Dahabiya Cruises

• Arrive at El Minya. Board the dahabiya Zahra.

Here, you can visit the fascinating Bani Hassan tombs, known for their well-preserved Middle Kingdom murals.
It contains 39 rock-cut tombs from the Middle Kingdom. These tombs, belonging to provincial governors, feature vibrant paintings and inscriptions depicting daily life, military campaigns, and religious beliefs. Notable tombs, including those of Amenemhat, Khnumhotep II, and Baqet III, showcase hunting, wrestling, and governance scenes. The site serves as a vital historical and artistic record of ancient Egyptian civilization
Followed by a stop at Zawyet El Meitin, the city of domed tombs. Visit to the Museum of Hassan El Shark – a well-known Egyptian artist whose colourful images vibrantly capture Upper Egyptian village life. Continue to Mallawi.

Visit Mallawi Regional Museum encloses a marvelous collection of monuments dating back to the Greco- Roman period and many other periods. It was established in 1963 to be a center for displaying the fragments, statues and pharaonic Monuments found in many areas such as Tuna El Gabal and Ashmonein. Followed by a visit to the necropolis of Tuna El Gebel with its mysterious underground passages in which thousands of mummified animals were deposited, and the Tomb of Petosiris, designed in a blend of Egyptian and Greek styles. We continue to Tell El Amarna – where the “heretic king” Akhenaten, who designated monotheism as the state religion, created a short-lived city of palaces, temples, and breathtaking tombs.

We stop at The Necropolis of Meir, situated near the modern town of El-Qusiya, Historically linked with the ancient city of Qis, Meir served as the burial ground for the nomarchs—the provincial rulers of the region—during Egypt’s Old and Middle Kingdom periods. This necropolis offers invaluable insights into the lives and customs of Egypt’s regional elite and their families. and visit Deir El Muharraq, Egypt’s most important monastery complex. Sail to Asyut.

 Visit to  Deir Durunka, The Monastery of the Virgin in Mount Assiut is one of the important tourist attractions in Egypt. Thousands of visitors visit it annually to learn where the Holy Family’s journey ended and where the return journey began. The Virgin was manifested in a luminous form and still appears occasionally in this holy monastery, where people find calm, comfort, peace and joy.

Sail to Sohag, sailing through the countryside and tranquil villages to the left and right. Stop in El Maragha village , and overnight.

• Visit The Sohag National Museum. The design of the museum takes the form of the Temple of King Seti I in Abydos. It consists of a basement and two floors, and includes a group of artifacts that shed light on several topics, including kings and important personalities, family and social status, ancient Egyptian cuisine, crafts and industries, textiles, heritage, and the Hajj Pilgrimage through the ages. Followed by a visit to the 4th-century White Monastery, built from the ruins of the nearby Pharaonic-era Temple of Athribis (el-Sheikh Hamad). Then a short detour to the unusual rock-cut church of Saint Shenouda the Archimandrite, established in a Pharaonic-era quarry and lined with reliefs portraying sacred scenes. We then visit one of the highlights in this area – the Red Monastery with spectacular paintings from the 6th to 8th centuries. The monastery is often justifiably compared to the Hagia Sophia or San Vitale.

Sail to El Balyana. Visit the sacred city of Abydos. It is considered one of the most important archaeological sites of ancient Egypt, and was the site of many ancient temples, including a royal necropolis where early pharaohs were entombed. With numerous temples and tombs. Continue to Nag Hammadi. We pass through the lock there around midnight.

Sail to Qena City . Visit to the Hathor Temple at Dendera, as it is one of Egypt’s best preserved monuments. Featuring an astronomical ceiling depicting the heavenly bodies and a well-preserved stone roof, the temple provides invaluable clues to the solar rituals carried out in similar Ancient Egyptian cult sites. Sail to Luxor and overnight

Discover the ancient city of Thebes, home to the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and Luxor’s majestic monuments. Explore the history and culture of one of Egypt’s most powerful cities.,
the Valley of the Kings is studded with often highly decorated tombs, constructed to house the regal sarcophagi-enclosed mummies of the mighty pharaohs awaiting their passage into the after-life.
the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut and the fascinating private tombs where the rich colours of life 3500 years ago have been preserved.
Afterwards, visit the largest temple complex in the country, the Temple of Karnak, with its stunning Hypostyle Hall.

• Disembarkation in Luxor