Duration: 10 Days
Join us for an adventure to ancient Egypt, as well as its modern enjoyments on a Nile River cruise for the ages. Arrive in Cairo and explore the pyramids and Sphinx of Giza. See the treasures of King Tutankahmun’s tomb in Cairo’s Egyptian Museum. (note: upon its opening the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza will replace Cairo’s Egyptian Museum in this itinerary.) In Old Cairo, visit the Alabaster Mosque, situated on the summit of the Citadel. Visit Abu Serga Church built on the spot where the Holy Family stopped and rested towards the end of their journey to Egypt. Also see the 4th century Church of the Virgin Mary (called the Hanging Church), built on the remains of an old Roman Babylon fortress. These and more exciting discoveries are to be found as you see Egypt’s incredible monuments to pharaohs and gods of Egyptian history.
Fly to Luxor to embark on your Nile River cruise. You’ll visit the monument of Karnak with its ancient, Avenue of the Sphinxes and the Temple of Amun-Ra as well as Luxor Temple. Visit the valley of Kings and Valley of Queens, where the pristine tomb of King Tutankahmun was found with undisturbed riches and splendour. This incredible cruise on the Nile River takes you to amazing ancient sites, including the Temple of Edfu, twin temples at Kom Ombo, devoted to the crocodile god Sobek-Ra and the falcon god Horus. Ponder the magnitude of the task of building the pyramids with a visit to the granite quarries—where an unfinished obelisk still remains. Visit the Temple of Isis, then take a return flight to Cairo to explore the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and its Hall of Mummies before a felucca ride on the Nile and the chance to browse the bustling maze of the endless bazaar in Cairo’s medieval alleys. Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime vacation tour in Cairo, expedition to Egypt’s ancient pyramids and temples, and a Nile River cruise you’ll never forget.
Welcome to Cairo, "Mother of the World"
Desert Sands and Secrets of the Sphinx
CLASSIC This morning take a close-up look at one of the World's Seven Wonders and guardian of the great pyramids, the enigmatic Sphinx, and the Great Pyramid of Giza. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built, and of course enjoy the visit to the newly discovered Noble Tombs.
Afterwards, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.
CLASSIC Drive to Sakkara, a vast desert necropolis built for kings and nobles, and its "Stairway to the Sky," the oldest of all pyramids. Also admire the special tomb of Mary Roca and the Step Pyramid of King Zoser.
CLASSIC This evening, enjoy a Guided Visit to the National Museum of Civilization, displaying a collection of 50,000 artifacts, presenting the Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times to the present day. (B)
Ancient Cairo, a Boy King, and the Christ Child
CLASSIC Enjoy a guided visit to the now-famous Tahrir Square and visit the Egyptian Museum. Peruse King Tutankhamun's fabulous treasures and many other priceless artifacts of ancient Egypt.
CLASSIC Drive to walled city of Old Cairo, with Saladin's 12th-century citadel, and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali.
CLASSIC Drive to "Coptic Cairo" to Abu Serga Church, not only the oldest church in Egypt but built on the spot where the Holy Family stopped and rested towards the end of their journey to Egypt. Proceed to visit the hanging church, which dates back to the fourth century, built on the remains of an old Roman Babylon fortress. Walk to see Cairo's oldest Jewish synagogue, founded in the 9th century.
* Note: upon its opening, the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza will replace Cairo's Egyptian Museum for this itinerary. (B)
The World's Greatest Open-Air Museum
Fly 300 miles up the Nile Valley to Luxor to embark on your Nile River cruise.
CLASSIC See the stunning monuments of Luxor and Karnak, ancient cities whose combined populations swelled to more than one million. Walk among the pillars of the colossal Temple of Amun Ra and along the Avenue of the Sphinxes for an experience you will treasure for a lifetime.
Consider an Optional Guided Excursion to enjoy the sound and light show in Karnak Temple.
This evening enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LUXOR (B,L,D)
Royal Resting Places of Kings and Queens
CLASSIC Venture to the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens on the west bank of the Nile where generations of pharaohs and nobles were entombed in Cliffside crypts. See where 63 royal tombs have thus far been discovered, of which one was virtually intact-the splendid tomb of Tutankhamun discovered in 1922.
CLASSIC Visit Deir El-Bahri, Queen Hatshepsut's monumental rock temple. Stop for pictures at the two Colossi of Memnon guarding the valleys.
DISCOVERY This evening enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN EDFU (B,L,D)
Egyptian Gods of the River and Sky
CLASSIC This morning visit Edfu Temple, also known as the Temple of Horus with its menacing black stone statue of the falcon god.
Enjoy a leisurely sail to Kom Ombo.
DISCOVERY Join an exclusive lecture on this ancient civilization by your Egyptologist.
CLASSIC Enjoy beautiful Kom Ombo for a short walk to its bluff-top twin temples. The right side is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek-Ra, while the left side is dedicated to the falcon god Horus.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ASWAN (B,L,D)
Temples from Above and Islands Below
This morning, consider flying to Abu Simbel to join a Guided Optional Excursion of the huge massive sandstone temples (weather permitting).
CLASSIC Board a Felucca (traditional wooden sailing boat) and cross the blue waters of the Nile. En route, see the ancient water measurement system, "Nilometer," on the Nile's Elephantine Island. Visit Kitchener Island's lush Botanical Gardens and the splendid Aga Khan Mausoleum on the left bank.
Join an Optional Excursion to the Sound and Light show in Philae Temple.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ASWAN (B,L,D)
Work in Progress and the Goddess Isis
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Excursion at to explore the Granite Quarries that supplied ancient Egypt with its hard stones for the pyramids in Giza. See the famous unfinished obelisk, still remaining in the quarry.
CLASSIC Visit the gigantic Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970. Board a motor launch to the island of Agilika between the two dams. Visit the Temple Of Isis, which was dismantled from the submerged island of Philae and reassembled here.
Board your flight back to Cairo later today, and consider attending an Optional Dinner Cruise on the Nile to celebrate your Egyptian adventure. (B)
Amazing Civilization and Marketplace Mazes
CLASSIC Start the day with a guided tour of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. No visit would be complete without time to experience the Royal Mummies' Hall, considered the crown jewel of the museum.
CLASSIC Take in a full panoramic view of Cairo from the Nile River-on board a traditional wooden sailing vessel (Felucca). Then enjoy a typical Egyptian light lunch (Coshair or Falafel) with yummy ice cream in downtown Cairo.
CLASSIC Browse the maze of shops in the vast labyrinths of the Khan al Khali Souk bazaar and Medieval alleyways. (B)
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
