Lake Nasser Cruising Holiday Planner. Tailor-made Holidays to Lake Nasser Cruising in Egypt

Day 1: Cairo

Welcome to Egypt's capital and Africa's largest city: Cairo. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred directly to your hotel. Upon reaching the hotel we will assist with your check-in and then the evening is yours to relax and freshen up.

Day 2: Cairo

Visit to the famous pyramids and lion-headed Sphinx at Giza Plateau. Gaze in awe at Cheops (Khufu) - the largest of the three great pyramids. Constructed from over 2.5 million limestone blocks it is thought to have taken more than 20 years to construct. Continuing to Saqqara, we can explore the myriad tombs and temples at this site.

Day 3: Cairo - Bahariyya Oasis

Today we drive to Bahariyya. Situated in a 2000 sq km depression about 330km south-west of Cairo is Bahariyya Oasis. This Oasis consists of several colonies of palm trees and was created many thousand years ago, long before the first Nile civilisations, when the Nile’s course used to pass that way.

Day 4: Bahariyya Oasis - White Desert

We check out Bahariyya - an ancient oasis. Continuing by 4 x 4, we visit the Temple of Alexander the Great, Tombs of the Nobles and the Black Desert, as we push towards the White Desert. So named, as the sand resembles snow, the striking White Desert is full of unusual wind-eroded limestone formations and our remote overnight base.

Day 5: White Desert - Cairo

This morning you can choose to lie in or wake up early and view the sunrise - as the sun creeps above the horizon the white chalk turns into beautiful shades of pink and orange. After breakfast and some time to explore we are transferred back to Cairo.

Day 6: Cairo - Lake Nasser

This morning fly to the not to be missed Temple of Abu Simbel - it is an early flight! Abu Simbel is one of the greatest Egyptian monuments ever built. The entire temple was moved from the banks of Nile when Lake Nasser was formed. This afternoon we board our Nile cruiser. Tonight we enjoy a sound and light show at Abu Simbel before dinner on our cruise boat.

Day 7: Lake Nasser

The High Dam contains 18 times the amount of material used in the construction of Cheops, the largest pyramid at Giza. The by-product for this construction is Lake Nasser – the world’s largest artificial lake. This afternoon we set sail to view Kasr Ibrim. This tour is conducted from the ship’s sundeck as entrance to the site is not permitted.

Day 8: Lake Nasser

Today visit the temple of Amada of the XVIIIth dynasty. We'll also see the hemi-spocs of Derr and the tomb of Penout. After a relaxing afternoon onboard, we enjoy a visit to Wadi El Seboua, dedicated by Ramses II to the two Gods Amon Ra and Ra Harmakis. The temple of Dakka, is dedicated to the God of divine wisdom. We also see the Greco Roman temple of Maharakka.

Day 9: Lake Nasser

Sit back and relax as we cross the Tropic of Cancer, bound for the Nubian city of Aswan, visiting Kalabsha Temple, Beit El Wali and the Kiosk of Kertassi en-route.

Day 10: Lake Nasser - Luxor

Welcome to Aswan! After breakfast we disembark and enjoy a trip to the High Dam and Philae temple before driving to Luxor . En-route we stop at the Temple of Kom Ombo and Egypt’s best preserved temple at Edfu.

Day 11: Luxor

We visit the magnificent Temple of Karnak. More than a temple, it’s a gigantic and stunning complex of sanctuaries and pylons dedicated to the Theban gods. This evening we visit the beautifully illuminated Luxor temple where you can enjoy a guided explanation of the site and some free time to explore.

Day 12: Luxor - Cairo

There is the option to float over Luxor in a hot air balloon and see the area wake up and come alive. Afterwards, we cross to the West Bank, where we’ll see the massive Colossi of Memnon. We’ll then explore the Valleys of the Kings and Queens and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut.