What better way to begin your tour of amazing Egypt than with a visit to the Great Pyramids of Giza!

These three phenomenal pyramids served as monumental burial sites where the Ancient Egyptian kings were buried. We will walk around the pyramids, and you may climb up several rows of blocks. You will have the option to enter into the biggest and most famous - the Great Pyramid of Cheops. (Extra fee of about $25.)

We'll take a brief camel ride in front of the Pyramids with individual and group portraits! 

We'll visit the Great Sphinx of Giza - a limestone statue of a reclining mythical creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. Facing directly from west to east, it stands on the Giza Plateau. The face of the Sphinx appears to represent the pharaoh Khafre. The original shape of the Sphinx was cut from bedrock. It measures 240 feet long from paw to tail, 66 feet high from the base to the top of the head and 62 feet wide at its rear haunches.

After lunch at an authentic Egyptian restaurant, we'll stop at a Papyrus art gallery to learn about this ancient artform.

Then we will drive 12 miles from Giza to Memphis, which was the capital of ancient Egypt. Here we'll visit the Memphis Colossus of Ramses, an enormous statue of the king about 34 feet long carved in limestone; and the Alabaster Sphinx, the second largest sphinx in Egypt. Carved between 1700 and 1400 BC, the Sphinx is 26 feet long and 13 feet tall and weighs around 90 tons.

Then on to Sakkara, one of the most extensive archaeological sites in Egypt, and the cemetery for the capital city of Memphis. Here we'll visit: 

• Step Pyramid, the oldest known of Egypt's 118 pyramids. It was built for King Djoser (2667-2648 BC) by the architect genius Imhotep, and consists of six terraces some 200 feet high.

• Mastaba tomb of Ka-Gmni, who was a judge and a priest. The reliefs found in this tomb are amazingly rich in detail.

• Enter King Teti's Pyramid, which was originally 172 feet high. Climb down a shaft into the burial chamber, which is richly carved with thousands of hieroglyphs.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodations: Sheraton Cairo Hotel or similar

After breakfast this morning, we will visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities (or if it is open, the new Grand Egyptian Museum.) The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East, housing over 170,000 artefacts. It has the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world, spanning the years 5500 BC - AD 364.

As of November 2024, the Grand Egyptian Museum is in an an advanced soft opening phase in which visitors can experience MOST completed areas of the museum, including nearly all artifact galleries and exhibition halls, excluding the King Tut galleries.

We'll stop for lunch at an authentic Egyptian restaurant, and then visit  Islamic Cairo, a place of great historical importance and home to some of the most important Islamic monuments in the world. Also known as "Old Cairo" it is one of the oldest Islamic cities in the world, dating back to the 10th century when the Fatimid dynasty founded it.

We'll start at he Citadel, a historic Islamic fortification, which was built on the orders of Saladin between 1176 and 1183 to protect the city from European attacks. Today, it's one of Cairo's main tourist attractions. Perched atop a hill in central Cairo, it offers privileged views of the city.

From there, we'll visit the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, also known as the Alabaster Mosque. Commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha, a ruler of Egypt, it was built between 1832 and 1857. This must-see for architecture and history lovers was built in the Ottoman style with European influences, and features marble paneling, an emerald green dome, and twin minarets that are 276 feet tall. 

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodations: Sheraton Cairo Hotel or similar

After breakfast at the hotel in Cairo, we'll transfer to the Airport for a flight south to the magnificent city of Luxor. Upon arrival at Luxor, you will be transferred to board your 5-star deluxe Nile Cruise boat.

After settling in and having lunch on board, we'll visit the Karnak Temple complex, a vast open-air museum, and the second largest ancient religious site in the world (after the Angkor Wat Temple of Cambodia). Construction at Karnak started 4,000 years ago and continued for 2,000 years. Each Egyptian ruler who worked at Karnak left his or her own architectural mark. Approximately 30 pharaohs contributed to the buildings here, creating a complex unlike any other.

Shopping opportunity: Alabaster and onyx shop.

When the sun goes down, we'll visit Luxor Temple and the Sphinx Avenue illuminated in the evening. Luxor Temple is a beautiful structure packed with history and legends. Construction took about 100 years, between 1370 BC and 1295 BC, and was added to by four different pharaohs.

We'll have a delicious buffet dinner on board the Nile Cruise boat.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodations: Premium Nile cruise boat

If you're up for it, this morning you'll have an opportunity to take an optional Hot Air Balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings (additional cost)!

After this sunrise flight, we'll visit the Alabaster Village of Qurna and the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who reigned from 1386-1353 BC.

Then it's on to the famous Valley of the Kings, the most historically significant archeological site in the world. For the past 200 years, archeologists have been exploring the site, and have discovered 65 ancient tombs, including the most famous of all - the tomb of King Tut! We'll enter and explore three tombs, and you'll have the option to visit Tut's tomb and see his actual mummy. (extra $20 USD to go in King Tut's tomb. )

We'll cross to the Valley of the Queens, and visit the magnificent Temple of Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut. She was the longest reigning female pharaoh in Egypt, ruling 20 years in the 15th century BC.

