Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise

In the morning, our driver along with our private Egyptologist tour guide, will pick you up from your hotel in Aswan/ Aswan Airport / Aswan Train Station to start the 3 nights Steigenberger Minerva Nile River Cruise by exploring the splendor of the city of Aswan, including:

Aswan High Dam:

It’s one of the most important engineering projects in modern Egyptian history. The High Dam is about 111 meters high and nearly 4 kilometers long and it was mainly constructed to control the annual floods of the Nile to regulate water, ensuring a steady supply throughout the year. Ever since it was constructed, it has had a massive impact on the country’s agriculture, economy, and daily life.

The Unfinished Obelisk:

The Unfinished Obelisk dates back to the reign of Queen Hatshepsut and is a gigantic stone structure that was never completed. It clearly shows the extraordinary skill the ancient Egyptians possessed to carve such a massive stone into the famous granite quarry of Aswan. The obelisk provides a valuable insight into the techniques they used, offering the historians a great chance to explore the process of construction in detail. If it had been finished, it would have been the largest obelisk ever built in history.

Philae Temple:

The beautiful mythic Philae Temple or the Temple of Isis is one of the best well-preserved monuments that still fires one’s imagination to this days. The temple has long been associated with the myth of Isis and Osiris, as different scenes such as the rituals of resurrecting Osiris and Isis giving birth to Horus, were colorfully depicted on the walls. It was a place of pilgrimage to Nubian and ancient Egyptians due to its great significance as Isis’ cult center. Philae Temple has always enjoyed a ravishing ability in surpassing the glories of all its surroundings. Tourists from all over the world enjoy visiting the dazzling site and exploring its magical beauty.

We will drive you back to our 5-Star Deluxe M/S Steigenberger Minerva Nile cruise to rest onboard and enjoy a delicious meal.

Overnight on board your cruise ship.

Start the second day of your MS Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with a delicious breakfast onboard as you capture precious moments beneath the marvelous Nile of Aswan. The vessel starts sailing towards Kom Ombo at dawn and upon arrival, you will join our experienced tour guide to visit:

Kom Ombo Temple:

The Ptolemies built Kom Ombo Temple, construction begun by Ptolemy VI Philometor (180–145 BC), and the successors added to its structure. It was built in the dedication of two gods, Sobek and Horus. As a result, the complex was designed to be a symmetrical mirror of itself along its main axis, meaning that every little detail was duplicated, and each part included the traditional components of any religious structure.

Back to the Minerva Nile Cruise for lunch and some relaxation time onboard as the ship sails towards Edfu, then you will join your guide in a horse carriage to visit:

Edfu Temple:

Edfu Temple, also known as the Temple of Horus, is a standing evidence of the architectural brilliance and masterwork of our great ancestors. It is also one of the most iconic and well-preserved monumental sites in Egypt, displaying the mixture between the ancient Egyptian and the Greco-Roman civilizations. It was the largest one dedicated to the cult of Horus in ancient times and has hosted many celebrations and festivals held in his honor.

After the trip, you will return to the Steigenberger Minerva to enjoy dinner while the ship continues sailing towards Luxor through Esna Lock. The cruise arrives in Luxor late in the evening and spends another peaceful night resting onboard.

This is the 3rd day of Egypt Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor. As you enjoy your breakfast on the ship, you will join your private guide to discover the best-preserved monuments of Luxor on the East & West Banks:

Karnak Temple:

One of the largest temples in the world and the largest religious building ever made in the history of Egypt is Luxor’s great gem, Karnak Temple, which was considered the house of Gods and its glories were to be celebrated by everyone, so every pharaoh added to the building and amended it, stamping their seal on the Kingdom’s most sacred religious sanctuary during their reign. The Pharaonic era may be long gone, but its legacy lives in every inch of this glorious temple’s complex.

