Things to do in

Aswan Governorate

Visit the Abu Simbel temples, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Nubian Monuments, on this day trip from Aswan. Waste no time waiting in line with skip-the-line entrance tickets, and take a guided tour of the complex with a professional guide. After pickup from your hotel in Aswan early in the morning, drive approximately 300 kilometers (190 miles) southwest to Abu Simbel in an air-conditioned bus or private car, depending on the tour option you select. Once there, meet your guide, then discover two of the most renowned temples in Egypt, one dedicated to Ramses II and the other to his favorite wife, Nefertari. Skip the lines to access the site and explore the temples constructed in the 13th century B.C. Admire the gigantic facade of the Ramses II temple that represents four colossal seated figures of Ramses. The facade is 119 feet (36 meters) wide and 100 feet (32.5 meters) high, and the statues are each 67 feet (20.4 meters) high. Enter the interior of the temple via a 185-foot (56.4-meter) man-made rock cave that leads to a series of halls and rooms. The most remarkable feature of the temple of Abu Simbel is that the construction is oriented in such a way that twice a year, the morning sun shines through the length of the inner temple and illuminates the statues of the four gods seated at the end of the cave. After your tour, return to Aswan and get dropped off at your hotel around noon.

Take a convenient sleeping train from Cairo to Aswan or to Luxor and back with a guaranteed reservation. Your accommodation on the train includes dinner and breakfast the next day. First, book your tickets and receive them at your hotel when you arrive in Egypt. On the day of travel, head to the station at least 30 minutes before your departure time. At Giza Station, there are a few small shops to buy snacks or water, as well as a small restaurant. On the platform, the small numbers hanging from the platform canopy indicate the approximate location of the wagons. So, if you are in Wagon #6 on your ticket, line up by the #6 sign. Wait for the green and white-colored sleeping train to arrive which has the words 'Sleeping Car' stenciled on the side. Board the train and find your accommodation. Enjoy the comfortable 10 to 13-hour journey with dinner and breakfast served. Feel the satisfaction of waking up in an entirely new region of Egypt, refreshed and ready to begin the next portion of your trip.

• Day 1: Aswan Discover Egyptian culture by sailing the Nile on a 5-star cruise. Your Egyptologist guide will pick you up on time to start the tour with a visit to the Aswan High Dam. Drive over to where you'll hop on a motor boat to get to Philae Island. After a tour of the island and a visit to the temple, check in to your cruise. Snap some photos of both sides of the Nile and hear about the cultures of the Nubian and the Egyptian. Drink your tea on the sun deck while you cruise along the beautiful waters. Stop at Komombo to visit the temple and then enjoy an overnight stay aboard the boat.  • Day 2: Edfu - Esna - Luxor Enjoy breakfast on the ship and then sail over toward Edfu for a wonderful horse-drawn carriage ride to Edfu Temple. Head back to the boat and sail to Esna, passing through Esna Lock. Glide toward Luxor where the cruise will dock overnight.  • Day 3: Luxor Listen as your guide explains the history of the Valley of the Kings in detail. Afterwards, continue on a drive to discover the secrets of the Queen Hatshepsut during a visit to her temple. Discover the West Bank and visit the Howard Carter House, in which the famous English man who discovered the tomb of King Tut once lived. Take some time to relax on the boat before heading off to visit the biggest temple in the world: Karnak Temple. Drive over to see the small, beautiful temple of Luxor. Enjoy an overnight on the cruise.  • Day 4: Luxor - Departure After breakfast, end service in Luxor.

