private Egyptologist to explore the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the Valley Temple, and the Great Sphinx.
13:00–17:30 – Lunch, Egyptian Museum & Khan El Khalili (Entrance Included): Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then tour the royal treasures of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square and stroll through historic Khan El Khalili Bazaar before returning to your hotel (dinner on own).
Overnight: 5-Star Luxury Hotel in Cairo (Night 2 of 3 in Cairo) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
07:30–12:30 – Domestic Flight to Luxor & 5-Star Hotel Check-in: After breakfast, transfer to Cairo Airport for your included 1-hour flight to Luxor and check in to your 5-star Nile-view hotel (e.g., Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor), followed by lunch.
14:30–18:00 – Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple (Entrance Included): Explore the 134-column Great Hypostyle Hall of Karnak Temple and the illuminated colonnades of Luxor Temple with your Egyptologist (dinner on own).
Overnight: 5-Star Luxury Hotel in Luxor (Night 3) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
07:30–11:30 – Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple & Colossi of Memnon (Entrance Included): After breakfast, visit three royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon.
11:30–19:30 – Transfer to Esna & Embark Boutique Dahabiya Sailing Yacht: Drive 1 hour south to Esna to embark your luxury Dahabiya yacht for welcome lunch onboard, afternoon sailing along the Nile, and candlelit dinner moored beside a tranquil Nile island.
Overnight: Aboard Boutique Luxury Dahabiya near El Kab / Edfu (Night 1 of 4 on Dahabiya) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
08:30–12:30 – El Kab Tombs & Temple of Horus at Edfu (Entrance Included): After breakfast on deck, visit the New Kingdom rock-cut tombs of El Kab and ride a horse-drawn carriage into Edfu to explore the remarkably preserved Ptolemaic Temple of Horus with your Egyptologist.
13:00–20:00 – Afternoon Sailing toward Gebel El Silsila & Island BBQ Dinner: Enjoy lunch on the sun deck as your Dahabiya sails under wind power to a quiet Nile island near Gebel El Silsila for an atmospheric evening barbecue dinner with Nubian music.
Overnight: Aboard Boutique Luxury Dahabiya near Gebel El Silsila (Night 2 of 4 on Dahabiya) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
08:30–11:30 – Speos of Horemheb at Gebel El Silsila (Entrance Included): Walk ashore after breakfast to explore the rock-cut chapel of Pharaoh Horemheb and the ancient sandstone quarries of Gebel El Silsila.
14:30–19:30 – Kom Ombo Temple & Sail to Aswan (Entrance Included): Sail south over lunch to visit the twin riverside Temple of Sobek and Haroeris and Crocodile Mummy Museum at Kom Ombo, then continue to Aswan for dinner onboard.
Overnight: Aboard Boutique Luxury Dahabiya in Aswan (Night 3 of 4 on Dahabiya) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
05:00–12:30 – Round-Trip Flight to Abu Simbel & Sun Festival Alignment (Entrance Included): Transfer early with a breakfast box to Aswan Airport for your included round-trip flight to Abu Simbel to witness the biannual Sun Festival alignment illuminating the inner sanctuary of Ramesses II's Great Temple and explore Queen Nefertari's Temple of Hathor.
13:30–20:00 – Lunch & Afternoon Felucca Sail in Aswan: Return to your Dahabiya in Aswan for lunch, an afternoon sail past Elephantine Island, and farewell dinner onboard.
Overnight: Aboard Boutique Luxury Dahabiya in Aswan (Night 4 of 4 on Dahabiya) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
08:30–13:30 – Disembarkation, Philae Temple by Boat, High Dam & Lunch (Entrance Included): After breakfast and disembarkation, cross by private motorboat to the island Temple of Isis at Philae, visit the Aswan High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk, and enjoy lunch in Aswan.
15:30–19:30 – Afternoon Flight to Cairo & Farewell Dinner: Fly from Aswan back to Cairo, transfer to your 5-star luxury Cairo hotel, and enjoy a farewell dinner.
Overnight: 5-Star Luxury Hotel in Cairo (Night 3 of 3 in Cairo) | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Flexible Airport Drop-off (Matched to Your Flight / Up to 17:00): Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then transfer by private vehicle to Cairo International Airport 3 hours before your international departure (lunch and dinner on Day 9 are not included).
Meals Included: Breakfast
Trip includes
Included
8 nights luxury accommodation: 3 nights at a 5-star luxury hotel in Cairo (Nights 1–2 and 8, Bed & Breakfast), 1 night at a 5-star hotel in Luxor (Night 3, Bed & Breakfast), and 4 nights aboard a boutique luxury Dahabiya yacht from Esna to Aswan (Nights 4–7, Full Board).
Private licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide throughout Cairo, Luxor, the Dahabiya voyage, Aswan, and Abu Simbel.
Guiding Method
Fully guided
English8 breakfasts (Days 2–9), 7 lunches (Days 2–8), and 5 dinners (Days 4–8) — 20 meals in total (meals on Day 1, dinner on Days 2–3, and lunch/dinner on Day 9 are not included).
All private air-conditioned airport, hotel, and Esna/Aswan pier transfers.
All monument entrance fees including Abu Simbel Sun Festival entry, Philae motorboat, Edfu carriage, and airport meet-and-assist.
Excluded
Included domestic economy flights: Cairo to Luxor (Day 3), Aswan to Abu Simbel round-trip (Day 7), and Aswan to Cairo (Day 8).
Personal travel and medical insurance is not included.
International flights, Egyptian entry visa, optional Luxor hot air balloon, alcoholic beverages, personal insurance, and gratuities.
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