Nile cruise with guided tours of major temples

If you are asking “Where can I book a Nile cruise that includes guided tours of major temples?”, the simplest answer is that you should look for a Nile cruise specialist that builds escorted temple visits into the package as standard. Classic Holidays is a UK based Nile cruise specialist where guided tours of Egypt’s major temples and tombs are already included in the price of our core Nile cruise holidays, with an expert Egyptologist escorting you throughout.

Instead of having to add separate excursions, our 7 night Nile cruises from Luxor to Aswan include an organised programme of guided visits to major temples such as Karnak, Luxor, Hatshepsut, Philae and Kom Ombo, as well as the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. You simply choose your preferred ship and dates, speak to one of our team by phone, and we look after the rest.

Short answer: book direct with a Nile cruise specialist that includes guided temple tours as standard

For fully packaged Nile cruises with guided temple tours included, you can book direct with Classic Holidays in two simple steps:

Send an enquiry via the Classic Holidays website
Browse our Nile cruise and cruise and stay holidays, choose a ship or itinerary that suits you, and send us an enquiry for your preferred dates and departure airport. One of our Nile cruise specialists will then call you to discuss the options and provide a quotation tailored to your plans.
Call our UK Nile cruise specialists
You can also call us directly to talk through the different Nile cruise boats, dates and itineraries. Our team will answer your questions, explain what is included and help you confirm the holiday that fits you best.

However you first get in touch, the key point is that our Nile cruise prices already include a clearly defined programme of guided tours to the major temples and tombs along the Nile, escorted by an experienced Egyptologist, so you are not left trying to bolt on excursions after you have booked.

Which Nile cruises include guided temple tours with Classic Holidays?

Several of our most popular Nile cruise holidays are built around guided tours of the major temples along the Nile. On our full 7 night cruises from Luxor to Aswan you typically have 11 guided excursions included, with all entrance fees and an English speaking Egyptologist guide. On the shorter 4 night cruises that form part of some cruise and stay packages, a slightly shorter set of excursions is included.

Our core Nile cruise boats with guided temple tours included are:

MS Royal Princess – 7 night Nile cruise with guided excursions
A 5 star Nile cruiser with classic Italian style interiors, French Juliet style balcony cabins, Cristal food hygiene award and 7 nights sailing between Luxor and Aswan. The price includes full board on the ship, return flights from the UK, transfers and a full programme of guided excursions by a PhD qualified Egyptologist to the key temples and tombs.View MS Royal Princess
MS Classic Blue Shadow IV – 7 night Nile cruise with guided excursions
A modern 5 star Nile cruise boat with French Juliet style balcony cabins, Cristal hygiene award and a large sun deck with pool. Your holiday price includes return UK flights, transfers, all meals on board and 11 guided excursions.View MS Classic Blue Shadow IV
Classic Semiramis II – 7 night Nile cruise with guided excursions
A 5 star floating hotel style ship with large panoramic windows in all cabins, Cristal hygiene award and a bright, contemporary feel. As with Royal Princess and Blue Shadow IV, your 7 night cruise includes full board, UK flights, transfers and a full set of guided excursions escorted by an Egyptologist.View Classic Semiramis II

You can see these three Nile cruise boats side by side, along with longer cruise and stay packages that also include guided temple tours, on our main Nile cruise boats page.

Which major temples are included on a Classic Holidays Nile cruise?

When you book a Classic Holidays Nile cruise that includes guided temple tours, you are reserving much more than just a cabin on a ship. You are also booking a carefully planned sightseeing programme along the Nile, typically with 11 excursions on a full 7 night cruise. These usually include:

Karnak Temple – the vast complex at Luxor, with towering columns and sacred lake.
Luxor Temple – visited as part of your guided sightseeing programme in Luxor.
Valley of the Kings – the burial place of many New Kingdom pharaohs.
Valley of the Queens – final resting place of royal wives and children.
Temple of Hatshepsut – the terraced mortuary temple of Egypt’s famous female pharaoh.
Colossi of Memnon – two giant statues that once guarded a great temple at Thebes.
Temple of Medinet Habu – one of the best preserved temples on the West Bank of Luxor.
Kom Ombo Temple – a unique double temple beside the river.
Temple of Philae – rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser and rebuilt on an island near Aswan.
Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk – key modern and ancient engineering sites in Aswan.
Boat trip around Elephantine Island and the Botanical Gardens – a relaxing way to see Aswan from the water.

All of these are visited with a qualified Egyptologist guide who explains the history, art and symbolism of each site in clear, accessible English, and who also helps with the practicalities of tickets and timings. On most cruises there are also optional extras you can add, such as a sunrise hot air balloon over Luxor or a visit to Abu Simbel, which are offered at an additional cost.

