On the River Nile: Luxury Hotels & a Cruise on the Steam Ship Sudan

After waking up in the ancient city of Luxor, you will head to the Steam Ship Sudan (which incidentally is owned by our parent company, Voyageurs du Monde), where your idyllic adventure on the Nile begins. Get settled in your cabin before enjoying a delicious lunch on board, followed by an afternoon spent discovering the East Bank of Luxor. Visit the Karnak Complex, one of the world's largest sacred monuments, including the temple of the sovereign god of Karnak - Amun - which was built nearly two thousand years ago between the Middle Kingdom and the later Ptolemaic era. Then visit the Temple of Luxor, the most elegant of the Ancient Egyptian buildings built under Amenhotep III. Return to the boat and set sail towards Qena, north of Luxor. This part of the Nile, where few cruise ships go, is lush and picturesque and offers stunning coastal views over which you can enjoy your first Egyptian sunset along the Nile. Tuck into your first dinner aboard the steamship before spending your first night sleeping in true Egyptian luxury.

It’s an early start this morning as you disembark the boat and make the two-hour drive to Abydos. The holy city of Abydos is a city of Osiris, king of the underworld and God of the afterlife and has been drawing visitors since the Ancient Egyptian era. The temple, which dates back to the time of Seti I, is a wonder to admire, with large colourful engravings whose exquisite execution marks the birth of Ramesside art. On the way back to the steamship, stop off at the Dendera Temple and the spectacular Temple of Hathor, goddess of joy and love, protector of women and also nurse to the pharaohs. The remains of the ancient city of Dendera are particularly well preserved and you’ll be able to see intricately decorated chapels, columns topped with cow heads, and terraces and roofs boasting splendid views of the Upper Egypt countryside. Head back to the boat for lunch, before spending a beautiful afternoon sailing back towards Luxor.

Another early start this morning, but a truly worthwhile one as you head to the Theban Necropolis – a land of mysteries believed to be the domain of the god Osiris. You’ll be able to visit the Valley of the Kings, where you'll find hypogea (underground tombs) belonging to many pharaohs of the New Empire, as well as the Valley of the Queens where the royal wives are buried, and the Valley of the Nobles. You can also visit the Temple of Ramses III in Medinet-Habu, which is almost entirely preserved and is a perfect example of funeral temples from the Ramesside dynasty. Head back to the steamship for a languid lunch before setting sail for Esna Lock, before continuing onto Edfu under the star-filled sky. Enjoy another delicious dinner on board before heading to bed.

This morning you’ll explore the Temple of Edfu, dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus, his wife Hathor and son Harsomtous and one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. Return to the steamship for lunch on board and sail to Kom Ombo just in time for sunset. In the evening, visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, a very special place within Egypt thanks to its dedication to two deities: the god Horus, with the head of a falcon and the god Sobek, with the head of a crocodile. Enjoy dinner on board and an overnight at the quay in Kom Ombo.

Today is the day you will set sail for Aswan, the gateway to Nubia. Large sandy banks slowly replace the cultivated lands along the Nile as you enter the area where civilisation once ended. Since the third century, Elephantine Island has been a major trading centre as Nubia (meaning gold in Nubian) boasts rich land, providing Egypt not only with gold but also with soldiers, sought-after timber and precious ivory. In Aswan, you’ll be able to visit the Philae Temple complex, which is a sanctuary to Isis, the goddess of marriage, fertility and medicine who ruled over life, death and the underworld, and one of the most important places in Egypt and Nubia until 550 AD. Enjoy some time exploring Aswan before dinner and the optional ‘Light and Sound’ show in Philae.

Leave the beautiful Steam Ship Sudan behind after breakfast and transfer to your hotel in style on a traditional felucca with a stop at Kitchener’s Island. Named after the former British consul in Egypt, who transformed this desert islet into a lush botanical haven, the island offers stunning views over the western bank of the Nile and the desert beyond. Spend the rest of the day exploring the historical delights that Aswan has to offer. From sublime amphitheatres and bustling souqs to the Unfinished Obelisk and the Great Mosque, Aswan is brimming with history just waiting to be discovered. Head to your hotel for afternoon tea followed by dinner and even a cocktail or two overlooking the Nile.