Upper Egypt love
ABU SIMBEL • ASWAN • THE NILE • LUXOR • ABYDOS • DENDERA • HURGHADA • GIZA
17 Nights | 18 Days
Fall in Love With the South
Some journeys are about seeing as much of a country as possible.
This one is about going deeper.
Upper Egypt Love takes us south—far south—into a landscape where the Nile cuts a ribbon of green through the desert, ancient temples rise beside fields and villages, and life has been shaped by the river for thousands of years.
We begin almost at Egypt's southern edge, traveling to Abu Simbel and spending the night rather than rushing there and back in a single day. From there, we return to the gentler rhythm of Aswan before boarding a Nile cruise and allowing the river itself to carry us north.
Kom Ombo. Edfu. Luxor. Abydos. Dendera.
Places where mythology, kingship, ritual and ancient Egyptian beliefs begin connecting into a much larger story.
But this journey isn't only about ancient Egypt.
We'll shop on Luxor's West Bank, linger over meals at local restaurants, float above ancient Thebes at sunrise, drink tea at cafés, escape to the Red Sea for a little saltwater and sunshine, eat fresh seafood near Hurghada's old fish market and eventually watch the green fields and villages of the Nile Valley pass outside the window of an overnight train heading north.
And because we can't quite let you leave Egypt without it...
We save Giza for the end.
Upper Egypt Love is for the traveler who doesn't simply want to visit southern Egypt—but wants enough time to begin falling in love with it.
And remember, this is only a sample.
Your journey may look a little—or completely—different. We'll create yours together.
ASWAN & ABU SIMBEL
Begin at the Edge of Egypt
We start where everything seems to soften.
Aswan is warmer, quieter and deeply connected to both the Nile and Nubian culture. Granite islands break the surface of the river, feluccas drift between them and the desert seems to stretch endlessly beyond the water.
But before settling into Aswan, we're going even farther south.
Almost to Sudan.
DAY ONE | CAIRO → ASWAN
Arrive. Exhale. You're in Upper Egypt.
Fly from Cairo to Aswan, where we'll meet you and begin the journey south.
And that's enough for today.
No temples waiting. No list to complete.
Check into your hotel, unpack, sleep, book a massage or find somewhere beautiful overlooking the Nile and allow yourself to realize:
You're finally here.
Later, if you're feeling up to it, we'll gather for a relaxed welcome dinner.
Today: Flight to Aswan • Private transfer • Hotel check-in • Rest • Spa • Welcome dinner
DAY TWO | ASWAN → ABU SIMBEL
Into the Deep South
After breakfast, we leave Aswan behind and travel south through the desert toward Abu Simbel.
Most visitors experience Abu Simbel as a very early morning race from Aswan and back.
We're doing it differently.
We're staying.
After arriving and checking in, the afternoon is intentionally slow. Eat. Rest. Swim. Nap.
As the heat softens and the light begins to change, we'll experience the landscape surrounding Abu Simbel and Lake Nasser as evening settles over Egypt's far south.
The temples can wait until morning.
Tonight is simply about being here.
Morning: Drive through the desert to Abu Simbel
Afternoon: Hotel • Lunch • Pool • Rest
Sunset: Lake Nasser • Abu Simbel landscape • Reflection time
Evening: Dinner • Early night
DAY THREE | ABU SIMBEL
The Temples at the Edge of the Desert
We begin early.
Carved directly into the mountainside during the reign of Ramesses II, the two temples of Abu Simbel are among ancient Egypt's most extraordinary monuments.
The Great Temple announces itself with four colossal seated figures of Ramesses II, while the neighboring temple honors Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. Even more remarkable is the modern story of the temples themselves: threatened by the rising waters created by the Aswan High Dam, they were dismantled and relocated in an enormous international rescue effort during the 1960s.
Arriving early gives us time to stand in front of them before the day fully unfolds.
And this is one of those places where you need a moment.
After exploring the temples, we begin our journey back through the desert toward Aswan.
Once there, the rest of the day is deliberately empty.
You've earned it.
