Overseas Adventure Travel Announcing 2026 Adventures by Land & Small Ship | Egypt & the Eternal Nile by Private, Classic River-Yacht

AFRICA & NORTHERN AFRICA

Temple of Philae
Temple of Philae
Feluccas on Nile, Aswan
Feluccas on Nile, Aswan

Egypt: Cairo, Luxor, 5-night Nile River-Yacht cruise, Abu Simbel, Aswan 
Small groups of no more than 16 travelers, guaranteed

Discover the legacy of ancient Egypt—from the treasures of Tutankhamun to the tranquil enchantment of Aswan. Along with nine nights in historic hotels such as the iconic Winter Palace in Luxor that let you experience some of the romance and glamour of an earlier era, you'll spend 5 nights aboard a privately chartered, 16-passenger dahabeya—the Asiya, Aida, Amunet, or Aton—and slowly drift along the Nile on a journey back in time to the days of the Pharaohs on this adventure of a lifetime.

16 days starting from $6,295
including international airfare from New York
Single Supplement: FREE
Departure Dates: Jan-Jun; Aug-Dec
Activity Level: 1 2 3 4 5 Moderately Easy

IT'S INCLUDED

Luxor Market
Luxor Market
Spice Market, Aswan
Spice Market, Aswan
Abu Simbel Temple
Abu Simbel Temple

ITINERARY

DAY 1. Depart U.S.

Fly overnight from the U.S. to Cairo, Egypt.

DAY 2 • Cairo

Arrive at your hotel, where you'll meet your fellow travelers, including those who took the Jordan: The King's Highway from Amman to Petra pre-trip extension.
Cairo Marriott Hotel or similar

DAY 3 • Grand Egyptian Museum

Drive to Giza to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to the greatest Pharaonic treasures in the world.
Meals: B,L,D | Cairo Marriott Hotel or similar

DAY 4 • Pyramids of Giza • Controversial Topic: Egyptian women's rights

Drive out to Giza and enjoy a camel ride to behold the Great Pyramids, including the 4,500-year-old Great Pyramid of Khufu. Ponder another mystery for the ages at the Sphinx, enigmatic guardian of the Giza Plateau. Later, discuss the Controversial Topic of women's rights in Egypt.
Meals: B,L | Cairo Marriott Hotel or similar

DAY 5 • Luxor • Karnak Temple • Home-Hosted Dinner

Fly to Luxor. Explore the Temple of Karnak, one of the most important ancient sites in all of Egypt. This evening, enjoy a Home-Hosted Dinner with a local Egyptian family.
Meals: B,L,D | Steigenberger Nile Palace or similar

DAY 6 • Valley of the Kings • Luxor Temple

Visit the Valley of the Kings. Explore the tomb of Tutankhamun, followed by a visit to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, built for Egypt's first known female monarch. Then, visit Luxor Temple, a center of power for Egypt's mighty pharaohs over a nearly 1,500-year period.
Meals: B,L,D | Steigenberger Nile Palace or similar

DAY 7 • Optional hot air balloon ride • Esna & Temple of Khnum • Begin Nile cruise 

Elect to rise early for an optional balloon ride over the Nile's west bank. Then, drive to Esna to visit the Temple of Khnum before embarking our Nile river-yacht and begin the romantic journey along the Nile. Arrive in Higz, a small village along the Nile's east bank, and take a village walk while the sun sets over the Nile.
Meals: B,L,D | Asiya, Aida, Amunet, or Aton river-yacht

DAY 8 • Edfu • Edfu Temple 

Cruise to Edfu, home to the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt. Then, visit the Temple of Horus, dedicated to the falcon-headed god. Later, moor for the night at a quiet little village further down the Nile.
Meals: B,L,D | Asiya, Aida, Amunet, or Aton river-yacht

DAY 9 • A Day in the Life of Besaw Island • Gebel Silsila Temple & Quarries 

Cruise to Besaw Island for our NEW A Day in the Life experience with a local farmer and learn about life in this isolated agricultural community. After a conversation about education for girls living on the island, stroll through his fields and enjoy lunch with the farmer and his family. Then, cruise to Gebel Silsila, home to ancient quarries whose stones were used for Egypt's great temples. We'll moor in Fares village and go ashore for an Egyptian barbecue dinner.
Meals: B,L,D | Asiya, Aida, Amunet, or Aton river-yacht

ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHT

Cruise along the Nile for 5 nights aboard a privately chartered, 16-passenger dahabeya and visit smaller islands and riverside villages that travelers on the big river ships can't go

One of our privately-chartered dahabeyas
One of our privately-chartered dahabeyas
Besaw Island
Besaw Island

DAY 10 • Island village visit • Kom Ombo 

Explore Fares' traditional Egyptian village and stop to see a local craftsman. Then, cruise to Kom Ombo, home to Egypt's only double temple.
Meals: B,L,D | Asiya, Aida, Amunet, or Aton river-yacht

DAY 11 • Daraw livestock market • Aswan 

At the Daraw livestock market, board pick-up trucks and head to the market. With herders urging their camels along and Nubian men hawking their wares, the scene can be dusty, colorful, and chaotic—and fun.
Meals: B,L,D | Asiya, Aida, Amunet, or Aton river-yacht

ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHT

On Day 12, visit Abu Simbel with an overnight stay that allows you to explore the massive temples seemingly carved into living rock both by day and at night

DAY 12 • Aswan • Disembark yacht • Abu Simbel

Disembark our river-yacht this morning and transfer to Abu Simbel for an overnight stay, and the opportunity to witness the iconic temples seemingly carved into living rock both by day and at night. Upon arrival, we'll see this ancient wonder fully intact, with its huge guardian statues and elaborate depictions of famous battles on the inner walls of Ramses' Temple. Then, later in the afternoon, we'll gain an entirely new perspective of the site during an enchanting sound and light show.
Meals: B,L,D | Seti Abu Simbel Hotel or similar

DAY 13 • Aswan • High Dam • Aswan's spice market

On our return to Aswan for a two-night stay at the Old Cataract Hotel, we'll stop to visit the Aswan High Dam, whose 1971 construction created Lake Nasser. After checking in to our historic hotel, we'll set off on a discovery walk through Aswan's bustling spice market followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: B,L,D |  Mövenpick Resort Aswan or similar

DAY 14 • Temples of Philae

Explore Philae, center of the cult of the goddess Isis, and see the Temple of Isis and Trajan's Kiosk, with its 14 majestic stone pillars. This evening, celebrate our Egypt discoveries during a festive Farewell Dinner at the Old Cataract Hotel.
Meals: B,L,D | Mövenpick Resort Aswan or similar

DAY 15 • Cairo • Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan and Al Rifa'i Mosque

Fly to Cairo, and explore two of Egypt's most famous mosques, the 14th-century Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan and 19th-century Al Rifa'i Mosque.
Meals: B,L,D | Cairo Marriott Hotel or similar

DAY 16 • Return to U.S.

Fly back home, or begin your Alexandria's Glorious Past post-trip extension.
Meals: B

See the full deck plan for the dahabeya on page 217. 

Want to know more? Find the full itinerary and dates & pricing at www.oattravel.com/ego

PERSONALIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE on your Egypt adventure

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS

Choose to maximize your discoveries and value when you add a pre- or post-trip extension—or both—to your adventure.

Jordan: The King's Highway from Amman to Petra

PRE-TRIP: 5 nights from $2,395

40% of travelers choose this extension
Petra, Jordan
40% of travelers choose this extension

Experience another facet of the Middle East's centuries-old culture in Jordan. You'll explore Roman ruins in Amman, stroll ancient city streets in Jerash, and diiscover the Nabataen "Lost City" of Petra, described in poetry as a "rose-red city half as old as time."

IT'S INCLUDED

Learn more at www.oattravel.com/ego-jordan-2026

Alexandria's Glorious Past

POST-TRIP: 5 nights from $1,495

Alexandria Harbor, Egypt
Alexandria Harbor, Egypt

This destination is only available as a trip extension

Founded near a Mediterranean fishing village by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, Alexandria rose to fame during Cleopatra's reign, when visitors from across the ancient world came to view the splendor of the grand port city that grew to rival Rome. Witness the spacious boulevards, towering sphinxes, and lavish temples of Egypt's legendary city of Alexandria.

IT'S INCLUDED

Learn more at www.oattravel.com/ego-alexandria-2026

ARRIVE EARLY

We recommend that you relax after a long flight or explore more in depth before your trip. Prices shown include accommodations and private airport transfer.