MS Hamees Cruise – 4 Days of Luxury on the Nile – BD336

Morning

Sail to Kom Ombo during breakfast then visit the Kom Ombo Temple which was constructed during the Ptolemaic dynasty, 180–47 BC. The temple is unique because it is perfectly symmetrical and was built for two sets of gods. The south temple was dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and creator of the world. The northern temple was dedicated to the falcon god Horus.

Afternoon

Sail to Edfu then lunch on board. After lunch, visit Edfu Temple, one of the best-preserved shrines in Egypt, distinguished by its huge splendid structure that blends Pharaonic and Greek architecture. The temple was built in the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC. The inscriptions on its walls provide important information on language, myth and religion during the Hellenistic period in Egypt. Sail to Luxor via Esna and dinner on board and Galabeya party and overnight in Luxor.

Morning

This morning we visit the West Bank: Valley of the Kings & Queens and Hatshepsut Temple. The Valley of the Kings & Queens contains 63 tombs and stands on the west bank of the Nile, opposite Thebes (modern Luxor), where, for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, rock cut tombs were excavated for the Pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom.

The royal tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology and give clues as to the beliefs and funerary rituals of the period. This temple was originally dedicated to Amun and then added to by Hatshepsut, Queen and 5th Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty. Her reign was the longest of all the female pharaohs. Her funerary temple stands as tribute to her peaceful and prosperous rule. It is considered one of the incomparable monuments of ancient Egypt.

Afternoon

Lunch back on board is followed by a visit to the Karnak & Luxor temples. Karnak is one of the largest temple complexes in the world covering 200 acres of land. Dating back to 3400 BC it is was built over different reigns and dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. Starting by the Avenue of Sphinxes visit the Unfinished Propylon, the Hypostyle Hall with its 134 gigantic columns, is still the largest room of any religious building in the world.

Next the Obelisks of Queen Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III, the temple of Amon adorned with lotus and papyrus designs, the Granite Scarabeus of Amenophis III and the Sacred Lake.

Luxor temple is not dedicated to a god or a deified version of the king in death. Instead Luxor temple is dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship; it may have been where many of the kings of Egypt were crowned. Alexander the Great claimed he was crowned at Luxor. Dinner on board and a belly dance show. Overnight in Luxor.