Classic Egypt: Cairo, Luxor and a Nile river cruise for solo travellers

Dendera, also spelled Denderah, Tentyris, or Tentyra is a small town and former bishopric in Egypt situated on the west bank of the Nile, about 5 kilometres south of Qena, on the opposite side of the river.

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 follows the architecture and style of much older temples, despite only being completed in Roman times. Look out for a famous relief carved into one of the outer walls - it depicts Cleopatra and Caesarion, her son, by Julius Caesar. You may well be walking in the footsteps of the famous queen.  After your morning visit, savour a leisurely lunch back on board as your ship sails to Edfu via Esna. You could relax on a lounger, cool off with a dip in the pool or find a quiet corner with a book from the library. Perhaps, you’ll simply relax and enjoy the Nile views from your cabin before indulging in afternoon tea on the top deck – it’s completely up to you.

Aswan is Egypt’s southernmost city and remains hot and dry all year round. It is considered the most picturesque setting on the Nile and serves as a base for tourist excursions to many local sites of interest.

Kom Ombo - Wake up slowly to the peaceful sound of lapping water outside as the scenic riverbanks glide by. There’s plenty of time to linger over that second cup of coffee in the restaurant this morning as we spend the entire morning at leisure as we sail along the Nile.   We’ll enjoy a delicious lunch on board before arriving in Kom Ombo later in the afternoon.   The small town of Kom Ombo is located on the East side of the Nile. You’ll visit the magnificent temple here, unusual in that it’s dedicated to two gods, Horus (the falcon-headed god) and Sobek (the local crocodile god). This duality is cleverly reflected in the architecture – there are twin entrances, two linked hypostyle halls and twin sanctuaries. The temple had a lake with sacred crocodiles and many mummies of them have been found nearby, which are on display in the Crocodile Museum. After your visit, sail to the city of Aswan where your ship will moor overnight.

Aswan is Egypt’s southernmost city and remains hot and dry all year round. It is considered the most picturesque setting on the Nile and serves as a base for tourist excursions to many local sites of interest.

Aswan - This morning, we’ll visit one of modern Egypt’s greatest achievements – the Aswan High Dam. Measuring more than 2 miles long at its crest, it was completed in 1970 after 11 years of construction.   We’ll then continue to the tiny island of Philae – a mere 450m long and less than 150m wide, it’s home to the Temple of Philae, which had to be rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser due to the new dam. It is a fine example of ancient Egyptian architecture and culture, devoted to the goddess Isis. Carrying on, we’ll visit the Nubian Village of Gharb Soheil where we will be greeted by the sight of its majestic domed mud-brick houses. These beautifully crafted structures are adorned with intricate designs that mirror the vibrant hues of the river. As we wander through the village on foot, we'll experience the bustling energy of local life and see local artisans, who craft exquisite textiles, jewellery and pottery, while families go about their everyday lives. After a visit to the Nubian village, you’ll also see the Unfinished Obelisk. Despite not being completed, it is without a doubt the largest obelisk ever constructed and offers a valuable insight on how such structures were created in ancient Egypt Following lunch back on board, we’ll hop on a traditional Egyptian wooden sailing boat for a tranquil felucca cruise, crewed by a friendly local sailor. Soak up more sights along the Nile and enjoy the river breeze. 

Aswan is Egypt’s southernmost city and remains hot and dry all year round. It is considered the most picturesque setting on the Nile and serves as a base for tourist excursions to many local sites of interest.

Aswan and optional Abu Simbel - Today, you'll have the opportunity to visit Abu Simbel on an optional excursion. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a little relaxation, as the ship is moored in Aswan, you could spend the day on the taking advantage of the ship’s facilities. A quiet day at leisure is the perfect excuse to pamper yourself with our onboard massage service.   This evening, we’ll head back to the Temple of Philae to enjoy a sound and light show. See the magical temple burst back to life in an exceptional display revealing the ancient secrets and mysteries of the Egyptian gods and goddesses.  Personalise your holiday - Abu Simbel If you choose to join us, we'll take an early morning flight to bring us closer to the great temple. Arguably one of the most spectacular temples in Egypt, it is all the more impressive as the temples were relocated with some 16,000 blocks moved in the late 1960s to avoid being submerged due to the creation of Lake Nasser following the construction of Aswan High Dam. Abu Simbel was cut into the living rock on the shores of Lake Nasser by King Ramesses II, around 1264 BC. The structure consists of the Great Temple some 30m high, the main hall is lined by colossal statues of the king, leading to the sanctuary where four deities are sat: Amun Ra, Ra Horakhty, Ptah, and a deified version of Ramesses II. The site consists of two temples, the main one dedicated to sun gods Amon-Re and Re-Horakhte and the smaller, yet equally impressive temple, dedicated to Ramses’ main wife, Nefertari.   From £295 per person 