Day 1: Luxor After getting picked up from Luxor International Airport or your hotel, board your motor boat and travel downstream to the West Bank. Here, see sights such as the Colossi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Carter House, where you can admire treasures belonging to Tutankhamun. Later, head back to the hotel and rest for a while before heading out to explore the city of Luxor and its old market. Day 2: Luxor Rise before sunrise and enjoy the experience of a lifetime as you take a hot air balloon ride over the city. Watch as the sunlight illuminates the city and its surroundings before heading back to the boat. Sail through ancient villages and beautiful islands and discover true Egyptian culture whilst on-board. Arrive at Esna in the evening. Day 3: Edfu - Kom Ombo Arrive in the city of Edfu in the morning and enjoy a traditional horse and carriage ride to Edfu temple, the largest Ptolemaic temple in Egypt.   In the afternoon, travel to Kom Ombo, enjoying a refreshing drink on the boat’s sun deck as you cruise. In Kom Ombo, visit the city’s unique temple, dedicated to two gods, and discover the contrasting architecture of both sides. Day 4: Aswan Today, cruise to Aswan, a city famous for its Nubian culture. After breakfast, head to the Temple of Isis on Philae Island and visit the High Dam which provides electricity to the residents of the Nile. Later, enjoy some free time to discover the city and its ancient market. Day 5: Abu Simbel Arrive at the ancient wonder of Abu Simbel in the morning and spend the day exploring this temple complex, one of the most important in the world. Day 6: Aswan Today, begin the journey back to Luxor, visiting Nubian islands and villages that you will pass whilst cruising. Day 7: Cruising Spend the day at your leisure onboard the boat, cruising back to Luxor. Day 8: Luxor After breakfast, enjoy a tour of the East Bank of Luxor. Visit the Karnak temple, the biggest temple complex in the world, as well as the beautiful Luxor temple. At the end of your tour, get dropped off back at your accommodation or at the airport in Luxor.

Day 1: Luxor Your experience begins as your professional tour guide picks you up from your Luxor accommodation. From there you will visit the great Karnak Temple. Next, drive over and visit the beautiful Luxor Temple, following which you will check-in to your cruise to get some rest. That evening you can discover the old market of Luxor, before spending the night on your cruise. Day 2: Luxor to Esna Your day begins in the early morning as you prepare yourself to discover the fabulous West Bank. Following that, drive to Valley of the Kings before continuing your great journey to visit the famous Queen Hatshepsut Temple. You will then head Back to the cruise to recommence sailing, enjoying the natural views of the Luxor Islands as you cruise. That evening you will pass the Esna Lock before reaching Edfu and spending another night aboard your boat. Day 3: Edfu to Kom Ombo Your experience begins in the early morning as you travel to visit the Edfu Temple by horse and carriage. Following that you will return to your cruise to enjoy a drink on the sun deck as the cruise sails all the way to Kom Ombo City. Following your arrival to Kom Ombo, you will visit the local temple, before returning once more to your boat. Day 4: Aswan At around 5:00AM it will be time to visit the Abu Simbel Temples, before you later return to the boat to get some rest. That evening you can discover the old market of Aswan, before you return to your cruise for the night. Day 5: Aswan, Departure Following breakfast you will drive down to the Nile to take an Egyptian motorboat to visit the Philae Island Temple. From there, drive over to visit the famous Aswan dam, before your tour concludes.

Enjoy the beauty of the Nile river on this cruise from Aswan to Luxor with a return transfer to Aswan. Take an overnight cruise aboard a 5-star ship on a river that is renown for its historic importance, its legendary status, and its natural elegance. Day 1: Be picked up in the late morning from your accommodation in Aswan. Drive to the boarding point and embark on your five-star cruise. Store your luggage in your room and sit down to a delicious lunch as you sail down the river. Look for local birds and see riverside towns as you make your way down the river. Watch the sunset and enjoy an onboard dinner a with a variety of options. Rest in your room for the night. Day 2: Wake up and have the option to watch the sunrise over the Nile before partaking in a scrumptious breakfast with coffee. Have some time to admire river views before preparing for your departure in Luxor at 4:00 PM. Meet your driver and return to your accommodation in Aswan.

The day begins with pickup from your hotel in Aswan in the early morning, then sets out on the journey to the famous Abu Simbel Temples. Along the journey, listen to your expert guide share fascinating facts and stories about Ancient Egypt and the Abu Simbel Temples. Arrive at the temples, which are one of the most recognizable ancient sites in Egypt and a UNESCO World Heritage Listed Location. Dating back to 1244BC, the temples are an incredible example of life in Ancient Egypt and allow you the chance to retrace the steps of history. As you admire the temples, learn about their fascinating journey from the River Nile, where they once sat for 3000 years before being moved in a remarkable feat of engineering in the 1960s. Spend about one hour wandering around temples, exploring this ancient location with your expert guide, and snapping incredible photos for your holiday album. At the end of an unforgettable day, relax on the journey back to Aswan and reminisce about the memories you’ve made.

