Welcome to the final installment (part 4 of 4) of our four-part series on the AmaWaterways Secrets of Egypt & The Nile River Cruise. In this post, we’ll provide a comprehensive day-by-day breakdown of the itinerary, giving you an insider’s look highlevel at the incredible experiences that await on this journey.
Part One: AmaWaterways Secrets of Egypt & Nile River Cruise: An Unforgettable Journey Overview
Part Two: What’s Included: AmaWaterways 11-Night Secrets of Egypt & Nile Cruise Package Breakdown
Part Three: AmaWaterways AmaLilia Ship Review: Luxury Accommodations on Your Nile River Cruise
You’ll discover the carefully crafted balance of guided excursions, leisure time, and onboard activities that make this cruise truly special.
As a travel advisor who’s experienced this journey firsthand, I’m excited to share not only the itinerary details but also personal insights and tips to enhance your trip. At the end of this post, I’ll provide information on how I can assist you in planning your own Egyptian odyssey, along with recommendations for essential products to bring along.
So, let’s embark on this virtual journey through one of the world’s most fascinating destinations, and uncover the secrets of Egypt and the Nile with AmaWaterways!
The 11-Night Amawaterways Secrets of Egypt & Nile River Cruise Itinerary
Day 1-3
Cairo
Hotel: St. Regis Cairo
After much anticipation and three long flights, we finally arrived in Cairo, the bustling capital of Egypt to start our trip.
As we exited the plane and made our way through the terminal, we were greeted by a representative holding an AmaWaterways sign and assisted with our luggage, immigration, and customs.
When we exited the airport, the air was warm and very dry, but our air-conditioned van awaited us to take us to St. Regis Cairo for our two night Cairo pre cruise stay. The transfer took approximately 45 minutes, and we caught glimpses of the city’s busy streets and architecture along the way.
You can read more about our experience at the St. Regis Cairo here.
The first day of touring in Cairo started a little later to accommodate jet lag, which was much appreciated. However, if you’re an early riser, don’t worry; there will be plenty of opportunities for early starts throughout the trip as start times vary, and those early starts will be appreciated with the harsh sun and heat that will come later in the day. Overall, the itinerary has a nice balance of rest time and visits to the most famous archeological sites. Again, Amawaterways knows what they are doing.
Our first full day included a morning visit to Saladin’s Citadel and the Alabaster Mosque. This was the only day we were asked to dress to visit a holy place and requiring us to take off our shoes to enter. Our cruise manager gave us shoe covers when we arrived, so we didn’t have to take off our shoes after all, but we were prepared to in case the situation was different. The visit to the Mosque was beautiful, and then it was off to lunch at the Ritz Carlton, which is close to the Cairo Egyptian Museum, our next stop.
After a fantastic lunch buffet at the Ritz Carlton, where the Egyptian desserts are not to be missed, we took a short walk to the Cairo Egyptian Museum. Amal, our Egyptologist, guided us through the highlights there and saw King Tut’s treasures. The museum’s collection was awe-inspiring, with artifacts spanning centuries of Egyptian history. On tour, we saw what was discovered in the tombs to prepare us for our visit to the tombs in a few days. It was well-planned and designed with intent.
The following day, we had a full day of touring ancient sites. We started early seeing ancient Memphis, Sakkara, the famous step pyramid, the Pyramids of Giza, and the Great Sphinx. It was an experience that exceeded all expectations. Our Egyptologist Amal shared helpful tips for navigating the site, including preparing us for the aggressive street vendors we would encounter and what to do and not do.
While some travelers opted to pay a small fee to enter the pyramid, we chose to admire the structures from the outside based on Amal’s advice. She shared it was not for those who were claustrophobic, had trouble climbing or crouching, and didn’t like hot, cramped spaces. She also shared there was nothing to see, but the reward for some was to say they’d been inside a pyramid. The sheer scale and grandeur of the pyramids we’ve seen in textbooks left us speechless. We had no regrets about not going inside after hearing from those who did that it was, as described, very hot and tight, and there was not much to see, but they went inside a pyramid! No regrets from us.
In between visiting sights, we had another fantastic lunch, this time overlooking the Pyramids at the famous Mena House, which served Indian food family-style. It was an incredible day. The trip could have ended there, and I would have been so happy with the experience, but it was only our second day, and the trip was just getting started!
