Sanctuary Sun Boat IV Luxury Nile Cruise

After a buffet breakfast, cross to Luxor’s legendary West Bank and begin your archaeological journey at the Valley of the Kings. For almost 500 years, tombs and burial chambers were carved deep into the mountains for the pharaohs and nobles of Egypt’s New Kingdom. Explore selected royal tombs decorated with remarkably preserved scenes depicting the journey into the afterlife.

Continue to the nearby Valley of the Queens and the magnificent Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, an architectural masterpiece built against the towering cliffs of Deir el-Bahari. On the way back to the Nile, stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that were said in ancient times to sing mysteriously at dawn.

Return to the cruise and enjoy a leisurely lunch while sailing toward Esna, approximately 30 miles south of Luxor. Relax over afternoon tea in the lounge before enjoying dinner on board, followed by a movie night as the cruise continues toward Edfu.

In the morning, your floating home arrives in Edfu, where you will disembark for a guided visit to the impressive Temple of Horus. One of the largest and best-preserved ancient temples in Egypt, it was constructed between 237 and 57 BC during the height of the Ptolemaic period.

Explore the temple’s monumental gateway, courtyards and richly decorated halls. Its inscriptions reveal fascinating details about ancient Egyptian religion, mythology, language and the temple’s construction. Return to the cruise and relax over lunch while sailing toward Kom Ombo. Guests may also join an Egyptian cooking demonstration followed by afternoon tea.

In the early evening, visit the magnificent Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual symmetrical temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. Discover its mirrored sanctuaries and fascinating reliefs, including representations of medical instruments and an ancient calendar.

Return to the cruise and experience the spirit of Egyptian culture by dressing in a traditional galabeya. Enjoy a lavish dinner followed by Arabic music and dancing with fellow guests and the ship’s crew.

After breakfast and your arrival in Aswan, take a short motorboat ride to Agilkia Island, situated in the reservoir created by the Old Aswan Dam. The dam’s construction led to the partial flooding of the original Philae Temple site, and the magnificent temple complex was later carefully dismantled and reconstructed on the island.

Explore Philae Temple’s monumental structures, elegant columns and beautifully preserved hieroglyphic reliefs. Continue to Aswan’s ancient Granite Quarries, which supplied much of the hard stone used to construct Egypt’s pyramids, temples, statues and obelisks. Here, discover the enormous Unfinished Obelisk and learn how ancient craftsmen worked directly from the granite bedrock.

After lunch on board, embark on a traditional felucca, weather permitting, for a peaceful sail around Elephantine Island. Continue past Lord Kitchener’s Botanical Garden, filled with exotic plants and palm trees, before admiring the hilltop Aga Khan Mausoleum overlooking the Nile.

Return to the cruise for afternoon tea accompanied by traditional oud music. In the evening, conclude your voyage with an elegant farewell gala dinner followed by a captivating traditional dervish performance.

After an early breakfast, check out at approximately 8:00 AM and disembark from the cruise in Aswan. Continue with your onward travel arrangements, taking with you unforgettable memories of the Nile and the extraordinary treasures of ancient Egypt.