MS Mayfair Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan

Arrive in Luxor and begin your MS Mayfair Nile Cruise with a warm welcome and transfer from Luxor Airport or the railway station to the cruise for embarkation.

After lunch on board, we set out to discover the highlights on Luxor’s East Bank, kind of slowly at first. We started at the magnificent Karnak Temple Complex, which is considered the largest religious site ever built in ancient Egypt. We wandered through monumental gateway like structures, tall columns and the celebrated Great Hypostyle Hall, and you know, while learning about the pharaohs who expanded this extraordinary temple over many centuries

Then we moved to Luxor Temple, a true iconic monument built by Amenhotep III, and later enlarged by Ramses II. It’s located on the east bank of the Nile, and this place functioned as a key center for ancient religious festivals, as well as royal ceremonies.

Return to the MS Mayfair Nile Cruise for afternoon tea, followed by dinner and an evening of onboard entertainment as your Nile Cruise Luxor to Aswan begins.

Optional: Attend the Karnak Sound and Light Show for a memorable evening experience that brings the history of ancient Thebes to life.

Kick off your day with a tasty breakfast onboard the MS Mayfair Nile Cruise. If you’re looking for something a bit more special, there’s an optional early morning Luxor Hot Air Balloon Ride, giving you spectacular aerial views of the Nile Valley and the ancient monuments that make this Luxury Nile Cruise Egypt experience even more memorable.

Then continue your Luxor sightseeing tour with a visit to the famous Valley of the Kings, the royal burial site of many New Kingdom pharaohs. Explore the beautifully decorated tombs and discover fascinating stories about ancient Egyptian rulers and their beliefs about the afterlife.

After that, head to the grand Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari, a standout mortuary temple that is honestly among the most impressive sights in Egypt, then pause near the iconic Colossi of Memnon, those two colossal statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, like massive sentinels by the landscape.

After the tour, return to the MS Mayfair Nile Cruise and begin sailing toward Esna. Enjoy lunch, afternoon tea, and the Captain's Welcome Cocktail Party while relaxing on board as your Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan continues.

Overnight: Esna aboard MS Mayfair Nile Cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast on board the MS Mayfair Nile River Cruise, continue your journey through Upper Egypt with visits to two of the Nile Valley's most remarkable ancient temples.

Start your journey at Edfu Temple, one of those best-preserved sites in Egypt, and its dedicated to Horus, the falcon god. Wander through the grand entrance, take in the wonderfully carved relief panels, then move into the sacred halls, all while picking up the mythology of Horus and the religious habits of ancient Egypt.

After that, later you can sail over to Kom Ombo Temple, which feels like a special sort of stop, because its a double temple. Its dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and also to Horus the Elder. Spend some time admiring the symmetrical layout, the careful detailing, and those intriguing reliefs that show how important this place was during the Ptolemaic period.

Return to the board for lunch and afternoon tea as your Nile Cruise Luxor to Aswan continues through the scenic landscapes of the Nile before arriving in Aswan.

After breakfast on board the MS Mayfair Nile Cruise, set out to explore the highlights of Aswan.

Your first stop is the Aswan High Dam. Learn how the dam transformed the country by controlling the Nile's annual floods, generating hydroelectric power, and creating the vast Lake Nasser.

Continue onward to the Unfinished Obelisk, which is in Aswan ancient granite quarries. It is widely believed that it was commissioned during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut, and the monument still half made gives useful, almost tangible insight into the stone-cutting methods used by ancient Egyptian craftsmen. You can really see how their work was paced, and where the process had to stop, for one reason or another.

Then end your tour at the beautiful Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis and placed on Agilkia Island. The site, is surrounded by Nile waters, and because of that it feels both quiet and a bit dramatic. Visitors admire its elegant architecture, the well preserved reliefs, and the layered, fascinating history behind it, too, as if the place keeps unfolding a story.
 

Overnight: Aswan aboard MS Mayfair Nile Cruise  
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy your final breakfast on board before checking out from the MS Mayfair Nile Cruise. At the scheduled time, you'll be transferred to Aswan Airport or the railway station for your onward journey.

Your 5 Day MS Mayfair Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan is winding down, after getting a chance to discover a few of Egypt’s most remarkable historical landmarks, ancient temples, royal tombs, and then that beautiful Nile scenery too. We truly hope your Egypt Nile Cruise has been packed with those unforgettable experiences.

End of Service  
Meals Included: Breakfast