Meroe Dahabiya Nile Cruise

Once you land at the Luxor airport or arrive at the Luxor train station, your tour manager from Luxor And Aswan Tours will be there to greet you and provide assistance. Your guide, who is an expert on Egyptology, will then take you on an exploration of Esna. This bustling trading town is most famed for the petite, ancient Temple of Khnum that is nestled nine meters beneath the city's surface. Your adventure commences with a short walk to this temple and a meander through lanes brimming with attractive fabrics and a variety of intriguing merchandise. You'll spend the night in Esna, comfortably lodged on your Nile boat.

Our journey takes us towards El Kab, situated on the eastern shores of the Nile. This place was a former capital of Upper Egypt and still houses the Nekhbet temple, along with an array of intriguing tombs etched into the mountain terrain. Upon mooring, a scenic stroll through a quaint fishing hamlet will lead you to the necropolis. By afternoon, our vessel reaches Edfu, renowned for its Greco-Roman temple devoted to Horus, the deity. This temple is among the most well-conserved Egyptian structures. A horse-carriage will transport you amidst the bustling city to this temple. Post your return to the boat, we will navigate towards an alluring island.

The day is dedicated to the river. Following an optional early stroll and breakfast, your journey on the water begins. In the afternoon, a pause is made at an island, offering a chance to explore on foot or take a dip in the Nile. As evening approaches, you might have the chance to wander into the desert, following a valley dotted with boulders adorned with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and stone-age inscriptions. These markings signify the start of the shortest desert path to Libya, a 28-day journey in historic times. Come nightfall, the boat anchors at the base of the illuminated Gebel Silsileh temple.

At this point, the Nile, nestled between twin mountain ranges, reaches its slimmest width. Often, you will find yourselves the sole explorers of this intriguing location as major Nile cruise ships are barred from docking here. Post a tour of Horemheb's petite temple and a stroll through the sandstone quarries - the very place ancient Egyptians sourced stone for their most renowned temples - you'll have a chance to relax at a charming café enjoying tea and shisha (waterpipe). Subsequently, you'll set sail towards a scenic riverbank destined for a leisurely lunch and swim.

Following an evening spent on the river under the starlit sky, your morning journey will lead you to the town and sacred place of Kom Ombo. Constructed during the Ptolemaic era at an exquisitely beautiful location beside a river bend, this temple stands on the foundation of an older one. It was created in honor of Sobek, the deity with a crocodile's head. Post your exploration of the temple, a visit to the newly established Crocodile Museum awaits you. It houses numerous mummified crocodiles, demonstrating the significant role these creatures had in this region during ancient times.

Enjoy your breakfast on your Dahabiya Nile vessel, following which transportation to the Aswan airport or Aswan railway station will be arranged for your concluding departure.