Continue your journey to cover the sightseeing of Luxor West Bank, which includes:

Temple of Queen Hatshepsut:

Hatshepsut Temple stands as a great symbol of women’s impact throughout history. The temple reflects that a woman’s touch is nevertheless different than a man’s touch and can leave a distinct and lasting mark! The beautiful scenery carved beneath the cliffs and the almost white sandstone of the temple against the Golden yellow to almost light-brown rocks standing behind, magnificently formed the Great Queen’s temple, which is designed in a great mesmerizing classical architecture that’s considered the finest example of the majestic architecture that once existed during the ancient days.

Valley of the Kings:

The Valley of the Kings is a unique and fascinating archaeological site built during the New Kingdom to serve as the final resting place of many pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Ramses II, and Hatshepsut. The valley was used for burials for over 500 years, with the last known tomb being that of Pharaoh Ramses XI. Today, the Valley of the Kings stands as a testament to ancient Egypt’s architectural ingenuity and devotion to immortality.

Colossi of Memnon:

Colossi of Memnon are one of the biggest tourist attractions in Luxor. Two Massive statues carved from blocks of quartzite sandstone representing the Pharaoh Amenhotep III and rising 18 meters above the ground.

After the tour has finished, you will return to the Steigenberger Minerva cruise to enjoy delightful lunch and dinner meals along with tea break and local performances as you will spend the night onboard.

Wake to a refined breakfast on the final day of your 4 days Steigenberger Minerva Nile River Cruise before we will transfer you to your hotel or Luxor Airport to conclude your elegant Nile cruise experience in Egypt.

In the morning, our driver along with our private Egyptologist tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Luxor/ Luxor Airport / Luxor Train Station to start the 4 nights Steigenberger Minerva Nile River Cruise by exploring the splendor of the city of Luxor including the Karnak Temple, one of the largest and most awe-inspiring religious complexes ever built, located on the east bank of the Nile in Luxor dedicated to Amon.

Then we will transfer you to check in on board the cruise, enjoy a delicious lunch meal, and then continue to visit the marvelous Luxor Temple, which was the headquarters of all festivals in ancient times. Then we will drive you back to the cruise to rest and Overnight onboard. 

Breakfast onboard the M/S Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise, then you will meet your tour guide to start the day tour in the West Bank of Luxor, including the Valley of the Kings, where you can still feel the grandeur and mystery of a civilization that sought to conquer death through art, faith, and enduring legacy.

Then move to Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, also known as Djeser-Djeseru or Deir El-Bahari which was built for Queen Hatshepsut and it clearly reflects her vision of power and legacy, and finally you will head directly to Colossi of Memnon, the 2 massive statues opening the way to the west bank.

We will transfer you back to the cruise ship to enjoy your lunch meal, followed by an afternoon tea. Enjoy an incredible sailing experience and overnight on board.

Enjoy your breakfast, then our private guide will escort you by a horse carriage to visit Edfu Temple which was built during the Ptolemaic period and dedicated to the Falcon headed-god, Horus.

After edfu tour, you will get back to your cruise ship to enjoy your lunch on board while the cruise ship continues sailing towards Kom Ombo, then you will be guided to explore the magnificent Kom Ombo Temple which enjoys a special unusual double design as it is perfectly symmetrical and dedicated to two different gods, Sobek and Horus.

The Minerva cruise will continue its sailing towards Aswan.

Enjoy your dinner and overnight onboard the Nile cruise. 

After breakfast on board, you will join your private Egyptologist tour guide to explore the welcoming city of Aswan, starting with Aswan High Dam, one of the finest modern projects that saved Egypt from the annual floods.

Then we will drive you to visit the Unfinished obelisk which was built in the reign of Queen Hatshepsut but never completed due to cracks in the granite and coming to the end of our day with a visit to Philae Temple, which was dedicated to Isis and enjoys many backstories that still make it a wonderful tourist attraction.

We will drive you back to Steigenberger Minerva Nile cruise for lunch and relaxation onboard.

Enjoy a final delightful breakfast onboard before checking out and disembark from the cruise ship then we will transfer you to Aswan Airport/railway station to end your 4 nights Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan on the M/S Steigenberger Minerva.