Amawaterways Amalilia
Day 4 Luxor Transfer: Embarking on the Nile Cruise Adventure
After two unforgettable days exploring the wonders of Cairo, it was time to make our way to the Nile River Valley cruise portion of our trip. On our way to the airport, we stopped to visit Old Cairo before our short domestic flight to Luxor, where the beautiful AmaLilia awaited our arrival.
The flight to Luxor was smooth and well-organized, thanks to the efforts of our cruise manager and Egyptologist, who handled all the details. The domestic airline, EgyptAir, operated the flight, which took approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The airline’s baggage allowance at the time was one checked bag up to 50 pounds and one carry-on per passenger, but it’s always a good idea to check for any updates to policy specific to your travel dates. Your cruise manager will provide you with the most current information.
The St. Regis Cairo offers a convenient storage solution for those traveling with extra luggage or extending their stay in Egypt before or after the tour. The cruise manager arranged for any additional bags to be securely stored at the hotel until our return to Cairo, as we returned for another night at the end of the cruise.
Upon landing in Luxor, we were greeted by a new luxury bus, which was just as clean and comfortable as our transportation in Cairo. It had a bathroom, Wi-Fi, and plenty of bottled water.
As we made our way to the AmaLilia, our excitement grew. The ship, a brand-new addition to the AmaWaterways fleet, would be our floating home on the Nile for the next several days, and we couldn’t wait to see it. Our bags were seamlessly transferred from the bus to our staterooms, and we headed to lunch on the ship with a very relaxing first afternoon on board. This was followed by a wonderful dinner with a live musician who played familiar covers that we enjoyed.
If you’d like to know more about the AmaLilia, you can check out my detailed post about the ship here.
Day 5
Luxor
On day five, we toured Luxor, starting with a 45-minute bus ride from the east bank to the west bank to visit the UNESCO world heritage site, Valley of the Kings to see the spectacular rock cut tombs. This was incredible, and we got to go into 4 tombs, including King Tut’s and the absolutely stunning Seti I. Then, a short drive to the impressive Temple of Hatshepsut, followed by a stop at the Colossi of Memnon. We returned to the ship and cruised through the Esna Lock in the early evening, followed by a movie screening in the lounge. Another incredible day, but there’s more!
Day 6
Edfu
On our sixth day, we spent the morning in Edfu, visiting Egypt’s second-largest temple, the temple of Edfu. This temple is remarkably well preserved and is dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus. We were awestruck. We had time to relax in the afternoon as we resumed cruising upriver towards Aswan. We were treated to a talk by our Egyptologist and a cooking lesson by the F&B crew.
Day 7
Aswan
Our journey brought us to Aswan, where we stayed for two nights. We were reminded to bring our life jackets from our staterooms on the first day.
We took a short bus ride to the harbor, where we boarded a motorboat (why the lifejackets) bound for the Philae Temple. This island sanctuary, dedicated to the goddess Isis, blends Egyptian and Greco-Roman architecture. It is beautiful.
Next, back on the motorboat to visit the vibrant and colorful Nubian Village of Hessa. We arrived to the sounds of joyous Nubian songs, dancing and were invited to tour a local house.
Returning to Aswan city center, we got on another boat, but this time a felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailboat, to explore Elephantine Island and take in the Nile river’s timeless landscapes.
The optional shore excursions mentioned earlier take place in Aswan. That evening before dinner, some guests indulged in Afternoon Tea at the historic Old Cataract Hotel, and the next day, others embarked on the journey to Abu Simbel.
Day 8
Aswan & Kom Ombo
Today, we chose between the optional excursion to Abu Simbel or free time in Aswan. While we decided to go to Abu Simbel, those who remained in Aswan were assisted by the Cruise Manager to find some excellent shopping opportunities, which made us a little jealous when we reunited with the other group to share our adventures.
Our visit to Abu Simbel was an adventure. The remarkably preserved temples face Lake Nasser, and you approach the two astonishing temples from behind for an amazing reveal.
More on the optional excursion to Abu Simbel can be found here.
Once we were all reunited back onboard the ship, we set sail back towards Edfu and did a sunset stop at the Temple of Kom-Ombo. The AmaLilia docked right beside this unique double temple! We walked off the ship and into history, touring as the sunset. As dusk fell, bats emerged from the temple. It was truly a cinematic moment and another one of my favorite experiences.
