4 Days Christmas & New Year Nile Cruise

In the morning, our driver will meet you at your hotel in Aswan. Then you will meet your own Egyptologist guide. We start your 4 day Egypt Christmas Nile cruise with visits around Aswan.

First stop: Aswan High Dam.  
This dam was built in the mid 1960s. Egypt used it to move toward the industrial age. It also helped limit flood water. It produced power at the same time.

Next: The Unfinished Obelisk.  
This is a key open air site in Egypt. The obelisk was cut into the rock. It was planned for the Karnak area. The work was ordered by Queen Hatshepsut, around 1508 to 1458 BC. During carving, it split and could not be completed. The target was about 42 m tall and around 1000 tons.

Then: Philae Temple.  
Philae Temple is known for “The Myth of Osiris.” You can see the story on its big stone walls. The temple dates to about 380 to 362 BC. Later, in the Ptolemaic era, it grew between 282 and 145 BC. It was made in honor of Isis, the goddess tied to motherhood.

End of day  
After the tours, you will be taken to your 5 star deluxe Nile cruise. You will check in and stay overnight onboard. Lunch and dinner are served on the ship.Lunch and dinner will be served on board the cruise.

Good morning. Eat your breakfast and then begin your tour at:

Kom Ombo Temple  
The Kom Ombo Temple sits on both sides of the Nile. It is a rare temple with two parts. It was built in the Ptolemaic period, around 180 BC to 47 BC. The temple was made to honor two gods. In the north is Haroeris, also called “Horus the Elder”. In the south is Sobek, the crocodile god of the Nile.

Overnight  
Next, keep going on your 4-day Egypt Christmas holiday cruise. Travel to Edfu, then stay overnight. Lunch and dinner will be provided on board.

At breakfast time, you will enjoy your meal, then meet your guide for the visit.

Edfu Temple  
Edfu Temple is among the largest and best kept temples in Egypt. People link its site to an old story about Horus, the sky god, and Set, who fought with him. Work on the temple took place from 237 BC to 57 BC, during the Ptolemaic era. It stands on the west bank of the Nile and is seen as a sign of strength and divine guard.

Overnight  
Keep sailing toward Luxor. You will spend the night there. Lunch and dinner are served on the cruise.

Head off the ship after breakfast. Then continue your Christmas time in Egypt by seeing sights in Luxor, starting with these:

Valley of the Kings  
The Valley of the Kings is a deep underground place filled with tombs. You can visit 63 tombs. Many of them were made for well known kings and queens, along with a few powerful nobles. They date to the 18th through 20th dynasties in the New Kingdom, from about 1570 to 1050 BC. The site also helps visitors picture old religious ideas and funeral customs from that time.

Hatshepsut Temple  
Next, go to the Hatshepsut Temple. This temple is often described as one of the best examples of ancient building in Egypt. It was carved in 1479 BCE. The work was overseen by Senenmut. The temple sits in the cliffs at Deir El Bahari. It was built to honor Hatshepsut and her achievements. She is remembered as a main wife of Amun and a key figure of her age.

Colossi of Memnon  
The Colossi of Memnon were made around 1350 BC for Amenhotep III. They are seated statues and stand about 18 m tall, which is close to 60 ft. Repairs and updates happened over many years. Those changes also help reveal details about his life, his family, and his faith. You can learn more from the carved texts on the statues.

Lunch Time  
Have lunch at a nearby eatery in Luxor. After that, go on to the next stop.

Karnak Temples  
Karnak Temple Complex is a vast religious site. It was built over a long span, starting about 1971 BC and continuing until around 30 BC. Work on it moved from the Middle Kingdom period into later eras, including the Ptolemaic age. The place was linked to the Theban triad of Mut, Amun, and Khonsu. Inside, you will see major highlights like the Hypostyle Hall and the Avenue of the Sphinxes, plus other notable areas.

After the tour  
At the end, we will take you to whichever spot you prefer in Luxor. This will finish your 4 days Egypt Christmas Nile cruise holiday.