Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise

Day 1: Arrival in Luxor – East Bank Exploration

Upon arrival at Luxor Airport or train station, you are met by a representative and transferred by private air-conditioned vehicle to your Nile cruise vessel.

After check-in, your exploration begins with a guided visit to the Karnak Temple Complex, the largest religious structure ever built, expanded over two millennia by successive pharaohs.

The visit continues to Luxor Temple, a New Kingdom masterpiece linked historically to Karnak by the Avenue of Sphinxes.

Lunch is served during the day at a local restaurant before returning to the cruise ship for overnight accommodation in Luxor.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: West Bank of Luxor – Sailing Toward Edfu

After breakfast, you cross to the West Bank of Luxor for a guided exploration of the Valley of the Kings, where more than 60 royal tombs preserve vividly painted scenes of the ancient Egyptian afterlife.

The journey continues to the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, an architectural marvel carved into the cliffs and dedicated to Egypt’s most powerful female pharaoh.

A brief stop is made at the Colossi of Memnon, two monumental statues marking the remains of Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple.

Following lunch at a local restaurant, you return to the cruise vessel as it begins sailing south toward Edfu. Overnight is spent onboard while sailing along the Nile.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples

The cruise arrives at Edfu, where a horse-drawn carriage takes you into town for a guided visit to the Temple of Horus.

This remarkably preserved Ptolemaic temple is dedicated to the falcon god Horus and remains one of the most complete ancient temples in Egypt.

After the visit, you return to the vessel as it continues sailing toward Kom Ombo. In Kom Ombo, you explore a unique double temple dedicated jointly to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris, a form of Horus.

Its symmetrical design and riverside location make it one of the most distinctive temples along the Nile. Lunch is served onboard during sailing, followed by a continuation toward Aswan.

Overnight onboard in Aswan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Aswan Highlights and Nile Sailing

The day begins with a visit to the High Aswan Dam, a landmark of modern engineering that reshaped Egypt’s agriculture and water management by creating Lake Nasser.

Next, you visit the Unfinished Obelisk, a massive granite monument left incomplete in its quarry, offering rare insight into ancient stone-carving techniques.

A motorboat then takes you to Philae Island for a guided visit to the Temple of Isis, a Ptolemaic sanctuary relocated after the construction of the Aswan Dam.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant before continuing with a traditional felucca sailing experience around Elephantine Island, offering a peaceful perspective of Aswan’s granite landscape and river life.

You return to the cruise vessel for your final overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Departure from Aswan

After breakfast on board, you check out from the cruise vessel. A private air-conditioned vehicle transfers you to Aswan Airport or train station for your onward journey.

Meals: Breakfast

How much you pay upfront to lock in a Min Travel booking comes down to what you are reserving, so our terms are grouped by service type:

• Day Tours & Excursions: the entire cost (100%) is settled at the moment you book, which confirms your spot.
• Multi-Day Tour Packages & Nile Cruises: a 30% deposit holds your reservation, with the remaining balance due no later than 15 days before you arrive.
• Christmas, New Year & Easter Bookings: these high-demand windows call for a larger 50% deposit to secure your place.

The instant your payment goes through, we email you a written confirmation, a personalized itinerary, and your travel documents, and every payment you make comes with its own receipt.

Life doesn't always go to plan, and we get that. Here is how a cancellation is handled, measured against your arrival date:

• 30 days or more before arrival: you get everything back, less whatever your bank or the transaction charges
• 15 to 29 days before arrival: a fee of 25% of the total tour cost applies
• 7 to 14 days before arrival: the cancellation fee rises to 50%
• Fewer than 7 days before arrival, or a no-show: the full 100% is charged

Where money is owed back to you, expect it within 14 business days from the day we receive your cancellation in writing. Do keep in mind that individual hotels and certain cruises enforce tougher rules of their own, and any such condition will be spelled out plainly in your itinerary.

Families are always welcome aboard our tours, and we price younger travelers on a sliding scale:

• Infants under 2 years: travel free
• Children 2–5 years: pay 25% of the adult rate
• Children 6–11 years: pay 50% of the adult rate
• Children 12 years and above: charged the full adult rate

These reduced rates hold only where a child shares a room with two adults who are each paying in full. Bear in mind that a handful of luxury hotels and Nile Cruises set their own conditions for younger guests, and any such restriction that touches your trip will appear in your itinerary.

Beyond the standard package there are a number of extra experiences you can choose to add. Reserve them ahead of time or sort them out on the spot once you are there, availability permitting. A few of the favorites travelers pick up:

• Stepping inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu and other tombs
• Evening Sound & Light Shows at the Giza Pyramids, Karnak, or Philae Temples
• A sunrise hot air balloon flight above Luxor
• Camel rides or a horse-drawn carriage through the old quarters
• Private photography sessions at the great landmarks

You can pay for these add-ons in either USD or Egyptian pounds (EGP). Booking early is wise, all the more so when you are traveling in the busy season.

Our packages cover a great deal, but a few costs fall outside them and are worth setting money aside for:

• Anything you buy for yourself, from souvenirs to snacks
• Drinks at mealtimes, unless your plan states otherwise
• In-hotel extras such as the minibar, room service, or laundry
• Your Egyptian entry visa, which is normally paid when you land
• SIM cards or internet access, unless we've arranged it for you
• Tips and any optional experiences you decide to add

It helps to keep a little Egyptian currency (EGP) on hand as you go, particularly for tipping and for picking things up in the local markets.

In Egypt, tipping (known as "baksheesh") is simply how good service is acknowledged. No one is obliged to tip, but the gesture goes a long way and is warmly received. As a rough guide:

• Tour guide: $15–$20 per day for the group
• Driver: $5–$10 per day for the group
• Nile Cruise crew: $5–$10 per person each night, pooled among the staff
• Hotel porters and housekeeping: modest tips of $1–$2

Gratuities sit outside your package price, so it's worth keeping a few small USD or EGP notes within easy reach for the moments they're called for.

Aim for the cooler stretch of the year, roughly October through April, when sightseeing along the river is genuinely pleasant. The high-summer window of May to September is best skipped, since the heat during those months can become punishing.

Absolutely. Few ways of seeing Egypt match the ease of drifting between ancient landmarks while your floating hotel does the travelling for you. You get sweeping river scenery, guided stops at legendary temples and tombs, and a comfortable, convenient base throughout, all adding up to a genuinely memorable cultural journey.

It's best not to. Between pollution and unpredictable currents, taking a dip in the Nile raises real health and safety concerns, which is why swimming in the river is generally discouraged and not permitted on most cruises.

Keep daytime wear relaxed and easy, favouring light, breathable fabrics that suit the climate. Evenings, particularly dinners or onboard events, call for smart casual. When you step ashore to visit temples or other religious and historical sites, dressing modestly is the respectful choice.