Day-by-Day-Itinerary:

1^st Day: Lake Nasser Cruise Day 1 – Kalabsha Temple & Beit El Wali

New Kalabsha – We will meet you in your hotel or at the airport anywhere in Egypt and take you to the cruise ship in Aswan for your embarkation. On the way we will make a stop to have a look at the great High Dam. Then you will visit the New Kalabsha area where some ancient temples stand now after their replacement due to the High Dam project. First of all there is the famous Temple of Kalabsha, originally built out of sandstone in around 30 BC, dedicated to Mandulis, a Nubian sun god. Although it has actually never been completely finished, it is regarded as one of the best examples of ancient Egyptian architecture in Nubia. Then you will see the small Temple of Beit El Wali, built by Ramesses II. It features many interesting reliefs showing the great era of Ramesses II, and especially inside there is still a large amount of the original color to be seen. Finally there is a tiny elegant kiosk from the Roman era to be seen, the charming Kiosk of Qertassi. The rest of the day will be spent on the ship.

Lunch and dinner included. Overnight aboard.

2^nd Day: Lake Nasser Cruise Day 2 – Sailing

You will spend this day aboard. Just relax and enjoy the ship’s facilities.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight aboard.

3^rd Day: Lake Nasser Cruise Day 3 – Temples in the Wadi Es Sebua

After breakfast you will visit the Wadi Es Sebua with its temples. The Temple of Amun, a temple in the Nubian style built by Ramesses II, partly rock cut, partly built outside. You can see here one remaining pylon, statues, a pronaos, a hypostyle hall (once transferred by Christians into a church) and three chapels; everywhere numerous reliefs can be found, among them depictions from the Ptolemaic and Roman era. The Greco-Roman Temple of Dakka, dedicated to Thoth, the god of wisdom, was initially a small one room shrine built in the 3rd century BC which has been enlarged by different later rulers. It contains among others a 12 meters high pylon in nearly perfect condition, decorated in high relief and bearing numerous graffiti from its ancient visitors. The Temple of Maharraqa was built in the Roman period and dedicated to the Egyptian gods Isis. It was never fully completed nor inscribed. You can visit a court surrounded on three sides by columns. It is the only temple in Nubia featuring a winding spiral staircase formerly leading to its roof.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight aboard.

4^th Day: Lake Nasser Cruise Day 4 – Qasr Ibrim, Abu Simbel

On our way we will pass by an island with the remains of the old town of Qasr Ibrim. Tourists are not allowed to enter it, but we will be close enough to give you an impression. After lunch you will arrive at Abu Simbel and you will visit the Twin Temples of Abu Simbel. The Temple of Ramesses II is 30 meters high and four enthroned colossal statues of the pharaoh guard the portal. The interior of the temple was dug into the rock on a length of more than sixty meters and beautifully decorated with pillars, colored reliefs and rock cut figures. The Temple of Nefertari, Ramesses’ wife, is a simplified version of the Great Temple. Please be aware that you see here something unique in ancient Egyptian art – the statues of the king and the queen adorning the façade are equal in size. The rest of the day is at your own disposal.

Optional activity (against supplement):

• Sound and Light Show at the Temples of Abu Simbel

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight aboard.

5^th Day: Lake Nasser Cruise Day 5 – Abu Simbel

Today you will have a whole day at your own disposal in Abu Simbel.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight aboard.

6^th Day: Lake Nasser Cruise Day 6 – Temples of New Amada

Today you will visit the New Amada area with different remains which were transferred to this location as they were threatened by the rising water of the Lake Nasser reservoir. You will see the Temple of Amada which was replaced in one piece (!) to its new location. Its well preserved interior features wonderful finely cut reliefs with Pharaonic scenes with lively bright colors. It is the oldest Egyptian temple in Nubia. Then you will visit the Temple of Derr, a rock-cut temple built by Ramesses II. It contains unusually bright and vivid relief decorations unique for ancient Egyptian temples. Further you can see the rock cut Tomb of Pennut, the only tomb of this kind saved from floods. Inside the burial chambers you can see various reliefs showing both the life of the buried man and depictions of the afterlife.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight aboard.

7^th Day: Lake Nasser Cruise Day 7 – Aswan

Today you will sail back to Aswan. Here you will have a look at the High Dam, the city’s masterpiece in engineering and architecture.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight aboard.

8^th Day: Lake Nasser Cruise Day 8 – Disembarkment

You will disembark after breakfast. Then we will take you, depending on your further plans, to your hotel, airport or train/bus station in any part of Egypt. This concludes our program and services.

Note:  If you like, you can book a city tour in Aswan against supplement and visit the Temple of Philae, the Unfinished Obelisk in the ancient granite quarries and Elephantine Island and further sail on a felucca to the botanical garden on Kitchener’s Island. Lunch will then be served in a local restaurant.

Breakfast included.

Included:

• All mentioned transfers in high-class air-conditioned vehicles
• Private guided tours in your language
• Entrance fees for the above mentioned sights
• 8-days-cruise Lake Nasser Aswan – Abu Simbel – Aswan 5* with full board
• Mineral water and soft drinks

Not included:

• Gratuity (tips) for drivers, tour guides
• Personal items, meals, drinks or services not mentioned
• Drinks aboard and in the restaurants
• Listed optional activities
• International and domestic flights
• Visa