Wonders of the Nile River Cruise: Cairo to Luxor

10 nights from £4,899pp departing Monday 23rd Mar 2026

Our Nile cruise explores the mighty monuments, the intriguing history and the extraordinary artistic masterpieces from the greatest and oldest of all the ancient civilizations. We start in Cairo - the largest city on the African continent, Cairo remains a fascinating fusion of western, Islamic and Christian culture, all mixed up with something a lot more ancient. Right in the centre of Cairo, the Egyptian Museum houses so many priceless treasures. We’ll also visit the Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, just south of Cairo and built over 4,600 years ago, this is Egypt’s first proper pyramid...

Itinerary

Map

					Arrive	Depart
	23rd23	MarMar	202626	Cairo, Egypt, embark on the MS Movenpick Darakum
Arrival in Cairo
	24th24	MarMar	202626	Cairo, Egypt
The Pyramids, Sphinx & Coptic Museum - Today we drive out of the city towards the Giza plateau for our first close-up view of the Great Pyramids. The truly gigantic size of the three main pyramids only becomes fully apparent when they tower above you in all their majesty. For the more adventurous, entry into the pyramids is available at extra cost payable locally, but for the Great Pyramid of Cheops there’s a daily limit to the number of visitors and there’s no guarantee of an entry. A little further down the hill is the mighty Sphinx, one of the world’s largest free-standing sculpture. This afternoon we’ll explore Old Cairo’s Christian history with a visit to the remarkable 3rd century ‘Hanging Church’, built over a gateway to the Roman era Babylon fortress. With its wooden barrel-roofed interior this makes for a fascinating introduction to Egypt’s long Coptic heritage. We continue to the Coptic Museum and the nearby Ben Ezra synagogue, said to be the place where the Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses in his basket amongst the reeds.
	25th25	MarMar	202626	Cairo, Egypt
Egyptian Museum & Saqqara - “This day of days, the most wonderful that I have ever lived through…” is how Howard Carter described the day in 1922 when he realised he had made the archaeological find of the century. King ‘Tut’s’ tomb held so many treasures that it took 10 years to examine, photograph, catalogue and finally remove all 5,398 of them. The collection forms the centrepiece of the Egyptian Museum, without question one of the world’s greatest museums, a treasure-house overflowing with artefacts of remarkable ancient craftsmanship, ranging from the mundane to the mystical. The famous Royal Mummy room may be entered, upon payment of a small additional fee. This afternoon we head south to the pyramids at the necropolis of Saqqara. Soon the lush fields give way to barren desert and we see the giant ‘step’ pyramid looming above the palms. Built using smaller blocks than the Great Pyramids at Giza, it’s easy to see how the architecture of pyramid-building evolved from a simple square flat-topped mound upon which similar smaller mounds were added.
	26th26	MarMar	202626	Cruising
	27th27	MarMar	202626	Al Minya, Egypt
Full day sail - Our second consecutive day of sailing, and by this time you should have settled into the rhythm of shipboard life! After a sumptuous breakfast buffet make your way to one of the three open decks and relax under one on one of the many comfortable shaded sun loungers or Balinese-style canopied day-beds as the unchanged landscape of the Nile Valley slips by. If you prefer to keep cool in air-conditioned comfort, then there’s plenty of armchairs by the full-length windows of the bar. This afternoon we arrive in Minya where we will moor for two nights.
	28th28	MarMar	202626	Al Minya, Egypt
Beni Hassan Tombs - After an early breakfast you set out with a visit to Tuna El Gebel, the necropolis of Hermopolis, sacred to the Greek god Hermes and his Egyptian counterpart Thoth, god of writing and wisdom. Here we’ll explore the tomb of Petosiris, the high priest, and the catacombs which once held thousands of mummified ibis and baboons. After lunch on board, we continue with a tour of the little-visited tombs at Beni Hassan, set high above the Nile at the foot of a cliff, with wonderful views across the valley. The tombs belong to the 11th dynasty governors of the region and unlike more imposing royal tombs, here you’ll find wall paintings showing charming glimpses of real daily life, with hunting scenes, farming, dancing and even wrestling competitions!
	29th29	MarMar	202626	Amarna, Egypt
Amarna - This morning we arrive in Amarna, site of the short lived capital of the Pharaoh Akhenaten and his queen Nefertiti. Akhenaten took a brave, and possibly foolhardy, decision to replace the existing ancient, complex and powerful theology (and its priesthood!) with a monotheistic cult of the sun-god, the Aten. In order to cement the break from the past he built this brand-new city, with its temples and altars open to the sky, unlike the dark cavernous interiors of traditional temples. After his death his young son, Tutankhamun, ascended the throne and reinstated the old gods, leading to the abandonment of his father’s city. We’ll visit Akhenaten’s tomb, as well as those of some of his courtiers. We return to our ship in time for lunch and continue our journey south, with the opportunity to see one of Egypt’s most important Coptic monasteries as we sail by. We moor in Assyut overnight.
	30th30	MarMar	202626	Cruising
	31st31	MarMar	202626	Qena, Egypt
Abydos - Abydos remains one of ancient Egypt’s most mysterious sites, with the Great Temple of Seti I as its centrepiece. Dedicated to the cult of Osiris, God of the dead, Abydos was a pilgrimage centre for thousands of years. The temple is known for its Gallery of the Kings, which lists all the pharaohs, as well as some hieroglyphs which look like modern machines! We sail on to Qena where we moor overnight.
	1st01	AprApr	202626	Luxor, Egypt
Since the early steamers visited Egypt in the nineteenth century, Luxor has remained a tourist hotspot. Situated on the east side of the Nile in the centre of The Nile Valley, Luxor is an ideal location for tours and trips to surrounding places of interest. Dendera - The temple of Hathor is one of the most complete and best-preserved in all of Egypt. Hathor was the Egyptian goddess of love, beauty, joy and healing, and her temple, although only completed in Roman times, nevertheless follows the architecture and style of much older temples. Intriguingly, one of the outside walls has a famous relief of Cleopatra and Caesarion, her son, by Julius Caesar, so the famous queen may well have visited the temple. We sail the short distance to Luxor where we moor overnight.
	2nd02	AprApr	202626	Luxor, Egypt, disembark the MS Movenpick Darakum
Since the early steamers visited Egypt in the nineteenth century, Luxor has remained a tourist hotspot. Situated on the east side of the Nile in the centre of The Nile Valley, Luxor is an ideal location for tours and trips to surrounding places of interest. Return home

