Mayfair Nile Cruise

Upon your arrival in Aswan at either the airport or train station, you will be warmly welcomed by a professional representative and transferred in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to board the elegant MS Mayfair Nile Cruise. Embarkation takes place before noon.

Once settled into your luxurious cabin, savor a freshly prepared lunch onboard. Your discovery of Aswan begins with a guided tour to the famed High Dam, a modern marvel designed to regulate the Nile’s annual floods. Next, take a motorboat ride to the enchanting Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis and skillfully relocated to Agilkia Island. Conclude your day at the Unfinished Obelisk, a colossal monument left incomplete in the granite quarries, offering insight into ancient stone-carving techniques.

Return to the cruise for dinner and enjoy a peaceful evening on board, docked in Aswan.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Aswan

Start your morning with a delightful breakfast as the cruise sails north towards Kom Ombo. Disembark with your Egyptologist guide to explore the remarkable Kom Ombo Temple, uniquely devoted to two deities: Sobek, the crocodile god of fertility, and Haroeris (Horus the Elder), god of the sky and protection. Admire the temple’s symmetrical twin halls, ancient medical carvings, and visit the nearby Crocodile Museum.

Rejoin the ship for lunch on the sun deck while the journey continues to Edfu. Upon arrival, take a horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Horus, Egypt’s best-preserved temple, renowned for its towering pylons, detailed reliefs, and sacred sanctuary.

Return to the cruise to relax in the afternoon. After dinner, enjoy a traditional Egyptian folklore show onboard, celebrating Nubian music and culture.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Onboard

Enjoy breakfast onboard as the cruise docks in Luxor. Today’s adventure leads you to the awe-inspiring West Bank of ancient Thebes. Your first stop is the Valley of the Kings, final resting place of Egypt’s great pharaohs, where intricately decorated tombs share vivid stories of the afterlife. Visit three notable tombs, with the option to enter King Tutankhamun’s tomb at an additional cost.

Continue to the magnificent Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, dramatically carved into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari and a testament to Egypt’s first female pharaoh. End your tour at the mighty Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues of King Amenhotep III that stand guard over the remnants of his funerary temple.

Return to the Mayfair Cruise for lunch and spend a leisurely afternoon aboard. Dinner is served in the ship’s elegant restaurant, followed by a restful night in Luxor.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Luxor

After breakfast and check-out, your final guided tour takes you to the breathtaking Karnak Temple Complex, the largest religious site ever constructed. Wander through the grand Hypostyle Hall, towering pylons, and sacred lake—all dedicated to the Theban triad with Amun at its center.

Your last stop is at the sunlit Luxor Temple, steeped in history. Marvel at the colossal statues of Ramses II, the elegant colonnade built by Amenhotep III, and remnants of centuries of worship from ancient times through the Islamic era.

After your tour, you will be transferred to the airport, train station, or a location of your choice, marking the end of an unforgettable journey on the MS Mayfair Nile Cruise.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: End of Service

This cruise is available on the following route:

Your adventure begins in Luxor, where a representative will welcome you upon arrival at the airport or train station and transfer you comfortably to the magnificent MS Mayfair Nile Cruise. After boarding and enjoying a delicious lunch on deck, the exploration of ancient Thebes commences.

Start at the sprawling Karnak Temple Complex, an architectural marvel filled with towering columns, the Great Hypostyle Hall, the Sanctuary of Amun-Ra, and an array of obelisks and shrines representing over a millennium of worship. Next, visit the grand Luxor Temple, built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, where ancient pharaonic grandeur blends with later Islamic influences.

Return to the ship for afternoon tea on the sun deck, followed by dinner in the onboard restaurant. Spend your first night in Luxor, surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the Nile.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Luxor

After breakfast, venture across the Nile to Luxor’s famed West Bank. Begin at the Valley of the Kings, where royal tombs are carved deep into the desert cliffs, preserving vibrant murals that depict the pharaohs’ journey to the afterlife. Visit three tombs; visiting Tutankhamun’s tomb is available as an optional add-on.

Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a striking monument nestled dramatically against the limestone cliffs. Then, marvel at the Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that have stood sentinel for centuries.

Head back to the cruise for lunch as the ship sets sail for Esna. Relax on the sundeck and watch the fascinating passage through the Esna Lock, a highlight of your journey. Enjoy dinner and a restful night onboard as the Mayfair continues toward the south.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Onboard

After breakfast, take a horse-drawn carriage ride to the Temple of Horus in Edfu—Egypt’s best-preserved ancient temple. Admire the impressive façade, intricate carved reliefs, and the sanctuary that was once accessible only to high priests.

Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy scenic cruising past palm-lined Nile shores. In the afternoon, arrive at Kom Ombo to explore its unique double temple, devoted to both Sobek the crocodile god and Haroeris (Horus the Elder). Discover unusual reliefs, including ancient surgical instruments, and tour the adjacent Crocodile Mummy Museum.

Cruise onward to Aswan as dusk falls. Savor a delightful dinner and enjoy a peaceful night aboard the MS Mayfair.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Aswan

Awake in the serene setting of Aswan and begin the day with a visit to the High Dam—a modern engineering feat that created Lake Nasser and revolutionized Egypt’s irrigation. Continue to the elegant Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis and beautifully relocated to Agilkia Island.

Next, see the Unfinished Obelisk, an ambitious monument abandoned in the granite quarries of Aswan. Gain insight into the ancient techniques used to carve these immense stones.

Return to the cruise for lunch. In the afternoon, relax or opt for a traditional felucca sail on the Nile. Round off your day with a superb dinner and soak in the calm Nubian ambiance onboard.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Aswan

After breakfast, disembark from the Mayfair Cruise. Before your departure, you have the chance to join an optional excursion to the awe-inspiring Abu Simbel Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These colossal rock-cut temples, constructed by Ramses II, are breathtaking tributes to ancient Egyptian artistry and engineering.

Your unforgettable journey along the Nile concludes here, leaving you with lasting memories of Upper Egypt’s wonders.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: End of service