The Pharaohs’ River Marathon
Long Nile Cruise (Cairo → Aswan)

Arrival at Cairo International Airport. Neptune Tours representative greets you. Private transfer to your hotel. Evening at leisure to rest and adjust. Overnight Cairo.

After breakfast, visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx – iconic monuments of the Old Kingdom. Then drive to Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world’s oldest monumental stone structure. Lunch at a local restaurant. Return to hotel. Overnight Cairo.

Morning transfer to the Nile port in Cairo. Board your luxury cruise ship for a rare long voyage. Settle into your cabin and enjoy a welcome reception. Begin sailing south towards Beni Suef, passing rural landscapes and traditional villages. Afternoon lecture on board about the Middle Kingdom and Amarna period. Captain’s welcome dinner. Overnight sailing near Beni Suef.

Morning visit to Beni Hasan, a cliff‑side necropolis with rock‑cut tombs of Middle Kingdom nomarchs (provincial governors). Marvel at the vibrant wall paintings showing daily life, hunting scenes, and wrestling techniques. Continue to Tuna el-Gebel, the Greco‑Roman necropolis of Hermopolis, including the tomb of Petosiris and the catacombs of sacred baboons and ibises. Return to the ship for lunch and afternoon sailing. Overnight on board.

Today you visit Tel el‑Amarna (ancient Akhetaten), the short‑lived capital of Pharaoh Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti. Explore the boundary stelae, the remains of the Great Temple of the Aten, the Northern Palace, and the tombs of nobles carved into the cliffs (with exquisite reliefs of Amarna art). Learn about the revolutionary monotheistic cult. Return to the ship for late lunch and continue sailing. Evening lecture on Amarna period. Overnight on board.

Disembark for a full‑day excursion to Abydos, one of Egypt’s most sacred sites, cult centre of Osiris, god of the afterlife. Visit the Temple of Seti I with its magnificent reliefs and the famous King List (chronological cartouches of 76 pharaohs). Explore the mysterious Osireion – a subterranean structure resembling a tomb of Osiris. Return to the ship and continue sailing towards Dendera. Overnight on board.

Morning visit to Dendera Temple, dedicated to Hathor, goddess of love, music, and joy. The temple is one of the best‑preserved in Egypt, with its famous circular zodiac ceiling (original in Louvre, a replica on site), underground crypts, and beautifully coloured reliefs. Climb to the rooftop for a panoramic view. Return to the ship and sail towards Luxor. Afternoon lecture on Ptolemaic temple architecture. Overnight on board.

Morning sailing into Luxor. After lunch, visit the immense Karnak Temple – the largest religious complex ever built, with its 134‑column hypostyle hall and sacred lake. Late afternoon: Luxor Temple, beautifully illuminated as the sun sets. Walk down the ancient sphinx‑lined avenue. Return to the ship for dinner. Optional sound and light show at Karnak (extra). Overnight Luxor.

Cross the Nile to the West Bank. Visit the Valley of the Kings (3 tombs, including Ramses IV and Merenptah), the stunning terraced Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el‑Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon. Return to the ship for lunch. Afternoon sailing towards Edfu, passing through the Esna Lock (an experience in itself). Evening on board. Overnight near Edfu.

Morning: take a horse‑drawn carriage to the Temple of Edfu, dedicated to Horus – the best‑preserved cult temple in Egypt. Explore its towering pylons, hypostyle hall, and granite sanctuary. Return to ship and sail to Kom Ombo. Afternoon visit to the unique double temple dedicated to Sobek (crocodile god) and Haroeris (falcon god). See the Crocodile Museum with mummified crocs. Sail towards Aswan. Evening Galabeya party on board. Overnight.

Morning arrival in Aswan. Disembark for a tour: High Dam (modern engineering feat), Unfinished Obelisk (showing ancient quarrying techniques), and a motorboat to Philae Temple on Agilkia Island – dedicated to Isis, rescued from floodwaters. Afternoon free to explore the Aswan souk or take an optional felucca ride around Elephantine Island. Evening: farewell dinner on board. Overnight Aswan.

After breakfast, check out from the cruise. Private transfer to Aswan International Airport for your departure flight. End of the Pharaohs’ River Marathon – a historic 12‑day journey from Cairo to Aswan covering over 900 km of the Nile.