Egypt - Nile Cruise and Beach Holiday

Start your vacation with a week-long Nile cruise from the ancient Pharaoh's capital Luxor with Karnak and the famous Valley of the Kings to Aswan, in the heart of the Nubian Empire. This route is one of the most outstanding holiday trips, where culture and relaxation can be ideally combined. Your Nile ship will comfortably take you on relaxing river passages right to the gates of the well-preserved temples and richly decorated tombs of the ancient Egyptians. An unforgettable journey through the beautiful nature of the Nile Valley, where the attentive ship crew takes care of your well-being. Afterwards, enjoy your days in a comfortable hotel with a very nice and spacious beach and garden area, right by the Red Sea.

Day 1 | Outbound Flight to Egypt

Flight from Düsseldorf to Luxor. Reception by the tour guide before customs clearance and transfer to board your Nile cruise ship.

Day 2 | Luxor – Thebes West – River Cruise to Esna

After breakfast, you will first travel to the opposite bank of the Nile to Thebes West. In the famous Valley of the Kings, which gained worldwide fame with the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb by Howard Carter in 1922, you will visit some of the richly decorated pharaonic tombs from the inside. Afterwards, you will visit the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut and see the massive Colossi of Memnon. In the afternoon, the ship departs and heads upstream towards Esna. Relax on the sun deck while the beautiful Nile landscape passes by.

Day 3 | Lock Esna – Edfu – River Cruise to Aswan

Depending on the schedule and timing of the ship's lock passage, we offer an optional excursion to the Temple of Chnum in Esna (subject to availability, not included, approx. €20 per person). Your Nile ship continues its journey along the lush green Nile oases and palm groves with the desert behind it and docks in Edfu, where you will visit the well-preserved Temple of Horus. Afterwards, enjoy the beautiful cruise on the sun deck with tea and pastries and reach Aswan in the evening.

Day 4 | Aswan – Lake Nasser

Aswan, the beautifully located city at the Nile cataract and once the gateway to the Nubian kingdom, enchants with numerous small islands and the nature reserve. Even Agatha Christie could not resist the fascination of the place when she wrote her bestseller on the terrace of the famous Old Cataract Hotel. In the morning, you will visit the dam of the mighty Lake Nasser just outside the city, then visit the Philae Temple on Agilkia Island and see the unfinished obelisk in the ancient quarry. In the afternoon, you will take a boat trip with a traditional sailing felucca (motorboat in calm weather) between the idyllic Nile islands. You will see the Aga Khan Mausoleum, the Nilometer, and the Old Cataract. Those who wish can stop for tea in a prominent location above the Nile cataract in the garden of a hotel complex to enjoy the unique atmosphere with a special view (not included, reservation on site. Tea Time Hotel Basma approx. €45 per person).

Day 5 | Aswan – (Abu Simbel) – River Cruise

The morning is at your leisure in this particularly beautiful location. The tour guide has a very special highlight for you today with Abu Simbel. Those who wish can participate in this optional excursion to the monumental temples of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari (not included, reservation on site, €110 per person). Those who want to stay in Aswan can visit the Nubian village on a boat trip through the nature reserve (not included, reservation on site, €30 per person). In the afternoon, your ship departs Aswan downstream.

Day 6 | Kom Ombo – River Cruise to Luxor

Right next to the dock, you will visit the double temple of Sobek and Haroeris in Kom Ombo, as well as the small Sobek Museum. The rest of the day, enjoy the beautiful Nile landscape and relax on the sun deck of the ship while the picturesque Nile gardens, islands, and villages of Upper Egypt pass by.

Day 7 | Luxor – Karnak

With the massive colonnades of the Karnak Temple and the Luxor Temple located on the Nile, as well as the Sphinx Avenue running between them, the monumental buildings on the east bank of Luxor are on your sightseeing program today. In the Karnak Temple, you will admire, among other things, the relief of the first documented peace treaty in history. In the afternoon or evening, a visit to a bazaar including a carriage ride is offered (not included, reservation on site, approx. €28 per person).

Day 8 | Luxor – Extension Beach Holiday

End of your Nile cruise, disembarkation, and bus transfer through the Arabian Desert to your beach hotel on the Red Sea.

Day 9 | Leisure and Relaxation

This day is at your leisure. Enjoy relaxing hours on the long sandy beach of Makadi Bay or unwind by the pool of your resort. The crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea invite you to swim and snorkel, offering fascinating insights into the colorful underwater world with its corals and exotic fish. The comfortable hotel offers numerous opportunities for a relaxing holiday day. Take advantage of the extensive hotel grounds, relax in the spa area, or enjoy the sun while walking along the picturesque coast. Those who want to be active can take advantage of various water sports or sporting leisure activities offered by the resort.

Days 10 + 11 | Cairo (optional)

With your travel companion, you will start early in the morning (around 5:00 AM) for an excursion to Cairo, whose roots go back to the dynasties of the ancient pharaohs. Unique and admirable are the testimonies of a history over 4,500 years old, of which the Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum (newly opened in 2025) tell impressively to this day. Afterwards, you will visit Old Cairo with its Coptic churches and the synagogue and continue to check into the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in the Cairo area.

The next morning, after breakfast, you will leave the hotel and travel to the Step Pyramid of King Djoser, whose structure very well shows the development of pyramid construction. To conclude, the historic district from the Islamic period in Cairo enchants you with magnificent mosques and the famous bazaar, leading you into a fairy tale from 1001 Nights. After shopping at the bazaar, you will return to Hurghada in the afternoon, arriving around 9:00 PM. (Optional to book before the trip, 2-day Cairo trip in double room €260 per person / in single room €285)

Days 12 – 14 | Leisure and Relaxation

The last days of your vacation are all about relaxation and enjoyment. Spend relaxing hours on the dreamlike beach of Makadi Bay and enjoy the pleasant climate and the turquoise waters of the Red Sea. Perhaps you would like to take advantage of the diverse offerings of your resort – from the spacious spa and wellness area to sports activities to snorkeling or diving excursions. Take your time to reflect on the impressions of your trip and enjoy once again the special combination of oriental flair, sun, and relaxation.

Day 15 | Return Flight

Transfer to Hurghada Airport for your return flight to Frankfurt/Main.

Your Travel Companion:

Your travel companion is our experienced BOHR coach driver, with Egyptian roots, Mohamed Meshaly (Momo).

• Outbound flight Düsseldorf – Luxor
• Return flight Hurghada – Frankfurt/Main
• Transfer airport – ship dock – hotel – airport
• Local travel by modern coach (country typical)
• 7x overnight stay on the Nile cruise First-Class ship "MS Nile Vision" in the booked cabin category
• Full board on the ship: breakfast, lunch, and dinner in buffet form,
• 1x Oriental dinner or a barbecue evening on deck in the afternoon
• Tea/Coffee hour on the sun deck with pastries
• All-inclusive beverage package on the ship: soft drinks and various coffee/tea variations, local alcoholic beverages, wine, long drinks, and spirits as well as non-alcoholic cocktails from 09:00 – 23:00
• 7x overnight stay in the 4-star Fort Arabesque Resort in Makadi Bay (local category) in premium rooms in the West Bay area (from 16 years)
• 7x All inclusive in the hotel: breakfast, lunch, and dinner in buffet form, daytime snacks as well as pasta, pizza, and ice cream; local alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (09:00 – 24:00)
• Excursion program of the cruise according to the brochure
• Onboard events on the ship
• All local taxes, port, and lock fees
• Continuous BOHR travel accompaniment