12-Day Nile and Lake Nasser Cruise – From Cairo to Abu Simbel

DAY 1 – Cairo Airport Arrival for your Nile and Lake Nasser Cruise – From Cairo to Abu Simbel

When you arrive at Cairo International Airport for your 12 days of Nile and Lake Nasser cruises, your tour manager will be at the airport to meet you and assist you in any way they can, and then they will escort you in a private air-conditioned vehicle to the luxury hotel where you will be spending the night.

On arrival at the hotel, you will be assisted with check-in, and then your tour manager will confirm a pick-up time for the following day. Enjoy the remainder of the day to yourself. In the evening you will also have the chance to enjoy an optional Sound and Lights Show at the Giza Pyramids but this is not included in the price of your tour package.

Meals included: Dinner

DAY 2 – Exploring the Pyramids & the Grand Egyptian Museum

Wake up and enjoy the sort of breakfast you would expect from a good hotel, and then shortly after you have finished, one of our tour representatives will meet you at the hotel, and escort you to the Giza Plateau, where you’ll have the opportunity to admire one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Explore the area further with a visit to the iconic Sphinx and Valley Temple. Following your time at the Pyramids, enjoy a traditional lunch at an authentic Egyptian restaurant.

Next, head to the New Grand Egyptian Museum, or Giza Museum, an impressive archaeological site located about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Giza Pyramid complex. Currently, the GEM Complex offers limited access as it prepares for its grand opening, allowing visitors to experience the Main Galleries, Grand Hall, Grand Staircase, commercial area, and exterior gardens.

With a long and fascinating day behind you, your guide and driver will transfer you back to your hotel where you will once again be spending the night.

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 3 – Fly to Luxor, Cruise Embarkation and East Bank Tour

Wake up to a good breakfast at your hotel, and then at the time which was confirmed with you, you will check-out, and your tour manager will then escort you to the airport where you will be boarding a short flight to Luxor for your Nile and Lake Nasser Cruise – From Cairo to Abu Simbel. When you arrive at the airport, another one of our tour representatives will be standing by to meet and greet you, and they will then escort you to the port where you will be boarding your 5-Star Nile cruise. It is boats like this which help to make luxury travel to Egypt such a wonderful experience.

Shortly after boarding and checking in, you will be served you first excellent on-board lunch, and then once you and the other members in your group have finished eating, you will disembark for a tour on Luxor’s East Bank. First you will visit the Temple Complex of Karnak, the ruins of an ancient temple city. While this sprawling site consists mostly of ruins, there is still plenty to see. In fact, Karnak is Egypt’s second most visited ancient monument.

After your visit to Karnak, you will then be taken to see Luxor Temple, another ancient temple, and one which was never dedicated to any gods or goddesses. Enjoy some time exploring and taking photos, and then it will be time for you to return to the ship. Sit down to a wonderful dinner, and enjoy your first night’s sleep in your luxury cabin on the water at Luxor.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Sightseeing in Luxor and sail to Edfu

Enjoy your first hearty breakfast aboard the ship. After breakfast you’ll be taken to see a number of interesting sights, including the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut which was built during the 15th century BC, on the orders of Pharaoh Hatshepsut of the New Kingdom.

From here you will be taken to see the Colossi of Memnon, and then in the afternoon, you’ll return to the ship where lunch and afternoon tea will be served as you sail towards Edfu via Esna Lock. Dinner will be served and you’ll be spending the night in Edfu aboard the ship.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Sightseeing in Edfu then Cruise to Kom Ombo, Esna and Aswan

After breakfast you will go to see the famous Horus Temple in Edfu. Afterwards, you’ll return to the cruise ship, and it will then set sail for Kom Ombo Temple, while you enjoy a splendid lunch. Once you arrive in Kom Ombo, you’ll be taken to see a temple dedicated the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon headed god Haeroris. Your cruise will then continue on to Aswan. Dinner will be served and you’ll be spending the night aboard the ship in Aswan.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Aswan Sightseeing

After your aboard breakfast you’ll be taken on an excursion to see: The Philae Temple (dedicated to goddesses Isis and Hathor) and the Unfinished Obelisk. You’ll then return to the ship for lunch and some leisure time until dinner is served. The night will be spent in Aswan, aboard the ship.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Abu Simbel

After breakfast onboard, you’ll disembark and then be transferred to Abu Simbel, a drive which takes about three and a half hours. On arrival at Abu Simbel you’ll be met by our tour rep who will escort you to board the luxury Movenpick Prince Abbas cruise liner which will be your new home for the duration of your Lake Nasser cruise. Enjoy a lovely on-board lunch, followed by a visit to Abu Simbel Temples.

