While assessing risk is a personal choice, having accurate and up-to-date information can help put your mind at ease.

Egypt is committed to ensuring the safety and security of its visitors, and the government has put extensive measures in place to create a safe and welcoming environment for tourists.

Learn more

Bookings Open

July 8, 2025 - Request a call back here. Deposit $1200 per person. Make additional payments at your convenience.

Purchase your travel insurance on the date of booking to protect your investment. Ask us for our two recommendations.

Final Payment Due

March 8, 2026

Trip Begins in Cairo

June 8, 2026

Trip Ends in Cairo June 19, 2026

Only $1,200 per person.

Final payment is not due until March of 2026! You can either call in and make payments at any time, pay in full when booking, or pay by the final deadline.

Flights can be booked 330 days before departure - so you can technically book them now.

You can book your flights through your preferred airline, or you can have AmaWaterways book your flights after you have paid the deposit for your cruise.

The advantage of having someone else handle your flight arrangements is that if something should change they will work directly with the airline on your behalf so you don't spend your day trying to resolve it.

Yes. Booking early allows you to have the best selection of cabin available.

Pricing varies based on the cabin you select so if you're looking for the most affordable cabin, or the biggest suite, once they are booked, you'll only have what's left to choose from. It also gives you the ability to book your flights early and have the widest choice of availability.

There are also two optional activities during the cruise that are only available on a first-come, first-served basis. Booking early ensures you'll be able to include them as part of your cruise.

• The High Tea at the Cataract Hotel

• The Abu Simbel Excursion

• Your luxury river cruise on the Nile River with the award-winning AmaWaterways.

• Your ship is the AmaLilia.

• Your trip will be hosted by Sandra & Anthony McLemore. Sandra is a travel contributor on network news and morning shows and Anthony is an Emmy award-winning producer.

• We will be staying at the Ritz Carlton on the Nile!

AmaWaterways is an award-winning river cruise line with a well-deserved reputation for excellence.

We particularly loved their ship, the AmaLilia, which we believe is one of the most luxurious vessels on the Nile.

Every detail on the AmaLilia, from the stunning artwork to the fine fabrics, is inspired by Egyptian culture, creating an immersive and elegant atmosphere.

The entire crew is Egyptian, which adds a genuine and welcoming touch to the journey.

The culinary experience onboard is exceptional, featuring dishes that celebrate local flavors and ingredients, all freshly sourced.

What makes the cruise even more special is the presence of an Egyptologist who sails with you, sharing fascinating insights and stories about Egypt’s rich history. This is in addition to the attentive cruise manager who ensures your journey is smooth and enjoyable.

AmaWaterways goes above and beyond to provide unique and authentic experiences, making every moment of your Nile adventure truly unforgettable.

While it's certainly one of the hottest seasons to visit, if you're comfortable with a warm summer, you'll find it quite manageable here. The hottest days can reach 110F/43C.... but..... the heat is dry, so you won't have to deal with the sticky humidity that can make high temperatures feel unbearable.

We specifically chose this season for our journey because it means fewer tourists. Scroll down to the difference. The first image is what you can you can expect at Abu Simbel when you visit in June. The second image is what you can expect at the Sphinx when you visit during the cooler months.

Fewer people mean you can explore at your own pace without feeling rushed or crowded - there are many ways to manage the heat and we'll happily share those with you in a pre-departure meeting.

As we get closer to departure we'll walk you through a packing list - having had first hand experience at this time of year in Egypt we know exactly what to pack, and what NOT to pack.

Low Season

Busy/High Season

The stunning AmaLilia. She's a brand new ship that launched in 2024.

That's up to you.

You can book your flights through your preferred travel advisor, the airline directly, or you can have AmaWaterways book your flights.

The advantage of having someone else handle your flight arrangements is that if something should change they will work directly with the airline on your behalf so you don't spend your day trying to resolve it.

Fly in and out of Cairo.

There is a domestic flight in Egypt that AmaWaterways will book for you as everyone travels for this part of the trip. It will likely be an Egypt Air flight which is very comfortable. The flight is approximately an hour.

If you decide to do the Abu Simbel tour, you'll fly to Aswan during the trip. Again, it will likely be Egypt Air. The flight is around 40 minutes.

