THERE IS A WAITLIST FOR SINGLE CABINS
Day 1
- Thursday 23rd April 2026
Fly London to Cairo with EgyptAir. On arrival in Cairo our local agents will assist with Visa and immigration and then we will make the short journey to the first class Meridien Hotel at the airport where we check in for one night on room and breakfast basis.
Day 2
- Friday 24th April – The Grand Egyptian Museum
This morning, we head to the Grand Egyptian Museum with plenty of free time to wander through this amazing new Museum. Lunch will be own arrangements in one of the many outlets within the Museum. After an exciting first day we transfer to our luxury cruiser the S/S Misr. This elegant, 5-star steam vessel, fully restored and air-conditioned, still retains its 19th century character and will be our home for the next fourteen nights on full board basis. (BD)
Day 3
- Saturday 25th April - Saqqara and Giza
After a grand breakfast we set off for Saqqara where we take a look at some of the highlights of this vast site. We have time to enter the Step Pyramid and the pyramid of Unas. We also view some of the most remarkable mastaba tombs including Mereruka and Mehu. We will take a refreshing lunch break at the Sakkara Palm Club before driving to the Giza Plateau. Here we have a guided tour of the pyramids and time for those who wish to buy a ticket for entry to the Great Pyramid of Khufu.
Day 4
- Sunday 26th April - Sailing
Today is a wonderfully relaxing day on the river as we sail from Cairo towards the city of Beni Suef where we overnight. This is a day to sit on deck and watch the ever-changing riverbanks as our captain navigates the river Nile.
Day 5
- Monday 27th April - Meidum Pyramid
We begin our day exploring the spectacular Meidum Pyramid and the mud-brick-built ‘mastaba 17’ nearby. There will be time to enter the pyramid for those who wish. We return to Misr for lunch and sail on for Minya where we moor for the night.
Day 6
- Tuesday 28th April - Beni Hassan and Tuna el Gebel
We drive to Beni Hassan this morning. We climb the escarpment for spectacular views and visit the superbly decorated rock-cut tomb-chapels of the local governors of the area. We return to the cruiser for lunch and then this afternoon we visit the site of the Catacombs and the Tomb of Petosiris at Tuna el Gebel. This evening we sail to Amarna.
Day 7
- Wednesday 29th April - Akhenaten's city of Amarna
An exploration of the enigma that is Amarna, the ruined capital city of Pharaoh Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti, is a wonderful experience. We will visit the Royal Tomb of Akhenaten and the Southern and Northern Tombs too. There will be time also for the central city and the Great Temple of The Aten. We spend the day at this incredible site with a light lunch provided by Misr at the Amarna Rest House. We overnight at Tel el Amarna.
Day 8
- Thursday 30th April - Sailing to Asyut
A day to relax on the River Nile as we sail towards Asyut. This is a great opportunity for some serious birdwatching, reading and taking afternoon tea on the sundeck. There will be illustrated talks at various points throughout the cruise. We moor at Asyut for the night.
Day 9
- Friday 1st May - Sailing to Sohag
Another day of calm, enjoying the comfort of SS Misr and the delights of the River Nile. It is easy to conjure up images of ancient Egyptian life on this part of the Nile where little seems to have changed. We moor overnight at Sohag
Day 10
- Saturday 2nd May - Mystical Abydos
We sail towards Balyana and after breakfast we make the short coach journey to the spectacular Temple of Seti I at Abydos. Here we see some of the finest reliefs in Egypt including the famous ‘King List’. There will be time to view the intriguing Osireion before we return to our cruiser and sail via the Nag Hammadi Bridges to our overnight stop at Qena.
Day 11
- Sunday 3rd May - Dendera Temple
We travel by road to the Ptolemaic Temple of Dendera which was dedicated to the goddess Hathor. In the Hypostyle Hall we can now see the astronomical ceiling, gloriously restored to its original colours. This afternoon we sail on to Luxor where we moor for two nights
Day 12
- Monday 4th May – Ancient Thebes
We visit the Valley of the Kings where we have entry tickets to three of the tombs of your choice open on the day. Optional tickets will be available for the Tombs of Seti I, Ramesses VI and Tutankhamun. We move on to the impressive Ramesseum, mortuary temple of Ramesses II, where we view the fallen colossi that inspired Shelly’s Ozymandias. As we return to the Misr for lunch, we enjoy a brief stop at the Colossi of Memnon. Later we visit Luxor Temple and Luxor Museum.
