10 Day Egypt & Morocco Nile Cruise: Cairo, Aswan & Marrakech

After breakfast, begin your sightseeing at the Giza Pyramids Complex, where the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure rise across the desert plateau. With your Egyptologist guide, explore this ancient royal landscape and discover how these monumental structures formed part of elaborate funerary complexes built for Egypt's pharaohs.

Continue to the Valley Temple of Khafre, built as part of the king's funerary complex. Constructed from large limestone and granite blocks, the temple provides another perspective on the engineering and religious traditions surrounding ancient Egyptian royal burials.

Next, stand before the Great Sphinx, one of Egypt's most recognizable monuments. Carved from the limestone bedrock, the colossal figure combines the body of a lion with the head of a king and has watched over the Giza landscape for thousands of years.

Continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, where Egypt's archaeological heritage is presented on a monumental scale beside the Giza Plateau. Explore its collections to connect the monuments you have seen with the rulers, beliefs, artifacts, and craftsmanship that shaped ancient Egyptian civilization over thousands of years.

Begin your Aswan sightseeing at the Aswan High Dam, one of modern Egypt's most significant engineering projects. Built to control the Nile's flow, store water, and generate hydroelectric power, the dam created Lake Nasser and transformed life along the river.

Continue to the ancient granite quarries to see the Unfinished Obelisk. Still attached to the bedrock where ancient craftsmen began carving it, the enormous monument offers a rare glimpse into the techniques used to work Aswan's hard granite.

Next, take a boat across the Nile to Philae Temple, dedicated primarily to the goddess Isis. Surrounded by water, the temple's columns, sanctuaries, and decorated walls create one of Aswan's most atmospheric experiences. Its relocation to higher ground during the construction of the High Dam is also an important part of its modern history.

Arrive at Kom Ombo Temple, dramatically positioned beside the Nile. The temple is unusual because it was dedicated to two principal deities: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder, the falcon-headed god. Explore its courtyards, columns, and decorated walls before returning to the ship.

After breakfast, visit Edfu Temple, one of the best-preserved temples from ancient Egypt. Dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus, the temple features an imposing entrance, monumental courtyards, towering columns, and richly decorated walls that reveal the religious traditions of ancient Egypt.

In the evening, visit Luxor Temple, one of the most atmospheric monuments on the East Bank. Explore its massive pylons, colossal statues, courtyards, and illuminated columns while your Egyptologist guide explains the temple’s role in the religious landscape of ancient Thebes.

Begin at Karnak Temple, one of ancient Egypt’s largest religious complexes, and walk through its monumental gateways into the Great Hypostyle Hall. Your Egyptologist guide will explain how successive pharaohs expanded Karnak over centuries, making it a major religious center of ancient Thebes.

Cross to Luxor’s West Bank and enter the Valley of the Kings, the royal necropolis where New Kingdom pharaohs were buried in tombs carved into the desert mountains. Descend into selected tombs to see colorful scenes and inscriptions depicting the ancient Egyptian journey into the afterlife.

Continue to the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, where broad terraces rise against the surrounding cliffs. Built for Queen Hatshepsut, the temple blends monumental architecture with its natural setting and reflects the reign of one of ancient Egypt’s most prominent female rulers.

End your Luxor sightseeing at the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous seated statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Once positioned before his vast mortuary temple, these imposing figures remain among the most recognizable monuments on Luxor’s West Bank. If you want more time in Egypt before continuing to Morocco, you can also explore our Egypt and Morocco itinerary with Abu Simbel and additional Moroccan cities, which extends the journey to include Abu Simbel, Meknes, Volubilis, and Fez.

Begin at the Hassan II Mosque, one of Casablanca's most recognizable landmarks. Set directly beside the Atlantic Ocean, the mosque combines monumental architecture with intricate Moroccan craftsmanship. Its dramatic coastal setting makes it one of the defining sights of Casablanca.

Continue along the Casablanca Corniche, where the city meets the Atlantic. The waterfront offers a different side of Morocco, with ocean views, promenades, cafés, and a contemporary atmosphere that contrasts naturally with the ancient landscapes you experienced in Egypt.

Begin at Bahia Palace, where ornate courtyards, painted ceilings, carved wood, zellij tilework, and detailed stucco showcase the craftsmanship of 19th-century Morocco. Explore its interconnected rooms and gardens to see how Moroccan architecture brings decorative detail and open courtyard spaces together.

Continue to the Koutoubia Mosque, whose distinctive minaret is one of Marrakech’s most recognizable landmarks. Admire its exterior and surrounding gardens while learning about the mosque’s place in the city’s architectural and cultural heritage.

Enter the Marrakech Medina, the historic heart of the city, and walk through its narrow lanes lined with traditional houses, riads, workshops, cafés, and historic gateways. Here, centuries-old urban traditions remain part of everyday Marrakech life. As you explore the Medina and souks, practical details can make the experience easier, from navigating busy market streets to understanding local customs. For more practical Morocco travel tips for first-time visitors, see our dedicated guide.

Continue through the Marrakech souks, where artisans and merchants display leather goods, textiles, lanterns, spices, carpets, and other Moroccan crafts. Wander through the market streets to experience the traditional trades and craftsmanship that remain part of the city’s character.

As afternoon turns toward evening, arrive at Jemaa el-Fna, Marrakech’s famous central square. Food stalls, vendors, performers, and visitors bring the space to life as the atmosphere gradually shifts from daytime activity to its lively evening rhythm.