Sun Boat IV, Nile Cruise ex Luxor to Aswan

4 Night Cruise sailing from Luxor to Aswan aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat IV.

Day 1 Embark in Luxor
Board your 5-star deluxe Nile cruise boat, moored in a private dock in Luxor, where you will enjoy a welcome Zaffa, with drums and flutes.

On arrival, you will have the opportunity to visit Luxor Temple. Lunch will be served on board in the main restaurant. After lunch, visit the West Bank of Luxor to explore the Valley of the Kings. You will also have the chance to visit at least one tomb in the Valley of the Queens and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. On the way back to the river Nile, we will pass by the famed Colossi of Memnon.

Afternoon tea will be served in the lounge.

Tonight, you will be greeted by your Boat Manager while you enjoy freshly prepared canapés with some complimentary Egyptian wine and local beer, followed by a gourmet dinner menu.

Day 2 Karnak Temple and Temple of Khnum
After a delicious breakfast buffet on board, our tour of the East Bank will begin with a visit to the Temple of Karnak.

Following the morning sail to Esna, enjoy lunch on board the boat.
After lunch, your Egyptologist will guide you around the Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum at Esna. The beautifully preserved Great Hypostyle Hall was built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius; it was excavated from the silt that had accumulated through centuries of annual Nile floods and is about nine meters below present-day street level.

Afternoon tea will be served on board during the cruise to Edfu.

Tonight, a delicious dinner is served followed by a movie night on board.

Day 3 Temple of Edfu and Temple of Kom Ombo
Enjoy breakfast on board, followed by a visit to the Temple of Edfu.

Lunch will be served on board while cruising to Kom Ombo. You will also have the chance to take part in an Egyptian cooking lesson.

Following afternoon tea in the lounge, visit the temple of Kom Ombo - dedicated to the crocodile-god Sobek. The temple stands at a bend in the Nile where, in ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank.

Return to your Nile Cruise boat ready for the sailing to Aswan. Tonight’s entertainment will be an “Egyptian Night” costume party for all guests, with a chance to dress up in traditional Egyptian “galabeyyas”. Dinner will be a lavish buffet of Egyptian specialties.

Day 4 Philae Temple and Felucca Sailing
Enjoy breakfast on board, followed by a short motorboat ride to visit the majestic Philae Temple on the Island of Agilika. Next, we proceed to the Granite Quarries, which supplied the ancient Egyptians with most of the hard stone used in pyramids and temples, and still hold a huge unfinished obelisk.

Following lunch on board, you will have a chance take a ride on a felucca (a typical Egyptian sail boat) around Elephantine Island, Lord Kitchener’s Botanical Gardens, and the Agha Khan Mausoleum (weather permitting, life jackets will be provided).

Afternoon tea will be served in the lounge while you enjoy the sounds of an Oud trio. Tonight’s farewell dinner will be a gala dinner, with white-gloved waiters serving gourmet cuisine.

Enjoy a Dervish show and belly dancer performance after dinner.

Day 5 Disembark in Aswan
A buffet breakfast will be served on board, before check out at 8am.

Gliding down the world’s longest waterway you may at times feel as though you have the water all to yourself. There is an ancient past still alive in majestic monuments and relics, threaded along the river banks. This captivating backdrop is mirrored in the elegantly restyled Sanctuary Sun Boat IV, ensuring a distinct sense of being in storied Egypt. Its contemporary-yet-classic design displays new levels of luxury and chic.

Elegance has been elevated with rich teak flooring, Egyptian marble and hand-painted decorative details to fashion an exceptional ambiance. Neutral-toned textiles complement the soft fabrics draped artfully over beds — it's these distinct touches which create an environment a world away from traditional river-cruise cabins. Shades of sandstone echo the colour scheme of the desert and temples, blending traditional references with a modern sense of style. With just forty rooms, including two presidential suites and two royal suites, time on the Sanctuary Sun Boat IV is spent in unrivalled seclusion.

On board it feels like you’re in an intimate floating palace where the softly-lit lounges are as suited to socialising as quiet romance. Interesting textures and natural materials ensure a distinguished aesthetic, while ceramic ornaments and delicately etched metalwork set an elegant tone. Head to the upper sun deck where you’re promised iconic tableaus in high-definition, cool cocktails and cool shade, and radiant sunshine as you take a dip in the river-view pool.

Enjoy exquisite meals prepared by the gourmet chefs who will elaborate on the nuances of their lovingly created classics. Discover the secrets to regional specialities such as Kushari, a spicy mix of black lentil, rice, chickpeas with tomato and fried onion, and Mahshi – delicious stuffed vegetables. With international classics also served — dishes are piled high with vegetables, meats and salads. Well-seasoned and delicate flavours suit every palate, with fresh produce and ingredients, and always plenty of variety.

Your hosts are always on hand to amplify your sense of serenity with heartfelt service intuitive to their nature, and your room is kept fit for a photoshoot by the meticulous housekeeping team. Time on the cruise is as cultured as it is calming. Colourful dancing nights bring to life the conviviality of the Nubians, with a whirl of bright ‘galabeya’ robes in pinks, blues, greens, golds. Or why not learn how to create local delicacies thanks to time with the award-winning chefs.

Expert Egyptologists ensure every day and every tour is enriching. Learning is luxury thanks to time with these charming guides who love to share their passion for the treasures of their birthplace. Cruises on the Sanctuary Sun Boat IV range from three to seven nights and itineraries are authentic and full of adventure. Explore the Temple of Karnak, get up close and personal with the perfectly preserved hieroglyphics of Luxor Temple. Visit Kom Ombo's mummified crocodile and admire the vivid artwork inside the Valley of the Kings’ tombs.

Cruising provides a supremely relaxing way to visit a destination, enabling travellers to experience a whole range of sights and tours without the need for unpacking and repacking in between.

Sanctuary Cruising takes this concept to a new level of comfort for the discerning traveller. Our intimately-sized vessels are built to demanding specifications and follow the most stringent marine safety standards. Discreet yet attentive service and carefully-designed menus, set a luxurious backdrop to the cruising experience. On-board facilities such as video libraries, internet access and educational lectures come as standard.

Most importantly, as shore excursions are an integral part of any cruise, we craft itineraries which visit all the highlights of the region whilst also including fascinating lesser-known sights and avoiding the crowds – making a Sanctuary Cruising experience truly unique.