Experience the beauty of the Nile on a Cruise & Stay holiday

Nile Cruise and Stay

Nile Cruise and Stay holidays combine the thrill of a week's Nile cruise through the heart of ancient Egypt, with the relaxation of a traditional beach resort holiday by the Red Sea.

Savour the sights on a fully-guided itinerary

Your Nile cruise includes an expertly guided itinerary with 10 FREE excursions. You will explore the major sights, from Luxor and the magnificent city of Thebes and Valley of the Kings, on to the unusual double temple of Kom Ombo, and Edfu – one of the best preserved temples in Egypt – before reaching Aswan and its spectacular High Dam, the starting point for the return journey.

Relax by the Red Sea

The "stay" part of your holiday offers a choice of high quality hotel accommodation in Hurghada and Makadi Bay, ideal for making the most of the Red Sea Riviera, whether it be pampering yourself with a spa, chilling by the pool, or snorkelling on the stunning coral reefs.

Cruise and Stay

Each package includes 7 nights on board ship plus 7 nights at your chosen hotel. Cruises start on a Monday, with nights spent at the hotel at either end of your cruise. For example, fly into Hurghada on a Friday and you will spend 3 nights in resort, transfer to Luxor on Monday to join the cruise and transfer back to your hotel the following Monday for the remaining 4 nights of your stay.

Find out more

To find out more, check prices or to book, click on the links below, use the Search & Book box to the left (select the "Cruise & Stay" tab) or give us a call on 0845 026 5980.

MS Grand Rose

All Inclusive

The Makadi Palace

All Inclusive

Combine the excitement of a cruise through the heart of Egypt, with the relaxation of the Red Sea. Our 14 night All Inclusive Cruise and Stay... more

MS Grand Rose

All Inclusive

The Grand Makadi Hotel

All Inclusive

Enjoy an exciting 7 night Nile Cruise aboard the MS Grand Rose, plus 7 nights relaxing by the Red Sea at the 5 Sun All Inclusive more

MS Grand Rose

All Inclusive

The Makadi Spa Hotel

All Inclusive

Combine the excitement of a cruise through the heart of Egypt, with the relaxation of the Red Sea. Our 14 night All Inclusive Cruise and Stay... more

MS Grand Rose

All Inclusive

The Grand Resort

Bed & Breakfast

Combine the excitement of a cruise through the heart of Egypt, with the relaxation of the Red Sea. Our 14 night Cruise and Stay package includes... more

MS Grand Preziosa

All Inclusive

The Grand Makadi Hotel

All Inclusive

Combine the excitement of a cruise through the heart of Egypt, with the relaxation of the Red Sea. Our 14 night All Inclusive Cruise and Stay... more

MS Grand Preziosa

All Inclusive

Siva Grand Beach Hotel

All Inclusive

Combine the excitement of a cruise through the heart of Egypt, with the relaxation of the Red Sea. Our 14 night All Inclusive Cruise and Stay... more

MS Grand Preziosa

All Inclusive

The Grand Resort

Bed & Breakfast

Combine the excitement of a cruise through the heart of Egypt, with the relaxation of the Red Sea. Our 14 night Cruise and Stay package includes a... more

MS Grand Star

Full Board

The Grand Resort

Bed & Breakfast

Combine the excitement of a cruise through the heart of Egypt, with the relaxation of the Red Sea. Our 14 night Cruise and Stay package includes a... more

MS Grand Star

Full Board

The Grand Hotel

Bed & Breakfast

Combine the excitement of a cruise through the heart of Egypt, with the relaxation of the Red Sea. Our 14 night Cruise and Stay package includes a... more

Nile Cruise & Stay

Combine the best of a relaxing holiday on Egypt's Red Sea coast with a voyage of discovery as you cruise through 5,000 years of Egyptian history. Enjoy 3 nights in Hurghada or Makadi Bay then transfer to Luxor to join a 7 night Nile cruise, with an inclusive, fully-guided itinerary. After your cruise, return to the coast for a further 4 nights by the Red Sea.

