Merit Dahabiya Nile Cruise

8 Day Merit Dahabiya Nile Cruise from Luxor – Aswan – Luxor

DAY 1 – Merit Dahabiya Embarkation and Luxor East Bank Tour

When you arrive in Luxor for your Merit Dahabiya Nile cruise, one of our tour managers will meet and assist you at the airport, or at the train station you are going to be arriving by rail, and then you will be taken to board the stately 5-Star Merit Dahabiya for your 8-day cruise on the Nile.

Enjoy a good lunch aboard the boat shortly after boarding, and then once you have finished eating, one of our Egyptologist tour guides will escort you on a tour to see two very famous ancient sites: Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temple complex. After your tour, you will return to the boat and you will have the rest of the day to yourself. The first night of your cruise will be spent on the water at Luxor.

Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

DAY 2 – Luxor West Bank Tour and Sail to Esna

After breakfast today, our tour will once again escort you on a tour, this time on the West Bank to see another three indescribable ancient attractions. Today you will visit Valley of the Kings, the royal necropolis where Ramesses VI and Tutankhamen were laid to rest in their tome. From here you will go to see the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a vast rock-cut complex, and finally you will be taken to see the Colossi of Memnon while making your way back to the Merit Dahabiya.

Enjoy your lunch aboard the boat, and then it will begin sailing silently towards Esna. Afternoon tea will be served on the boat’s sundeck later in the day, and just as you approach Esna, the Merit will alter course somewhat, and it will tie up for the night alongside a small river island so that you can enjoy undisturbed peace and tranquility.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 3 – Sail to Edfu Temple and Overnight alongside Ramady Island

Today you will be served your breakfast while the Merit Dahabiya is busy passing through the Esna Lock. Once it is through, it will then sail to Edfu where our tour guide will be taking you to see Temple of Horus. After being abandoned by the Romans, the temple ended becoming buried beneath the desert sand, and it remained buried until was rediscovered more than 2,000 years later. Because it was protected in this manner for so long, it is now the best-preserved ancient structure in Egypt.

After your tour, your luxurious Merit river yacht will then sail to Ramady Island. Lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner will be served at the usual times, and tonight you will be sleeping on the water alongside the island.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 4 – Sail to Aswan and el Sheikh Fadl Island

The Merit Dahabiya will set out a bit earlier than usual today, and you will be served your breakfast on the water while sailing towards Aswan. As you approach Aswan, the boat will alter course, and it will sail to el Sheikh Fadl Island, and then tie up alongside the island. Afternoon tea and dinner will both be served on the island today, and then shortly after dinner, you will board the boat again, and it will sail into. Tonight will be spent on the water at Aswan

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 5 – Aswan Tour and Leisure Time

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast, and then our tour guide will escort you on a tour to see two extremely impressive attractions: the Aswan High Dam and the breathtaking ancient Temple of Philae. This magnificent monument had to be moved in entirety in order to save it from Lake Nasser when the Aswan High Dam was built.

After your tour, you will return to the Merit Dahabiya in time for your lunch and you will have free time to explore the extensive Aswan Bazaar. Alternatively, you can simply spend the afternoon relaxing aboard the boat. Tonight will be spent on the water at Aswan.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 6 – Optional Abu Simbel Tour then Sail to Kom Ombo

Today there will be an optional excursion to Abu Simbel Temple, otherwise, you will have this morning free to enjoy as you wish. After lunch, the Merit Dahabiya will then depart from Aswan, and it will sail to Kom Ombo, where our tour guide will take you to see the ancient Kom Ombo Temple complex. This particular site is very unique in that it was dedicated to two different gods: Haeroris, also known as Horus the Elder, and Sobek the crocodile god of fertility and creator of the world.

After your tour, you will return to the boat, and it will then sail to Ramady Island and tie up for the night.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 7 – Sail to Luxor via Esna

Breakfast will be served shortly after leaving Ramady Island, and you will have the morning all to yourself while the Merit Dahabiya is sailing to Esna. Enjoy lunch while the boat is passing through Esna Lock, and then enjoy the rest of the afternoon as you wish while sailing on towards Luxor.

Afternoon Tea and dinner will once again be served aboard the boat, and you will spend the last night of you Dahabiya Nile cruise on the water at Luxor.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 8 – Merit Dahabiya Cruise Disembarkation and Departure

Enjoy one last leisurely breakfast aboard this stately river yacht, and then it will be time gather your belongings and disembark from your cruise. After disembarking, one of our tour representatives will escort you to the airport or to the railway station for your departure from Luxor.

Your 8-Day Luxor to Luxor Merit Dahabiya cruise is now over, so at this point we will bid you farewell, and wish you a very safe and pleasant onward journey.

Meals Included: Breakfast