Relax and enjoy the facilities at the Grand Hotel, where you will stay for 6 nights

Transfer to Luxor, a mesmerising city of anciet monuments, tombs and temples, for the start your Nile cruise.

After breakfast on board, travel to the West Bank of Thebes. Visit the final resting place of a succession of mighty Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings, littered with intricate tombs - beautifully coloured and decorated with hieroglyphics. The tombs are now empty, with surviving artefacts and the treasures of Tutankhamun removed to the Cairo Museum. Whilst on the West Bank discover the Temple of Hatshepsut, the famous female Pharaoh, and see the gigantic statues of the Colossi of Memnon. Please mention that visiting the tomb of Tut Anch Amun is not included in the visits.

After lunch on board, enjoys a visit to the East Bank to see the Temples of Luxor and Karnak. The Luxor Temple was erected by Amenophis III as a place for MUt, the vulture-headed wife of the God Amun. It was added to through the centuries by Tutankamun and Ramses II, and also shows evidence of Christian, Roman and Muslim influences.

As the ship anchors, enjoy a day of leisure and take full advantage of the cruise ship facilities. Or enjoy one of the optional excursions - including an early morning hot air balloon ride or half-day visit to Denderah. This small village is home to the ancient temple of the goddess of joy, Hathor. Built in the Ptolemaic period (305BC - AD30), it is very well preserved and fronted by six columns bearing the image of the goddess's head. There's a further option to visit the fantastic Sound and Light show at Karnak in the evening.

Enjoy a day's sailing to Aswan. On the way, visit the Edfu Temple. Edfu is home to the wonderfully preserved, over 2000 year old Temple of Horus, dedicated to the falcon-headed God of the Sun and Plants.

Return to the cruise ship for lunch and continue towards Aswan via the storming sight of Kom Ombo standing on a headland at a bend in the Nile. Here you can visit the Sobek Temple, built in 250BC to honour two Gods; the crocodile-headed Sobek and falcon-headed Horus. In the evening dinner is served.

After breakfast experience a half-day visit to the Philae Temple, dedicated to the gentle Goddess Isis, and set like a jewel on an island of Agilika. Experience the High Dam, built during the 1960s to save Egypt from devastating floods. You will also see the unfinished obelisk set in the granite quarries of Aswan. After taking lunch, enjoy a felucca ride (traditional Egyptian sail boat) along the Nile before returning for dinner.

Enjoy the facilities that the cruise ship provides with a leisurely day on board the ship. Alternatively, make the most of the optional excursions such as an early morning trip to Abu Simbel (by air or by bus). This great sun temple was built by Ramses II, who had four gigantic statues of himself hewn into the desert mountainside to confront travellers as they entered Egypt from Africa. Another option is a day trip to an Aswan Nubian Village and National Park. For an evening treat, experience the Sound and Light show in the Philae Temple.

A leisurely morning of sailing to Luxor via Esna (please note the cruise ship does not stop here). Make the most of your last full day on the ship as you relax and enjoy the cruise amenities.

After breakfast on board, disembark from the cruise ship for your transfer to the Grand Hotel in Hurghada where you will enjoy a 7-night Red Sea extension

Relax and enjoy the facilities at the Siva Grand Beach Hotel before transferring to the airport for your return flight to the UK