Nile Cruise

Name: Nile Cruise
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4 (62 reviews)

Award Winning Adventures

Covid Clear Groups

100m rewilded per person

Expert Local Guides

9 Days from

1 679 €

4/5 from

Culture

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures, Small Ship Cruises

Activity :

Culture

Activity Levels :

1 out of 10 - Leisurely

Group Size :

4 - 20

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

AENA

Discover ancient temples and tombs and travel by Nile cruise boat

Egypt has an enthralling history and a wealth of well-preserved monuments and treasures. This trip allows you to visit all the major sites and attractions along the Nile in a comfortable fashion. Boarding our cruise boat at Luxor we travel upstream, watching local life pass by, whilst also visiting the spectacular Edfu and Kom Ombo temples along the way. The lush green banks and the beautiful sunsets over the Nile, together with the excellent onboard facilities make this an unforgettable way to travel.

Highlights

Ancient temples and tombs
Cruise boat and luxury hotels
The Great Pyramids
Treasures of King Tut
Valley of the Kings

Key Information

4 nights on cruise boat and 4 nights 4 and 5-star hotels
Travel by minibus, cruise boat and one internal flight
Group normally 6 to 20, plus local leader. Min age 16 yrs

Whats Included

All breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
All accommodation (see accommodation section)
All transport and listed activities
Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

Whats Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations

Responsible Travel

Tourism can be a real help to local communities, providing income, positive cultural exchanges and a financial incentive to protect their natural environment. Ours is a 'total approach' to responsible tourism, covering everything from the way we plan and operate our trips to the practices of Exodus as a company.

We support A.C.E (Animal Care in Egypt), a charity dedicated to stopping the suffering of animals in the most deprived communities in Luxor by providing free veterinary care and education. Currently, there is a walk-in clinic, a hospital for crucial surgery and stables for the animals to recover. During term time, they host over 150 children a week to teach them about animal welfare and to better care for their animals. If time permits, there should be an opportunity to visit the facility on Day 4.

Our visit to the Nubian village is a fascinating and enriching experience that benefits the Nubian people financially and through encouraging the protection of their culture which is at risk of disappearing. However, Exodus Travels do not support the Nubian culture of keeping crocodiles as pets in small pits or cages. Nubians have a long tradition of keeping crocodiles in their homes and though these crocodiles will eventually be released back into the Nile, until then, their living conditions are poor. Whilst we believe that visiting the Nubian Village is, overall, a worthwhile experience both for our clients and for the local Nubian community, Exodus Travels do not support the practice of picking up the animals to have a photo taken as it can be stressful for the animals.

In March 2019, Exodus Travels launched the Exodus Travels Foundation where we support initiatives all around the world. But it cannot exist without travellers who care. Get involved or learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus here…

Itinerary

Include Flights

Cairo Aswan London London

Start Cairo.

Accommodation: Cairo Pyramids Hotel or similar

We start the morning with a tour of the Pyramids at Giza. Home to the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus and the timeless and enigmatic Sphinx; these great monuments to the afterlife defy the imagination. Only the throng of sightseers, Egyptian and foreign, milling around their huge foundations, keep the viewer in the 21st century. We next pay a visit to the incredible Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which contains relics dating back to 4000 BC, including the fantastic riches of Tutankhamun's tomb. Here is a unique opportunity to survey the many fabulous treasures of Egypt in one place and to set the scene for the rest of the tour. For the remainder of our tour we experience modern Cairo with visits to Al Azhar mosque, which despite being Cairo’s oldest mosque and university is still very much in use today, and the small alleyways and streets that make up Cairo's popular bazaar. Please note that we will need to cover up at the mosque (long sleeves and trousers) and women will also need to cover their hair with a scarf.