Early Morning: Abu Simbel temples
Afternoon: Drive to Aswan • Lunch • Hotel • Rest
Evening: Spa • Quiet dinner • Early night
ASWAN
The Nile Begins to Set the Pace
Back in Aswan, we slow everything down.
After the scale of Abu Simbel and the long desert journey, these next days are about water, Nubian culture, beautiful surroundings and beginning to settle into the rhythm of the Nile.
DAY FOUR | ISIS, THE NILE & NUBIAN ASWAN
Sacred Waters
We begin by boat, traveling across the Nile to the beautiful Temple of Isis at Philae.
Relocated to higher ground after the construction of the Aswan High Dam, Philae seems almost inseparable from the water surrounding it.
Here we'll explore the mythology of Isis and Osiris, ancient ritual and the remarkable survival of Egyptian temple traditions into the later periods of the country's history.
Near the old temple arches, those who feel called may also enter the Nile for a symbolic baptism—an opportunity to pause, set an intention and experience the waters that have sustained Egypt for thousands of years in a deeply personal way.
Then we stop.
Lunch. Rest. Spa. Pool. Journal. Nap.
Later, we'll head out again to experience Nubian Aswan—colorful homes, warm hospitality and a culture with its own traditions, language and relationship with this southern landscape.
Morning: Philae • Temple of Isis • Nile experience
Afternoon: Lunch • Spa • Rest • Reflection
Evening: Nubian experience • Dinner
DAY FIVE | OLD ASWAN
A Day Without a Checklist
Before boarding our cruise, we want you to have a day to simply enjoy Aswan.
We'll wander through the old market, where spices, baskets, fabrics, perfumes and everyday life fill the streets.
Take your time.
Shop when something catches your eye. Stop for tea. Ask questions. Watch the world go by.
Later, perhaps we'll visit the legendary Old Cataract Hotel for a drink overlooking the Nile—a little old-world elegance before tomorrow's river journey begins.
And somewhere in between?
Absolutely nothing.
Enjoy your hotel. Book a treatment. Sit beside the Nile.
Tomorrow, we're letting the river take over.
Morning: Old Aswan • Market • Shopping & wandering
Afternoon: Lunch • Pool • Spa • Rest
Evening: Old Cataract atmosphere • Nile views • Relaxed dinner
THE NILE
Let the River Carry You
There is something completely different about seeing Egypt from the Nile.
From the deck, the country unfolds slowly.
Palm trees. Farmers. Villages. Children playing along the riverbank. Minarets rising above fields. Desert beginning almost exactly where the green ends.
For the next several days, we unpack once and let Egypt come to us.
Our exact cruise schedule will depend on the vessel and sailing dates, but a typical 3-night / 4-day Aswan-to-Luxor cruise travels through Kom Ombo and Edfu before reaching Luxor. Cruise schedules and the exact order of sightseeing can shift according to sailing and navigational conditions.
DAY SIX | ALL ABOARD
Your Floating Home on the Nile
After a slow morning, we board our Nile cruise.
Settle into your cabin, explore the ship and find your favorite spot on deck.
Depending on the cruise schedule, today may include Aswan sightseeing or simply time aboard before sailing begins.
Either way, we're not trying to fill every moment.
Have lunch. Swim. Read. Watch the river.
Tonight, enjoy dinner aboard as your floating home settles into the rhythm of the Nile.
Today: Cruise embarkation • Lunch aboard • Pool deck • Rest • Sailing according to cruise schedule
Evening: Dinner aboard • Nile views
DAY SEVEN | KOM OMBO
Where Two Sacred Worlds Meet
As we sail north, we arrive at Kom Ombo.
Standing directly beside the Nile, Kom Ombo is unusual because it was designed as a double temple—with mirrored spaces associated with two sets of deities, including the crocodile god Sobek and Horus the Elder.
We'll explore the carvings and unusual symmetry before returning to the ship.
And then?
The river.
Lunch aboard. Tea on deck. A book beside the pool. Maybe a nap while Egypt quietly passes your window.
This is why we cruise.
Morning: Sailing • Nile landscapes
Afternoon: Kom Ombo Temple • Return to ship
Evening: Sailing toward Edfu • Dinner aboard • Relaxation
DAY EIGHT | EDFU
One of Egypt's Great Temple Survivors
We begin early at the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of Egypt's remarkably well-preserved ancient temples.
