Ancient Egypt & the Nile with Uniworld

Relax in the comfort of a VIP airport lounge before flying to Cairo. On arrival you'll be met and transferred to your hotel, the superb Four Seasons Hotel, located on the banks of the Nile River. You'll be greeted to stylish rooms, sweeping river views and a choice of tantalizing on site restaurants. After settling in, head to the refreshing pool to lounge and relax as you prepare for the adventures ahead.

Stay: Four Season Hotel Cairo or Ritz Carlton or similar

After breakfast you'll be met by your local Egyptologist and whisked away on a highlight tour of Cairo's historic city centre – one of many included tours to come. Begin with the fortified walls of the Old Citadel, where you'll find old museums, important mosques and panoramic views over the lively city. Explore the great Alabaster Mosque, where you'll find lanterns that adorn the high ceilings, illuminating the unique Turkish decor and artwork. Afterwards you'll visit to the halls of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, learning in chronological order, the history and timeline of Egypt's ancient civilization, while gazing upon old artifacts, mummified remains and important relics. 

Stay: Four Season Hotel Cairo or Ritz Carlton or similar

After enjoying breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for a short flight to Luxor, where you're guide will be greet you and take you to visit of your first temple on the banks of the River Nile. You'll start with the magnificent Temple of Karnak, where you'll witness the achievements of ancient builders through many generations, who enacted halls of gigantic columns, avenues of sphinxes and impressive tombs. Afterwards, you'll make you way to either the gorgeous S.S. Sphinx or the elegant River Tosca, two beautifully design Uniworld River Cruise ships. Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening as you settle into your oasis on the Nile for the following seven-nights.

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

Rise this morning to your elegantly appointed riverview stateroom, where you'll enjoy Nile views throughout your round trip journey from Luxor. Today, you'll be taken ashore with your knowledgeable Egyptologist to the Temple of Hathor which is one of Egypt's best-preserved temples and dedicated to the goddess of love and beauty. Continue on to the Temple of Luxor, which was once the flourish capital of Egypt and rests on the ancient site of Thebes.

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

Watch river life pass by this morning from the ships open air top-deck as the ship makes it way to the ancient sites at the Colossi of Memnon, which is made up of two gigantic statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III and the Temple of Hatshepsut, which is dedicated to one of Egypt's rare female pharaohs. This afternoon's highlight will be a visit to one of the most famous archeological sites in the world, the Valley of Kings, where King Tutankhamen built his temple and where his mummified remains were found centuries later. This evening you'll enjoy a traditional galabeya with Egyptian music and locally inspired meals.

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

Today you'll begin to sail towards the historic town of Aswan, en route stopping at the Temple of Kom Ombo, which was dedicated the the crocodile god Sobek. As your Egyptologist guides you around this unique temple, you'll be shown mummified crocodiles which can still be found on display, as well as ancient scriptures and hieroglyphs that adorn the walls.

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

Begin your day with a tour of Aswan's nearby highlights starting with the impressive Aswan high dam, which is a modern engineering feat and an impressive sight to see. Continue to the unfinished Obelisks and the Philae temple, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites which were remarkably relocated to new locations during the dams construction. In the afternoon you'll return to Aswan where you'll enjoy a traditional sail aboard a felucca, powered completely by the wind, before enjoying an afternoon tea at Aswan's historic Old Cataract Hotel, which was famously depicted in Agatha Christie's novel, Death on the Nile, which sits on the banks of the river.

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

Today you may wish to explore Aswan and its ancient alleys in more detail or optionaly you may join a tour further south, to the Temples of Abu Simbel. On this option tour, bookable with you destination specialist, you'll fly south aboard a scenic flight to the temples of one of Egypt's more celebrated kings, King Ramses II. These impressive temples, with the efforts of the government and UNESCO organisation, were relocated during the Aswan dam construction so its ancient columns, tombs and halls could be preserved. In the afternoon enjoy a return flight to Aswan, where you'll rejoin the group.

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

After enjoying breakfast, you'll meet your Egyptologist who'll show you one of Egypt's last temples ever built. Just a short walk from the ship, through a local market, you'll discover the old hieroglyphs and scripstions that adorn the temple walls, and which may have been the last incripstions ever recorded. The afternoon will be spent at leisure, where you'll find the top deck pool an ideal place to unwind and relax as you sail up-river towards Luxor.

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

Enjoy a final breakfast aboard your luxury River Nile ship and say goodbye to the excellent team on board before a short transfer and return flight to Cairo. After settling into your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

The following day you'll have the chance to check an iconic bucket-list place off your list, the pyramids at Giza. Admire their grandeur and awe-inspiring architecture with your expert Egyptologist who'll guide you around the iconic pyramids, before visiting the great sphinx, which still kneels gracefully as it has for over a thousand years. This evening you'll also enjoy a farewell dinner, sharing stories of this memorably holiday to Egypt.

Stay: Four Season Hotel Cairo or Ritz Carlton or similar

After breakfast, head to the airport with your included transfer before your flight back to the UK.