Egypt
Explore pyramids and tombs, temples and bazaars, from Cairo to points along the Nile. Cruise off the beaten path to the well-preserved Temple of Hathor in Denderah. Visit the magnificent temples in Abu Simbel.
Cairo
Tour the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities housing relics dating back to 4000 BC. World-famous treasures of Tutankhamun extracted from his tomb in the Valley of the Kings are here. See the fascinating Mummy Room, where more than 20 pharaohs lie in state. The ancient capital of Memphis & the world-famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the oldest known Egyptian pyramid.
Travel to Giza Plateau, site of the pyramids of Mycerinus, Chefren & the Great Pyramid of Cheops, survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Here the Great Sphinx stands as centurion over these magnificent royal tombs. This landmark was carved out of a single piece of rock in the shape of a lion with a pharaoh’s head. Visit the 141-foot-long funerary boat of King Cheops, hailed as the single most important find in Egypt since the tomb of Tutankhamun.
Egypt Tour
Few places inspire with ancient sites and treasures untold quite like Egypt does… home to a storied legacy of history that dates back to the days of Neolithic Age in 6000 BC. Considered a cradle of civilization, Egypt’s enduring achievements are chronicled in temples, tombs and pyramids thousands of years old, in humble feluccas and sailing ships seaworthy still, along the banks of the life-giving Nile, and in traditions and celebrations timeless all.
Day 1 – Welcome to Egypt
Your Eygpt tour begins at the Mena House Operoi. A transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to your hotel, a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge. Your room looks out on to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza.
Day 2 – The Sphinx & Great Pyramid
A visit to the Pyramids is on every world-traveler’s must-do list, and is an iconic image of your Egypt tour. At Giza, see the Sphinx guarding the plateau, as it has for the same 4,500 years, and marvel at the Great Pyramid, a crowning architectural achievement and one of the most recognizable structures on Earth. Spend the remainder of the day exploring Cairo.
Day 3 – Fly to Luxor for your Nile River Cruise
Fly to Luxor, site of the ancient city of Thebes and an extraordinary open-air museum, where your Nile cruiser awaits, embarking ship in time for an onboard lunch. Take an excursion to the Valley of the Queens with a visit to the beautiful tomb of Nefertari, the great wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II, where the hieroglyphics amaze. Continue to the Valley of the Kings for an after-hours private visit that includes entry to King Tutankhamun’s tomb, renowned for the wealth of valuable antiquities it contained when it was discovered unopened in 1922.
Day 4 – Temples of Luxor & Cruise to Esnu
With three main temples and several smaller ones constructed over hundreds of years, Luxor’s Temple of Karnak is the largest complex of its time ever built, developed over a thousand years. Explore the site with an expert guide who shares insights about its history and construction. Visit Luxor Temple, connected to Karnak by an avenue of sphinxes, and dating back to the 1300s BC. Return to your Nile cruiser for lunch and a leisurely afternoon cruise to Esna.
Day 5 – Temples of Edfu & Kom Ombo
Sail from Esna and disembark at Edfu to visit the Temple of Horus, considered to be among the most beautiful and best-preserved temples in Egypt. which took 180 years for the temple to be built. Massive statues of Horus as a falcon guard entrances and the reliefs on its interior walls relate the story of the birth of Horus and depict Ptolemaic rulers making offerings to the gods and destroying their enemies. Return to the ship and cruise to Kom Ombo, where its unusual twin temples are just a walk away from your ship. Temple reliefs here feature a unique engraving thought to depict the first representation of medical and surgical instruments.
Day 6 – Sacred Temple & Felucca Cruise
A day of Egyptian exploration includes a boat ride to Agilkia Island to see the sacred Temple of Isis at Philae, one of the last of the ancient temples constructed in the “classic” Egyptian style. Back aboard ship, enjoy a relaxing afternoon charting a course towards Aswan, highlighted by a sunset felucca cruise.
Day 7 – Disembark & Fly to Abu Simbel
A morning flight brings you to the Nubian village of Abu Simbel for a locally guided visit to its massive temples cut into a solid rock cliff and created during the reign of Ramesses II in the 1200s BC. The Great Temple stands 98 feet high with four seated colossi flanking the entrance and smaller statues depicting Ramessess’ conquered enemies lining up below. The smaller temple is adorned by four colossi depicting Ramesses and two of his queen Nefertari. Fly back to Aswan for an overnight stay in the Nubian Desert where your colonial-era palace hotel is located on the banks of the River Nile. Enjoy views of the cataracts in the Nile River from your suite!
Day 8 – Fly to Cairo
Fly back to Cairo. Following lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy a guided visit to the Old Egyptian Museum, housing the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts and includes many of the treasures found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Check into your riverside hotel, with outstanding views of the Nile and Old Cairo; the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day 9 – Treasures of Old Cairo
Located on the right bank of the River Nile, the historic district of Old Coptic Cairo predate its modern-day processor with sites that date back to 6th century BC, including ones allegedly visited by the holy family of Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus. A guided tour includes Roman ruins, ancient Coptic churches, mosques and later visits the Al Rifai Mosque or the Sultan Hassan Mosque a short drive away.
Day 10 – Journey Home