Its towering pylons, courtyards, columns and sanctuary allow you to move through the temple in a way that makes ancient ritual space easier to understand.
And by now, something else begins happening.
The stories you've heard at Philae and Kom Ombo start connecting.
Gods reappear. Symbols become familiar. Rituals begin making more sense.
Ancient Egypt slowly stops feeling like thousands of disconnected facts and starts becoming a world you can actually follow.
Back aboard, we continue north through Esna toward Luxor.
Find your place on deck.
Watch Upper Egypt go by.
Morning: Temple of Horus at Edfu
Afternoon: Sail toward Luxor • Lunch • Pool • Reading • Rest
Evening: Dinner aboard • Nile sunset
DAY NINE | ARRIVING IN LUXOR
Welcome to Ancient Thebes
Wake up in Luxor.
For Mostafa, we're home.
After disembarking and settling into your Luxor accommodations, today stays intentionally gentle.
Depending on the cruise schedule, some sightseeing may already have been included. Rather than immediately repeating or piling on more sites, we'll adapt the day around what you've experienced and what you need.
Lunch somewhere we love.
A walk along the Nile.
Spa.
Sleep.
Maybe a sunset cruise if the evening feels right.
Because Luxor deserves more than arriving exhausted and racing immediately toward another temple.
Today: Cruise disembarkation • Hotel check-in • Lunch • Rest • Spa • Luxor at your own pace
LUXOR
Stay Long Enough to Know It
Luxor contains an almost overwhelming amount of ancient history.
But for Takemet, Luxor is also personal.
This is Mostafa's home—the place where ancient temples, villages, farms, cafés, markets and everyday Upper Egyptian life exist side by side.
So we don't want to simply show you Luxor.
We want you to have enough time to settle into it.
DAY TEN | VALLEY OF THE KINGS & HATSHEPSUT
Into the Mountains of Ancient Thebes
We begin early on Luxor's West Bank.
Our morning takes us into the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs created elaborate tombs deep within the desert mountains.
Inside selected tombs, vivid colors, sacred texts and extraordinary scenes reveal ancient Egyptian beliefs about death, transformation and the journey into eternity.
From there, we visit the magnificent mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, built dramatically against the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari.
Then we leave the ancient world behind for a while.
Lunch on the West Bank.
A long afternoon of rest.
And tonight, something simple—good food, good conversation and nowhere we need to rush.
Morning: Valley of the Kings • Hatshepsut Temple
Afternoon: West Bank lunch • Spa • Rest • Reflection
Evening: Local dinner • Relaxed night
DAY ELEVEN | THE SKY ABOVE THE WEST BANK
Sunrise Over Ancient Thebes
Today begins before sunrise.
We rise into the sky in a hot-air balloon, watching morning light spread across the Nile Valley, agricultural fields, desert mountains and ancient monuments of Luxor's West Bank.
It is one of the few mornings when we'll happily ask you to wake up ridiculously early.
The view is worth it.
After landing, we'll have breakfast and continue to the Valley of the Queens and Medinet Habu.
The Valley of the Queens reveals beautifully decorated royal tombs, while Medinet Habu—the mortuary temple of Ramesses III and one of Mostafa's favorite temples—offers towering architecture, deeply carved reliefs and remarkable surviving color.
Then we're done for the day.
Truly.
Return to the hotel. Sleep. Spa. Pool.
You were in a balloon before breakfast.
You've done enough.
Sunrise: Hot-air balloon over Luxor's West Bank
Morning: Breakfast • Valley of the Queens • Medinet Habu
Afternoon: Lunch • Sleep • Pool • Spa
Evening: Free evening
DAY TWELVE | KARNAK & LUXOR AFTER DARK
From Monumental to Magical
This morning belongs to Karnak.
Built and expanded over roughly two millennia, Karnak is not simply one temple but an enormous sacred complex.
We'll walk beneath colossal columns, past obelisks and through ancient ceremonial spaces while Mostafa helps connect architecture, mythology, kingship and ritual.
Afterward, the afternoon is yours.
