Nile Cruise Aboard the Flâneuse du Nil

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 will 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.

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 and is home to ruins of ancient temples, tombs and cemeteries, as well as a sacred lake, which is 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 largest 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.

Begin today with a visit to an Egyptian village on the island of El Ramady and 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.

Today you will visit the Temple of Kom Ombo. This is a unique site as it 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.

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 which is located 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 all of Egypt. Return to the boat for a delicious dinner and your final night aboard the Flâneuse du Nil.

After breakfast, you will disembark from the boat and be privately transferred to your hotel in Aswan where you will spend 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 or 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.