HomeHistoria Nile Cruise
The Historia Nile Cruise runs two programs. The four-day sailing departs Aswan every Friday. The five-day sailing departs Luxor every Monday. Both cover the same core temples — the extra night simply gives you more time on the water and a gentler pace.
What will I see?
Sailing from Aswan, you board at noon and visit Philae Temple the same afternoon, reached by motorboat across the water. Day two brings Kom Ombo, the dual temple of Sobek and Haeroris, and then Edfu. Day three crosses to the Luxor West Bank for the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El-Deir El-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. The final morning covers Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank. Sailing from Luxor reverses the order and adds Aswan's botanical garden.
What happens in the evenings?
Three nights of entertainment: the Captain's welcome cocktail, a Galabia party, a Nubian show and a belly dancer performance, depending on your route.
What's included?
Meet-and-assist on arrival and departure, all transfers by air-conditioned deluxe vehicle, full-board accommodation, every excursion listed in the itinerary, entrance fees to all sights between Luxor and Aswan, an English-speaking guide, and all service charges and taxes. Extras, personal spending and tipping are not included.
Prices start at $1889 per person in a double cabin.
- A Memphis Tours representative meets you on arrival, sees you aboard at embarkation and again at departure.
- Every transfer that forms part of the cruise program travels by modern air-conditioned vehicle, arrival and departure transfers to the airport or railway station included.
- Your cabin aboard the Historia Nile Cruise, full board.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner as set out in the day-by-day itinerary, with afternoon tea served on sailing days.
- All sightseeing scheduled in the 4-day or 5-day itinerary you select.
- Your route determines the sites, drawn from Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk.
- Entrance fees to every standard site named in the itinerary, with Valley of the Kings admission covering three regular tombs.
- A licensed English-speaking Egyptologist leads all sightseeing, in a shared group of roughly 15 to 20 Memphis Tours guests.
- Access transport to two sites that cannot be reached on foot: the horse-drawn carriage to and from the Temple of Horus at Edfu, fare paid, and the motorboat crossing to Philae Temple.
- Bottled water throughout your sightseeing ashore.
- Service charges and applicable taxes in full.
- Your Egypt entry visa.
- International and domestic flights, sleeper trains, and any transport not named above.
- Hotel nights before or after the cruise.
- Tombs and monuments requiring a separate special-entry ticket, Tutankhamun's tomb among them.
- Optional excursions and add-ons outside your confirmed itinerary — Abu Simbel, the Luxor hot-air balloon at US$ 129, and the sound and light shows at Karnak and Philae.
- Drinks of any kind, at meals or otherwise, covering soft drinks, bottled water taken on board and alcoholic beverages.
- Minibar, laundry, telephone calls, internet, spa treatments and other personal charges on board.
- Travel insurance. We strongly recommend arranging cover for both medical care and trip cancellation.
- Personal spending, shopping and souvenirs.
- Tips for the crew, your guide and your drivers. Customary amounts run US$ 8 to US$ 12 per person per day for the crew and US$ 10 to US$ 15 per day for your guide — appreciated, never obligatory.
- Anything not specifically listed under Included above.
Your Historia Nile Cruise journey begins at Aswan International Airport, where a Memphis Tours representative welcomes you on arrival and escorts you by included private air-conditioned transfer to the vessel. Board from around 12:00 PM and settle into the calm, design-led surroundings of your cabin or suite before lunch on board.
This afternoon, discover two of Aswan’s most evocative ancient sites. Begin at the Unfinished Obelisk, still resting in the granite quarry where ancient craftsmen shaped it more than three millennia ago. Continue to the mainland embarkation point for Philae Temple, then cross by motorboat to Agilkia Island. With your Egyptologist, explore Philae’s elegant courtyards, colonnades and island setting before returning to Historia. As evening settles over the Nile, relax on board while the vessel sails north toward Kom Ombo, with dinner served en route and overnight beside the temple town.
