Cairo & The Nile with Travelmarvel

Begin your holiday in style with included UK airport lounge access before your flight to Cairo. On arrival, board a group transfer to your hotel, the Cairo Marriott Hotel. Check in and enjoy some time to acclimatise to your new surroundings before the evening’s welcome dinner, where you'll meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers.

Stay: Cairo Marriott Hotel

Begin the morning in Cairo, exploring the Giza Plateau with an Egyptologist guide to discover the mysteries of the Great Pyramids. Nearby, the mighty Sphinx, carved from a single limestone ridge, stands guard. Your expert guide will explain how these iconic sites were constructed and delve into their importance to the ancient Egyptians. Continue on to the Grand Egyptian Museum to observe ancient artefacts and modern design working in harmony to pay tribute to Egypt’s dynastic past. The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Stay: Cairo Marriott Hotel

This morning includes a visit to Cairo’s historic old town. Optional add-on excursions today include a guided tour of the Old Kingdom, including Memphis and Saqqara, home to the civilisation’s earliest pyramids. Another optional add-on is an excursion to Coptic Cairo to discover the rich Christian history here, including Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church, the latter of which is believed to be built upon a shelter once used by the Holy Family. Later, immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the bustling Khan el Khalili bazaar.

Stay: Cairo Marriott Hotel

After breakfast, you’ll transfer to the airport for your included flight from Cairo to Luxor. Before boarding your river cruise, you will visit the vast Karnak Temple complex to walk among its impressive columns and sacred halls. You will feel the history here, as though you can hear the ancient rituals echoing still.

Afterwards, transfer to the Nile River to board the newly refurbished Travelmarvel Sirius and settle in. Lunch will be served onboard. This afternoon, explore the Luxor Temple, linked to Karnak by the Avenue of the Sphinx. At one time, this was the site of Egypt’s most important religious festival. This evening, the ship will set sail for Dendera as you sit down for a lovely Captain’s Welcome Dinner.

Stay: Travelmarvel Sirius

An early morning start brings you to your first Insider Experience, a visit to the Dendera Temple complex. This is one of Egypt’s best-preserved ancient sites. Your expert Egyptologist guide will walk you through the Temple of Hathor, known around the world for its intricately detailed astronomical ceiling among other incredible aspects. As you continue, you’ll discover sacred spaces including the birth house and the Sacred Lake, once used for ritual purification, before returning to the ship for lunch.

The early afternoon is a great time to relax onboard, taking in the scenic sailing back to Luxor. Once you’ve arrived, continue exploring the East Bank and the Avenue of the Sphinx before the ship sets sail for Esna later this evening.

Stay: Travelmarvel Sirius

This morning brings you to Esna Temple, with its towering columns, lotus carvings, and ceiling depicting the twelve signs of the Zodiac.

In the afternoon, board a coach with your Egyptologist guide to continue to Edfu for another Insider Experience. This one brings you to the Temple of Horus, one of the country’s best-preserved ancient monuments, which offers an incredible glimpse into the architecture and religious practises of the Ptolemaic era. Your guide will be able to point out all the impressive details, along with regaling you with tales of the ancient festivals once held on this sacred site. Dinner is served onboard this evening as the ship makes its way to Aswan, where it will remain docked overnight.

Stay: Travelmarvel Sirius

You’ll awake in serene Aswan, where something always seems to be waiting to be uncovered. Tour the impressive High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, and the extremely well-preserved Philae Temple. Afterwards, you can either explore on your own or set off on an optional add-on excursion to enjoy High Tea at the iconic Old Cataract Hotel.

This afternoon, a special Insider Experience awaits: board a traditional felucca to glide along the Nile’s storied waters, taking in Aswan’s tranquil beauty from a new vantage point just as the sun begins to set. Later this evening, you may choose to join in on an optional add-on excursion to Aswan’s vibrant Night Market, where the stalls are full to the brim with spices, textiles, and local crafts.

Stay: Travelmarvel Sirius

Prepare to be awed today as you board your included flight to the temples of Abu Simbel. Your Egyptologist guide will be on-hand to take you through this monumental complex, which was carved into solid rock during the reign of Ramses II. Your guide will explain how this UNESCO World Heritage site was relocated in a remarkable international effort to save it from rising waters as you admire towering statues of the pharaoh alongside intricate carvings.

Return to your ship for lunch onboard and spend a relaxing afternoon sailing north along the Nile toward Kom Ombo. This is the perfect opportunity to simply relax on deck, taking in scenes of daily life on the riverbanks. The ship docks overnight in Kom Ombo tonight.

Stay: Travelmarvel Sirius

Most Egyptian temples are dedicated to a single god, but today gives you the chance to see a rare double temple. Kom Ombo is dedicated both to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Harwer, the falcon god of kingship. During your visit, you’re sure to admire its symmetrical layout and Roman-era carvings that reveal an impressive medical knowledge in Ancient Egypt.

After your visit, sail back to Luxor. This evening, you may wish to partake in an optional add-on excursion to the Karnak Temple of the captivating Sound and Light show. This atmospheric evening experience illuminates the temple’s columns and sacred spaces in a dramatic retelling of Egypt’s ancient past, bringing the stories of gods and pharaohs to life.

Stay: Travelmarvel Sirius

This morning brings you to the Colossi of Memnon and the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor, often referred to as the world’s largest open-air museum. It is also home to the tombs and temples of ancient Thebes. Step into the incredible cliffside Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s most powerful rulers. Discover the Valley of the Kings and Queens, where pharaohs, queens, and priests were once laid to rest.

After lunch you may join in on an optional add-on excursion to the Luxor Museum to enhance your understanding of the region’s archaeological history. The museum’s thoughtfully curated collection of ancient artefacts is celebrated for its rich historical insight. In the evening, enjoy a special Farewell Dinner onboard, reflecting on your awe-inspiring journey through Egypt.

Stay: Travelmarvel Sirius

After one last breakfast on the Travelmarvel Sirius, board your included flight back to Cairo. From here, a connecting flight will return you home to the UK, arriving later that day.

Alternatively, why not take advantage of Travelmarvel's 7-night fully-escorted extension to Jordan.