Spend a full day taking a guided tour of one of the most magnificent sites in Eygpt: the Abu Simbel temples. In the morning, your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby in Aswan and take you to the airport. From there, head towards the most magnificent landscape of ancient Egypt. These massive rock reliefs are considered the grandest and most beautiful temples commissioned during Ramses’ reign, and some of the most beautiful in Egypt. This iconic site is situated on the western banks of the Nile and was dedicated to Ramses the Great and his queen Nefertari. Accompany your guide on an exploration of these temples and learn fascinating historical facts about the site, including the reason why they were dismantled and re-located in the 1960s. Twice a year, a beautiful phenomenon takes place: witness the sun shining into the holy sanctum which lights up the colossal statues of Ptah, Amun, Ta, and Ramses. In the interior, discover 1000 years of temple arts, petroglyphs, and hieroglyphs. You’ll also explore the many other small and large temples located in the area.   After you’ve taken in the magnificence of this site to the fullest, your guide will drop you off at the Abu Simbel Airport for your return to your accommodation in Aswan.

• Day 1: Nile Cruise with Visit to East Bank Upon arrival to Luxor Airport or railway station, meet your tour representative and start your adventure. Transfer to the port and embark on the Nile Cruise, enjoying your first lunch onboard. First, visit the beautiful monuments of ancient Egypt with a guided tour of the East Bank of Luxor. Discover the Complex of Karnak Temple, the largest temple in the world, and the magnificent Luxor Temple, a large ancient Egyptian temple. Later, enjoy dinner onboard and an overnight stay in Luxor. • Day 2: Visit West Bank Enjoy your breakfast onboard the Nile Cruise. Visit the West Bank of Luxor and tour the Valley of the Kings. Dive into the tombs of famous Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Proceed to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, dedicated to the only female ruler, who ruled Egypt for 20 years with wealth and peace. Next, sail to Edfu via Esna. There, enjoy your lunch onboard and then savor a relaxing afternoon with an afternoon tea and an amazing dinner proceeding an overnight stay in Edfu. • Day 3: Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan Tour After your breakfast onboard, visit the Ptolemaic Temple of Horus in Edfu, one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in Egypt. Stop for a lunch break, where you can grab some food and enjoy an afternoon tea onboard during the sail to Kom Ombo. After lunch, visit the Temple of two gods, Sobek and Haroeris, in Kom Ombo. Sail to the beautiful city of Aswan and spend the night onboard with dinner included (stay overnight in Aswan). • Day 4: High Dam, Philae Temple, & the Unfinished Obelisk After breakfast on board, start your journey by visiting the High Dam — an incredible wonder of engineering. Take a motorboat to the Philae Temple, the most famous site of Aswan, dedicated to the goddess Isis. Finally, make your way to the Unfinished Obelisk to gaze into history via its massive pillars. Return to the cruise ship for lunch and enjoy your afternoon tea later on. Relax and eat dinner onboard and enjoy an overnight stay in Aswan. • Day 5: Last Day Cruise Breakfast will be served onboard the cruise before disembarking. You will then be transferred to the Aswan Airport or railway station with the assistance of your tour guide.

Day 1: Luxor Your Egyptology tour guide will pick you up at 11:00AM from any location in Luxor. From there you will be transferred to your Nile cruise. After arriving you will check-in at your cabin, and following lunch you will begin sailing from Luxor. Once settled in, stand up on the sun deck watching the islands of Luxor as you pass them by. You can also observe small boats, Egyptian villages, cows, and donkeys, allowing you to take rare photos of authentic Egyptian nature. You will later pass through the Esna Lock, following which you will continue sailing to Edfu City. Day 2: Edfu Your second day will begin with a morning ride in a horse and carriage to visit the Edfu Temple. After returning back to the cruise, you will continue sailing towards Kom Ombo. At around sunset, you'll visit the Kom Ombo Temple, after which you will continue sailing through the night towards Aswan. Day 3: Aswan Following breakfast on the morning of your final day, your tour will conclude in Aswan.