Perhaps some scarf and alabaster shopping on the West Bank. Perhaps absolutely nothing.
Later, we'll return to Luxor's East Bank.
Walk the Corniche. Browse the old market. Look at Egyptian gold. Stop for tea.
After dark, we enter Luxor Temple, when illuminated columns and statues give the ancient space an entirely different feeling.
And if you're not ready for bed?
We know a café.
Morning: Karnak Temple
Afternoon: Lunch • Shopping • Spa • Rest
Evening: Corniche • Old Luxor • Luxor Temple at night • Favorite local café • Tea, drinks & shisha
DENDERA & ABYDOS
Go Farther
Many journeys stop with Luxor.
We're not going to.
North of the city are two places worth leaving the usual tourist path to experience: Dendera and Abydos.
Rather than squeezing both into an exhausting there-and-back day from Luxor, we slow this experience down too.
We're staying overnight.
DAY THIRTEEN | LUXOR → DENDERA → ABYDOS
Beneath a Celestial Ceiling
After breakfast, we leave Luxor and travel north toward Dendera.
The Temple of Hathor is one of those places where looking up becomes just as important as looking around.
Richly decorated columns, astronomical imagery and extraordinary restored color create a temple that feels distinctly different from those we've experienced farther south.
Hathor was associated with love, joy, music, motherhood and the heavens—and Dendera offers another beautiful layer to the spiritual and mythological world we've been uncovering throughout the journey.
After exploring, we continue toward the Abydos area.
Check in.
Eat.
Rest.
There is no need to squeeze Abydos into today.
We want to meet it in the morning.
Morning: Drive north from Luxor • Dendera Temple
Afternoon: Lunch • Continue toward Abydos • Hotel check-in
Evening: Rest • Reflection • Early dinner
DAY FOURTEEN | ABYDOS
One of Ancient Egypt's Most Sacred Places
We begin early at Abydos.
For ancient Egyptians, this was no ordinary destination.
Abydos became one of Egypt's great pilgrimage centers, deeply connected with Osiris and ancient beliefs surrounding death, rebirth and eternity.
Here stands the Temple of Seti I—Jennifer's favorite temple in Egypt.
Its beautifully preserved reliefs, quiet chambers and extraordinary atmosphere reward the kind of slow exploration we love.
This is not a temple we want to rush you through.
Look closely.
Ask questions.
Sit quietly if you want to.
Allow yourself to notice what you notice.
Afterward, we begin the journey back toward Luxor.
The rest of the evening is intentionally open.
Morning: Temple of Seti I • Abydos
Afternoon: Lunch • Drive to Luxor • Rest
Evening: Free evening • Spa • Early night
THE RED SEA
From Ancient Stone to Blue Water
After temples, tombs, desert roads and days along the Nile, we're changing the scenery completely.
Hurghada gives us something wonderfully simple:
The sea.
For a brief moment, history can wait.
DAY FIFTEEN | LUXOR → HURGHADA
Saltwater Therapy
After breakfast, we drive east across the desert toward the Red Sea.
Once we arrive in Hurghada, there is very little expected of you.
Check in.
Put on your swimsuit.
Find the beach.
Swim. Float. Read. Book a massage. Have lunch somewhere overlooking the water.
Later, when the sun softens, we'll explore Hurghada's marina and yacht-lined waterfront before making our way toward the old fish market.
Tonight's dinner?
Fresh seafood.
Choose what looks good and enjoy one of Egypt's completely different culinary experiences beside the Red Sea.
Morning: Drive from Luxor to Hurghada
Afternoon: Beach • Pool • Spa • Lunch • Rest
Evening: Marina & yacht boardwalk • Old fish market • Fresh seafood dinner
DAY SIXTEEN | RED SEA → LUXOR → NIGHT TRAIN NORTH
One Last Look at Upper Egypt
There is no alarm unless we absolutely need one.
Enjoy the beach.
Have a slow breakfast.
Take one last swim in the Red Sea.
Then we begin our journey back toward Luxor.
Depending on timing, we'll have dinner, freshen up and prepare for one of our favorite transitions in this entire itinerary:
the overnight train north.
