Afternoon non-stop flight by EgyptAir from London Heathrow to Cairo (4 hours 40 minutes). On arrival you will be met by your Tour Manager, a trained Egyptologist, and transferred to the superbly situated Nile Hilton. You may request a guaranteed Nile View Room for a special price of £40 per person for the duration of your stay, 4 nights (based on twin sharing).

We spend this morning wandering the halls and galleries of the incomparable Egyptian Museum. Afternoon free. Many of our passengers choose to return to the museum, as the tickets we have purchased are valid for the whole day. Dinner this evening at a floating restaurant on the Nile, provides us with the opportunity to get to know one another.

Our morning is spent amidst the majestic setting of the Giza Plateau, visiting the Pyramids, the Sphinx and the incredible Solar Boat. In the afternoon you may wish to take an optional excursion to Memphis (3200 BC), the ancient capital of Egypt, continuing over the desert to Saqqara to the Step Pyramid of King Zoser (3rd Dynasty).

At leisure, with the option of visiting the mosques and bazaars of Old Cairo.

Fly to Aswan (1 hour 25 minutes) where you embark on the Nile Beauty for a relaxing week on the Nile, cruising through the captivating landscapes of the Nile Valley. This afternoon visit the Temple of Philae, the ancient Granite Quarries and the Aswan High Dam. Overnight in Aswan.

Sail north to visit the unique double Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the twin deities Sobek and Horus, before continuing onto Edfu for overnight.

Sailing through the lock at Esna today we continue onto Luxor, arriving at the site of Ancient Thebes later this afternoon. Overnight in Luxor.

After a free morning, we spend the afternoon exploring the magnificent remains of the XVIIIth Dynasty temples of Luxor and Karnak. Luxor Temple was built over 4000 years ago, and represents the epoch of the once mighty city of Thebes and the worship of the god Amun. Karnak Temple was built over 4,000 years ago, Karnak’s immense Hypostyle Hall alone contains the phenomenal sight of 134 towering columns of intricate stonework. Overnight in Luxor.

There is the option of rising at dawn to take a hot air balloon flight over Luxor. Please advise at the time of booking if you would like to take this excursion (please see ‘Pre Bookable Option Excursions’ below). Crossing to the West Bank today we explore the mortuary temples of the Valley of the Kings, before moving on through the Valley of the Queens, the magnificent temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the imposing Colossi of Memnon. Later this afternoon we set sail once more and head back to Esna where you will overnight. Later this afternoon we set sail once more and head back to Esna.

Continuing to Edfu this morning we visit the Ptolemaic Temple of Horus (237 BC), before ending our day back at Kom Ombo where we moor up for the night.

This morning we sail back to Aswan, the gateway to Nubia. This afternoon visit the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener Island.

This morning disembark the Nile Beauty after breakfast, with an opportunity to visit the spectacular temples of Abu Simbel by air, before the EgyptAir flight back to Cairo (1 hour 25 minutes). Built by Ramses II, the setting of this magnificent structure, besides the shores of Lake Nasser, makes it one of the most spectacular of Egypt’s ancient sites. Please advise at the time of booking if you would like to take this excursion (please see ‘Pre Bookable Option Excursions’ below). On arrival in Cairo transfer to Le Passage Heliopolis Hotel (formerly the Mövenpick Heliopolis) at Cairo Airport.

Morning non-stop EgyptAir flight back to London Heathrow, arriving early this afternoon.