Tour overview
waken your inner explorer on this expedition through Egypt’s lush river valleys and golden desert landscapes. Cruise the Nile past Luxor’s pharaonic temples to Aswan’s Nubian treasures. Your voyage will also take you to the mystical Pyramids of Giza, Tomb of the Nobles, and the Sphinx.
City tour in Luxor and Cairo
Sail in a felucca across the Nile
See the Ramses II statue and Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis and the Step Pyramid in Sakkara
View the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan, the Citadel, Alabaster and Sultan Hassan Mosques in Cairo, and the Great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza
Visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the temples of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple and the Colossi of Memnon in Luxor, the Temples at Edfu and Kom-Ombo, and the temple of Isis on the island of Philae
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
| Day 1 | Arrival | In Cairo, at a hotel |
| Day 2 | Luxor—East bank | Onboard |
| Day 3 | Luxor West Bank | Onboard |
| Day 4 | Edfu-Kom Ombo | Onboard |
| Day 5 | Aswan | Onboard |
| Day 6 | Abu Simbel (OPTIONAL TOUR) | In Cairo, at a hotel |
| Day 7 | Cairo Sightseeing | In Cairo, at a hotel |
| Day 8 | Pyramids tour | In Cairo, at a hotel |
| Day 9 | Depart Cairo |
Highlights
- Explore Karnak’s vast temple complex
- Sail the Nile on a luxury cruise ship
- Uncover secrets in the Valley of the Kings
- Dress up for an Egyptian dinner party
- Witness the Great Pyramids and Sphinx
Day 1: Arrival
Welcome to Cairo. You are met at Cairo Airport and transferred to your hotel. Wander through ancient, bustling streets in the City of a Thousand Minarets, or relax after your journey.
Day 2: Luxor -East bank (B/L/D)
Fly to Luxor, and on arrival, visit the enormous temple complex at Karnak, featuring the Temple of Amun and the impressive Avenue of the Sphinx. Board your luxury cruise ship in time for lunch. Later, visit the Grand Temple of Luxor before returning to your cruise ship for dinner.
Day 3: Luxor West bank (B/L/D)
Discover the Valley of the Kings in the Theban Hills west of the Nile, where tombs were built for the powerful nobles of the New Kingdom. Visit the Temple of Medinet Harbor, the mortuary temple of Ramses III. Admire Queen Hatshepsut’s impressive temple at Deir el-Bahri. And view the Colossi of Memnon, carved from quartzite sandstone. Later, sail to Edfu.
Day 4: Edfu- Kom Ombo (B/L/D)
Visit Egypt’s best-preserved cult temple at Edfu, dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Relax and admire the scenery as you sail upstream to Kom-Ombo − little has changed in a thousand years. Tour the Temple of Kom-Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile-headed god, Sobek. This evening, wear traditional clothing and experience a fun-filled Egyptian dinner and Galabea Party.
Day 5: Aswan (B/L/D)
We sail to Aswan in a traditional felucca crossing the Nile to see the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener’s Island. We’ll visit the Temple of Isis on the Island of Philae, see the Unfinished Obelisk, and explore the High Dam that has given life to the Nile Valley for decades. A blood-red sunset is every day in Aswan, made all the more breathtaking by the silhouette of dozens of feluccas set against it.
Day 6: Abu Simbel (OPTIONAL TOUR) (B)
Consider an optional experience to the mighty Sun Temple of Abu Simbel − a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity − where four giant stone statues of Ramses II guard the temple’s entrance. This afternoon flies back to Cairo from Aswan.
Day 7: Cairo Sightseeing (B)
Thousands of years of history are brought to life during your full day of sightseeing. See the ancient Citadel, built to protect the city from the Crusaders. Marvel at the Alabaster Mosque’s ornate interior and the Sultan Hassan Mosque, one of the masterpieces of Mamluk architecture. Visit the Hanging Church of St. Mary in Old Cairo and see Tutankhamun’s priceless treasures at the Egyptian Museum, discovered by Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings in 1922. Spend the evening as you wish.
Day 8: Pyramids tour (B)
See Memphis's limestone Colossus of Ramses II and the giant Alabaster Sphinx. Admire the Step Pyramid at Sakkara, which heralded the beginning of the pyramid age—Marvel at the Great Pyramids of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. See the enigmatic Great Sphinx − the oldest monumental sculpture in the world. The evening is yours to do as you please. Perhaps complete your Cairo experience with a romantic dinner cruise on the Nile.
Day 9: Depart Cairo (B)
Today you leave this mysterious, ancient country. After breakfast at your hotel, you will check out and be driven to Cairo International Airport for your final departure
