MS Grand Preziosa

Day 1 - Arriving In Luxor
Start your Nile cruise from Luxor, a mesmerising city of ancient monuments, tombs and temples. Transfer from your chosen accommodation and join the cruise ship.

All meals & overnight stay on board.

Day 2 - Western Thebes
After breakfast on board, travel to the West Bank of Thebes. Visit the final resting place of a succession of mighty Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings, littered with intricate tombs - beautifully coloured and decorated with hieroglyphics. The tombs are now empty, with surviving artefacts and the treasures of Tutankhamun removed to the Cairo Museum. Whilst on the West Bank discover the Temple of Hatshepsut, the famous female Pharaoh, and see the gigantic statues of the Colossi of Memmon.

After lunch on board, enjoys a visit to the East Bank to see the Temples of Luxor and Kamak. The Luxor Temple was erected by Amenophis III as a place for Mut, the vulture-headed wife of the God Amun. It was added to through the centuries by Tutankhamun and Ramses II, and also shows evidence of Christian, Roman and Muslim influences.

All meals & overnight stay on board.

Day 3 - Luxor
As the ship anchors, enjoy a day of leisure and take full advantage of the cruise ship facilities. Or enjoy one of the optional excursions - including an early morning hot air balloon ride or half-day visit to Denderah. This small village is home to the ancient temple of the goddess of joy, Hathor. Built in the Ptolemaic perion (305BC - AD30), it is very well preserved and fronted by six columns bearing the image of the goddess's head. There is a further option to visit the fantastic Sound and Light show at Karnak in the evening.

All meals & overnight stay on board.

Day 4 - Edfu/Kom Ombo
Enjoy a day's sailing to Aswan. On the way, visit the Edfu Temple. Edfu is home to the wonderfully preserved Temple of Horus, over 2,000 years old, and dedicated to the falcon-heeded God of the Sun and Plants.

Return to the cruise ship for lunch and continue towards Aswan via the storming sight of Kom Ombo standing on a headland at a bend in the Nile. Here you can visit the Sobek Temple, built in 250BC to honour two gods: the crocodile-headed Sobek and falcon-headed Horus.

All meals & overnight stay on board.

Day 5 - Aswan
After breakfast experience a half-day visit to the Philae Temple, dedicated to the gentle Goddess Isis, and set like a jewel on an island of Agilika. Experience the High Dam, built during the 1960s to save Egypt from devastating floods. You will also see the unfinished obelisk set in the granite quarries of Aswan. After taking lunch, enjoy a felucca ride (traditional Egyptian sailing boat) along the Nile before returning for dinner.

All meals & overnight stay on board.

Day 6 - Aswan & Surrounding Area
Enjoy the facilities that the cruise ship provides with a leisurely day on board the ship. Alternatively, make the most of the optional excursions such as an early morning trip to Abu Simbel (by air or coach).

This great sun temple was built by Ramses II, who had four gigantic statues of himself hewn into the desert mountainside to confront travellers as they entered Egypt from Africa. Another option is a day trip to an Aswan Nubian Village and National Park.

For an evening treat, experience the Sound and Light show in the Philae Temple.

All meals & overnight stay on board.

Day 7 - Cruise to Luxor
A leisurely morning of sailing to Luxor via Esna (please note the cruise ship does not stop here). Make the most of your last full day on the ship as you relax and enjoy the cruise amenities.

All meals & overnight stay on board.