MS Movenpick Darakum

Launch Year

2008

Capacity

104

Cabins

Accessible

Sun Deck

Top Deck

Upper Deck

Main Deck

Lower Deck

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

Lower Deck Cabin

Price guides

Grade Code		From	To
L	Lower Deck	£4,899	£4,899

These cabins are 20 square meters, with two sealed windows facing the Nile. All cabins feature individually-controlled air conditioning, hairdryer, personal safe, fridge, TV and the convenience of tea & coffee making facilities. The beds are hotel-style twins with fine Egyptian cotton sheets, and an evening turn-down service. Clever design allows for all the wood-panelled bathrooms to have a bath with a fixed shower above, along with complimentary toiletries. A laundry service is also available.

Main Deck Cabin

Price guides

Grade Code		From	To
M	Main Deck	£5,169	£5,169

These cabins are 20 square meters, with large picture-windows offering magnificent river views, with a panel that can be opened. All cabins feature individually-controlled air conditioning, hairdryer, personal safe, fridge, TV and the convenience of tea & coffee making facilities. The beds are hotel-style and can be configured as a double or two twins, with the fine Egyptian cotton sheets, and an evening turn-down service. Clever design allows for all the wood-panelled bathrooms to have a bath with a fixed shower above, along with complimentary toiletries. A laundry service is also available.

Upper Deck Cabin

Price guides

Grade Code		From	To
U	Upper Deck	£5,419	£5,419

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

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Holiday Summary

	Return flights including luggage allowance
	Overseas Transfers
	10 nights cruising on the Nile
	Fascinating daily tours & excursions with expert guides
	Exceptional dining from breakfast to midnight snacks
	Complimentary Wi-Fi
	Complimentary tea, coffee on-board
	Return overseas airport transfers
	Port Taxes and Fees
	ABTA and ATOL Protection*

Interior staterooms
	Deluxe Cabin

Oceanview staterooms from		£4,899pp
L	Lower Deck	£4,899pp
M	Main Deck	£5,169pp
U	Upper Deck	£5,419pp

Balcony staterooms
	Deluxe Cabin

Suite staterooms from		£6,349pp
PS	Panorama Suite
SS	Senior Suite	£6,349pp

Interior staterooms
	Deluxe Cabin

Oceanview staterooms from		£4,899pp
L	Lower Deck	£4,899pp
M	Main Deck	£5,169pp
U	Upper Deck	£5,419pp

Balcony staterooms
	Deluxe Cabin

Suite staterooms from		£6,349pp
PS	Panorama Suite
SS	Senior Suite	£6,349pp

	Oceanview	Suite
	(All prices are £GBP per person)
Sat 12th Apr 202512 Apr 25	Please call for availability
Thu 8th May 202508 May 25	4,244
Thu 8th May 202508 May 25	4,244
Sat 13th Sep 202513 Sep 25	4,649	6,624
Sat 13th Sep 202513 Sep 25	4,649	6,624
Thu 9th Oct 202509 Oct 25	5,154
Thu 9th Oct 202509 Oct 25	5,154
Tue 4th Nov 202504 Nov 25	5,099
Tue 4th Nov 202504 Nov 25	5,099
Wed 25th Feb 202625 Feb 26	4,999
Wed 25th Feb 202625 Feb 26	4,999
Sat 18th Apr 202618 Apr 26	4,899	6,349
Sat 18th Apr 202618 Apr 26	4,899	6,349
Thu 14th May 202614 May 26	4,499	5,839
Thu 14th May 202614 May 26	4,499	5,839
Sun 13th Sep 202613 Sep 26	4,999	6,579
Sun 13th Sep 202613 Sep 26	4,999	6,579
Fri 9th Oct 202609 Oct 26	5,299	6,879
Fri 9th Oct 202609 Oct 26	5,299	6,879
Wed 4th Nov 202604 Nov 26	5,299	6,879
Wed 4th Nov 202604 Nov 26	5,299	6,879