Arrive in Aswan and meet your representative, then travel by private air-conditioned vehicle to your floating hotel, the Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise. After check-in (before 12:00 PM), enjoy lunch on board before heading out for afternoon sightseeing.
Begin with the High Dam, a landmark modern project that reshaped Egypt’s water strategy and offers sweeping views across the area. Continue by motorboat to Philae Temple on Agilkia Island, an atmospheric sanctuary dedicated to Isis, goddess of love and healing. Conclude at the Unfinished Obelisk, still resting in the ancient granite quarries and revealing how monumental stonework was carved and prepared.
Return to the ship for dinner and your overnight stay in Aswan.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Onboard in Aswan

After breakfast on board, set out to visit Kom Ombo Temple, a distinctive double sanctuary shared between Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. Its balanced layout and Nile-side location create a striking setting for exploring ancient beliefs and architecture.
Back on board, sail onward toward Edfu and enjoy lunch as the scenery shifts along the riverbanks. In the afternoon, take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Edfu to reach the Temple of Horus, celebrated as one of Egypt’s best-preserved temples. Walk beneath towering pylons and admire the detailed carvings that honor Horus, the falcon-headed deity.
Return to the cruise for a restful evening. After dinner, enjoy a traditional Egyptian folkloric show presented by the onboard entertainment team.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Onboard

Enjoy breakfast on board, then head to Luxor’s West Bank, the famed burial ground of ancient Thebes. Explore the Valley of the Kings, where powerful pharaohs—including Tutankhamun—were laid to rest in richly decorated tombs cut deep into the hills.
Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a dramatic terraced monument set against limestone cliffs and built for one of Egypt’s most successful female rulers. End the tour at the Colossi of Memnon, the imposing twin statues that once guarded the entrance of Amenhotep III’s vast mortuary complex.
Return to the cruise for lunch, then enjoy a free afternoon on board. Dinner is served on the ship, followed by overnight in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Onboard in Luxor

After breakfast, disembark from the Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise and continue with a guided visit to Luxor’s East Bank. Start at the Karnak Temple Complex, the largest religious site ever built, filled with monumental columns, obelisks, and sacred areas that reflect centuries of construction.
Then visit Luxor Temple, beautifully positioned near the Nile and shaped over generations by different rulers. Its layers of history include later additions such as remnants of a mosque and a Roman chapel, highlighting how the site remained important across eras.
After the tour, transfer to your next destination in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Not included

Board the Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise in Luxor and settle into your cabin. Before lunch, get comfortable on board, then begin your guided exploration of Luxor’s East Bank.
Visit the vast Karnak Temple Complex, a grand ceremonial landscape spanning about 100 hectares. Walk among rows of ram-headed sphinxes, massive pylons, and the renowned Hypostyle Hall with 134 towering columns. Continue to Luxor Temple, connected to Karnak by the ancient Sphinx Avenue and adorned with impressive statues of Ramses II.
Return to the cruise for afternoon tea, followed by dinner and overnight in Luxor.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Onboard in Luxor

After breakfast, cross to Luxor’s West Bank to explore the legendary Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs were buried in elaborately painted chambers carved into the rock. Optional entry to the tombs of Tutankhamun or Seti I is available.
Next, visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, admired for its bold terraces and cliffside setting. Finish the morning at the Colossi of Memnon, the monumental guardians that once stood at the entrance of Amenhotep III’s temple.
Return to the ship for lunch as sailing begins toward Esna. Experience the passage through the Esna Lock, then continue the journey south toward Edfu.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Onboard

This morning, ride by horse-drawn carriage through Edfu to reach the Temple of Horus, widely regarded as the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt. Explore its monumental gateways and carved scenes that recount mythic struggles between forces of order and chaos.
Return to the cruise for lunch, then sail onward to Kom Ombo. Visit Kom Ombo Temple, a rare twin temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus the Elder, designed with mirrored sections that reflect its dual devotion. Continue to the nearby Crocodile Mummification Museum, where preserved crocodiles—once sacred—are displayed.
Dinner is served on board, and you’ll overnight on the ship as it sails to Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Onboard

After breakfast, begin your Aswan program with the High Dam, an engineering landmark with far-reaching views over Lake Nasser. Next, take a motorboat to Philae Temple, the serene island complex devoted to Isis, known for its graceful columns and tranquil surroundings.
Continue to the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries, an extraordinary look at ancient carving methods and the scale of work involved in monumental projects.
Return to the ship for lunch. The afternoon is free to relax, or you may choose an optional felucca ride around Elephantine Island. Dinner and overnight are in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Onboard in Aswan

Enjoy breakfast on board, then disembark to conclude your cruise.
If you would like to extend the experience, an optional tour to Abu Simbel is available. Travel by car or flight (extra cost) to see the rock-cut temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, famously relocated to protect them from flooding. Their colossal façades and carefully aligned inner sanctuaries provide a remarkable final highlight.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Not included