Sanctuary Sun Boat III Luxury Nile Cruise

Aswan’s temples have stood guard over the Nile for centuries, golden monuments in a region filled with thousands of years of history. Arrive at a private dock in this beautiful southern Egyptian city and step aboard your luxury Nile cruise. You will be welcomed by the sounds of drums and flutes during a traditional Zaffa musical procession before settling into your cabin and enjoying lunch on board.

In the afternoon, board a traditional felucca, weather permitting, for a peaceful sail around Elephantine Island, one of Aswan’s most important archaeological locations. Continue past Lord Kitchener’s Botanical Garden, established in the nineteenth century and filled with exotic plants, before admiring the hilltop Aga Khan Mausoleum overlooking the Nile.

Return to the cruise for afternoon tea accompanied by traditional oud music. Relax on board until the evening, when you will join the Boat Manager and fellow guests for canapés and selected Egyptian refreshments before enjoying a gourmet dinner prepared by the cruise’s talented chefs.

After a buffet breakfast, begin your archaeological journey through Aswan. A short motorboat ride takes you to Agilkia Island, situated in the reservoir created by the Old Aswan Dam. The dam’s construction led to the partial flooding of the original Philae Temple site, and the magnificent temple complex was later carefully dismantled and reconstructed on the island.

Explore Philae Temple’s monumental structures, elegant columns and beautifully preserved hieroglyphic reliefs. Continue to Aswan’s ancient Granite Quarries, which supplied much of the stone used to construct Egypt’s pyramids, temples and obelisks. Here, discover the enormous Unfinished Obelisk and learn how ancient craftsmen shaped these remarkable monuments directly from the bedrock.

Return to the cruise and enjoy a leisurely lunch and afternoon tea while sailing toward Kom Ombo. In the evening, visit the magnificent Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual symmetrical temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. Return on board for dinner, followed by a relaxing movie night as the cruise continues toward Edfu.

In the morning, your floating home arrives in Edfu, a historic city on the west bank of the Nile. Disembark for a guided visit to the impressive Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the largest and best-preserved ancient temples in Egypt. Constructed between 237 and 57 BC during the Ptolemaic period, the temple is dedicated to Horus and contains inscriptions revealing fascinating details about ancient Egyptian religion, mythology and temple construction.

Return to the cruise and relax over lunch while sailing toward Luxor, formerly the ancient city of Thebes. Guests may join an onboard cooking demonstration introducing Egyptian ingredients and traditional dishes, followed by afternoon tea as the timeless Nile scenery passes by.

Upon arrival in Luxor, explore the magnificent Luxor Temple with your Egyptologist guide. Admire its imposing statues, monumental obelisk, elegant courtyards and the historic Avenue of Sphinxes. In the evening, experience Egyptian culture by dressing in a traditional galabeya for a special Egyptian Night featuring a lavish dinner, Arabic music and dancing on board.

It is time for the grand finale of your archaeological journey. Cross to Luxor’s legendary West Bank and enter the Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of Egypt’s New Kingdom were buried in richly decorated tombs carved deep into the Theban mountains. Continue to the nearby Valley of the Queens and the magnificent Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, an architectural masterpiece built into the towering cliffs of Deir el-Bahari.

On the way back to the Nile, stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two monumental seated statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. These enormous figures once guarded the entrance to his vast mortuary temple and became famous in ancient times as the legendary “singing statues.”

Your final archaeological highlight is the extraordinary Karnak Temple Complex, a vast collection of temples, pylons, obelisks and sacred chapels developed over more than 1,500 years. Explore the breathtaking Great Hypostyle Hall with your Egyptologist before returning to the cruise for afternoon tea. Your voyage concludes with an elegant farewell gala dinner, followed by traditional entertainment featuring a captivating dervish performance and Egyptian dancing.

After an early breakfast, check out at approximately 8:00 AM and disembark from the cruise in Luxor. Continue with your onward travel arrangements, taking with you unforgettable memories of the Nile and the extraordinary treasures of ancient Egypt.

