5 Days – Luxor / Aswan Every Saturday Merit Dahabiya

  Breakfast on Board and then pick up to enjoy your tour to the West bank of the Nile in Luxor. Start with a brief photo stop at the colossi of Memnon, which marks the ruins of a funerary temple of Amenhotep III. Head out to the Valley of the Kings, the sight where the rock cut tombs were excavated for the pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt (1550 – 1080 BC). The majority of the royal tombs was decorated with religious texts, images and provided with equipment that would enable a comfortable existence in the afterlife. You will visit 3 tombs of the most famous pharaohs Like Ramses III, IV tombs, Tomb of Merenptah, Tomb of Thutmose III, or Queen Tawosret. Whilst here, you will have the time to visit inside the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun “Extra ticket on spot”. Continue to the mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, one of the incomparable monuments of ancient Egypt. There are three layered terraces, are connected by long ramps which were once surrounded by gardens with foreign plants including frankincense and myrrh trees. After a fantastic tour, you will enjoy free time to explore at leisure. Later on, return to your Nile Dahabiya cruise boat before Lunch and begin our voyage along the Nile, travelling upstream from Luxor to Aswan. Tea time on board and overnight at Esna. Optional: a spectacular sunrise hot air balloon trip over the west bank of the Nile is available this morning (expect an early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  Enjoy breakfast at leisure on board while sailing towards Edfu passing through the Esna Locks. It is common to have to queue to proceed through the lock, however this is a great opportunity to check out the process from deck with a cool drink in hand and listen to the shouts of the many captains as they navigate their way through the various small boats of merchants selling their wares. Settle back into the comforts of your Nile cruise ship and make the most of the incredible views across one of the world’s greatest rivers Set sail towards Edfu, you will enjoy horse and carriage ride to visit Edfu Temple, one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. The temple was built in the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC. The inscriptions on its walls provide important information on language, myth and religion during the Hellenistic period in Egypt. We will then set sail for a small Island “Al Ramady” where the Dahabiya will moor for the night. Enjoy your dinner on the sundeck, overnight on board. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  Today, enjoy breakfast on board while sailing the River Nile to Aswan. There is no sightseeing excursions scheduled for this day, it is going to be a wonderfully relaxing day and lots of relaxation time on the river while the Nile Dahabiya is sailing silently towards el Sheikh Fadl Island, where the Dahabiya will moor for the night. Enjoy your dinner on the sundeck, overnight on board. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  Disembarkation after breakfast on board, today you will visit the unfinished obelisk, the largest known ancient Egyptian obelisk offers unusual insights into ancient Egyptian stone working techniques. Proceed to visit Aswan high dam, a rock-fill dam built across the Nile in Aswan between 1960- 1970. It creates Lake Nasser, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Continue with a motorboat ride to Philae Temple Island, comprises a large number of small Temples dates back to Pharaonic, Greek and Roman times. But the largest and the best preserved on the Island is the temple of the Goddess Isis. Later on, you will be transferred to Aswan (Hotel, airport or train station) for final departure. Meals: Breakfast Note: – Itinerary may change in sequence but not in visits, due to navigation circumstances, Program will always be respected.