Breakfast and lunch on board. Early morning, leave from the West Bank of the Nile to begin a breathtaking trip to the Abu Simbel temples from Aswan. These dramatic temples, carved into the mountainside on the west bank of the Nile between 1274 and 1244 B.C., include the Great Temple dedicated to Ramses II, Ra-Harakhty, Amun Ra, and Ptah, with four colossal statues adorning its facade. This smaller temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari. Both temples were laboriously disassembled piece by piece and moved to higher ground; this was one of UNESCO's largest preservation projects. After the visit, back to the cruise that will sail to Kom Ombo; arrival will be about 1:00 PM. Visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, 40 kilometers north of Aswan. The unique temple represents both the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, dating from 332 B.C. to 395 A.D.; it's dedicated to the gods Sobek and Horus. Continue your journey with a sail to Edfu, where you will have dinner and an overnight stay aboard the cruise, concluding the evening with a festive Galabyia Party.

Have breakfast on board the Nile Cruise, then visit the magnificent Temple of Edfu, which is one of the best-preserved ancient Upper Egyptian sites. It is dedicated to the hawk-god Horus and replaces an earlier structure. The current Ptolemaic temple was erected between the reign of Ptolemy III in 246 B.C. and later periods. It contains reliefs with the mythological battle between Horus and Seth, a story probably enacted as a religious drama each year. Then, begin the cruise to Luxor via the Esna Lock. Arriving at Luxor, visit the Luxor Temple, a striking monument for the most part built by Pharaoh Amenhotep III and completed by King Tutankhamun and Ramses II. The first pylon, built by Ramses II, is decorated with elaborate scenes of the Battle of Kadesh; return to the ship for dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast on board the Nile Cruise starts your day; then take an escorted tour to the West Bank of Luxor. First, you will be taken to the Valley of Kings, or "Great Place of Truth," as it once was called. This valley is truly magnificent: herein lay the tombs of the Pharaohs; entombed in large stone sarcophagi, they were prepared to voyage into eternity. It also possesses the mountain peak in a pyramid shape that has dominantly occupied the site, hence making it a breathtaking landscape. You will also be able to see the two Colossi of Memnon statues standing tall at about 18 meters in height. These are what remains of what used to be the biggest temple complex on the West Bank, built by Amenhotep III. Proceed to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which rises dramatically in a series of terraces from the desert floor. This magnificent structure seems to have been hewn by nature into the looming limestone cliffs of the Theban Mountains. Resume your day of activity as you drive back to the cruise to overnight in Luxor. The next morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to the huge complex of Karnak Temples, which consists of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons, and obelisks, honoring the Theban deities and Pharaohs. The Karnak complex was the main cult place for the worship of the Theban Triad: Amun, Mut, and Khonso. After the visit, you will be disembarked after breakfast at the end of your unforgettable journey on the 4-day MS. Renaissance Nile Cruise will remain with you for a lifetime.