8-Day Oberoi Zahra Cruise [Luxor – Aswan]

When you arrive at Luxor Airport, you will be met by one of our tour representatives who will then escort you in a modern air-conditioned vehicle to a private docking port where you will board the luxury 5-Star Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise.

Embarkation is set for 12h00, and at 12h30 they will begin serving lunch on board, in the vessel’s tastefully decorated dining area. After you have enjoyed your first onboard meal, you will have some time to relax or to get settled into your cabin.

Then, at 14h00, you will have a relatively short tour of Luxor’s East Bank, stopping first at the massive Karnak Temple complex which was the subject of ongoing construction over a period of about 2,000 years. While parts of the site has been destroyed, it is nonetheless one of the most visited ancient sites in the Nile River Valley.

After visiting Karnak, you will then head to the wonderful Luxor Museum before finally returning to the Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise, with a bit of time to spare before dinner is served at 19h30.

Tonight you will spend your first night in the comfort of your cabin on the water in Luxor.

Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

Today is quite a busy day, so it kicks off quite early, with breakfast being served from 06h00 onwards.

At 07h00, everyone will disembark, and you will head to Luxor’s West Bank to visit one of Egypt’s biggest treasures, the Valley of Kings. This is an ancient royal burial ground where archeologists have so far uncovered more than 70 ancient tombs, including the tomb of Ramses IV and the tomb King Tutankhamen.

After visiting the Valley of Kings, your next stop will be a visit to the Temple of Medinet Habu. You will then start making your way back to the boat, stopping briefly along the way to see the thought-provoking Colossi of Memnon.

The Oberoi Zahra will sail out of Luxor at 11h00, and you will enjoy a 5-Star lunch onboard while you are sailing to Qena.

At 15h00, everyone will disembark, and you will be taken to visit the ancient Temple of Dendera which was built to honor Hathor, the Goddess of music, love, and joy.

After everyone has had enough time to explore this fascinating site, you will be transferred back to Oberoi Zahra with ample time to spare before dinner which starts at 07h30. Enjoy a fine dinner and a relaxing evening on the water in Quina.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

A very early start today, with the Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise departing from Qena at 04h00. Wake up to the rhythmic movement of the boat and enjoy another fine breakfast on the water, served between 8h30 and 09h30.

At 10h30 you will disembark for another fascinating excursion that will see you visiting the Valley of the Nobles in Luxor as well as Deir El Medina. The latter was once a village that was inhabited by the craftsmen who built and decorated the royal tombs which you saw at the Valley of Kings on day-2 of your Nile cruise.

After exploring this site for a while, you will move on to see the indescribable Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. This rock-cut temple is one site which no visitor can afford to miss, hence the reason why it features in nearly all good quality Nile River cruises.

After your sightseeing tour ends, you will return to the Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise in time for a 13h00 lunch. At 16h30 you will once again disembark, this time for a visit to the enchanting Luxor Temple.

This is quite a leisurely tour which will see you returning to the cruise ship at 18h00 for a very pleasant cocktail reception, accompanied by some live music in the boat’s club lounge.

Dinner will be served from 19h30, and you will be spending this night in the comfort of your cabin on the water in Luxor.

Meals Included: Break, Lunch, and Dinner

This morning the Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise will sail out of Luxor, and begin the journey to Edfu. Wake up to the gentle movement of the boat, and enjoy another hearty breakfast which will be served from 08h30 to 09h30 in the vessel’s luxurious dining area.

Spend the remainder of the morning doing as you wish, and then sit down for another excellent lunch at 13h00, shortly before or shortly after you arrive at Edfu. At 15h30 everyone will disembark for a visit to the best-preserved relic of the ancient world, the Temple of Edfu which was constructed to Horus the falcon God.

After you have had ample time to explore this magnificent site, everyone will return to the boat, where another fabulous dinner will be served from 19h30 onwards. Enjoy a wonderful night’s rest in your luxury cabin on the water in Edfu.

Meals Included: Break, Lunch, and Dinner

Another early start, with departure from Edfu scheduled for 05h00. Once again, wake up on the river, and enjoy another good onboard breakfast while sailing peacefully towards Aswan.

Spend the rest of the morning as you wish, and enjoy a good onboard lunch at 13h00 before disembarking in Aswan at 14h30 for a delightful excursion which will see you visiting the famous High Dam of Aswan, as well as the spectacular ancient Temple of Philae that was built to honor Horus the falcon God.

Later in the afternoon, everyone will return to the Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise with ample time to spare before the dining area opens for dinner at 19h30. Tonight will be spent on the water in Edfu.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Today the boat will leave Aswan at 07h00 for a short cruise to Kom Ombo, with breakfast being served along the way.

After breakfast, everyone will disembark at Kom Ombo and you will visit the fascinating Kom Ombo Temple which is essential an ancient twin-temple complex that was built to honor two different Gods, Sobek the God of fertility and creator of the world, and Horus the falcon God.

After this wonderful excursion, you will be transferred back to the Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise and at 11h00 it will start sailing back to Aswan. Lunch will be served at 13h00, just before or just after arriving back in Aswan.

At 15h00, you will visit the beautiful Aswan Botanical Gardens, but rather than going onshore, you will get to enjoy a scenic ride on a traditional felucca boat.

Everyone will return to the boat at around 17h00 hours, and you will have until 19h00 to relax before going on another short excursion, this time, after sunset to see the spectacular sound and light show at Philae Temple.

Finally, dinner will be served on board starting from 19h30, and this night will once again be spent on the water in Aswan.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Today once again kicks off with a tasty onboard breakfast being served between 08h00 and 09h00. Today is essentially a day for relaxation, although you can choose to go on an optional excursion to the strikingly magnificent Abu Simbel Temple.

As with previous days, an excellent lunch will be served on board the Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise, and there will also be a very pleasant cocktail reception at 19h00, complete with some live entertainment. Dinner will follow at 19h30, and you will spend the night on the water in Aswan.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Nobody would blame you if you wake with a heavy heart today given that today marks the end of your magical Nile River cruise.

However, before you disembark, enjoy one last breakfast on board, and then one of our tour representatives will be standing by to meet you, and to escort you to Aswan Airport or Aswan Railway Station, depending on what your travel plans are.

Meals Included: Breakfast