Accommodation: Cairo Pyramids Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

We typically transfer to Cairo airport before sunrise for our flight to Luxor (flight times can vary). On arrival in Luxor we visit Luxor Temple and the huge Karnak Temple complex on the east bank of the Nile. Built over 1500 years, Karnak is a confusion of pylons, courtyards, halls and sanctuaries. Its Hypostyle hall has 134 columns 23 metres high and 15 metres in diameter! Both temples are incredibly impressive. We arrive at our cruise boat in time for lunch on board before having free time in the afternoon to relax or explore Luxor.

Accommodation: M/S Esmeralda or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin Day 4 with a visit to the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile, which contains the once hidden tombs of over 62 Pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses III and IV. A discreet entrance in the hillside takes the visitor underground; a series of corridors and ante-chambers leads us down to the burial chamber and sarcophagus. The walls are covered in brightly painted images and hieroglyphs - a map of the afterlife to ensure the king's safe passage. One ticket allows us to see three tombs. The ticket usually allows entry into what are regarded as the most impressive tombs, but if you have time a visit to the tomb of Ramses VI is also highly recommended. Visits to tombs are now strictly controlled to halt further deterioration of wall paintings - each tomb is periodically closed for a number of weeks. On return to our cruise boat we begin our voyage along the Nile, travelling upstream from Luxor to Aswan. Exact sailing and excursion times cannot be guaranteed for each individual trip but we will visit the temples of Edfu, famous for its roofed inner temples and huge Pylon, and Kom Ombo. The cruise boat has good facilities: a sundeck with sun loungers, bar and small pool, restaurant, gift shop and library - these can all be taken advantage of when the cruise boat is docked or during sailing. The sunsets over the Nile are truly stunning and travelling from Luxor to Aswan, enjoying the beauty of the lush verdant landscape make this journey special.

Accommodation: M/S Esmeralda or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today there's the option of a visit to Abu Simbel, 300 km. to the south through the Nubian Desert. The optional bus tour starts at 3.30/4 in the morning when we get picked up from the boat. A breakfast box is provided. Around 8 am we will arrive at the destination, where we are given approx 3 hours to visit the temples. Built by Ramses II the two temples are certainly some of the most spectacular in Egypt. Originally on the banks of the Nile, the temples were raised to a new site above the lake in the late 1960s, as the waters from the new Lake Nasser rose behind the Aswan High Dam. The four great seated statues of Ramses II stare east towards the rising sun. We will be back in Aswan around 3 pm.

Accommodation: M/S Esmeralda or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast on board we disembark our boat and have a full day in Aswan. This is a laid-back, sleepy town that reflects the character of its largely Nubian inhabitants, known for being friendly and hospitable. By virtue of its position on the old caravan route, it has always been a trading centre and we thoroughly recommend a visit to the packed bazaar today where merchants display a wealth of exotic spices, carpets, leather goods and countless other wares. There is also the option to visit the Nubian Museum, situated opposite our usual hotel in Aswan. Opened in April 1998, the museum chronologically charts the history and culture of the Nubian people. Alternatively, we can arrange an optional visit to Philae Temple. In the 1970s it was relocated by UNESCO to Aglika Island after it became evident that the original site of Philae would submerge on completion of the Aswan High Dam. It represents a magnificent and enduring testament to both ancient and modern engineering. During this excursion we will also visit Aswan High Dam and Cleopatra's Unfinished Obelisk.

Accommodation: Basma Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today it's our last day in Aswan. Our morning is free to relax or book on optional excursion to St. Simone Monastery or a nearby Nubian museum. In the afternoon we explore the Nile by felucca, the traditional Egyptian sailing boat. Using the felucca, we can truly savour the tranquillity of the Nile and the beauty of the surrounding landscape, where the vast desert almost reaches the water's edge. (The sailing by felucca timing might be changed according to weather conditions). We end the day with our final dinner together, at one of this historic city’s restaurants.