Your journey begins in Luxor, formerly the magnificent ancient city of Thebes. In every direction stand the extraordinary monuments of pharaonic Egypt: the imposing obelisk of Luxor Temple, the vast Karnak Temple Complex and the royal burial grounds hidden within the rocky valleys of the West Bank.

Arrive at a private dock in Luxor and step aboard your luxury Nile cruise. You will be welcomed by the sounds of drums and flutes during a traditional Zaffa musical procession before settling into your cabin and enjoying lunch on board.

In the afternoon, explore Luxor’s East Bank with your Egyptologist guide. Visit Luxor Temple, famous for its monumental statues, elegant courtyards and towering obelisk. Continue to Karnak, an enormous complex of temples, pylons, chapels, obelisks and sacred structures developed by generations of pharaohs.

Return to the cruise for afternoon tea and time to relax. In the evening, meet the Boat Manager and fellow guests over canapés and selected Egyptian refreshments before enjoying a gourmet dinner prepared by the cruise’s talented chefs.

After a buffet breakfast, cross to Luxor’s legendary West Bank and begin your archaeological journey at the Valley of the Kings. For almost 500 years, tombs and burial chambers were carved deep into the mountains for the pharaohs and nobles of Egypt’s New Kingdom. Explore selected royal tombs decorated with remarkably preserved scenes depicting the journey into the afterlife.

Continue to the nearby Valley of the Queens and the magnificent Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, an architectural masterpiece built against the towering cliffs of Deir el-Bahari. On the way back to the Nile, stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that were said in ancient times to sing mysteriously at dawn.

Return to the cruise and enjoy a leisurely lunch while sailing toward Esna, approximately 30 miles south of Luxor. Relax over afternoon tea in the lounge before enjoying dinner on board, followed by a movie night as the cruise continues toward Edfu.

In the morning, your floating home arrives in Edfu, where you will disembark for a guided visit to the impressive Temple of Horus. One of the largest and best-preserved ancient temples in Egypt, it was constructed between 237 and 57 BC during the height of the Ptolemaic period.

Explore the temple’s monumental gateway, courtyards and richly decorated halls. Its inscriptions reveal fascinating details about ancient Egyptian religion, mythology, language and the temple’s construction. Return to the cruise and relax over lunch while sailing toward Kom Ombo. Guests may also join an Egyptian cooking demonstration followed by afternoon tea.

In the early evening, visit the magnificent Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual symmetrical temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. Discover its mirrored sanctuaries and fascinating reliefs, including representations of medical instruments and an ancient calendar.

Return to the cruise and experience the spirit of Egyptian culture by dressing in a traditional galabeya. Enjoy a lavish dinner followed by Arabic music and dancing with fellow guests and the ship’s crew.

After breakfast and your arrival in Aswan, take a short motorboat ride to Agilkia Island, situated in the reservoir created by the Old Aswan Dam. The dam’s construction led to the partial flooding of the original Philae Temple site, and the magnificent temple complex was later carefully dismantled and reconstructed on the island.

Explore Philae Temple’s monumental structures, elegant columns and beautifully preserved hieroglyphic reliefs. Continue to Aswan’s ancient Granite Quarries, which supplied much of the hard stone used to construct Egypt’s pyramids, temples, statues and obelisks. Here, discover the enormous Unfinished Obelisk and learn how ancient craftsmen worked directly from the granite bedrock.

After lunch on board, embark on a traditional felucca, weather permitting, for a peaceful sail around Elephantine Island. Continue past Lord Kitchener’s Botanical Garden, filled with exotic plants and palm trees, before admiring the hilltop Aga Khan Mausoleum overlooking the Nile.

Return to the cruise for afternoon tea accompanied by traditional oud music. In the evening, conclude your voyage with an elegant farewell gala dinner followed by a captivating traditional dervish performance.

After an early breakfast, check out at approximately 8:00 AM and disembark from the cruise in Aswan. Continue with your onward travel arrangements, taking with you unforgettable memories of the Nile and the extraordinary treasures of ancient Egypt.