Day : 1
Arrive Cairo
Number of Days : 1
Find your groove in the cacophony of Cairo's bustling streets - the hum of busy traffic, calls of haggling merchants and the call to prayer your constant companion as you amble through its narrow alleyways and souks in search of treasures around every turn. Enjoy your first day in Egypt at your leisure after being transferred to your hotel. Soak up Cairo's beguiling attitude or relax in preparation for your discovery of Egypt, fully guided with a professional English-speaking Egyptologist / Travel Director.
Day : 2
Cairo – Luxor – Nile Cruise (4 Nights)
Number of Days : 1
We leave the hum of Cairo behind and fly to Luxor for a journey into antiquity. Wander through the ruins of Karnak, past colossal columns whose ancient artwork reveals a world of pharaohs and gods. Visit the Temple of Amun and the imposing Avenue of the Sphinx before boarding your luxury cruise ship in time for lunch. This afternoon we pay tribute to the vision of famous pharaohs who contributed in their own way to the creation of the Grand Temple of Luxor, before returning to our cruise ship for dinner.
Day : 3
Nile Cruise: Luxor – Edfu
Number of Days : 1
Enjoy an excursion to the Valley of the Kings where the powerful nobles of the New Kingdom were once laid to rest. Pay tribute to Ramses III at the Temple of Medinet Habou, admire Queen Hatshepsut's impressive temple at Deir el-Bahri and view the formidable Colossi of Memnon gazing east towards the Nile. Our exploration of the ancients continues as we set sail for Edfu this afternoon.
Day : 4
Nile Cruise: Edfu – Kom-Ombo
Number of Days : 1
Walk through Ptolemy XII's mammoth pylon and into the house of Horus, the beloved falcon god who was worshipped at the Temple of Edfu. Sail upstream to Kom-Ombo, imagining life along the mighty river as it was centuries ago - the lifeblood of a desert landscape. Come face-to-face with the ancient gods of Horus and Sobek in the dual Temple of Kom-Ombo - the tributes of Ptolemy VI and his people are immortalised in the temple's façades. This evening, we don traditional clothes and enjoy a festive Egyptian Dinner and Galabea Party against the shimmering horizon beyond the Nile.
Day : 5
Nile Cruise: Kom-Ombo – Aswan
Number of Days : 1
We sail to Aswan and board 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, set within the bedrock from which it was once carved, and explore the High Dam that has given life to the Nile Valley for decades. This evening, as the blood-red sun sets against the backdrop of dozens of feluccas, think back to a time of ancient dynasties that once ruled this land.
Day : 6
Disembark – Aswan – Cairo (3 Nights)
Number of Days : 1
Consider an Optional Experience to the mighty Sun Temple of Abu Simbel, where four giant stone statues of Ramses II guard the temple's entrance. We return to Cairo this afternoon, flying from Aswan.
Day : 7
Cairo Sightseeing
Number of Days : 1
Delve into thousands of years of history during your full-day of sightseeing through hypnotic Cairo. We'll see the ancient hilltop Citadel, built to protect the city from the Crusaders in the 12th century. The Alabaster Mosque is our next stop where we'll admire its ornate interior before witnessing the Mamluk masterpiece that is the Sultan Hassan Mosque. We'll visit the Hanging Church of St. Mary in Old Cairo and see Tutankhamun's priceless treasures at the Egyptian Museum. This evening, the enchanting cityscape is yours to explore. Enjoy a shisha and people watch, admire the ancient façades along Moez street, or shop up a storm in Khan el Khalili.
Day : 8
Cairo – Pyramid Excursion
Number of Days : 1
Our encounter with Egypt's antiquities continues today as we travel to Memphis, stopping to see the limestone Colossus of Ramses II and giant Alabaster Sphinx. We admire the Step Pyramid at Sakkara, which heralded the beginning of the pyramid age, before arriving at the Great Pyramids of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Witness the other-worldly structures rising up from the dusty desert plateau and pay tribute to the enigmatic Great Sphinx − the oldest monumental sculpture in the world. Enjoy your last evening in Cairo on your own terms. Consider attending a suffi dance display or boarding a dinner cruise on the Nile - the choice is yours.
Day : 9
Depart Cairo
Number of Days : 1
We say a sad farewell to Egypt and our newfound friends today as we prepare for our trip home. Airport transfers are available.