Day 13
- Tuesday 5th May – Karnak
This morning an early start as we explore the Temple of Amun at Karnak. This vast site, one of the largest religious complexes in the world, is full of delights. From the vast hypostyle hall to the beautifully laid out open air museum, Karnak never fails to thrill. We visit the main elements of the temple and explore some hidden corners too. We return to the cruiser for a late breakfast as we sail on towards Edfu.
Day 14
- Wednesday 6th May - Edfu and el Kab
This morning a special treat as we travel by road to el Kab where we enter the 18th Dynasty tombs of Ahmose and Pahery. We continue to the small Tuthmosis IV and Amenhotep III temple built for Hathor and Nekhebet. After lunch we visit the Ptolemaic Temple of Horus at Edfu and learn about the mythological triumph of Horus over his enemy Seth. This vast temple with its colossal statue of Horus as a falcon and impressive columns is truly awe inspiring.
Day 15
- Thursday 7th May- Kom Ombo
At a strategic bend in the river we find Kom Ombo and there we have a chance to visit the lovely Ptolemaic Temple of Haroeris and Sobek. Approaching the temple by river is a grand highlight of any cruise. After our visit we continue to Aswan where we dock for two nights. Tonight, we enjoy a farewell dinner and time to say goodbye to all the staff and friends we have made while on board the Misr.
Day 16
- Friday 8th May - Temple of Isis
After breakfast we make the short trip by launch across the Nile to visit the Tombs of the Nobles at Kubbet el Hawa. A steep climb but well worth the view and some very special tombs to be entered. We return to Misr for lunch, our final meal on board, and then we visit the Temple of Philae built by Ptolemaic and Roman rulers to honour the cult of Isis. We also visit the Unfinished Obelisk set in its open-air museum. After our visit we check in to the Movenpick Hotel on the Island of Elephantine for two nights on room and breakfast basis. Our luggage will be transferred to the hotel during the day. (BL)
Day 17
- Saturday 9th May - Abu Simbel
Today a trip by road to the great sun temple of Abu Simbel where we have a guided tour of the two spectacular temples built by Ramesses II, saved by UNESCO in the 1960s, and now sited on the west bank of Lake Nasser. This is a four hour journey each way and we will have lunch at a local restaurant. Returning to Aswan we stop to visit the Temple of Kalabsha, the second largest Nubian temple after Abu Simbel. Time also to see the Kiosk of Qertassi and the Temple of Beit el Wali. (BL)
Day 18
- Sunday 10th May - St Simeons
This morning we take a launch to the West Bank of the Nile and follow a desert path to St Simeon’s Monastery, dating from the seventh Century. This rarely visited site stands behind high walls in the desert and makes for some wonderful photos. Time for lunch (own arrangements) at the hotel before we transfer to Aswan airport for our internal flight to Cairo. On arrival we check in to the Meridien Hotel at the airport for one night on room and breakfast basis. (B)
Please note that we are too far in advance to be able to specify the time of the flight to Cairo, so it may be that the sightseeing for this day will be altered, removed or replaced with an alternative.
Day 19
- Monday 11th May 2026 - Homeward Bound
We make the short journey into the International Terminal and check in for our direct flight home to London. (B)
We are delighted that Dr Carl Graves will be our accompanying expert on this wonderful journey sailing the River Nile. Carl is Director of the Egypt Exploration Society and gained his PhD from the University of Birmingham on the subject of ‘Middle Egyptian landscapes’. His previous research focused on settlement archaeology and landscapes of Egypt and Nubia. Since 2013 Carl and has led many courses at the EES, most recently exploring the momentous visit of Amelia Edwards on her journey ‘A thousand miles up the Nile’ in 1873. As we embark on a similar journey, Carl is the ideal expert to take us on this voyage up the Nile.
B = Breakfast BL = Breakfast and Lunch BD = Breakfast and Dinner BLD = Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
