Egypt & Luxor Eclipse

Our tour begins today in Cairo, Egypt's bustling capital on the banks of the River Nile. This sprawling metropolis is a fascinating mix of modern buildings, ancient landmarks and maze-like streets, home to some of the best Pharaonic, Coptic and Islamic sites in the country.

There are no activities planned today, so you\ re free to arrive in Cairo at any time. If you\ d like an airport transfer, please arrange to arrive at Cairo International Airport (CAI); it's around a 30 to 45-minute drive to the hotel. At 6pm, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception for a welcome meeting, with the option to head out for dinner together afterwards. If you arrive later, your tour leader will catch up with you once you\ ve settled in.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to catch your first glimpse of the mighty Nile, visit the medieval market of Khan el Khalili or cross the river for a stroll along the Nile promenade. Egyptians are famously warm and welcoming, so wherever you wander, you\ re sure to enjoy an authentic first taste of the country

This morning, we'll make our way to Giza, where we'll see the pyramids and sphinx; among the most impressive man-made spectacles in the world. We'll explore the pyramid complex, which includes the sphinx, a crouching lion with a human head carved from solid rock and the splendid Granite Temple, with a local guide.

We'll then head to the spectacular new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza; a repository of over 100,000 items encompassing all aspects of ancient Egyptian life, including ornate jewellery, caskets and towering granite statues and mummified remains. At the time of writing there are twelve galleries open including the remarkable golden treasures of Tutankhamun. The Grand Egyptian Museum is a wonderful destination in itself, its sheer size and beautiful architectural design have deservedly drawn acclaim worldwide. After our tour, there is time to have lunch in one of the many restaurants in the museum.

Returning to our hotel in the city centre, there will be time to take a stroll to visit the capital's medieval market at Khan el Khalili, have a dip in the pool or relax on the rooftop terrace overlooking the Nile.

Today is free for optional trips in the capital. This morning there is the opportunity take a trip to Islamic Cairo to visit the illustrious Citadel, one of Saladin's many strongholds during the Crusades.

There will also be the chance to enter one or more of the medieval mosques of Cairo. Please note, you'll need to dress modestly with looser fitting clothing that covers the arms and legs. Shorts or sleeveless shirts are not permitted. See the Budgeting & packing section for more details.

This evening, we'll depart for Luxor on an overnight train. We use the best available sleeper compartments, with two-berth cabins, each containing a bench seat which converts into bunk beds. Whilst the service is designated as first class, the standard is not comparable with European first-class train travel. Dinner and breakfast are delivered to you by the carriage steward but it's also worth purchasing some snacks before you board.

The train is scheduled to depart at 7.20pm, arriving in Luxor at 5.35am the following morning.

Upon arriving in Luxor, we'll travel to our home for the next four nights, the MS Caprice, anchored on the banks of the Nile. The location couldn't be more perfect for our once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse experience. We are fortunate to have exclusive access to part of the boat's outside deck, giving us unobstructed views as the eclipse begins, and this morning we will be joined by a local astronomer from the University of Cairo who will explain in greater detail about this celestial spectacle.

The partial phase is expected to start at 11.40am, with totality commencing at 1.05pm and lasting up to six minutes and 22 seconds. The partial eclipse will then conclude around 2.26pm.

As direct viewing of the sun, even during a partial eclipse, is not recommended, eclipse glasses will be provided so everyone can safely enjoy this extraordinary event. August is the hottest month in Egypt, so we'll make sure you're comfortable and well protected from the sun with multiple canopies and shaded areas. Drinks and snacks will also be available, and we'll enjoy lunch on board before driving to Karnak Temple, the largest ancient religious complex in the world. Here, we'll explore centuries of history, as the temple served as the main place of worship and features sacred lakes, obelisks, and statues.

In the late afternoon, we'll return to the boat in time for the captain's cocktails, followed by a sit-down dinner.

This morning we'll have an early start to visit the world-famous Valley of the Kings, most famous for being the burial site of Tutankhamun, discovered in 1922 by British Egyptology Howard Carter, along with another 62 royal tombs. Our visit includes entrance to three of the tombs which will be decided on the day, as many are periodically closed for resting and renovation to protect them. After the three, there will be an option to pay a supplement to visit Tutankhamun's tomb.