Day 1-3: Arrival in Hurghada / Makadi Bay
Arrive in Hurghada on Friday and transfer to your hotel there or in Makadi Bay. The cruise starts on Monday, so you can relax and enjoy the Red Sea until the itinerary commences.

Day 4: Arriving in Luxor
Luxor, is the site of the ancient Egyptian capital, Thebes, and home to many of the most renowned monuments, tombs and temples. It is the starting point for your Nile cruise. You will transfer by coach from your hotel to your chosen cruise ship in Luxor by coach. The transfer takes around 5 hours.

Day 5: Western Thebes
Breakfast on board before travelling to the West Bank of Thebes and 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. A visit to the tomb of Tutankhamun is a popular optional excursion, but please note that the surviving treasures now reside in the Cairo Museum. On the West Bank discover the Temple of Hatshepsut, one Egypt’s few female Pharaohs, and the gigantic statues of the Colossi of Memmon, two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, which have stood in the Theban necropolis for the last 3,400 years.

Day 6: Luxor
After breakfast visit the East bank of Thebes and the staggering Temple of Luxor and Temple of Karnak. The Luxor Temple was erected by Amenophis III for Mut, the vulture-headed wife of the God Amun and was added to throughout the centuries by Tutankhamun, Ramses II and a host of Christians, Romans and Muslims. At the vast open air museum of Karnak, translated as "the Most Selected of Places" and the main place of worship of the eighteenth dynasty of the Theban Horus in Edfu temple Triad that had Amun as its head, you can marvel at the Great Hypostyle Hall with its 134 columns. In the afternoon, sail to Edfu via Esna lock.

Day 7: Edfu/Kom Ombo
During this day’s sailing you’ll have the opportunity to visit Edfu, home to the wonderfully preserved 2000+ year old Temple of Horus, the falcon-headed God of the Sun and Plants. Lunch on board as we continue towards Aswan and its mighty dam via the impressive sight of Kom Ombo standing sentinel on a headland at a bend in the river. The unique double temple, was built in 250BC to honour the crocodile-headed god Sobek and the falcon-headed Horus.

Day 8: Aswan
This morning is spent visiting the island of Agilika and Philae Temple, dedicated to Isis. The temple, comprising 40,000 blocks and weighing about 20,000 tonnes was moved to the island between 1972 and 1980 to save it from being flooded by the new lake formed following completion of the Aswan High Dam. Giving a rare view of how the ancients built their mighty monuments, visit the Unfinished Obelisk, a giant stone column abandoned in its quarry. After lunch, enjoy a felucca ride (traditional Egyptian sailing boat) along the Nile before returning for dinner.

Day 9: Aswan & surrounding area
Make the most of the onboard facilities as you sail to the Aswan area. Alternatively, you can take time out for one of the optional excursions, such as an early morning trip to Abu Simbel* (by air or by bus) to see the great sun temple with its four gigantic statues of Ramses II hewn into the desert mountainside. Another option is to take a day trip to an Aswan Nubian Village and National Park*. During the evening you take an optional excursion to experience the atmospheric Sound and Light show* in the Philae Temple.

Day 10: 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 all the amenities on offer and soak up the scenery. With evening comes the option of visiting the Sound and Light show* at Karnak, where the pharaohs rise to tell of the birth of Karnak and Luxor, the heroic achievements of the pharaohs and the god Amun.

Day 11-15: Hurghada & the Red Sea
After breakfast, relax on board ship before transferring back to Hurghada or Makadi Bay by coach. As before, the transfer will take around 5 hours. On arrival in, check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of your holiday at leisure, enjoying the hotel facilities, or the many diving and snorkelling opportunities. On the day of departure you will transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Please Note
*Optional excursions are payable locally.
The itinerary may be subject to change due to local operational or weather conditions.

- 14 nights from £849pp
  
  What's Included
  
  ✓ 7 nights Hotel
  ✓ Full cruise itinerary with 10 excursions
  ✓ All resort and cruise transfers
  ✓ Free late check out
  ✓ Return flights from the UK to Egypt
  ✓ 20kg luggage per person
  
  Fly direct from Gatwick and Manchester
  
  New for 2012...