MS Salima Nile Cruise

Arrive in Luxor and receive a warm personal welcome from your Les Amis d'Égypte representative and private Egyptologist guide. Transfer in a private air-conditioned vehicle to the MS Salima pier and embark before lunchtime. After settling into your river-view cabin, enjoy your introductory lunch in the main dining room. In the afternoon, embark on your private East Bank tour. Explore the vast temple city of Karnak, walking through the Avenue of Ram-headed Sphinxes, the towering Pylons, and the Sacred Lake where ancient priests performed purification rituals. At dusk, continue to Luxor Temple, where soft evening illumination brings the grand courtyards and seated colossi of Ramesses II into dramatic relief. Return to MS Salima for welcome cocktails, dinner, and an overnight stay in Luxor.

Enjoy an early breakfast on the ship before driving across the Nile to Luxor's West Bank necropolis. Accompanied by your private guide, explore three magnificent royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, gazing upon original mineral pigments that have retained their vibrant brilliance for over three thousand years. Proceed to the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, marvelling at the harmony between the limestone cliffs and classical colonnades. Stop at the monumental Colossi of Memnon for photos before returning on board. The MS Salima departs Luxor around noon, sailing south toward Esna. Spend a relaxing afternoon on the sundeck watching rural Nile life drift by. Dinner and overnight stay on board near Edfu.

After breakfast, step off the ship into a traditional horse-drawn carriage to reach the magnificent Temple of Horus at Edfu. Regarded as the most architecturally intact temple in the Nile Valley, its towering 36-metre-high pylon and preserved roofing offer a complete vision of Ptolemaic temple life. Return to MS Salima and sail south past irrigated farmlands and sand dunes while enjoying lunch on board. Arrive late afternoon at Kom Ombo, where the temple stands dramatically perched above the riverbend. Your guide reveals the ancient dual sanctuaries dedicated to Sobek, the protective crocodile god, and Haroeris, the falcon of the sky, followed by a visit to the nearby Crocodile Museum. Sail into Aswan in the evening for dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast on board overlooking the serene granite islands of Aswan. Begin your private morning discoveries with the modern marvel of the Aswan High Dam, capturing panoramic vistas across Lake Nasser. Next, board a motorboat to the sacred island of Agilkia to explore the romantic Temple of Philae, rescued from rising waters by UNESCO. Continue to the ancient granite quarries to see the massive Unfinished Obelisk, gaining firsthand insight into ancient quarrying techniques. Return to MS Salima for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to stroll through Aswan's vibrant spice souk or take an optional felucca sailing trip around Kitchener's Island. In the evening, enjoy a special Egyptian dinner followed by lively Nubian music on board.

Conclude your river voyage with a leisurely breakfast on board MS Salima before disembarkation. For guests taking the optional Abu Simbel tour, an early departure brings you to the monumental desert temples of Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari. Your private driver transfers you on schedule to Aswan Airport or the train station for your onward travel arrangements.