Nile Cruise Tour from Luxor to Aswan with Abu Simbel Tour

We will begin our fantastic day trip by picking you up from your cruise ship to take you on a private, air-conditioned vehicle tour of the west bank of Luxor following your second breakfast on the five-star Nile cruise excursion from Luxor to Aswan with Abu Simbel. 

The tour will first take you to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which was built by Queen Hatshepsut (1473–1458 BC) in front of the Temple of Karnak. Known in ancient Egyptian as "Jisro Jisro," which means "the most sacred of the sacred," Hatshepsut's temple is made up of three stepped levels at the valley's bottom, each with a row of columns at the end. Behind the row of columns on the higher level is an open courtyard with statues of Hatshepsut standing in front of them as Osiris, the god of the dead. In addition to Hatshepsut, the temple's sections were devoted to the goddess Hathor; her father, King Thutmose I, dedicated an open space to the sky. It honors the sun god "Ra Hor Akhti" and the goddesses Hathor and Anubis.

We will then explore the Valley of the Kings, which was named for the fact that most of the kings of the New Kingdom's XVIII, XIX, and XX dynasties. On the west bank of the ancient city of Thebes (modern-day Luxor), they were buried in a dry river valley between 1550 and 1069. However, this name is not totally accurate, as some non-royal people and members of the royal family were also interred there. The western part of the Valley of the Kings has more tombs than the eastern part, which is why the eastern part is more well-known. About 60 tombs can be found in the Valley of the Kings, in addition to twenty incomplete, pit-only tombs.

Following our tour of the Valley of the Kings, we will conclude our day with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon. The two statues depict King Amenhotep III wearing the royal crown on his head while seated on the throne with his hands on his feet on a low cushion. A small statue of his wife is located to the right of his legs. An inscription on either side of the throne shows the deity of the Nile, linking the lotus and papyrus plants (Delta and Upper Egypt) with their corresponding emblems, signifying the country's union. 

At last, we take you back to your cruise ship, where you will savor a delectable lunch and evening while cruising the Nile to Edfu. 

Included are breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 
 

We will start our third day with a delicious breakfast, then our guide will be waiting for you at the lobby of your cruise ship to accompany you traveling to the Temple of Edfu and Kom Ombo in a modern, smokeless car.

The Temple of Edfu will be the first step in our amazing adventure today. The temple of Edfu is the second largest temple of ancient Egypt, after Karnak, located in the city of Edfu, Upper Egypt, on the west bank of the Nile River, known during the Hellenistic period in colloquial Greek (Ἀπόλλωνος πόλις) and Latin (Apollonopolis Magna). The temple is one of the last Ptolemaic attempts to construct a temple in the majesty and form of their forebears. The construction of the Temple of Horus lasted about 180 years.

Following that, we'll have a visit to the Temple of Karnak, whose name is derived from the Arabic word "Kom," which appears in the titles of other archaeological sites, and the word "Embu," which is derived from the ancient Egyptian language "Nupt," meaning gold, and generally speaking, the region's name means The falcon-shaped Horus (Horus the Great) and the crocodile god Sobek are the two idols worshipped in the city's temple, "(City of Gold)." Even yet, during the New Kingdom, there was a temple here before. During the Greco-Roman era, the current temple was constructed, and Ptolemy VI was the first recorded royal name (180-145 BC). For the most part, Ptolemy XII finished decorating the temple.

Finally, we will return to your Nile cruise ship.

Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner are included.

Today's excursion is so special. Very early in the morning, almost at 4:00 am and after having your delicious meal, one of our professional guides will be waiting for you and will accompany you during your excursion from Aswan to Abu Simbel.

Our journey from Aswan to Abu Simbel is about 3 hours in between if we could take a break to go to the bathroom or have a drink. once we get there, we will start our tour exploring the two temples of Abu Simbel. In addition to being among the world's most stunning monuments, the two temples' relocation and renovation were significant in and of themselves. After the construction of the High Dam caused the two temples (280 kilometers from Aswan) to sink into Lake Nasser, the Egyptian government enlisted UNESCO's assistance and called on the world to join in this heroic endeavor. When the rescue operation started in 1964 and continued until 1968, the two temples were taken down and elevated 60 meters above a sandstone rock where they had been built over 3,000 years ago. And moved and reassembled at this site in the same position, distances, and shape as before, as an artificial mountain was erected to cover it and archaeologists filled and blocked the joints, but it is possible from the inside to see where the stone blocks were divided.

During our tour we will enjoy the visit to the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, in Nubia, one of the most magnificent archaeological monuments, since King Ramses II of the XIX Dynasty ordered its construction by excavating it completely in the mountain, and it is well-known for the four enormous statues that adorn its facade. It was constructed so that, on two days of the year, February 22 and October 22, the sun's rays pass through the main hall and illuminate the faces of all the statues inside the temple, with the exception of the idol Ptah's statue. The Small Temple, another temple cut into the rock to the north of the temple, is devoted to Hathor and King Ramses II's wife, Nefertari.

We will head back to the ship at noon to have lunch and unwind at the end of our excursion. It's free in the afternoon today. Go to Aswan and stay overnight.

In the morning, after having your final delicious breakfast, we will start our tour in Aswan with a visit to three of the most important tourist attractions in the city:

Philae Temple is named after the Greek word "Philae," which means "beloved."  The island is located in the southernmost part of Egypt as the last center of the ancient Egyptian religion 4000 years ago! Isis, one of the three most significant characters in ancient Egyptian mythology, along with her husband Osiris and son Horus, was worshipped on the holy island of Philae, which was also a significant cult center. One of Shakespeare's most sad works has been likened to their story. In the ancient world, one of the most significant figures was Isis. She was regarded as a healer, a life-giver, and a king's protector. In addition to being well-known throughout the Egyptian era, her reputation also extended throughout Greece and the Roman Empire, and she even had a temple constructed in London!

Then, we will head towards the Unfinished Obelisk. The reason why the obelisk is called the "missing obelisk" is due to the reign of King Hatshepsut, when the ancient Egyptian workers prepared it and excavated it from three directions to transport it and deposit it in a temple, but when they wanted to extract it from the ground, they discovered that it was not suitable because it had cracks, so the workers stopped completing its extraction. The Unfinished Obelisk is an ancient pink granite obelisk that is situated in the northern area of ancient Egypt's quarries. It is regarded as one of the most significant tourist destinations in Aswan and an essential piece of Egyptian antiquity.

Lastly, we will travel to the Aswan High Dam, a hydroelectric dam on the Nile River in southern Egypt that was constructed with Soviet assistance and under Gamal Abdel Nasser's direction. It has assisted in regulating water flow and lessening the impact of floods on the Nile. The Aswan High Dam and Reservoir General Authority is in charge of its ownership and management.

Following our five-day Nile cruise, we will transport you to Aswan Station or Aswan Airport for your last departure.
Breakfast included