An unforgettable journey through the Land of the Pharaohs
There's a version of Egypt most travellers never reach. Not the crowded viewpoints or the queue outside a tomb, but the quieter moments: standing at the paws of the Sphinx with no one else around, stepping into a sealed chamber opened just for your group, and watching the sun rise over ancient Thebes from a hot air balloon.
This exceptional itinerary from A&K spans 13 days, four destinations, and seven nights aboard Sun Boat III - an exclusively chartered riverboat that sails with no more than 34 guests. A resident Egyptologist travels with you throughout, internal flights are chartered for your group alone, and you’ll enjoy access to certain sites with no one else around, so you can take in these many ancient wonders without having to rush.
Experience this...
Pyramids, paws, and private access
Cairo sets a high bar from the start. With your own Egyptologist, you'll move through the Grand Egyptian Museum at your own pace - past Tutankhamun's treasures, past 4,000 years of history - before heading to the Giza Plateau to step inside the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the only Ancient Wonder still standing. The quiet highlight, though, is private access to the Great Sphinx: close enough to touch the stone, with no crowds to share the moment. During your time in Cairo, the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza is your base throughout. It’s well-positioned on the river and a offers a composed place to return to after an intensive few days exploring the sights.
Thebes and the Tombs of the Pharaohs
Luxor is where the scale of ancient Egypt really hits you. The Temple of Karnak, a vast complex of columns, statues, and sanctuaries that dwarfs Angkor Wat in size, sets the tone. You’ll then board the Sun Boat III for your journey along the Nile. This intimate vessel carries no more than 34 guests and is designed to evoke the opulent era of the 1920s and 30s when Nile cruising was the ultimate in high society travel.
You’ll then cross to the West Bank where the Colossi of Memnon stands watch over the plain, with the terraced temple of Queen Hatshepsut carved into the cliffs above and the Valley of the Kings in the distance beyond. Here, you’ll enjoy access to the tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramses VI, and the beautifully preserved Seti I. You’ll then rise early on day six for a hot air balloon flight over the monuments at sunrise, a perspective that's difficult to describe and hard to forget before heading to Medinet Habu, a temple complex built by Ramses III which is much quieter than the more visited sites and well worth the detour.
Head south to Aswan
Further south, the Nile quietens and the pace shifts with it. In Aswan, you'll take a boat to the island of Agilika for the Temple of Philae - an elegant sanctuary dedicated to Isis, set against the water -before sailing by traditional felucca around Elephantine Island, past the Aga Khan Mausoleum. The Nubian Museum is worth an hour of anyone's time, and the Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in its granite quarry, gives a surprisingly vivid sense of how these monuments were made. From Aswan, A&K flies you to Abu Simbel: four seated statues of Ramses II, each standing over 60 feet high, carved directly into the cliff face.
A sealed tomb and a quiet necropolis
Back in Cairo, you’ll return to the Four Seasons for the final few days. Just outside the city lies Sakkara, the vast necropolis of ancient Memphis and site of the Step Pyramid of Djoser - the world's oldest stone structure, built around 2700 BC. This tour includes a private opening of the 4,400-year-old tomb of Wahtye, unearthed in 2018 and still largely untouched: painted hieroglyphics, sculptures, and inscriptions in near-perfect condition, with almost nobody else around. The Mereruka Tomb, one of the most finely decorated of the Old Kingdom, follows before a farewell dinner brings the journey to a fitting close.
Suggested itinerary
This 13-day journey pairs three days exploring Cairo's most significant sites with a seven-night Nile cruise aboard Sun Boat III, A&K's exclusively chartered riverboat. After Cairo, fly south to Luxor and board the vessel for the cruise leg, calling at Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan, with a day trip by chartered flight to Abu Simbel, before flying back to Cairo for two final nights.
Every element can be tailored to your preferences, whether that means extending your time on the river, upgrading your cabin category, or adding a five-day Jordan pre-tour extension taking in Amman, Jerash, Mount Nebo, and Petra.
Days 1–3: Stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza while you visit The Grand Egyptian Museum, the Great Pyramid of Cheops, and enjoy private access to the Great Sphinx.
Days 4–10: Sun Boat III, an A&K Sanctuary – Spend seven nights cruising south from Luxor to Aswan. The part of the trip includes The Valley of the Kings, a dawn balloon flight over the monuments, the temples of Esna, Edfu, and Kom Ombo, the island of Philae, and a chartered day trip to Abu Simbel.
Days 11–13: Return to the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza and experience the Royal Mummies Gallery, Sakkara, and a private opening of the 4,400-year-old Wahtye Tomb, followed by a farewell dinner.
Your handcrafted journey starts here
The hotels and experiences in this itinerary are suggestions and can be personalised to suit you by your Travel Counsellor, plus they can organise luxury enhancements such as airport lounge access and Business Class seat upgrades.
Contact your Travel Counsellor today to get things started.
All holidays are subject to availability; T&Cs apply.
