Mövenpick MS Darakum Long Nile Cruise | Luxury Nile Cruises Between Cairo & Aswan

Welcome to Aswan! Upon arrival, board the elegant Mövenpick MS Darakum Nile Cruise and settle into your comfortable cabin as you begin an extraordinary 13-day journey along the Nile.

Enjoy a delicious lunch on board before spending a relaxing afternoon taking in the peaceful atmosphere of the river. Later, unwind with afternoon tea on deck while watching the sunset over Aswan.

In the evening, savor a delightful dinner on board before your first overnight stay in Egypt’s southernmost city.

After breakfast, begin your exploration of Aswan’s most celebrated landmarks.

Today’s visits include:

• The High Dam: One of Egypt’s greatest engineering achievements, built to control the annual flooding of the Nile while creating the vast Lake Nasser.
• Philae Temple: Dedicated to the goddess Isis, this magnificent island temple is one of Egypt’s most beautiful archaeological treasures and was carefully relocated during UNESCO’s rescue campaign.

Following lunch on board, continue your sightseeing with a visit to the Nubian Museum, where fascinating exhibits showcase the rich history, traditions, and heritage of Nubian civilization.

Return to the cruise for afternoon tea before enjoying dinner accompanied by a lively Nubian Party, celebrating the music and culture of southern Egypt.

Enjoy breakfast on board before the cruise sails toward Kom Ombo.

Visit the remarkable Temple of Kom Ombo, uniquely dedicated to both Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. Explore its perfectly symmetrical design and admire fascinating carvings illustrating ancient Egyptian medicine and religious practices.

Return to the cruise for lunch before continuing your scenic journey toward Edfu.

As the sun sets over the Nile, relax with afternoon tea before enjoying a festive Gala Dinner on board.

After an early breakfast, travel to the magnificent Temple of Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt.

Dedicated to Horus, the falcon god, this impressive sanctuary features soaring pylons, grand courtyards, and beautifully preserved reliefs depicting the legendary battle between Horus and Seth.

Return to the cruise and continue sailing toward Luxor, passing through the famous Esna Lock while enjoying spectacular Nile scenery.

Following lunch on board, spend a relaxing afternoon with tea on the sun deck before dinner featuring Mediterranean specialties.

After breakfast, enjoy a full day exploring the magnificent monuments of ancient Thebes, often referred to as the world’s greatest open-air museum.

Your morning tour includes:

• Valley of the Kings
• Valley of the Queens
• Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahari

Return to the cruise for lunch before continuing to Luxor’s East Bank.

Visit:

• Karnak Temple Complex, the largest religious site ever built in ancient Egypt.
• Luxor Temple, one of Egypt’s most elegant and historically significant temples.

In the evening, enjoy dinner on board followed by an entertaining Belly Dance Show.

Following breakfast, sail to Qena, where you’ll visit one of Egypt’s best-preserved religious monuments.

• Dendera Temple: Dedicated to the goddess Hathor, this spectacular temple is famous for its colorful astronomical ceiling, beautifully preserved reliefs, and remarkable Roman-era architecture.

Return to the cruise for lunch before sailing toward Naga Hammadi, enjoying afternoon tea while relaxing on deck and admiring the tranquil scenery of Upper Egypt.

In the evening, enjoy dinner inspired by Indian cuisine.

Begin the day with breakfast as the cruise continues toward Abydos, one of Egypt’s oldest and most sacred religious sites.

Visit the magnificent Temple of Abydos, built by Seti I and renowned for its beautifully preserved reliefs, the famous Abydos King List, and its exceptional artistic craftsmanship.

Return to the cruise for lunch while sailing toward Sohag.

Spend the afternoon relaxing with tea on deck before enjoying dinner accompanied by the festive Galabia Party, where guests are invited to celebrate Egyptian traditions with music, dancing, and local entertainment.

Continue your remarkable voyage north as the cruise sails toward Tell El Amarna, the ancient capital founded by Pharaoh Akhenaten, who introduced the worship of the sun god Aten.

After breakfast, enjoy a scenic sail before arriving at this fascinating archaeological site.

During your visit, explore:

• The Royal Tomb of Akhenaten, carved into the surrounding cliffs.
• The Northern Palace, once believed to be the residence of the royal family.
• The Small Aten Temple, dedicated to the worship of Aten.
• The surrounding ruins that offer a unique glimpse into one of ancient Egypt’s most revolutionary periods.

After returning to the cruise, enjoy lunch on board while sailing toward Tell El Amarna. Along the way, admire the historic Prince Tawadros Monastery, one of Upper Egypt’s important Christian landmarks, as your guide shares its fascinating history.

Relax with afternoon tea before enjoying an Italian-themed dinner on board.

After breakfast, continue exploring the remarkable archaeological treasures surrounding Tell El Amarna.

Today’s excursion includes visits to:

• The Northern Tombs of Tell El Amarna, offering spectacular views and beautifully preserved reliefs.
• The Royal Tomb of Akhenaten, one of the most significant monuments of the Amarna Period.
• Ashmunein (Hermopolis Magna), the ancient center dedicated to the god Thoth.
• Tuna El Gabal, an extensive necropolis famous for its rock-cut tombs, sacred ibis catacombs, and the Tomb of Petosiris.

Return to the cruise for lunch while sailing toward Minya.

In the evening, enjoy afternoon tea followed by dinner featuring Asian cuisine. The night concludes with a lively Folklore Show, celebrating Egypt’s rich musical and cultural traditions.

After breakfast, set out to explore the remarkable Beni Hassan Necropolis, one of Middle Egypt’s most important archaeological sites.

Discover a collection of beautifully decorated Middle Kingdom tombs, including those of:

• Baqet III
• Khety
• Amenemhat
• Khnumhotep II

These impressive tombs are renowned for their vivid wall paintings depicting daily life, hunting scenes, sports, and military activities over 4,000 years ago.

Return to the cruise and continue sailing toward Beni Suef, enjoying lunch on board as the Nile scenery unfolds around you.

In the evening, relax with afternoon tea before enjoying a Moroccan-themed dinner accompanied by live musical entertainment, followed by a fun Quiz Night.

This morning, the cruise continues its final journey toward Cairo, Egypt’s vibrant capital.

After breakfast and lunch on board, begin an afternoon tour of Old Cairo, one of the city’s most historic districts.

Visit:

• The Hanging Church, one of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Egypt.
• The Coptic Museum, home to one of the world’s finest collections of Coptic art and artifacts.
• Ben Ezra Synagogue, one of Cairo’s oldest Jewish landmarks with a fascinating history.

Return to the cruise for afternoon tea before enjoying dinner on board.

In the evening, experience a traditional Oriental Takht Show, featuring authentic Egyptian music performed by skilled local musicians.

After breakfast, embark on a full-day tour of Egypt’s most iconic attractions.

Begin with a visit to:

• The Great Pyramids of Giza, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world.
• The Great Sphinx, the legendary guardian of the Giza Plateau.

Return to the cruise for lunch before continuing to the spectacular Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), home to one of the world’s largest collections of ancient Egyptian antiquities, including priceless treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Back on board, enjoy afternoon tea followed by a spectacular Flambé Dinner, providing a memorable finale to your Nile journey.

Enjoy your final breakfast on board before disembarking the Mövenpick MS Darakum Nile Cruise.

After check-out, you will be transferred to your preferred destination in Cairo, marking the end of an unforgettable 13-day voyage through the heart of Egypt, from the timeless temples of Aswan to the magnificent monuments of Cairo.