Egypt nile river cruise & cairo tour

Arrive at Cairo International Airport. If your cruise/tour package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, a Uniworld representative will be on hand to greet you and escort you to the stunning Nile Ritz-Carlton. 

(Transfer time approx. 45 min - 1hr 

Featured excursion: Citadel of Salah al-Din 

Your local expert will show you the 12th-century Citadel of Salah al-Din, the beautiful Alabaster Mosque and an unsurpassed collection of priceless artifacts, including mind-boggling treasures once buried with the boy king Tutankhamen at the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. 

Featured Excursion: Temple of Karnak

Prepare to be amazed at the legendary Temple of Karnak, a massive and absolutely astounding site, with gigantic columns, broad avenues lined with stone sphinxes and halls of truly epic proportions. This evening, you’ll revel in a Welcome Reception and Dinner onboard.

Featured Excursions: Temple of Hathor & Temple of Luxor

 Like its twin shrine, the Temple of Karnak, the Temple of Luxor stands on the site of ancient Thebes, the once flourishing capital of Egypt’s New Kingdom. It was built over hundreds of years and even in ruins it is still an extraordinary place. You'll also visit the Temple of Hathor, dedicated to the goddess of love and beauty. 

Featured Excursions: Colossi of Memnon, Hatshepsut Temple and Valley of the Kings

The word "colossal" will take on a whole new meaning after today's excursion to the gigantic twin statues known as the Colossi of Memnon. And that's just the beginning—you'll also visit the temple of one of Egypt's rare female pharaohs, Hatshepsut, as well as the Valley of the Kings, used as a royal burial place for nearly 500 years and where the mummified remains of Tutankhamen are on display.

 Optional Excursion: Hot Air Balloon Ride 

  In the morning, visit Kom Ombo Temple dedicated to a crocodile god (don't miss the display of some of the 300 mummified crocs found in the local area). Later in the afternoon, enjoy high tea at the historic Old Cataract Hotel Aswan, a colonial-era gem that counts Winston Churchill and Princess Diana among its former guests. This famous hotel was depicted in Agatha Christie's acclaimed mystery novel Death on the Nile  

Featured Excursion: Philae Temple

The highlight today is the beautiful Philae Temple complex, originally situated on the island of Philae. It was painstakingly transferred to the island of Agilika after the construction of the Aswan High Dam to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, a daunting UNESCO-funded endeavor that took 10 years to complete. The three principal monuments on the island all date from the Ptolemaic and Roman periods—the Kiosk of Trajan, the Temple of Hathor and the Temple of Isis. In the afternoon, you'll also take a boat ride in traditional Nile River felucca sailboat.

Optional Excursion: Abu Simbel

 join us for an optional excursion to see the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel. Spend or spend the day at leisure.

Fly to Abu Simbel and discover the commanding twin temples of Ramses II and his favorite wife, Queen Nefertari. The former's facade is dominated by four 70-foot tall statues of the pharaoh. Perhaps even more impressive, this entire site was disassembled and moved here to save it from the floodwaters caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

Featured Excursion: Temple of Esna

On today's excursion, you'll learn how the Temple of Esna was buried under debris for many centuries and is one of the last great Egyptian temples ever built. Your Egyptologist guide will share all sorts of fascinating insights about this significant cultural site and show you the façade bearing the last known hieroglyphic inscriptions ever recorded in Egypt. Later, savor the Nile's majestic scenery as the ship cruises to Luxor.

Disembark in Luxor and transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo. Flights to Cairo depart early in the morning to optimize tour scheduling. Then, check in to your luxury hotel where you'll have time to relax before dinner.

Optional Excursion: NMEC Royal Mummies Museum

Featured Excursions: Ancient Memphis sites, including the Pyramids of Giza with small pyramid entry, the Great Sphinx and Sakkara

It's a day of Bucket List Moments today as we venture to Ancient Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a number of amazing monuments to see—including the enigmatic Great Sphinx. You'll have a thrilling opportunity to view the pyramids from an up-close perspective, the only way to fully appreciate their remarkable size and grandeur.

 Check out of your hotel and transfer to the Cairo International Airport (approx. 45 min - 1hr) for your flight home. 

NOTE:  Ship schedule and order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary. Tour to port of destination by motorcoach and substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to the impact of water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors.