Planning a trip to Egypt can be an overwhelming experience. How many days should you stay in each place? What are the must-visit temples? And where does one find reputable restaurants? The list goes on for the things that would require ample research and booking. I was in the middle of spiralling when I discovered Viking Cruises provides river, ocean and expedition cruises around the world.
As you may have seen on TikTok, it's become a bit of a travel trend to explore Egypt via a Nile cruise and while there are dozens of operators that offer a luxurious, weeklong sojourn down the mythic river from Luxor to Aswan, seeing as this would be my very first time in Egypt, I didn't want to miss the Pyramids of Giza nor the museums in Cairo. Thankfully, Viking Cruises, one of the few companies that bookend the trip with visits in Cairo, had it all covered in their 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids itinerary, and I could not be more relieved to leave all the planning in their highly-experienced hands.
My husband and I felt fully taken care of from the moment we landed in Cairo. A Viking representative awaited us with a sign, and then helped us breeze past security and the visa-on-arrival process, escorting us onto a private car straight to the 5-star Fairmont Nile City Hotel, which served as home base for two nights. (A little sidebar here: My suitcase was lost during my flight over and the Viking team handled the entire lost-and-found process, retrieving my suitcase within 24 hours. It would not have been possible without them). On the first day, we visited the Egyptian Museum, where King Tut's dazzling sarcophagus awaited us, and then experienced the organised chaos that is Khan el-Khalili, the local market after dinner. The next day, we visited the towering Pyramids of Giza where one could see one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World astride a camel.
I need to take a moment to shout out the three Egyptologists who accompanied us throughout the entire week. Our 60-strong group was divided into three smaller groups, each with our own licensed female Egyptologist who guided us through every excursion and answered our every inquiry. Suzy, our formidable leader, had an encyclopaedic knowledge of Egypt's rich and vast history, and injected our every excursion with dynamism and humour.
Sterling service, sea and sunshine.
%2520copy.jpg)
On the third day, we took a chartered flight to Luxor where we were to finally board the sleek Viking Aton river ship and embark on our Nile cruise. The Viking Aton is an adults-only, "quiet" cruise (meaning no loud speaker announcements, thank goodness) and while the majority of the guests are on the older end of the spectrum, it also means no crying babies or impatient toddlers. While there were plenty of cross-generational families on board, in my opinion, given the intensity of the schedule, it is not a trip for very young children, as they probably would not appreciate all the ancient temples and rigorous itinerary.
From Karnak's impressive 136-pillared temple, to Philae's temple on an island, every day we were greeted with a new ancient wonder to behold as we sailed from Luxor to Aswan. Cruising on the Nile itself was one of my absolute favourite parts of the entire trip. From seeing tiny fishing boats contrasted against the majestic mountains in the distance, to seeing donkeys weaving between the fields along the banks, the scenery along the mystical river was ever-changing and evoked a Biblical beauty.
After visiting the awe-inspiring tombs in the Valley of the Kings with caves covered wall-to-ceiling in colourful hieroglyphs, or floating above the Nile at dawn in an optional hot-air balloon ride at sunrise, it's such a comfort to come back to the Viking Aton's modern, air-conditioned ship—a much-appreciated feature considering temperatures were hitting above 40 celsius every day. The spacious rooms are equipped with a television, fully-stocked bathroom, and most even have small terraces that allow you to sit with a book and watch the world go by.
The ship itself, decorated in a comforting minimalist Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic consistent amongst all Viking Cruises, is equipped with two restaurants, a sprawling sun deck and a plunge pool. Menus serving delicious international and local flavours change daily so there's no risk of growing bored on board, but it's the small touches, like the generous supply of bottled water available on the excursions and the cocktails and cold towels awaiting us upon our return that make the experience feel truly luxurious. After traversing the Nile for week, the friendly, attentive staff soon become like family.
You see, luxury might mean five-star accommodation and stellar service, but on top of excelling at both, the most luxurious thing Viking Cruises offers is peace of mind. They allowed us to have complete trust that our guide would show us the absolute best the country has to offer, all while keeping us safe, informed and hydrated.
Quick facts about Viking's Pharaohs & Pyramids trip:
Length of itinerary: 12 days / 11 nights.
Inclusions: Return flights from select UK airports, return internal flights from Cairo to Luxor, ground transfers in Egypt (when flights are booked with Viking), four nights in total at a first-class Cairo hotel, eight days on board in a standard stateroom, all onboard meals including wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, included excursions and visits to UNESCO sites, complimentary Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary), onboard gratuities and evening entertainment and enrichment talks. Guests on this cruise tour are accompanied throughout by Viking's expert Egyptologists.
Prices start from £5,495 for a 2027 summer sailing, based on current availability
