Nile Cruise: Merit Dahabiya

Egypt's Modern History

Off-the-beaten-track Cruise + 2 more + 3 more

A delightful introduction to the fascinating events that have shaped Egypt since Biblical times

10 days

from £3,915 pp

Simply Egypt

Express Beach + 2 more + 3 more

Cairo's iconic sights paired with pure Red Sea relaxation.

11 days

from £3,520 pp

Classic Egypt

Classic Express + 3 more + 3 more

Big-name ancient highlights and a classic Nile cruise

8 days

from £2,810 pp

Classic Ultimate + 2 more + 3 more

Egypt and Jordan Discovery

Jordan, Egypt

Experience the best of Egypt and Jordan in one unforgettable trip.

13 days

from £4,815 pp

Luxor and the Red Sea

Family Beach + 1 more + 2 more

An enticing itinerary that allows for plenty of seaside relaxation in addition to the Nile sightseeing.

8 days

from £2,640 pp

Highlights of Egypt

Classic Cruise + 3 more + 3 more

Culture in Cairo, cruising the Nile and relaxation by the Red Sea

11 days

from £3,415 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Egypt

Kom Ombo Temple

Situated snugly on the East Bank of the Nile, just outside a small agricultural town that bears the same name, the Temple of Kom Ombo is unique in paying equal homage to two separate gods, both with their own dedicated half of the complex. The western portion is dedicated to Haroeris, or “Horus the Elder”, while the eastern half celebrates the crocodile god Sobek, whose image in relief is equally recognisable and atmospheric as the falcon Horus and the jackal Anubis. Astonishingly, the temple is completely symmetrical along its main axis, which splits twin entrances, two shared hypostyle halls and separate sanctuary chambers for each deity. Dating from the Ptolemaic period, like so many of Egypt’s classic sites, Kom Ombo is not one of the larger temples on the regular circuit, and can be comfortably explored in an hour to ninety minutes. Highlights include the well-preserved friezes and reliefs, again split down the middle to represent both gods, and some impressive, highly photogenic papyrus-shaped columns. There is now a Crocodile Museum next to the main temple site, housing close to 300 mummified crocodiles, and for many visitors, the temple really comes to life when illuminated by moonlight after dark. All of the major cruises visit, some during the day and others by night, which unfortunately means its riverside location acts as both a blessing and a curse, with numerous vessels docked in front of the temple at virtually any time of the day. For those transiting overland between Aswan and Luxor, a visit to Kom Ombo is usually combined with a stop at the Temple of Edfu.

Temple of Dendera

Situated on the West Bank of the Nile, roughly 60km north of Luxor, Dendera receives far fewer visitors than the fabled pharaonic highlights further south. It is included on some of the longer Nile cruise itineraries or can be visited by land from Luxor; those who make the effort are usually glad they did. The temple complex here is beautifully preserved, its sprawling layout surrounded by a huge mud-brick wall and an attractive ribbon of verdant green countryside, spilling out from the Nile towards the Western Desert.The dominant structure within the walls is the impressive Temple of Hathor, containing an array of treasures including a hypostyle hall, numerous shrines and staircases and some vivid reliefs, including some that portray Cleopatra. Her depictions highlight that this complex was influenced by Rome, and some of the temples and reliefs display clear Roman iconography rather than Ancient Egyptian. With a user-friendly visitors’ centre and a café for much-needed refreshments, this is an extremely pleasant place to spend a few hours, often in conjunction with a trip to Abydos, further north.

Felucca on the Nile

A felucca is a traditional Egyptian sailing boat, and any visitor to this corridor of the Nile will see numerous feluccas along the way, their unfurled white sails providing a pleasant, historic feel to travel on the river. Some offer overnight expeditions on board, with little more than a blanket and some simple hot meals in the way of creature comforts, but this is very much a basic way to see the sights, mainly taken up by backpackers. Our preferred way to enjoy this timeless, tranquil method of travel is to take a short cruise and get an intimate feel for the Nile while seeing some of the major sights from the water. Sampling the experience in Luxor is a delight, as you sail past the Temple of Luxor, watch life go by on the West Bank and perhaps drift out to a Nile island. We tend to find that the late afternoon is a beautiful time to enjoy a sunset cruise with a drink in hand, and this is included in many Nile cruise itineraries, but it’s also easy for us to book for anybody staying at a hotel in Luxor. However, our favourite spot to head out on a felucca from is Aswan, with its evocative, picturesque scenery as you drift out from the First Cataract, past the Botanical Gardens, the Tombs of the Nobles and St Simeon’s Monastery. We tend to find that the late afternoon is a beautiful time to enjoy a sunset cruise with a drink in hand, and this is included in many Nile cruise itineraries, but it’s also easy for us to book a cruise for anybody staying at a hotel on land, just chat to your expert.

The Temples of Luxor and Karnak

Together, the Temples of Karnak and Luxor form one of the greatest concentrations of ancient monuments anywhere in Egypt, offering a fascinating insight into the scale, ambition and layered history of Ancient Thebes. Karnak, to the north of modern Luxor, is vast. Covering more than two square kilometres, it’s not a single temple but a sprawling complex built up over centuries by successive pharaohs, each leaving their mark. Obelisks, pylons, sanctuaries and courtyards stretch out in every direction, all centred around the great Temple of Amun-Ra. Approaching the site past the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, the sheer scale quickly becomes apparent. One of the standout features is the Great Hypostyle Hall – a forest of 137 colossal columns, richly carved and once brightly painted, designed to evoke a papyrus marsh. Even with a couple of hours here, you’ll only begin to take in the highlights, which also include the Sacred Lake and smaller temples dedicated to Khonsu and Ramesses III. Exploring Karnak with a knowledgeable guide really helps bring order and meaning to its immense scale. Closer to the river and right in the heart of the modern town lies the Temple of Luxor, smaller and more compact, but no less compelling. Originally linked to Karnak by a three-kilometre Avenue of the Sphinxes, parts of which are still visible today, Luxor Temple is easier to navigate and understand, largely because much of it was built during the reign of Amenhotep III. What makes it especially intriguing are the visible layers of history woven into the site. Roman chapels, reliefs and painted stucco sit alongside ancient carvings, while the Mosque of Abu al-Haggag rises directly from the central courtyard, built when the temple lay buried beneath centuries of sand. Statues of Ramesses II guard the entrance, leading through colonnades, courts and sanctuaries decorated with well-preserved reliefs and hieroglyphs. While it’s fascinating by day, Luxor Temple takes on a very different atmosphere after dark, when it’s floodlit against the backdrop of the town. Visited together, the Temples of Luxor and Karnak provide such a powerful introduction to ancient Egypt on a monumental scale, they're both must-sees during your time in Luxor.