We’ll meet you at Cairo International Airport and take you to Fairmont Nile City, a centrally located hotel with views of the mighty river, the bustling city and the pyramids of Giza.

Plunge straight into the ancient world with a trip to Sakkara. Here there are hundreds of tombs and among the 14 pyramids is the oldest stone structure in the world: the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Having served your appetiser today’s main course is some of the most iconic monuments in the world. At the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids the ancient stonemasons’ feat of engineering will leave you speechless.

A trip to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities will reveal the ancient mummies and opulent burial treasures of Tutankhamun’s tomb. You can explore the maze of medieval alleys in Cairo’s Old Town and visit Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, home to hundreds of tightly packed stalls selling a huge array of goods.

Hop on a plane to Luxor and myriad more ancient wonders await you. The Sanctuary Sun Boat IV will transport you down the meandering Nile, past treasures and temples and ethereal landscapes. This will be your home for the next eight nights.

The Nile is the perfect vantage point from which to appreciate the wonders of this ancient land. The banks of the river have set the scene for daily life for thousands of years, and today it can seem as though nothing has changed. Visit the Temple of Karnak, built over a period of a thousand years by generations of Pharaohs. The great Hypostyle Hall is an incredible forest of giant pillars, covering an area larger than the whole of Notre Dame Cathedral. Later on, set sail to Esna.

The Sanctuary Sun Boat IV will head south today, past the city of Esna, with its ancient Temple of Khnum. Spend some time on board to enjoy the facilities. You’ll reach the Temple of Horus at Edfu, dedicated to the falcon-headed god. After a day’s sightseeing, head back to the cool environs of the cruiser at Kom Ombo, for a delicious Egyptian supper.

Enjoy the outdoor sun deck, gym and relaxation areas on the boat. Dinner tonight will be Gala dinner, with a folkloric show and dervish show.

You get the chance to explore beautiful, ancient Aswan today. Right on the river, this city has been a place of strategic importance since antiquity. Today you can peruse its vibrant souks and take shade under the palm trees. Catch a single-sail felucca and visit some of the small islands around here, which are home to some important ruins.

A breakfast buffet is served on board as you cruise to Aswan, followed by a short motorboat ride to visit the majestic Philae Temple on the Island of Agilika. Next proceed to the Granite Quarries, which supplied the ancient Egyptians with most of the hard stone used in pyramids and temples. Here you see the Unfinished Obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries. Enjoy lunch as you cruise to Kom Ombo and spend the afternoon at leisure.

Morning visit to explore the extraordinary Temple of Horus. Despite being built by the Greeks, this impressive structure is the largest and most complete preserved Pharaonic temple in Egypt. Return to the boat and lunch is served as you sail to Luxor. Your afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the facilities once again.

We’re coming to the end of the trip, but there’s still much to see and do. Your Egyptologist will guide you through the Temple of Karnak. After lunch, you’ll visit the Valley of the Kings, where Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered nearly 100 years ago. Over at the Valley of the Queens is the resting place of the female pharaoh, Hatshepsut.

After breakfast, you’ll be transported to the airport so you can catch your flight back to the UK.