Cairo Pre-Cruise

• Arrival airport transfer (as part of the visa add-on)

• Personal escort through immigration (as part of the visa add-on)

• Egypt visa (handed to you on arrival saving you time - as part of the visa add-on)

• 3 nights at your luxury hotel* in a partial Nile view room, including daily breakfast and complimentary Wi-Fi

• Full-day Cairo tour with visits to the Egyptian Museum, home to King Tut’s treasures, and visits to Citadel of Salah Ed-Din and Alabaster Mosque

• Visit the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx and Saqqara Museum and lunch at the historic Mena House Hotel

Nile River Cruise

• 7-night river cruise in elegantly appointed accommodations

• Fine dining with a variety of choices, including The Al Fresco Restaurant

• Wine, beer and soft drinks included during lunch and dinner

• Sip & Sail cocktail hour

• Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner and Gala Dinner

• A dedicated English-speaking Egyptologist accompanying you on your river cruise journey

• Nightly entertainment including a belly dance show, Galabeya Party and Movie night

• A variety of small group guided shore excursions

• Visit to the outdoor Luxor Market as well as a papyrus shop and learn the history of this art form

• Exclusive visits to the Tomb of Queen Nefertari and a Nubian village

• Fitness room, sun-deck pool, hair and nail salon and a massage room

• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Cairo Post Cruise

• One night at your luxury hotel* in a partial Nile view room Superior Room with breakfast and complimentary Wi-Fi

• Departure airport transfer

The million dollar question for the million dollar experience... and thankfully nowhere near that price. Your 11-night cruise and land tour in Egypt starts around at $5499 per person depending on the cabin or suite you book. We recommend booking right away to have more chance of securing your preference. If you were to divide this by the 11 nights/12 days it would be $458/day. Remembering that this includes on every day the following:

• Your breakfast, lunch and dinner (plus beer, wine and soda in the evening) - only nights in Cairo you get your own dinner.

• ALL of your tours in the program except for the two optional add-ons.

• Your Egyptologist who is with you for the entire trip.

• ALL of your hotel and ship accommodation at 4.5 and 5 stars only

• Your round trip airport transfers in Cairo and Luxor.

• Your visa for Egypt - someone will be standing in the airport when you get off your flight to hand it to you and then guide you through immigration and baggage pick up / drop off.

• Security on each bus for your peace of mind.

• The five star cruise on the Nile.

• Chef's table fine dining experience.

• Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship
  

• Informative, interactive, simple-to-use onboard kiosks with daily cruise details, information, and easy check-in/checkout features at each port. Digital signage keeps you up-to-date throughout the day
  

• Expansive Sun Deck. Relax on a shaded lounger while sipping a cold drink or allow the ever-changing scenery to capture your daydreams.
  

• Main Lounge
  

• Bar
  

• Massage Room

• Hair and Nail Salon

• Fitness Room
  

• Gift Shop
  

• Main Restaurant
  

• Chef's Table Restaurant
  

• Elevator

• Non-smoking interior
  

• English-speaking TV channels with 50+ free movie options
  

• Unlimited complimentary local beer, wine, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board.
  

• Your Cruise Manager will be with you every step of your journey, as well as expertly trained Egyptologists

• International Airfare

• Travel insurance (ask us for recommendations)

• Abu Simbel Shore Excursion

• High Tea on the Nile Shore Excursion

• Spending money

• Welcome cocktails

• Daily choices of regional specialties and Western favorites with fresh locally sourced ingredients.

• Daily buffet breakfast with classic hot and cold breakfast items and à la carte daily specials

• Daily lunch buffet and multi-course fine dining experience with a wide choice of items including complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks

• Dine in the Main Restaurant or The Chef's Table specialty restaurant.

All shore excursions are included except Abu Simbel and High Tea on the Nile.

The shore excursion days are long. There will be two air-conditioned buses. You'll stay with the same bus and guides for the entire week. You'll generally leave in the morning and come back in the afternoon. You'll either have lunch while you're out or you'll come back to the ship for lunch.

No. Egypt is best experienced with a guide, specifically an Egyptologist.

It's not efficient or effective when it comes to managing your time and seeing all the sights.

However, at each site, there is time built in for rest and shopping.

At Abu Simbel you can explore together but you can also dine at the restaurant or shop if you prefer while there. At the Pyramids you wouldn't be able to wander off because of the way it's laid out.

The buses are new and state-of-the-art and include Wi-Fi, excellent AC and bathrooms. If you want to skip a tour or are feeling tired, you can certainly return to the bus and relax there until we head back to the ship.

Depending on the number of guests in our group we may have photographer with us at key sites who will take photos for our group. This is a complimentary service courtesy of Sandra & Anthony McLemore, your hosts, and the team at Authentic Escapes. If not, we can recommend photographers that we have personally used in Egypt who will meet you at the sites. They are unable to ride on our buses as only guests are permitted.