Accommodation: Basma Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

End Aswan

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Egypt

Visas are required by all non-Arab nationalities and currently cost approximately GBP20. It is recommended that you obtain your visa before you travel (although it’s still possible to get a tourist visa on arrival). You can get a visa online at Visa2Egypt or alternatively, the address of the Egyptian Embassy in London is 2 Lowndes Street, SW1. Tel: 020 7235 9777. Visas are now generally available for same day collection, although this should NOT be relied upon. Opening hours are 09.30 to 12.30 for applications, 14.15 to 16.00 for collection of passports after the visa has been issued. Postal applications direct to the embassy for visas are not recommended as the service takes 15 to 20 days.

If you are obtaining your visa online then please ensure you have a scan of your passport ready. The file size should be small and ideally saved as a JPEG or PDF otherwise you might not be able to load it on the visa application.

You will need to provide your host’s information on the application – please use the following details:

South Sinai Travel
79 Merghany Street
Cairo
Egypt
Tel: +20 22418 7310
www.southsinai.com

salwa.ibrahim@southsinai.com

Please note that recently Egyptian officials have requested tourists carry a copy of their passport with them whilst in the country.

Vaccination

Egypt

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Although not usually advised, other vaccinations to consider include rabies and Hepatitis B.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners included.

In the itinerary, we state which meals are included on which day. For meals not included, we suggest you allow approximately GBP 7-9 (USD 10-12) for lunch and GBP 11-13 (USD 15-18) for dinner. Food in Egypt involves such things as kebabs, chicken, stews, pitta-bread, felafel, beans, aubergine and other vegetables, pickles, salads. Dishes tend to be simple and wholesome and vegetarians can be catered for if they accept that the options may be somewhat limited.

Weather

Rain is very rare in all parts of Egypt and most days are sunny and clear. Summer temperatures often reach the upper 30's but this is particularly true for the period between June and September. The winter months can be surprisingly cold, especially on the Nile or at night. The average daytime maximum in Cairo in January is 20ºC, night time minimum is 8ºC. In the summer these temperatures are 35ºC and 22ºC respectively. Daytime temperatures are on average 3 or 4 degrees higher in Aswan.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been graded as grade 1 (leisurely). Leisurely grade trips are suitable for all clients with average health and fitness. No experience of any activity involved is necessary.

Most days involve early starts (especially Day 3 when we catch an early flight to Luxor) but this allows us to get the most from our time in Egypt and avoid the worst of the heat.

Egypt can get hot, especially during our summer, which can cause discomfort whilst travelling. Care should be taken to keep hydrated. The hottest months tend to be June to September when temperatures can reach as high as 38 to 40ºC in the south of the country.

The hotels and cruise boat that we use on this trip are of a high standard, providing excellent levels of comfort.

Please note that the new Egyptian Museum is scheduled to open in October 2020 but that this is subject to change. We will change to the new museum when it is open.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Melanie Zacheis

Reviewed May 2022

Amazing experience not great for vegetarians

What an amazing place! Every excursion was amazing. The iconic views and the history. The guide was lovely and very helpful. The accommodation looked very nice and service was great but the hotels need some work done (in the hotel in Aswan i was locked in my bathroom for over 30 minutes before they were able to get me out). Food in all accommodation was limited especially for vegetarians IF anything is provided at all. Even food that is described as vegetarian contained meat and the staff would lie to your face even when you are pointing at the chicken chunks floating in the soup they will insist its just vegetables. Every day was a struggle to get vegetarian food. It always seemed to contain chicken or ham. So i was having the same conversation every day. And it was just me. There were 4 vegetarians in the group and we all had to the same problem. Even on the flight home. Unlike other Exodus trips i have been on we were left to our own devices for the evening meals. I still don't feel that i experienced Egyptian food. The cruise was everything you'd imagine it to be. The scenery is amazing, the colours so vivid. The entertainment on the boat was a bit hit or miss but again the staff were falling over themselves to help you. Despite the issues with food at meal times i would highly recommend this trip. The guide was very knowledgeable and the scenery and history mind blowing.