Overnight
On board in Kom Ombo
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
Visits
Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple
Walking
Light to moderate. Uneven quarry surfaces at the Unfinished Obelisk and stone pathways at Philae.
Good to Know
Philae Temple is located on Agilkia Island and is reached by motorboat from the mainland embarkation point. Cabin check-in is from around 12:00 PM. Guests arriving earlier will be assisted by Memphis Tours with luggage and arrival arrangements until embarkation.
Begin the morning at Kom Ombo, where the unusual double temple rises directly beside the Nile. After your visit, return to Historia Nile Cruise and continue north past the sandstone landscape of the Silsila Hills. The river journey becomes part of the experience, with a cooking demonstration and a visit to the wheelhouse offering a closer look at life and navigation on board.
In the afternoon, step ashore for the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of Egypt’s best-preserved ancient sanctuaries. Back on board, Historia Nile Cruise continues toward Luxor and passes through Esna Lock. Afternoon tea, a cocktail reception and the vessel’s 1001 Nights themed dinner bring a distinctive sense of occasion to the evening before overnighting in Luxor.
Overnight
On board in Luxor
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visits
Kom Ombo Temple, Edfu Temple
Walking
Moderate. Archaeological sites include uneven stone surfaces and some steps.
Good to Know
Kom Ombo is directly riverside. Edfu Temple is inland and normally reached from the docking area by horse-drawn carriage.
After breakfast, cross to Luxor’s West Bank for a morning devoted to the royal landscape of ancient Thebes. Explore the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs were laid to rest in richly decorated tombs hidden within the desert cliffs, then continue to the terraced Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the monumental Colossi of Memnon.
Return to Historia Nile Cruise for lunch and an unhurried afternoon on board. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the vessel at a relaxed pace before dinner and a final evening in Luxor.
Overnight
On board in Luxor
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visits
Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon
Walking
Moderate to active. Uneven ground, steps and inclines are common around the royal tombs and Hatshepsut Temple.
Good to Know
Valley of the Kings admission covers selected open tombs. Tutankhamun’s tomb and other special-entry tombs require separate tickets.
Enjoy breakfast on board before vacating your cabin at 8:00 AM. Your final morning is reserved for Luxor’s East Bank, beginning at Karnak Temple, a vast ceremonial complex shaped by generations of pharaohs and distinguished by its monumental pylons, courtyards and Great Hypostyle Hall. Continue to Luxor Temple, gracefully positioned near the Nile at the heart of the ancient city.
After the visit, your Memphis Tours representative will assist with your onward arrangements, bringing your Historia Nile Cruise sailing to a smooth close.
Meals
Breakfast
Visits
Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple
Walking
Moderate. Karnak is extensive and involves sustained walking over stone and uneven ground.
Good to Know
Cabin check-out is at 8:00 AM. If your onward departure is later in the day, you may remain on board Historia Nile Cruise in the public areas after vacating your cabin until your scheduled Memphis Tours departure transfer
Operational note: Daily sailing and sightseeing times may vary with river conditions and local operations. Exact activity timings are reconfirmed on board.
Your southbound Historia Nile Cruise journey begins in Luxor, where a Memphis Tours representative welcomes you on arrival and provides your included private air-conditioned transfer to the vessel. Board from around 12:00 PM, settle into your cabin or suite and enjoy lunch as the pace of the Nile begins to take over.
This afternoon, explore Luxor’s East Bank with your Egyptologist. Walk through the monumental precinct of Karnak Temple before continuing to Luxor Temple, where layers of ancient Egyptian history unfold beside the river. Return to Historia Nile Cruise for dinner and a relaxed first evening on board, with the vessel remaining overnight in Luxor.
Overnight
On board in Luxor
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
Visits
Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple
Walking
Moderate. Karnak is a large archaeological complex with extensive stone pathways.
Good to Know
Your arrival transfer to Historia Nile Cruise is included and private. Cabin check-in is from around 12:00 PM. Included sightseeing is shared with approximately 15–20 Memphis Tours guests and led by an English-speaking Egyptologist.