After dinner, we had a lively post-dinner Sip & Sail hour and the traditional Egyptian attire Galabeya party.
Day 9
Edfu-Luxor
Our journey came full circle as we spent a leisurely morning sailing back on the glistening Nile river to Luxor (we needed a relaxing morning after the party), navigating the Esna Lock again.
After another delicious lunch aboard the AmaLilia (I’m obsessed with their soups), we explored Luxor in the afternoon. Our first stop was the awe-inspiring Temples of Karnak, where massive columns and intricate hieroglyphics told tales of pharaohs long past.
We then visited the Luxor Temple. Its architecture, lit by afternoon light, was a sight to see. The contrast between the ancient stonework and the modern city surrounding it was a powerful reminder of Egypt’s enduring legacy. It is so old!
Our day concluded with a trip to the Papyrus Institute, where we learned about ancient papyrus-making art. Here, AmaWaterways surprised us with a thoughtful gift, a tangible memory of our unforgettable journey, and I added a few more pieces to bring home from the artists. Be sure to not miss the dark showroom where special glow-in-the-dark pieces come to life. Yes, I had to get one of those home!
We were treated to a Tanoura show and a belly dancer performance in the evening before dinner.
Day 10
Qena
Today, we visited the Dendera Temple Complex, including the Temple of Hathor. The colors still on portions of the ceiling and columns were beautiful. We then spent a final afternoon of scenic cruising the Nile river.
JuDay 11
Back to Cairo
After a week aboard the lovely AmaLilia, it was time to disembark and head back to Cairo for one more night at the St. Regis before heading home. After the short flight to Cairo, we visited the most luxurious palaces, Abdeen Presidential Palace, where we had a nice catered lunch in the Royal Dining Room and then returned to the hotel, where our luggage again seamlessly transferred to our rooms. Our cruise manager met us at the hotel, had our room keys ready as we got off the bus, reviewed our flight information and airport transfer details for the following early morning, and turned in our quiet vox. We were on our own in the afternoon and evening, which was great as the 1am departure for the airport would come early.
As our incredible journey through Egypt ended, I reflected on the past 11 nights with a heart full of wonder and gratitude. From the moment we landed in Cairo to our final night at the St. Regis, AmaWaterways had crafted an experience that exceeded all expectations. It was unreal how much we experienced and saw.
The AmaLilia is more than just a ship; it was our home on the Nile, a luxurious home base from which we explored the treasures of ancient Egypt. The staff’s warmth and attention to detail, the delicious meals, and the thoughtfully planned excursions all combined to create memories that will last a lifetime.
I left Egypt with a deeper appreciation for its rich history, vibrant culture, and the enduring spirit of its people. The pyramids, temples, and tombs we visited weren’t just relics of the past. They are living testaments to human ingenuity and artistry that inspire awe thousands of years later.
As I write this, looking back on our adventures, I already dream of returning and can’t recommend AmaWaterways enough for anyone considering a trip to Egypt. Their expertise in navigating this region’s travel complexities and commitment to luxury, guest satisfaction, and attention to detail can’t be beat.
So, if you’ve always dreamed of visiting Egypt one day, my advice is simple: DO IT and consider AmaWaterways as your guide. I promise you won’t regret it; it will be a lifetime trip.
Until next time, Egypt. Ma’a salama!
AAm cAmaWaterways Egypt Package: A Complete Breakdown
Our journey with AmaWaterways was truly all-encompassing, including:
Pre-Cruise (Cairo):
- 3 night Cairo pre cruise stray at the luxurious 5-star St. Regis Cairo
- Airport transfers and daily breakfast
- Welcome Reception with tapas and drinks
- Full-day Cairo tour, including the exquisite Egyptian Museum
- Visit to ancient Memphis, Pyramids of iconic Giza complex, and the Great Sphinx
7-Night Nile River Cruise:
- Elegant accommodations aboard the AmaLilia
- Fine dining, including The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant
- Complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks with meals
- Daily Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour and special event dinners
- Nightly entertainment featuring local performances
- Small group guided shore excursions
- Exclusive visits to Seti I tomb and a Nubian village
- Onboard amenities including a fitness room, sun-deck pool, and salon services
Post-Cruise (Cairo):
- 1 night Cairo post cruise stay at the St. Regis Cairo
- Exclusive tour of the Abdeen Presidential Palace with farewell lunch
- Visits to The Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue
- Departure airport transfer
This comprehensive package ensured we experienced the very best of Egypt, from the busy streets of Cairo to the calm waters of the Nile, with the flexibility to customize our journey with optional excursions with every detail thoughtfully arranged by AmaWaterways. |
What’s Not Included in Your AmaWaterways Egypt Adventure
While AmaWaterways provides an incredibly comprehensive package, there are a few items not included in the standard tour:
- Airfare to Cairo (unless you book with your journey and Amawaterways has been offering some great flight deals)
- Optional shore excursions:
*Abu Simbel tour
*High Tea at the Old Cataract Hotel - Gratuities (unless otherwise specified in your booking)
- Visa fees (though the VIP Visa service can be added for a fee)
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses such as laundry service or the spa (which are very reasonable)
- Beverages outside of meals
Ready to Embark on Your Own Egyptian Adventure?
