Day 1: Aswan - Kalabsha - Ghazal

After boarding the boat we commence our journey sailing south towards the temples of Kalabsha and Beit el Wali.

Lunch will be served as our boat sails to the original site of the Kalabsha temple. Here we will enjoy a swim in the lake accompanied with the serving of refreshments. As the day comes to an end we will anchor at the Khour El Ghazal Creek where we will have a starlit dinner before retiring for the night.

Day 2: Gharf Hussein - Abu Steta - Maria

During sunrise we will leave the boat looking to catch sight of the gazelles and wild donkeys that graze on the banks of the Nubian Lake. Back on board SAÏ, we will embark in the direction of Wadi El Seboua making several fascinating stops along the way.

Soon we will arrive at the site of Abu Sheta; a region in the Nubian Desert with a reputation for exciting hikes filled with golden sand dunes and congregations of exotic birds in small lagoons.
SAÏ will then take us to the village of Maria on the Lake’s western side where will we go for a swim in its glistening waters. We will anchor to spend the night at Wadi Al Seboua.

Day 3: Wadi El Seboua - Dakka - Meharraqa

On this day we travel down Lake Nasser with the goal of discovering two relocated temples, known for their unique sculptures and delicate beauty:
Dakka (Greek: Pselchis): Erected in the same site by the Nubian king Ergamenes II along with Ptolemy II whilst they shared rule over Lower Nubia in the Third century. Later, the temple was refurbished by Roman Emperors Augustus and Tiberius.

Wadi El Seboua: Accessed through a pathway of sphinxes bearing Ramses’s effigy, this temple was built by the Pharaoh Ramses II in dedication to the Gods Amun-Re and Ra.

Moving along, we will sail towards one of the most tranquil bays of the Nubian Lake, Wadi El Arab, where we will swim in its confined waters. Following on, SAÏ will move towards the Amada Temple, with a broad display of the local fishermen’s houses on the way.

Occasionally on this route we are privileged to see some of the lake crocodiles as they surface for sunlight. Our day will come to an end with a quiet sunset, as SAÏ makes its final stop of the day in Amada.

Day 4: Amada - Kasr Ibrim - Abu Simbel

First thing in the morning we will glance at the various nomadic birds that visit Lake Nasser annually as we leave our boat to peruse the temples of Amada, Pennout and El Derr.
Returning to SAÏ we will make course towards Kasr Ibrim where we will swim in front of the vast fortress before embarking on an external tour of the palace.

Kasr Ibrim or the Ibrim Palace is the single monument on the Nubian Lake that stands unmoved from its original location. It contains a selection of remains from Egypt’s Christian and Islamic periods and was eventually transformed into a fortress by the Ottomans. The resulting fusion of cultural artefacts gives the Palace a characteristic diversity.
Unfortunately, the site was recently victim to damage and lootings by thugs.

Returning back to SAÏ, we will venture through the Masmas area, which is home to numerous Nubian villages. Soon in the distance the Abu Simbel Temples will start protruding from the horizon and emerging from the water, a gorgeous sight signifying the end of our prolific journey.
As night falls we have the option of attending the Sound and Light Show regularly performed in front of the temples.

Day 5: Abu Simbel

This day will be dedicated solely to exploring the vast wonders of the Abu Simbel Temples of Ramses II and his beautiful wife Nefertari.