The Elephantine dahabiya has 11 suites and sails between Luxor and Aswan, mooring at quiet islands and villages as well as Karnak, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae.
You board at 14:00, the crew take your luggage and you settle into your suite. After an unhurried lunch, the sightseeing begins with the Karnak Temple Complex, the largest religious structure ever built, and then Luxor Temple, lit and standing right on the riverbank. Back aboard at sunset for a quiet evening on deck.
The Valley of the Kings first thing, where the most powerful pharaohs were buried, then Deir el-Bahari and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut cut into the cliff, with a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back. Around midday the boat sails south, through the Esna Lock and on towards the island of El Hegz, with the villages and the fields going past all afternoon.
A morning in the village of El Hegz, where very little has changed in a long time. Then the boat sails to Edfu, and a horse-drawn carriage takes you to the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Lunch on board, then Kom Ombo and its double temple, built for Sobek the crocodile god and Haroeris, with the small Crocodile Museum beside it. The boat anchors for the night at the village of Kobaniya.
The Temple of Philae after breakfast, built for Isis and standing on its own island, then the Aswan High Dam. After lunch there is a felucca on the river and a walk through the Aswan spice market, which is worth doing for the smell alone. Dinner on board with Nubian folklore music and dancing.
Breakfast at 08:00, then you say goodbye to the crew and are transferred to Aswan Airport or the railway station.