The Solar Eclipse & Magic of the Nile

We enjoy a full-day guided tour of Cairo, taking in the highlights of this spectacular city. Our first stop is the long-awaited, brand-new Grand Egyptian Museum, initiated over two decades ago and featuring 12 exhibition halls. This portal to the past houses the world's largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities that have been preserved over millennia, from the colossal statues that guard the entrance to the smallest amulets held within. It's the world's biggest museum dedicated to a single civilisation, and offers the perfect chance to marvel at the intricate gold work of the pharaohs, decipher the ancient hieroglyphs and stand face-to-face with the mummies of Egypt's kings and queens. Two halls here are dedicated solely to Tutankhamun, displaying nearly all 5,000 objects from his tomb for the first time. The perfect introduction to this spectacular country!

Afterwards, we take in the magnificent Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, which have stood the test of time remarkably well. Rising from the desert, the three Pyramids guarded by the mysterious Sphinx, believed to represent the Pharaoh Khafre, are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World and one of the most important sites in Egypt. Lunch at a local restaurant is also included today.

Later, we transfer to the train station to board our overnight sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan. As the sun sets over this enchanting country, soak up the views of the ever-changing landscapes before enjoying dinner and a comfortable night's sleep.

We arrive in Aswan in the morning, an atmospheric city rich in history, where we discover several famous landmarks on guided visits. First up is Philae Temple, a labyrinthine complex of chapels and shrines which were originally dedicated to the goddess Isis. To 19^th-century travellers, Philae was ‘the pearl of the Nile’, set on its own island with just enough vegetation to make this the archetypal romantic ruin. Next is Aswan High Dam, an impressive engineering marvel completed in 1970 and one of the most significant projects in modern Egyptian history, which even required the relocation of ancient monuments to preserve them from submersion! Our last stop is the spectacular Unfinished Obelisk. Weighing 1,197 tons and providing remarkable insight into ancient Egyptian stone-working techniques, it was intended to be a monumental addition to the architectural achievements of the time until a crack caused the project to be abandoned.

In the afternoon, we are treated to a cruise aboard a traditional felucca, a wooden sailing boat characterised by its elegant design and triangular sails. It's the perfect way to soak up the storied landscapes and timeless beauty of the Nile. This evening, we enjoy dinner together at the hotel.

With a very early start this morning, we have the opportunity of an optional excursion to Abu Simbel, a temple built by Ramesses II, who wished to demonstrate his power and his divine nature. Four colossal statues of him sit in pairs flanking the entrance of this remarkable symbol of the past, carved out of mountainside in the 13^th century BCE. The site is also famous for its relocation in the 1960s, when the construction of the Aswan High Dam we saw yesterday threatened to submerge it, with the temple meticulously moved piece by piece to higher ground.

In the early afternoon, we check into our home for the next three nights, the MS Coral 2. After some time to settle in, sit back and enjoy the views of the Nile as we cruise to Kom Ombo, where we visit the spectacular temple. Built by the Ptolemaic dynasty during the Roman invasion, this temple is dedicated to two gods, Sobek the crocodile god associated with fertility and the Nile, and Haroeris, the falcon-headed god of the sky. The temple's symmetrical layout reflects this duality, with twin entrances, courts and sanctuaries. Take the time to marvel at the intricate carvings and reliefs that depict scenes of ancient rituals, deities and the lives of those who worshipped there before visiting the fascinating Crocodile Museum to learn more about the significance of these creatures in ancient Egyptian culture.

When back on board, we continue our cruise to Edfu, where we moor up overnight.

We take a morning trip to Edfu's Temple of Horus, one of the country’s most magnificently preserved shrines with a construction time spanning 180 years from the 3^rd to the 2^nd century BCE. Towering at a jaw-dropping 37 metres, the gateway here is the highest among all of Egypt’s surviving temples and is decorated with vivid scenes of King Ptolemy VIII destroying his enemies before Horus. Its design reflects the traditional layout of Ptolemaic temples, featuring a grand entrance pylon, open courtyards and intricately carved inner sanctuaries. The complex even houses a Nilometer, a structure made to measure the depth and clarity of flooding Nile waters, along with a sacred lake used for purification rituals and chambers that were once home to priests. An afternoon tea awaits back on board.

Later, we continue our sailing to Luxor via the engineering marvel of Esna Lock and after dinner, there's a chance to explore this stunning city by night. When the sun sets and the golden light fades, the city is transformed into a magical metropolis filled with lantern-lit streets, illuminated temples and feluccas gliding along the sparkling Nile beneath the moonlight. The breeze is cool, the fragrant markets come alive and Karnak Temple complex becomes an enchanting spectacle with its Sound and Light Show. It really is a captivating time to see the city!

An exciting day of exploration awaits, with guided visits to the gems of the East and West Banks of Luxor. We discover a variety of temples in the historic city, followed by the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple. This was the final resting place of royals and nobility for almost 500 years, with excavations dating the site back as far as the 16^th century BCE. The vast area is divided into sections – the East Valley, where we find most of the royal tombs, and the West Valley, also known as the Valley of the Monkeys. Archaeologists have excavated many tombs over the years, each intricately carved into the limestone hills and some featuring vivid paintings or  inscriptions charting the journey to the afterlife, with the most famous being the tomb of the young Tutankhamun.  We also see the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous statues of 18^th Dynasty Pharaoh Amenhotep III, with his gaze facing east towards the Nile River. Lunch and dinner are included today, and we spend the night moored up in Luxor.

After some time at leisure onboard to relax and make the most of the facilities, we disembark the boat and transfer to a private eclipse viewing site. The special set-up features shade tents, comfortable seating, eclipse glasses, barbecue lunch, soft drinks and dedicated on-site staff – everything has been thought of to make it an unforgettable experience. Every 18 years and 11 days, the Saros Cycle series 136 occurs and has up until now produced some of the longest eclipses, notably an incredible 6 minutes 38.86 seconds in 2009 – and eclipse chasers are expecting the 2027 phenomenon to be a truly awesome spectacle. Afterwards, abuzz from our afternoon, we transfer to Luxor station to board our sleeper train to Cairo, with dinner included.

Our overnight sleeper train (with breakfast included) arrives back into Cairo this morning, where we proceed to enjoy a half-day city tour focusing on Islamic Cairo. This historic district is renowned for its mosques, madrasas and fountains, many of which date back to the Fatimid, Mamluk and Ottoman periods, dotted along the narrow, winding streets and shouldered by vibrant markets and traditional workshops. We visit Khan El-Khalili bazaar in the heart of the district, dating back to the 14^th century and bursting with treasures such as aromatic spices, handmade jewellery and Egyptian cotton – a wonderful opportunity for some souvenir shopping and to experience the vibrant atmosphere of traditional Egyptian commerce! After some time here, we check in to our overnight hotel.

Lunch and a farewell dinner in local restaurants are included today, offering the chance to reflect on our unique experiences together.