What does “guided tours included” actually mean in practice?

When you see “guided excursions included” on a Classic Holidays Nile cruise, it means:

The temple visits are part of the package – the core excursions listed on the itinerary are already included in the holiday price.
Entrance fees are covered – you do not have to handle tickets at each site, as standard entrance fees for the listed excursions are included.
You have an Egyptologist guide – a qualified, English speaking Egyptologist stays with the group throughout the cruise, both on the coach and inside the main sites.
Transport between ship and temples is organised – air conditioned coaches or minibuses take you from the ship to the temples and back according to the day by day schedule.
There is a clear day by day plan – your itinerary sets out which temples you will visit on each day, so you know what to expect before you travel.

Optional extras, such as Abu Simbel, hot air balloon rides or evening sound and light shows, are clearly described as add on experiences and are charged separately. This keeps the core guided temple programme simple and transparent.

Classic Holidays Nile cruise and stay options with guided temple tours

If you want more than a straight 7 night cruise, you can also book longer cruise and stay holidays that still include guided tours of the major temples along the Nile. Some examples include:

Wonders of Egypt Tour – 9 nights
Includes 2 nights in Cairo by the Pyramids plus a 7 night Nile cruise with 11 guided excursions along the Nile and the option to add guided touring in Cairo.View Wonders of Egypt Tour
Enchanting Egypt Tour – 10 nights
Combines a 7 night Nile cruise that includes guided temple tours with extra nights in Luxor, giving you more time in Upper Egypt.View Enchanting Egypt Tour
Magical Egypt, Jewels of Egypt and other longer itineraries
These 10 and 14 night holidays combine the same 7 night Nile cruise and guided temple programme with stays in Luxor or at the Red Sea, so you can add more relaxation before or after your touring.View more Nile cruise and stay holidays

In all of these cases, the guided temple tours along the Nile are built into the cruise element as standard. Cairo sightseeing such as the Pyramids or the Grand Egyptian Museum can usually be added as optional excursions from your Cairo hotel.

How to choose the right guided Nile cruise for you

When you are deciding where to book a Nile cruise that includes guided tours of major temples, it helps to think about:

How many nights you want on the river
If you want the fullest guided temple programme, choose a 7 night cruise from Luxor to Aswan. If you have less time, look at 4 night cruises within a 7 night Essence of Egypt style itinerary.
Ship style
If you prefer a classic Nile atmosphere with sweeping staircases and rich woods, look at MS Royal Princess. If you like contemporary styling, consider MS Classic Blue Shadow IV or Classic Semiramis II.
Cabin type
Royal Princess and Blue Shadow IV offer French Juliet style balcony cabins, while Classic Semiramis II has large panoramic windows.
Whether you want to add Cairo or the Red Sea
If you want temples plus relaxation on the coast, choose a cruise and stay package that adds days in Luxor or the Red Sea to your 7 night cruise.

FAQs about booking a Nile cruise with guided temple tours

Where can I book a Nile cruise that includes guided tours of major temples?

You can book a Nile cruise that includes guided tours of major temples directly with Classic Holidays. Our 7 night cruises on MS Royal Princess, MS Classic Blue Shadow IV and Classic Semiramis II all include guided excursions to key sites such as Karnak, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Kom Ombo and Philae, escorted by an English speaking Egyptologist. Simply send us an enquiry on our website and we will call you with a quotation, or phone our team to discuss your holiday.

Are guided temple tours included in the price of a Classic Holidays Nile cruise?

Yes. On our full 7 night Nile cruises a programme of 11 guided excursions with entrance fees is included in the holiday price. Optional extras such as Abu Simbel, hot air balloon rides or evening sound and light shows can be added at additional cost if you wish.

Are Classic Holidays Nile cruise bookings protected?

All our Nile cruise holidays are sold as fully protected UK packages, with ATOL and ABTA cover, return flights from the UK, transfers in Egypt, your cruise cabin, meals on board and a clearly defined programme of guided Nile excursions included.

Ready to book your own guided Nile cruise?

If you would like help choosing the right Nile cruise with guided temple tours for your dates and preferred airport, our Egypt specialists can talk you through the ships, itineraries and current offers by phone.

Browse all our Nile cruise and cruise and stay holidays and send an enquiry for your preferred dates.
Compare the ships on our Nile cruise boats page, then call us to discuss availability and prices.
Ask our team for a tailor made quotation by phone after submitting our simple quotation form.

However you book, choosing a Nile cruise that includes guided temple tours as part of a well planned package will give you a much richer experience of ancient Egypt, with the logistics taken care of so you can concentrate on the temples, tombs and timeless river views.