Edfu is an Egyptian town of The Nile Valley situated halfway between Luxor and Aswan, on the west bank of the Nile. The town is popular with tourists for being home to one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, dedicated to the sky god of the Nile, Horus.

Edfu - You can enjoy a gentle start to the morning as we sail to the city of Edfu - ideal after a busy couple of days exploring monuments and temples.   This afternoon, we'll visit one of the best-preserved temples from the Ptolemaic era: the Temple of Edfu. The temple is dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus, the patron deity of Edfu. This enormous structure provides a unique glimpse into ancient Egypt's religious and cultural practices with towering columns and intricate hieroglyphics.   After time to explore, we'll rejoin the ship for dinner and begin our journey back to Luxor via Esna. 

Dendera, also spelled Denderah, Tentyris, or Tentyra is a small town and former bishopric in Egypt situated on the west bank of the Nile, about 5 kilometres south of Qena, on the opposite side of the river.

Temple of Karnak - After breakfast this morning, we'll visit the Temple of Karnak. The Hypostyle Hall is the most awe-inspiring part of this vast complex, said to be the largest religious centre of the ancient world. Its 134 gigantic columns stretch up to 80ft high and are covered in hieroglyphics – look carefully, and you'll spot traces of the original colours still visible. One of the many interesting features is the first documented peace treaty in history - between Ramses II and the Hittites. Another highlight is the great Obelisk of Hatshepsut, carved from one 97-foot-high block of polished red granite, and weighing over 300 tons. It has stood here for over 3,450 years - a testament to the ability and ingenuity of its creators. Next, we'll head to a local papyrus workshop to find out how this ancient writing material is made and used before returning to the ship.  Included experience - Visit the Temple of Hathor. There's plenty of time to make the most of the ship's facilities as we remain moored in Luxor during our last afternoon and evening onboard.

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.

Luxor West Bank and Valley of the Kings - Disembark your ship for a real highlight today - cross the Nile to the West Bank for a visit to the Valley of the Kings! It is simply remarkable that so much artistic beauty is hidden below the barren earth of this hot, dry, rock-strewn valley. The incredible state of preservation and the vividness of the paintings and hieroglyphics is simply astounding. It is tantalising to imagine what treasures all these tombs once held, lost to incredibly efficient grave robbers thousands of years ago. We will also visit the Colossi of Memnon – two massive stone statues in a seated position depicting Amenhotep III. Then on to the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, one of the first female rulers of Egypt, with its stunning three-tiered colonnaded terraces reflecting the outline of the cliffs above. Complete your day with a visit to the beautiful Medinet Habu Temple. Less well known than other sites, it is no less impressive with its altar and chapel dedicated to the god Amun and several incredible carvings, inscriptions and paintings depicting religious scenes and myths.   Check into your hotel this afternoon for your two-night stay in Luxor.

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.

Luxor - After breakfast, we'll visit the Luxor Museum located on the corniche, it houses a small but superb collection of high-quality artworks and artefacts found in the local area. They date from the Predynastic period to the Islamic era. Highlights of this impressive collection include the double statue of the crocodile god Sobek and Pharaoh Amenhotep III which was discovered at the bottom of a water-filled shaft in 1967, and the reassembled wall of 283 painted sandstone blocks from a dismantled temple built at Karnak for Amenhotep IV.  After some incredible sightseeing during this trip, you may choose to spend your last afternoon relaxing by the pool or reminiscing about the amazing sights you’ve seen with newfound friends over a drink at your hotel. Dinner is included at your hotel this evening.

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.

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