Nile Cruise Aboard the Flâneuse du Nil

DAY 1 Arrive in Cairo

Today, it’s time to embark on your Egypt holiday. Head to the airport and hop on a five-hour flight to the North African nation, where you’ll be whisked through customs and transferred to your hotel for the night. Feast on a delicious dinner before hitting the hay (you’ve got an exciting morning of exploring tomorrow).

DAY 2 Flight to Luxor

Rise and shine early this morning to pack in as much sightseeing of the capital as you can. Whether wandering bazaars, touring historic sites or learning about the ancient world, there’s much to see and do in captivating Cairo. After a hearty lunch (you’ve earned it), this afternoon, leave Cairo behind and catch an hour-long domestic flight to Luxor. On arrival, you'll be met and privately transferred to your hotel, where you'll be able to freshen up and enjoy a leisurely dinner before hitting the hay, ready for another day of adventure tomorrow.

DAY 3 Your Nile Cruise Begins

Accompanied by an expert local guide, set off bright and early today to visit the temples of Karnak. This vast site, spread across 250 acres, is home to the grandest building from antiquity. From here, you’ll cross over to the west bank of the Nile and spend the rest of the morning exploring the Valley of the Kings, home to magnificently decorated tombs that tell the story of their journey through the afterlife. A highlight of your private tour is the tomb of Ramses VI, which is 380ft long and filled with spectacular hieroglyphs and paintings.

Esna is your next stop, where you'll board the Flâneuse du Nil, a supremely comfortable and elegant dahabieh (traditional sailing boat), which will be your floating home for the remainder of your trip. Enjoy lunch on board before setting sail and beginning your cruise along the Nile, arriving in El Hegz at the end of the day.

DAY 4 Visit the Temple of Horus

After breakfast on board, set off to visit the ancient archaeological site of El Kab, accompanied by your expert guide. Located on the east bank of the Nile, this is one of the oldest settlements of Upper Egypt; it’s home to ruins of ancient temples, tombs and cemeteries, as well as a sacred lake contained within thick mudbrick walls.

Return to the boat for lunch then find a shady spot on deck and watch life on the Nile unfold around you as you spend the day cruising the river. Along the way, stop at Edfu to visit the Temple of Horus, one of the biggest and best-preserved monuments in Egypt. Accompanied by your guide, pass through the enormous gateway, which is guarded by two huge granite statues of Horus as a falcon, and discover the site’s impressive columns, temples and hieroglyphs. Afterwards, return to the boat and continue sailing to the island of El Ramady.

DAY 5 Tour of Gebel Silsila

Begin today with a visit to an Egyptian village on the island of El Ramady. If you have time, you might enjoy a short walk around the island. Then return to the boat and continue sailing to Gebel Silsila, a monument located in the southern Nile Valley on a narrow section of the river flanked by steep sandstone cliffs.

Disembark from the boat to explore the site, which was once a sandstone quarry used to source materials for temples across Egypt. On the west bank, you’ll find the most eye-catching monuments, including shrines, chapels and rocks carved with inscriptions. Return to the boat and continue your voyage along the Nile towards Kom Ombo.

DAY 6 Temple of Kom Ombo

Today, you will visit the Temple of Kom Ombo. This fascinating site is dedicated to not one but two gods – Horus and Sobek, the local crocodile god. As you walk around the temple, your guide will point out the site’s perfect symmetry and twin entrances which are designed to celebrate both gods equally. Return to the boat for lunch on board then continue sailing to Herdiab.

DAY 7 Sail to Aswan

Disembark the boat in the morning and head to the traditional Nubian village of Kobanai. As you walk around the village, your guide will tell you about the Nubian people who inhabited Upper Egypt and were massively displaced during the construction of the Aswan Dam and the creation of Lake Nasser. Return to the boat for a tasty lunch on board before spending the rest of the day sailing to Aswan, arriving in the early afternoon, where the Flâneuse will dock on the west bank shortly after crossing beneath the Aswan bridge.

From here, set off to visit the Temple of Philae, three miles south of Aswan on Agilka Island. The Temple of Philae, dedicated to Isis - the universal mother and wife of Osiris – is home to spectacular bas-reliefs and frescoes and is widely considered one of the most beautiful sanctuaries in Egypt. Return to the boat for a delicious dinner and your final night aboard the Flâneuse du Nil.

DAY 8 Day at leisure in Aswan

After breakfast, you’ll disembark from the boat and be privately transferred to your hotel in Aswan for the night. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. After your busy itinerary so far, unwind with a relaxing afternoon by the pool. If you fancy exploring Aswan, we can arrange for you to visit Elephantine Island, home to a number of impressive ancient ruins, and take a tour of the Nubian Museum.

DAY 9 Flight home

Sadly, your Egypt adventure has come to an end. You'll be privately transferred to the airport in good time for your flight to Cairo, followed by your international flight home.