I hope my journey along the Nile inspired you to consider your own unforgettable Egyptian combination river cruise experience with AmaWaterways to explore Egypt’s ancient wonders. I’d be thrilled to share more if you have questions about our trip, from the tiniest details to the grand experiences!
As a Certified Amawaterways Certified Advisor, I bring first hand experience and expert knowledge to help you plan your dream river cruise and there are some great Amawaterways promotions currently:
- Special Business Class flight pricing of $2,499 for Secrets of Egypt & the Nile departures in November and December 2024!
- Up to 20% cruise savings on other select AmaWaterways sailings.
For more details on these promotions and to start planning your river cruise adventure, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help make your dream trip a reality. Contact me here.
Egypt Packing: Must-Have Items for Your Nile Cruise
After experiencing the wonders of Egypt firsthand, I’ve compiled a list of items that made a significant difference in my comfort and enjoyment during the trip or recommend or would try for my next trip.
Please note: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Linen: Your Best Friend in Egypt’s Climate
I can’t stress enough how perfect linen was for this trip. My entire wardrobe consisted of linen pieces:
- Comfortable linen pants
- Breathable linen t-shirts
- Long-sleeve linen shirts for extra sun protection
- Versatile linen dresses and skirts
Long-sleeve shirts were particularly useful in shielding against the strong Egyptian sun. I found great, affordable linen pieces from Gap, Uniqlo, and Quince. These brands offer a good balance of quality and price.
Layering tip: Under my linen pieces, I wore Uniqlo AIRism bra tops. These were a game-changer – lightweight, moisture-wicking, and perfect for the heat.
Pro tip: Opt for loose-fitting linen garments. They allow air circulation, keeping you cool in the heat while also providing modest coverage for visiting religious sites. Your St. Regis butler will also press your pieces during your stay!
The Egyptian sun can be intense, and a good UV-blocking umbrella is a lifesaver. I used the ones provided on the ship but next time I’d go with this one UV Protection Silver Coating Sun Blocking Travel Umbrella.
Or try something that looks very fancy….
Rechargeable Sun Umbrella with Fan and Mister
No idea if it the rechargeable Sun Umbrella with Fan and Mister works well but in concept could be great.
A hat is a MUST and this Foldable Ponytail Hat is perfect for those long, sunny days exploring temples and tombs. This one provides great sun protection, is easy to pack and washable!
For those hot Egyptian days, a small USB Rechargeable Portable Fan can provide welcome relief, especially when exploring tombs and templates with limited air circulation. Keeps the air moving at least! I like this one as it also had a stand that can pull out so it can be used on a desk or nightstand.
I always pack Pepto Bismol for peace of mind.
Same as above. By having an anti-diarrhea med, I feel I wouldn’t need it but JIC (just in case) I got it.
A good toiletry bag is essential for organized travel. I love this hanging toiletry bag and it has worked wonderfully for me. Fitting all my essentials and hanging conveniently in our stateroom bathroom. I always travel with these suction cup hooks from IKEA.
Cooling Scarf with Beads
A fellow passenger gave me one a cooling scarf with beads. Easy to keep in fridge in room. Only stays cool for a few hours in the Egypt heat but better than nothing.
I also tried a cooling towel I took along. Can keep in the fridge in stateroom and good for a period of time before it gets warm. better than nothing.
Any questions, feel free to 20*******@th******************.com“>contact me.