Instead of disappearing into an airport and reappearing in Cairo, we'll travel overland through the Nile Valley.
As daylight allows, watch Upper Egypt unfold outside your window—fields, palms, villages and the narrow strip of fertile land that has supported life beside the Nile for millennia.
Eventually, settle into your cabin and let the movement of the train carry you north.
When you wake up, we'll be approaching an entirely different Egypt.
Morning: Hurghada beach • Slow breakfast • Free time
Afternoon: Drive to Luxor • Dinner • Freshen up
Evening: Board overnight train toward Giza • Sleep aboard
GIZA
One Iconic Ending
We've traveled from almost the southern edge of Egypt.
We've crossed deserts, sailed the Nile, wandered temples, floated above Luxor, stood at Abydos and swum in the Red Sea.
Now there is one more landscape waiting.
And you've probably known its silhouette since childhood.
DAY SEVENTEEN | THE GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM & PYRAMIDS OF GIZA
Save an Icon for Last
Arrive in Giza and freshen up before beginning our final full day.
Our morning belongs to the Grand Egyptian Museum, where the objects, kings, beliefs and stories we've encountered throughout Upper Egypt can suddenly be seen within an even larger context.
And after spending so much time inside the places where this history actually happened, you'll enter the museum differently than you would have at the beginning of the journey.
Names will be familiar.
Symbols will mean something.
Stories will connect.
After lunch and a little breathing room, we finally head toward the Giza Plateau.
And there they are.
The pyramids.
We'll explore the plateau, stand beneath the Great Pyramid, visit the Sphinx and give you time to absorb the scale of monuments you've seen in photographs your entire life.
As afternoon turns toward evening, we'll climb onto camels and head out for one final view.
Sunset over the pyramids.
Then we'll sit down for dinner with those same silhouettes glowing in the distance.
From Abu Simbel to Giza.
From the far south to the pyramids.
What a way to say goodbye to Egypt.
Morning: Grand Egyptian Museum
Afternoon: Lunch • Giza Plateau • Great Pyramid • Sphinx
Sunset: Camel ride overlooking the pyramids
Evening: Farewell dinner with a pyramid view
DAY EIGHTEEN | UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
UNTIL EGYPT CALLS YOU BACK
After seventeen nights of discovery, connection and unforgettable moments, it's time to say goodbye to Egypt—for now.
Depending on your flight schedule, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, take one last look outside and allow yourself a few quiet moments to reflect on the journey we've shared.
From the ancient wonders of Upper Egypt to the people we've met, the stories we've shared and the memories we've made together, we hope this journey has given you far more than you ever imagined.
You may be leaving Egypt, but if we've done our job, a little piece of Egypt is leaving with you.
And whenever Egypt calls you back, we'll be here to welcome you home.
Morning: Breakfast • Final farewells • Reflection time
Afternoon or Evening: Private transfer to Cairo International Airport • Departure (according to flight schedule)
THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
Upper Egypt Love isn't designed for someone trying to collect as many destinations as possible.
It's for the traveler who wants to go deeper.
To spend the night near Abu Simbel instead of racing there and back.
To watch the Nile Valley unfold slowly from the deck of a boat.
To wake before sunrise and float above ancient Thebes.
To travel beyond Luxor to places like Dendera and Abydos.
To balance temple mornings with massages, cafés, long lunches and afternoons when absolutely nothing is expected of you.
To leave the Nile for a moment, put your feet in the Red Sea, eat fresh seafood and then watch the countryside pass outside a train window on the journey north.
Maybe you want another night in Abu Simbel.
Maybe you could spend an entire week in Luxor.
Maybe Abydos is the reason you're coming to Egypt in the first place.
Maybe you'd rather add another day beside the Red Sea, choose a longer Nile cruise or skip Giza entirely because you've already been there.
That is exactly what these sample journeys are meant to do.
They aren't packages you have to fit yourself into.
They are simply a glimpse into what is possible.
When we create your Egypt journey, we start with you—always.
Curious what else is possible? Explore another sample journey: The Classic Egypt · Sinai & The Red Sea · Desert Dream · Cairo & Alexandria: City & Sea · A Taste of Egypt