Legendary Nile

Day 1: Arrival in Cairo
Welcome to Cairo! Meeting, assistance and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to relax and unwind.

Day 2: Cairo
The day begins with a visit to the world-famous Egyptian Museum with its 100,000 objects covering 5,000 years of ancient Egyptian civilization, including King Tut’s treasures and the fascinating Mummy Room. After lunch at Le Meridien Hotel, see the Pyramids of Giza, the sole surviving structures of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World You will be able to enter one of the pyramids. Then visit the astonishing Solar Boat Museum, housing the oldest known ship in the world, uncovered after being buried for over 4,500 years. Stand in awe at the magnificent Sphinx carved out of a single piece of stone, guarding the Giza plateau. Try a camel ride before continuing to the unique Karnak Bazaar. At night, experience the extraordinary Sound and Light show at the Pyramids. (B,L)

Day 3: Cairo | Luxor
Early morning flight to Luxor, often called the world’s greatest open-air museum. Upon arrival, transfer to your cruise ship for a 5-day/4-night Nile River cruise.  After lunch, visit the Avenue of the Sphinxes and the imposing Temple of Luxor with its grand colonnades, standing alone in the heart of town. Continue to the vast Karnak Temple Complex, built by generations of Pharaohs over a 2,000-year period. (B,L,D)

Note: The cruise line reserves the right to alter the sailing schedule.

Day 4: Luxor | Esna
After breakfast, visit the Valley of the Kings containing the secretive tombs of New Kingdom Pharaohs. Visit the beautifully terraced Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari. Pass the famed Colossi of Memnon, standing nearly 70 feet tall. The ship then sails to Esna. After lunch on board, the afternoon is at leisure.  In the evening, the Captain’s welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner and dancing. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Edfu | Kom Ombo
Early morning sailing to Edfu. Visit the Temple of Horus, the best-preserved of all large Egyptian Temples, built more than 2,000 years ago, over a 180 year period.  In the afternoon arrive in Kom Ombo, a hill town overlooking the banks of the Nile.  Visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, a Greco-Roman temple designed for the worship of two gods. In the evening, an Egyptian galabiya party. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Aswan
Morning sailing to Aswan. Visit the Aswan High Dam and the granite quarries where the stone for the ancient monuments and modern dam of Aswan were cut.  Continue by motorboat to the beautiful island of Philae to see the exquisite, gleaming white Temple of Isis.  After lunch, sail on a typical Egyptian felucca (sailboat) which glides along the Nile, passing by Kitchener’s Island and the dramatic white marble Aga Khan Mausoleum. In the evening, a belly dancer and Egyptian folkloric show. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Aswan | Abu Simbel | Cairo
After disembarkation, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Abu Simbel, one of the most desolate spots on earth to visit the Abu Simbel temples, built by Ramses the Great. The complex was relocated in its entirety to its present unforgettable location. The temple complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Return flight to Cairo where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (B)

Day 8: Cairo
Tour of some of Cairo’s most remarkable historical and cultural sites, starting with the Saint Sergius and Bacchus Church, a 4th-century Coptic church where Jesus and the Holy Family stayed after having fled from Jerusalem.  Continue to the restored, 9th-century Ben Ezra Synagogue, the oldest in Egypt (subject to appointment confirmation). Proceed to the Mosque of Mohammed Ali at the 12th-century Citadel of Saladin. Drive to the bustling Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, where shopping is an exotic experience. Your final afternoon in Cairo is yours to continue exploring on your own. (B)

Day 9: Depart Cairo
Transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)