Our next stop is the Temple of Hatshepsut. Pharaoh Hatshepsut is believed to be the most successful reigning female power of Egypt, no mean feat during Ancient Egyptian times, and was buried alongside her male counterparts in the Valley of the Kings. Historians throughout modern history offer contrasting information about her reign but walking into the shadow of Hatshepsut's immense temple, which is built into the limestone rock face on Luxor's West Bank, is a key symbol of her achievements. The structure is unexpectedly modern by design and was once linked directly with Karnak Temple on the East Bank.

Continuing our exploration of the West Bank, we'll visit the striking Habu temple, one of the less visited sites on the West Bank and very much underrated. The temple complex is dominated by the highly decorated and well-preserved funeral temple of Ramses III depicting scenes of conquests and famous battles.

We'll arrive back at our boat around noon in time for lunch before we will cast anchor and start our water journey towards Edfu via the historic Esna Lock.

The afternoon is at your own leisure in the evening we'll once again enjoy our gourmet dinner onboard.

After breakfast, we'll visit the mythical Horus Temple, dedicated to not one but two gods: Horus and Sobek, the crocodile god. This part of the Nile was once home to a large crocodile population, which explains the dedication to Sobek. Horus, usually depicted as a falcon or a man with a falcon head, is primarily known as the god of the sky, kingship, and protection.

In the early afternoon, we'll return to the comfort of our boat and continue our journey south towards Aswan.

In the evening, guests have the option to join the on-board gallabiyah party, a traditional Egyptian-themed event. Attendees are encouraged to wear a kaftan or traditional Arabic robe while enjoying local music, dance, and song

Today we arrive at Aswan, Egypt's most southerly city, traditionally regarded as the frontier post of Upper Egypt. Sited on the east bank, it stands just below the First Cataract and is the meeting point of Arab culture with Nubia and black Africa.

We won't disembark for another day but we will spend time exploring Aswan and the surrounding area.

Our early arrival gives us time to take an excursion to the Philae Temple, marooned on a picturesque island - having been relocated when the original site was flooded following the completion of the Aswan dam. The temple is adorned with beautifully carved pylons containing some of Egypt's finest carvings. We'll travel to the island and back on a small motorboat.

Returning to our boat around lunchtime, the afternoon is free to relax, make use of the facilities on board before dinner in the restaurant.

This morning, we'll disembark very early for our visit to Abu Simbel. We'll board our private bus for the journey to the fabulous rock-hewn temple of Abu Simbel. Cut into the rock face, this enormous structure was raised 61 metres to save it from floods created by the Aswan High Dam. The 20-metre high statues represent Ramses II, known as the great builder. We'll have a few hours to explore the famous site before returning to Aswan where we'll check into our hotel.

The rest of the afternoon is yours to head out sightseeing by yourself, or to simply relax at the hotel. This evening there will be the opportunity to take a motorboat journey to a traditional Nubian village for a home-cooked dinner with a local family.

We'll start our morning with a visit to the local Aswan Market, a short walk from our hotel. It hosts many unusual stalls, including perfume shops and a papyrus institute and we will have sufficient time to properly get under the skin of this fascinating bazaar.

After lunch, we board our traditional feluccas and glide quietly along the Nile, exploring Nubian villages and small riverside beaches as we drift past palm-lined islands, taking in the river at its most peaceful.

We'll return to Aswan after few hours, and will head towards the airport for our evening flight back to Cairo.

Upon arrival in Cairo, we'll be transferred to our hotel where we'll hopefully get a good night's sleep before our final full day exploring Cairo tomorrow.

After a lazy morning, we'll travel to the outskirts of Cairo for our visit to two of the more unknown, but very significant archaeological sites in Egypt; Sakkara and Memphis.

Once the capital of ancient Egypt, Memphis today is a quiet open-air museum scattered with reminders of its former power. The colossal statue of Ramses II is the clear highlight, its immense scale giving a real sense of the authority these pharaohs commanded. Nearby, fragments of temples and statues lie peacefully among palm trees and fields, making it easy to imagine the city as it stood more than 4,000 years ago.

A short drive away, Saqqara feels even more atmospheric. This vast necropolis was used for thousands of years, and its centrepiece, the Step Pyramid of Djoser, is a true milestone in human history. As the world's oldest large scale stone structure, it marks the moment Egyptian architecture moved from simple mastaba tombs to the pyramids that would follow. Walking through the surrounding complex, with its courtyards, reliefs and lesser known tombs, gives a strong sense of experimentation and innovation at the dawn of pyramid building.

We'll return to Cairo for our farewell dinner, a home-cooked local meal to properly celebrate and say our goodbyes.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Cairo.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Cairo at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Cairo International Airport (CAI); it's around a 30 to 45-minute drive from the hotel.