After lunch on board the Nile Cruise boat, you'll have the afternoon free to rest or sit on the sundeck of our boat and enjoy the sights and sounds of life on the banks of the mighty Nile.

After dinner on board the Nile Cruise boat, we'll meet and party with other cruise passengers at the Captain’s Cocktail Party in the lounge.

This evening, our boat will cross through the Essna Locks - a fascinating site to see!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodations: Nile cruise boat

After breakfast on board the Nile Cruise boat, we'll take a horse-drawn carriage ride to visit Edfu Temple, the best-preserved temple of the ancient world, dedicated to Horus the Falcon God. It was built between 237 and 57 BC, and is known for its gigantic pylons.

We'll return to the boat for lunch, and then visit Kom Ombo Temple. One side of the temple is dedicated to the Crocodile God Sobek, God of Fertility and Creator of the World. The other side is dedicated to the Falcon God Horus.

Nearby, we'll visit the Crocodile Mummification Museum. You will see well-preserved remains of crocodiles, cats, fish and other animals who were mummified by the ancient Egyptians. It will provide you with an understanding of the ancient art of mummification.

Tonight is the festive Galabeya party on board the Nile Cruise boat! It is a tradition on the Nile cruise boats to have a party where everyone wears a Galabeya, a traditional Egyptian gown. You can purchase one in the ship’s gift shop or in the market for as little as $10, and join in the fun!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodations: Premium Nile cruise boat

After breakfast, we'll explore the beautiful city of Aswan. We'll take a short boat ride to visit the Philae Temple, one of the most important monuments in southern Egypt. Philae was an ancient pilgrimage center for the cult of Isis. Saved from a watery grave by UNESCO’s rescue project, it was transferred block by block from a nearby island to escape being flooded when the Aswan Dam was built between 1972 and 1980.

After lunch on the boat, we'll take a leisurely Felucca sailboat ride on the Nile. Cruise the Nile River in a traditional sail boat, as Cleopatra did so many centuries ago. It's a perfect way to catching a cool breeze on a warm day and see the magnificent city on the Nile. 

We'll visit The Botanical Gardens on Kitchener’s Island, which covers 6.8 hectares, and are filled with hundreds of species of flora and birds. The island was given to Lord Horatio Kitchener in the 1890s when he was commander of the Egyptian army. Indulging his passion for beautiful palms and plants, Kitchener turned the entire island into the stunning Aswan Botanical Gardens, importing plants from the Far East, India and parts of Africa.

Then we'll have a chance to visit to Aswan Spice Market, and the main Aswan Market.

Shopping opportunity: Gold and silver jewelry.

Following dinner on board the Nile Cruise boat, we'll enjoy an exotic local dance show in the lounge.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodations: Nile cruise boat

This morning, there is an optional early morning excursion to Abu Simbel – the grandest temple in Egypt. After a three-hour drive through the Sahara Desert, we'll visit the Temples of Ramses the Great and his Queen Nefetari.

The Abu Simbel temple was constructed as a place for people to worship Pharaoh Ramses II as a god following his death, as well as to be a show of power toward the recently conquered territory of Nubia. The most notable feature of the Abu Simbel temple are the four colossal statues of Ramses II on the outside.

If you choose not to go to Abu Simbel, you'll have the opportunity to relax on the boat or explore Aswan

After a delicious Nubian tajin lunch, we'll take a short flight back to Cairo.. 

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodations: Sheraton Cairo Hotel or similar

After breakfast at the hotel, we'll visit the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, which has an incredible collection including the 20 royal mummies and a vast collection of treasures from across Egyptian history. NMEC’s collection tells the story of Egyptian civilizations from pre-historic to Ancient Egyptian, through the Greco-Roman, Coptic and Islamic periods right up until modern times. It’s a sweeping collection that gives you a great overview of Egyptian culture through the ages.

After lunch at an authentic Egyptian restaurant. we'll visit Copic Cairo, a part of Old Cairo which was a stronghold for Christianity in Egypt both before and during the Islamic era. Most of its churches were built after the Muslim conquest of Egypt in the 7th century.

We'll visit the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus, believed to be where Mary, Joseph and Jesus visited after their journey into Egypt.

We'll visit the Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church (also known as the  Hanging Church), one of the oldest churches in Egypt which dates to the third century.

And then we'll visit the Ben Ezra Synagogue. According to local lore, it is located on the site where baby Moses was found. The geniza (or store room) of the synagogue was found in the 19th century to contain a treasure of forgotten, stored-away Hebrew, Aramaic and Judeo-Arabic secular and sacred manuscripts.

We will spend the afternoon at Khan el Kahlili Bazaar, a major souk (market) in the Islamic district of Cairo. It is significantly geared towards tourists, with shops that sell souvenirs, antiques and jewelry. Many traditional workshops also operate in the area, such as the goldsmiths' souk, which is still important for locals.  It has been an active marketplace since the late 15th century! 

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodations: Sheraton Cairo Hotel or similar

After breakfast in the hotel, we'll bring you to the airport for your departure from Egypt.