After breakfast, cross to Luxor’s West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. The morning combines the intimacy of the royal tombs with the scale of one of ancient Egypt’s most dramatic temple settings.
Return to Historia Nile Cruise for lunch as the vessel begins sailing south toward Esna. Later, a visit to the wheelhouse offers an engaging glimpse into the navigation of the Nile. Afternoon tea and the Captain’s cocktail reception ease the transition into evening, followed by dinner on board and overnight in Esna.
Overnight
On board in Esna
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visits
Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon
Walking
Moderate to active. Expect uneven surfaces, steps and inclines around the tombs and temple complex.
Good to Know
Tutankhamun’s tomb and other special-entry tombs are separately ticketed and are not included in standard Valley of the Kings admission unless specifically stated.
Wake to the quieter rhythms of the Nile before visiting Edfu, home to the remarkably preserved Temple of Horus. After exploring its monumental gateway, courtyards and sanctuary, return to Historia Nile Cruise and continue south through the river landscape toward Kom Ombo.
As the vessel passes the sandstone cliffs of the Silsila Hills, enjoy the changing scenery from on board before stepping ashore at Kom Ombo’s distinctive riverside temple. Back on Historia, the evening concludes with the 1001 Nights themed dinner as the vessel continues toward Aswan for the night.
Overnight
On board in Aswan
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visits
Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple
Walking
Moderate. Both temple visits involve uneven stone surfaces and some steps.
Good to Know
Edfu is inland from the Nile and normally reached from the docking area by horse-drawn carriage; confirm carriage-fare inclusion before publishing it as an included service. Kom Ombo is directly riverside.
Spend the day discovering Aswan at a more measured pace. Begin at the Unfinished Obelisk, where the ancient granite quarry reveals the extraordinary ambition and craftsmanship behind Egypt’s monumental stonework. Continue to the mainland embarkation point for Philae Temple and cross by motorboat to Agilkia Island, where the temple complex rises in an evocative setting above the water.
After lunch on board, return to the Nile for a traditional felucca sail around Kitchener’s Island and the Aga Khan area. The slower rhythm of the sail offers a graceful final perspective on Aswan before returning to Historia Nile Cruise for dinner and your last evening on board.
Overnight
On board in Aswan
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visits
Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple; felucca sailing around Kitchener’s Island and the Aga Khan area
Walking
Light to moderate. Uneven quarry surfaces at the Unfinished Obelisk and stone pathways at Philae.
Good to Know
Philae Temple is located on Agilkia Island and is reached by motorboat from the mainland embarkation point. The afternoon felucca sailing is one of Historia’s distinctive river experiences.
Enjoy a final breakfast on board before vacating your cabin at 8:00 AM. A Memphis Tours representative will assist with your transfer according to your confirmed onward arrangements, allowing your departure from Aswan to unfold smoothly after four nights on the Nile.
Meals
Breakfast
Walking
Minimal.
Good to Know
Cabin check-out is at 8:00 AM. Transfer timing should be coordinated with the guest’s confirmed flight or rail departure.
Operational note: Historia’s operating program may adjust sailing or activity times for river, lock or local conditions. The sequence of included visits should be maintained unless Operations confirms a necessary change.
- Advanced ventilation system for a healthier indoor environment
- 24/7 front desk service
- Restaurant
- Lounge bar
- Sundeck lounge and bar
- Spa
- GYM
- Room service
- Clinic / On call doctor
- Library
- Bazar
- Elevator
- Free WiFi
- Accessible Historia Suite available upon request
- Air conditioning individually controlled
- Mini bar against extra charges
- LCD screen
- Bathtub or walk-in shower
- Hairdryer
- Coomplementary tea and coffee making facilities
- Coffee making machine
- Safe box
- Living area at royle suites
- Connected option upon request
- Laundry service
- Free WiFi
- Telephone
- Baby cot available upon request
- In-room dining available upon request against extra charges
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