Hilary Droy

Reviewed March 2022

The way to see Egypt in a week

Finally, after originally booking when the pandemic wasn't even a thing, we made it to Egypt in February 2022! This is a fabulous, slightly whirlwind, trip covering all the iconic sights in Egypt.....we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We were lucky to have a lovely group who gelled well from the start and an excellent leader who kept us all organised and informed of what we were seeing. This is a leisurely trip when you get to where you are going, ie no hills to climb/no long slogs to places/plenty of time to wander around at your own pace/time "off" while sailing along the Nile BUT there are a lot of very early starts which cannot be helped as flights need to be caught and sights need to be seen before the sun gets up/places get too busy, and the cruise boat needs to keep to a sailing schedule. The hotels were clean and of a good standard and the cruise boat Esmerelda was clean and comfortable with friendly staff, a good selection of buffet food, and a lovely sun-deck which, surprisingly, didn't get too busy. We were in Egypt during their half-term so that made things a little busier as Egyptian families were taking advantage of their holiday time, there didn't seem to be many tourists from other countries.

Ian Jesse

Reviewed February 2022

Nile Cruise - Premium December 2021

A fantastic journey for anyone wishing to immerse themselves into the ancient Egyptian culture.

J McFaull

Reviewed December 2021

Great Trip

Overall a great experience and we packed a lot into the holiday. Our leader, Andrew, was excellent and we were fortunate to have a great group of people on our trip. Points to note for future travellers are that day one (Saturday) is all travel. The 2.00pm flight from the UK means that you arrive at the hotel about midnight (local time) then pack a full day in Cairo on the Sunday, leaving at 4.00am (2.00am UK time) on the Monday to fly to Luxor. So at that point everyone was pretty tired. The boat trip (on the Esmerelda) was excellent all round. Really relaxing. The Basma hotel in Aswan for the last two days was a bit disappointing. I would rate it a three star. Not what was billed, but it didn't spoil the holiday. Again for future travellers, it's easy to get your visa at the airport and there are frequent stops at ATM's to get Egyptian pounds if required. In summary, a great trip with particular thanks to Andrew our leader, and to the great group of people we were with. Suggested areas for improvement for Exodus would be the Cairo logistics and flights, and the hotel in Aswan. Otherwise it was a great itinerary and a great experience

Caroline Bain

Reviewed February 2020

Amazing experience

From start to finish, I cannot fault this trip. The temples and Ancient Egyptian remains speak for themselves and are stunning. I had no idea that they were so well preserved. But the trip was made especially enjoyable by our super efficient and friendly guide, Sayed. His commentary covered both ancient and modern Egypt, and I have been reading books about Egypt ever since!

Linda Pearce

Reviewed January 2020

Unforgettable

The week exceeded my expectations. I had thought a week would give me just a glimpse of Egypt but there was so much more.

Andrew Davies

Reviewed December 2019

Outstanding Experience

Too many superlatives. Exceeded expectations in so many ways. The archaeology the food and comfort and Sayed our fantastic guide with a lovely group of fellow travellers. Bucket list well and truly ticked for Egypt.

Joe Doucet

Reviewed December 2019

Outstanding trip

This was a full packed trip , informative trip led by Mohammed Tefa whose in depth knowledge, and leadership style made the trip a wonderful experience.

Kate Stevenson

Reviewed June 2019

Unforgettable

An unforgettable trip, I read as much as could on Egypt, its history, this tour - and was still blown away by so much about the place and this Exodus trip. A very busy nine days, but still plenty of time in the afternoons to recharge. Can't believe what we packed in to such a small amount of time. Very well organised, and absolutely adored our guide Tefa; and particularly pleased with the dynamics of the group I travelled with. Thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Margaret Madgwick

Reviewed June 2019

A glimpse of Ancient Egypt.

Visits to the Pyramids & Sphinx , Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo Temples, Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel. Cruise down the Nile river.

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Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and can be booked, although some components will need to be requested. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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