1
Arrival
Welcome to the land of the pharaohs -- we’ll get you to your hotel and you’ll spend the night in enchanting Cairo.
2
Cairo • Pyramid Tour
Today you’ll leave bustling Cairo and head into the desert…. You’ll stand at the foot of the Great Pyramids and marvel at the Sphinx just as visitors have for 5000 years. We’ll travel to Memphis and view the remains of the first capital of united upper and lower Egypt. Saqqara is our next destination, site of the earliest pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser. It’s architect, Imhotep, was considered a god…. We’ll return to Cairo, share dinner and spend the night.
Breakfast
Dinner
3
Cairo (Cairo City Tour)
Today, let our experts show you Cairo. The Egyptian Museum will not only dazzle you with ancient treasures, but bring you face-to-face with pharaohs -- Rameses II, Seti I, Amenhotep III…. An incredible opportunity to look upon the actual people behind the history. You’ll explore the medieval Citadel of Saladin and the beautiful Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque. A true highlight of the day is a walking tour of the 13th century covered market, Khan El Khalili Bazaar -- there is nothing that can’t be bought here! We stay in Cairo tonight.
Breakfast
4
Luxor
A short flight from Cairo will bring you to Luxor for a 5 day /4 night luxury cruise down the Nile. You’ll marvel at the stunning Temples of Karnak and Luxor; our expert guide will bring to life the lives of the ancient pharaohs – we’ll take our dinner aboard ship and spend the night here.
5
Luxor • Esna
Today you’ll explore the final resting places of Egypt’s ancient leaders in the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. In a land of “big” architecture, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the most celebrated female pharaoh, never fails to fill one with awe. We’ll finish the day viewing the Colossi of Memnon, all that remains of the massive temple complex of Amenhotep III. Tonight we’ll sail on to Esna and spend the night.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
6
Edfu • Kom Ombo • Aswan
Today we head to Edfu and the Temple of Horus, considered the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt. You’ll sail on to Kom Ombo and explore the Temple of Sobek, the crocodileheaded god. The scale of these complexes, built without the equipment of today, boggles the mind. We’ll continue down the river to Aswan and stay the night.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
7
Aswan
This morning you’ll visit the Aswan Dam, a modern engineering marvel in the land that set the standard… this is the source of the granite used in monuments throughout Egypt an unfinished obelisk serves as poignant reminder of the labour these projects involved. You’ll stand in the exquisite Temple of Philae and board a felucca to view the tranquil gardens of Kitchner’s Island and the Agha Khan Mausoleum. You’ll spend the night in Aswan.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
8
Lake Nasser Cruise
Today you’ll transfer ships and set out on Lake Nasser and a tour of the temple complex at Kalabsha, the largest in ancient Nubia. We’ll sleep aboard.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
9
Wadi Souba
We’ll explore further into Nubia today, taking in the temples of Dakka and Meharakka – again, we’ll dine and sleep aboard.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
10
Amada • Abu Simbel
Morning we’ll find us in Amada, home to a temple illuminating this intriguing period Egypt’s history... we’ll pass the picturesque ruins of Qsar Ibrim and arrive in Abu Simbel for a visit to the reknowned temples of Rameses II and his queen, Nefertari. We’ll spend the night here.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
11
Abu Simbel • Luxor
Today we’ll leave the ship and transfer to the airport for the short flight to Luxor. We stay here tonight.
Breakfast
12
Cairo • Departure
After breakfast, you’ll say farewell to newfound friends, board the fight for Cairo and from there, home.
Breakfast