Cairo and Nile cruise on the GAIA Dahabiya

Route

This tour of Egypt starts in Cairo with the pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum. You will then fly to Aswan and sail to Luxor on the GAIA Dahabiya. Along the way, you will visit Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna. You will conclude your tour at the Karnak temple complex.

Rhythm

In Cairo, you will immediately immerse yourself in history with private visits to iconic sites. On board the dahabiya, you will travel in comfort with time for temples and quiet moments on deck. You will sail in an intimate setting with personal service.

Highlights

You will see the pyramids of Giza up close and visit the Grand Egyptian Museum with the treasures of Tutankhamun. On the Nile, you will discover Philae, Kom Ombo and the temple of Horus in Edfu. In Luxor, you will visit the Valley of the Kings with access to the tomb of Seti I. Karnak is the impressive finale.

Accommodation

You will stay in a luxury hotel in Cairo and then sail on the GAIA Dahabiya, an elegant and small-scale boat with suites and private balconies. Comfort, space and attention to detail are central.

Profile

Ideal for travellers who want to combine Cairo and the pyramids with an exclusive Nile cruise on a dahabiya. Perfect for those who want to experience Egypt intensely in a smaller, refined travel format.

Important information:

An international passport is required, valid for at least 6 months after return, with at least 2 blank pages.
A valid visa is required.
No special vaccinations are required. We do recommend that you seek advice from your family doctor or the Tropical Institute.

Day 1: Departure to Cairo

You'll land in Cairo today, where a private driver will welcome you and take you to your hotel. You will stay at the Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah, a quiet and luxurious spot on the Nile, located at the tip of El Gezirah Island in the Zamalek neighborhood. This charming neighborhood, with plenty of cozy restaurants, is a breath of fresh air after a day in the lively heart of Cairo.Prefer to stay in another location? Then we will gladly arrange this for you.

Day 2: Cairo

This morning you will visit the plateau of Giza, where the pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus have been telling history for 4,500 years. Together with your private guide, discover their story and see the tombs inside-an unforgettable experience. Also not to be missed is the Sphinx, which watches over the tomb complex. In the afternoon, after lunch at a local restaurant, admire the Grand Egyptian Museum, with more than 100,000 artifacts, including Tutankhamun's famous treasures.

Day 3: Cairo - Aswan

Today you will take a domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan. A private driver will take you from the airport to the port where you embark on the brand new Gaïa Dahabiya for a Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor. All the suites on this luxurious Nile ship have large windows and private balconies so you have a personal space to relax and enjoy the passing scenery. After a warm welcome aboard, you'll enjoy a delicious lunch. In the afternoon you will take a trip on a felluca, a traditional wooden sailboat, on the Nile. The Nile is at its most beautiful here with numerous islets, birds and high dunes. All you have to do is enjoy the view. In the evening, meet the captain over a welcome cocktail and enjoy a delicious dinner on board.

Day 4: Aswan - Philae

The day begins with a visit to the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis and saved by UNESCO from rising waters after the construction of the Aswan Dam. Next you will discover the High Dam, an impressive feat of engineering that powered Egypt despite the loss of Nubian villages and temples. In the granite quarries, you'll see the unfinished Obelisk, a nearly 42-meter-long obelisk that was never completed due to a flaw in the stone. After lunch on board, relax on the deck or take a refreshing dip at Hor Diab Island, where you swim in the purest waters of the Nile. As night falls, enjoy a candlelit dinner at AI-Hirbiab Island.

Day 5: Kom Ombo - Edfu

After breakfast visit the temple of Kom Ombo, unique for its dual design dedicated to both the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus. With two entrances, courts, colonnades and shrines, this temple reflects an ancient conflict between the gods. Stroll through the beautifully decorated corridors and admire the mummified crocodiles on display here. After the visit, enjoy a delicious lunch on board while the Gaia Dahabey sets sail for Gebel El Silsila, an ancient sandstone quarry between Edfu and Kom Ombo. Here you will discover towering cliffs, inscriptions, shrines and the remains of workers' settlements, giving an insight into life during the New Kingdom. You'll end the day with dinner on board.

Day 6: Edfu - Esna

Today you will once again discover impressive temples. In Edfu you will visit the Temple of Horus, the largest and best preserved temple in Egypt. The monumental pylon, decorated with beautiful reliefs, is an absolute eye-catcher. After lunch on board, the Gaia Dahabey sails on to Esna. Here you will explore the temple of Khnum, the god of creation according to the ancient Egyptians. Thanks to recent restorations, the colorful reliefs of constellations, planets and hieroglyphics shine again, and you'll learn more about how the Egyptians celebrated New Year. The day ends with dinner on board while you enjoy a rabab performance.

Day 7: Luxor

After a relaxing night, the Gaia Dahabey arrived in Luxor, a city known as the largest open-air museum in the world. After breakfast, you will visit the Valley of the Kings, where the ancient Egyptians buried their pharaohs in secret tombs. You will enter the tomb of Tutankhamun, with impressive murals from the Egyptian "Book of the Dead" and gain exclusive access to the beautifully finished tomb of Pharaoh Seti I. After lunch you will explore the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, which rises in white terraces against the rocks. You make a short stop at the Colossi of Memnon and end the day with a visit to the well-preserved Temple of Luxor in the heart of the city. Dine on board in the evening.

Day 8: Karnak - return home

Before your private driver takes you to Luxor airport, visit the impressive temple complex of Karnak. Spanning more than two square kilometers, this sacred site was expanded and decorated over 1,500 years. The Great Temple of Amun-Ra, with its monumental colonnade full of papyrus-shaped columns, is the absolute highlight. You will also walk along the restored three-kilometer-long Avenue of Sphinxes, which connects Karnak to the Temple of Luxor-created by pharaohs who wanted to immortalize their power here. An impressive farewell to this historic city.

Frequently asked questions about this Cairo trip and Nile cruise

What is a dahabiya and how is it different from a classic Nile cruise?

A dahabiya is a small sailing boat that hosts a limited number of travellers. The journey therefore feels calmer and more personal than on large cruise ships. You sail with a small group and also stop at places where larger boats do not dock.

How much time do you spend on the boat?

The cruise lasts four nights. During the day you regularly disembark to visit temples such as Temple of Philae, Temple of Kom Ombo and Temple of Edfu. Between stops, the boat continues sailing towards Luxor.

Do you need to walk a lot during this trip?

Most temples and sites are explored on foot. Distances remain limited and there are regular breaks during the visits. Transfers are arranged with private transport.

What clothing should you bring for this trip?

Light and breathable clothing is the most practical. For temple and mosque visits it is recommended to wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees. A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are also useful during the visits.