Splendours of Egypt & the Nile with Uniworld

Enjoy included lounge access before your flight to Cairo, where an included transfer will see you to the opulent Four Seasons Hotel Cairo in the heart of the city on the banks of the River Nile. Stylish, well-appointed rooms provide a peaceful retreat to relax and unwind throughout your stay. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure enjoying river views or lounging by the refreshing outdoor pool.

Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo, Ritz Carlton or similar

After breakfast, you’ll be greeted by your expert guide and whisked away on a tour of Cairo’s history and storied past. Begin your tour with a visit the the Citadel of Salah Al-Din, a massive compound containing mosques, museums and scenic views over Cairo, before you’ll enter the citadel’s masterpiece, the great Alabaster Mosque, where it’s Turkish style interior is lit beautifully by hanging lamps that adorn the ceiling. You’ll also visit the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, where an impressive collection of Egyptian artefacts are on full display, some which are over 3,000 years old. Explore Egypt’s history in chronological order through the museum's many halls, setting the stage for the sites you’ll visit along the River Nile.

Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo, Ritz Carlton or similar

After enjoying breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport for a short flight to Luxor, on the east bank of the Nile. You’ll start with a visit to the magnificent Temple of Karnak, where you can stroll the grand avenues of sphinxes and halls of gigantic columns, admiring the achievements of many generations of ancient builders. After exploring the three main temples, you’ll head to the banks of the River Nile and board either the gorgeous S.S. Sphinx or the elegant River Tosca – two beautifully designed and styled Uniworld ships. This evening you’ll be treated to a gala reception and your first of many included gourmet meals.

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

This morning you’ll rise to Nile views from your elegant and luxurious stateroom, where bespoke decor, artisan craftsmanship and the finest Egyptian cotton sheets combine to create an inviting oasis on the river. After breakfast, you’ll meet your expert Egyptologist who'll guide you through the Temple of Hathor, dedicated to the goddess of love and beauty and one of the best-preserved temples in all of Egypt. And, you'll also visit the Temple of Luxor, which lies on the ancient site of Thebes, the once flourishing capital of Egypt. 

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

This morning enjoy river views from the sun deck as you prepare for a day full of ancient sites and old kings. You’ll start the day with visits to the two gigantic statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, better known as the Colossi of Memnon, and the Temple of Hatshepsut, dedicated to one of Egypt’s rare female pharaohs. Afterwards, head to one of the most famous Archeological sites in the world, the Valley of Kings, where the mummified remains of king Tutankhamen were found. This evening don your traditional galabeya and enjoy a festive party featuring traditional Egyptian music and locally inspired cuisine.

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

After breakfast, you’ll start the day with a visit to the Kom Ombo Temple which was dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus. Follow your Egyptologists through the temple as they point out interesting scriptures, relics and even mummified crocodiles which are on display. Head back to the ship for lunch and the chance to lounge on the sun deck and swim in the refreshing pool, as you casually cruise into Aswan. On arrival, you’ll board smaller boats and discover the unique bird species that live along the banks of the Nile before arriving at a traditional village, where you can enjoy tea with a local family and a true example of Nubian hospitality. 

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

Today will be full of adventure and history as you explore the sites around Aswan, beginning with a stop at the Aswan high dam to marvel at the modern engineering feat before visiting the nearby unfinished Obelisks and the Philae temple, which was remarkably relocated during the dam’s construction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon you’ll sail aboard a felucca, a traditional Egyptian boat and experience the way in which locals navigated the river for centuries. Later, relax over afternoon tea at the historic Old Cataract hotel, a colonial-era gem which has played host to numerous celebrities and royals, and was famously depicted in Agatha Christie’s novel, Death on the Nile.

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

Enjoy the day at leisure to explore the old city of Aswan at your own pace, or optionally, speak to our experts about adding on a half day tour to the ancient sites at the Temples of Abu Simbel. On this option excursion you'll enjoy a scenic flight south to Abu Simbel, where you’ll witness the impressive efforts of the Egyptian government and the UNESCO organisation, who dismantled and relocated the temples of Egypt’s most celebrated king, Ramses II. Explore the temples in great detail with an Egyptologist before returning to Aswan and rejoining the group.

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

After enjoying breakfast, you’ll be greeted by your Egyptologist who’ll walk you through a local market to the Roman Temple of Esna, which was one of the last temples ever built in Egypt. And, at the foot of its facade you’ll find the last known hieroglyphic inscriptions ever recorded. In the afternoon you’ll return to the ship and head up river towards Luxor, savouring the majestic scenery along the River Nile.

Stay: S.S Sphinx or River Tosca

Enjoy a final breakfast aboard your luxury River Nile ship and say goodbye to the excellent team on board before a short transfer and return flight to Cairo. After settling into your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo, Ritz Carlton or similar

Saving the best for last, you’ll embark on a bucket-list visit to Egypt’s treasured pyramids, where you’ll have the chance to fully appreciate their remarkable size and grandeur. Begin with ancient Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to famed statue of Ramses II, the Alabaster Sphinx and the step pyramid of king Zoser. Continue on to Necropolis where you’ll lay eyes on the iconic Great Sphinx, which still kneels gracefully as it has for over a thousand years, before a final stop will see you discover the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, the Pyramid of Giza, with it’s awe-inspiring architecture and impressive size. 

Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo, Ritz Carlton or similar

After breakfast, head to the airport with your included transfer before your flight back to the UK.