NOTE: There is an option to upgrade to a flight to Abu Simbel if you wish to avoid the drive.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Kasr Ibrim

Wake up and enjoy your breakfast while you sail towards Kasr Ibrim. Entrance to this site is prohibited, so the tour will be conducted from the sun deck on the ship. The ship will then set sail for Amada while you enjoy a nice lunch. On arrival at Amada you’ll be taken to visit a number of temples, including the Tomb of Penout. Following this excursion, the ship will sail slowly on to Wadi El Seboua. Dinner will be served, and passengers will be spending the night onboard.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Wadi El Saboua

In the morning after you’ve had breakfast, you’ll be taken to visit Wadi Seboua; the Temple of Dakka and the Temple of Meharakka. You then return to the boat for lunch and leisure time while it sets sail for Aswan. Enjoy a relaxing dinner and a wonderful night’s sleep as the ship makes its way to Aswan.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Kalabsha, Beit El Wali and fly to Cairo

After breakfast onboard you’ll disembark and then be taken to visit the Kalabsha Temple; the Temple of Beit El Wali, and finally the Kiosk of Kertassi.

Following these visits, you’ll be transferred to the airport in Aswan and then you will board a short flight back to Cairo. As usual, you will be met at the airport in Cairo when you land, and then you will be driven to the hotel where you will be staying for the last 2 nights of your 12 days of Nile and Lake Nasser cruises.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 11: Sightseeing in Cairo

Begin this day of your 12-day Nile and Lake Nasser Cruise – From Cairo to Abu Simbel with another wonderful breakfast at your hotel, and then at the agreed time, your guide and driver will arrive at your hotel, and your day of sightseeing will begin.

Your first stop of the day will be at the amazing Egyptian Museum which is home to more than 250,000 genuine artifacts.

The Museum also houses the world’s largest collection of Egyptian art which covers a period of roughly 5,000 years. Your tour also includes admittance to the Museum’s Royal Treasures Room which houses all the jewelry and artifacts that were recovered from King Tutankhamen’s tomb after being buried for more than 3,500 years.

Once you have finished at the museum, your guide will take you for lunch, and after you have finished eating he and your driver will then transfer you to see another three popular historical attractions, the Hanging Church, the Ben Ezra Synagogue, and the incredibly lively Khan el-Khalili Bazaar.

It should also be said that no trip to Cairo is complete without spending some time at the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar where traders have been selling their ware ever since the 14th century. If there is anything in particular you want to buy at the bazaar, your guide will be happy to help you find what you are looking for. Even if you don’t want to do any shopping, the bazaar is a great place to walk around, or to sit down for some coffee while you watch the locals going about with their daily lives.

Finally, with the sun fast approaching the horizon you will be escorted back to your hotel where you will be spending one more night.

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 12: Final Departure

All great things must end, and unfortunately, today marks the end of your wonderful journey through our ancient kingdom. Very few people are glad to be leaving, but many know that they’ll soon be back.

After you’ve enjoyed your breakfast a tour consultant and driver will fetch you and take you to Luxor airport. They will be there to bid you farewell, and to let you know just how happy we are that you decided to travel with us.

Meals included: Breakfast

12-Day Nile and Lake Nasser Cruise Image Gallery

Inclusions – What is included in your Nile and Lake Nasser Cruise – From Cairo to Abu Simbel:

• Meet and greet service at airports and coach stations
• All transfers in deluxe air-conditioned vehicles through-out the trip
• Accommodation for 4 nights in Cairo with daily breakfast
• Accommodation for 4 nights on a 5-Star Nile river cruiser (full board)
• Accommodation for 3 nights on the 5-Star Lake Nasser cruiser(full board)
• Domestic flights from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan to Cairo
• All sightseeing tours and shore excursions mentioned stated in the Nile and Lake Nasser Cruise – From Cairo to Abu Simbel itinerary
• English-speaking Expert guide on all tours
• Entrance fees to all sights listed in the Nile and Lake Nasser Cruise – From Cairo to Abu Simbel itinerary
• All service charges and taxes are included

Exclusions – What is NOT included in your Nile and Lake Nasser Cruise – From Cairo to Abu Simbel:

• Airfare to and from Egypt
• Entry visa for Egypt
• Personal expenses.
• Optional activities.
• Tipping kitty.

Accommodation Plan

• Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise (5-Star)
• MS Salacia Nile Cruise [Suite] (5-Star)
• Sheraton Hotel and Casino, Cairo (5-Star)

This tour package is only available in winter (Oct to Apr) and prices for our 12-Day Nile and Lake Nasser Cruise – From Cairo to Abu Simbel are quoted per person in US$ and are valid until the 30th of September 2025, except during the Christmas, New Year, and Easter holidays.