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Many domestic flights within Egypt, and regional flights to Jordan, depart in the early morning, requiring waking up before dawn. Please see the "Is This Trip Right for You?" section for more information.
DAY 1, Wednesday - Depart for Egypt
Depart for Egypt
DAY 2, Thursday - Arrive in Cairo
Welcome to Egypt, one of the world's greatest ancient civilizations. Arrive in Cairo and transfer to your hotel with the remainder of the day at leisure. Your tour will begin with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager and fellow travelers at approximately 6 PM, followed by a light dinner
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3, Friday - The Pyramids & Sphinx of Giza
After breakfast, visit the Pyramids of Giza, built during the 3rd and 4th dynasties of the Old Kingdom. These monumental undertakings stand as a marvelous testimony to the almost unbelievable skill and determination of their builders. Get a close-up view of the Great Pyramid, built for the Pharaoh Khufu, as well as the Pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure. Not too far from the Pyramids, see the great Sphinx of Giza, the legendary statue with the head of a human and the body of a lion, amazingly carved out of one huge piece of limestone. Leisure time this afternoon, or join the optional tour to Sakkara with lunch. In Sakkara, site of hundreds of tombs, view the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser. Next, visit a carpet school before heading back to your hotel
Optional: Sakkara Pyramids with Lunch (PM)
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4, Saturday - Flight to Luxor, Temples of Karnak & Luxor, Nile Cruise Embarkation
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and drive to the airport for your flight to Luxor. Upon arrival in Luxor, take a sightseeing tour of the East Bank. Visit the magnificent Temples of Karnak, dating back over 3,000 years. Walk along the avenue of the Sphinxes and marvel at the Hypostyle Hall with its 134 massive sandstone columns. After exploring this ancient structure, embark on the Nile Cruise. In the afternoon, visit Luxor Temple to admire the colossal statues of the great pharaoh Ramses II. Next, visit a shop where you can view a brief demonstration of how papyrus paper is made from the papyrus grass
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5, Sunday - Full Day Luxor
View the magnificence of the Luxor West Bank on this morning's optional excursion. Begin with a visit to the UNESCO listed Valley of the Kings, the necropolis of Thebes and admire the tombs of ancient Egypt's rulers. Next, head to the Temple of Hatshepsut, a colonnaded structure surrounded by cliffs and learn about the life of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's famous female ruler. Visit an alabaster factory, where you can view a demonstration of grinding alabaster the old-fashioned way. Browse the extensive collection of alabaster pieces. Conclude the tour at the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep II. Return to the ship for lunch, and continue sailing onward this afternoon
Optional: Excursion to the West Bank (AM)
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6, Monday - Edfu Temples & Kom Ombo
This morning, visit the stunning Temples of Horus in Edfu, considered one of the best preserved of all the Egyptian Temples. It was built during the Ptolemaic times and was completed over a 180-year period. The temple is dedicated to the falcon god Horus, son of Isis and Osiris. Its extravagant design and sheer size is an indication of the country's prosperity at the time. Next, tour the imposing Greco-Roman Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Horus, the sky god and Sobek, the crocodile god. Admire the fascinating detailed reliefs on the walls. Return to the ship for dinner
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7, Tuesday - Cruise to Aswan
Spend the morning at leisure, or join the optional to Abu Simbel temples. An early morning bus ride from Aswan transports you back in time to the mighty Temples of Abu Simbel, reclaimed from the floodwaters of the Aswan High Dam and totally reconstructed in the present location. The site is dominated by the looming twin temples of Ramses II and his wife Queen Nefertari. It is one of the most recognizable ancient sites of Egypt. Afterwards, drive back to Aswan. Choose to relax the rest of the evening, or take part in an optional Aswan Felucca Ride. Enjoy a relaxing cruise aboard a felucca, the traditional sailboat of Egypt used along the Nile
Optional: Abu Simbel by Bus (AM)
Optional: Aswan Felucca Ride (PM)
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8, Wednesday - Disembarkation, Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple
This morning, after disembarking from your cruise ship, explore Aswan, an ancient frontier town. Take a tour to Philae Temple dedicated to the goddess Isis. Arrive by motorboat and marvel at the Temple's beautiful island location. Stop at a local perfume shop. During your visit, you can watch the creation of perfumes. Select a fragrance and choose from a wide selection of glass bottle containers. Continue to the spectacular Aswan High Dam, an engineering miracle when originally constructed in the 1960s. The dam brought an end to the Nile's devastating floods. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy an afternoon at leisure or join the optional Nubian Village visit. On this tour, board a motorboat and cruise along the Nile River to a Nubian village. Along the way, admire the sweeping views over the river. Upon arrival, visit a traditional Nubian village in Aswan. Get an insight into the culture, history, and lifestyle of one of Africa's oldest civilizations. Enjoy a drink at one of the colorful rural houses, nestled amongst the natural scenery. Walk through the local market to get a taste of the unique culture and traditions
Optional: Nubian Village Visit (PM)
Overnight: Aswan
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9, Thursday - Flight to Cairo
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairo. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure or join the optional Half Day Coptic Cairo with lunch. Make your way to the Old Cairo, this area is the original home of the Coptic Christians, one of the world's oldest Christian denominations. Here, visit the Hanging Church, that was built in the 7th century. Admire the courtyard and interior with its elaborate wooden screen, marble pulpit and icons. Proceed to Abu Serga, a 5th-century Coptic church and hear how the church was built over the site of a cave, believed to have sheltered the Holy Family during their flight into Egypt. Then, visit St. George church, one of the finest examples of Greek Orthodox churches in Egypt
Optional: Half Day Coptic Cairo with lunch
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 10, Friday - Full Day Cairo
Spend the day at leisure in Cairo, or join the optional Egyptian Museum & Khan El Khalili bazaar with lunch. Begin with a visit to the Egyptian Museum, a neoclassical style building located in Tahrir Square that houses the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. After lunch, continue to Khan el Khalili bazaar to browse vibrant displays of fabrics, handicrafts, and antiques
Optional: Egyptian Museum & Khan El Khalili with lunch (AM)
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 11, Saturday - Flight to Amman, Travel to the Dead Sea
This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Amman, the capital of Jordan. Upon arrival, travel to the Dead Sea. Spend the remainder of the day discovering the beauty of the Dead Sea before checking in to you hotel for dinner
Overnight: Dead Sea
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 12, Sunday - Baptismal Site of Jesus Christ
Spend your morning at the archaeological World Heritage Site in Jordan known as the "Bethany Beyond the Jordan." Located on the east bank of the Jordan river, it is considered to be the original location of the Baptism of Jesus. Tonight, dinner is at the hotel
Overnight: Dead Sea
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 13, Monday - Shobak Castle, Madaba, Mount Nebo
Today, drive towards Petra. En route, visit Mount Nebo, the reputed burial site of Moses, overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. Continue to the mosaic city of Madaba, where an ancient map of the Holy Land is set into the floor of Saint George's Church. Afterward, stop at Moses Springs and visit a mosaic school and workshop where you will have the opportunity to learn about this incredible craft. After lunch in Madaba, proceed to Shobak Castle. The ruins of this Crusader castle are located just east of Arabah. Arrive in Petra for overnight and dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Petra
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 14, Tuesday - Petra City Tour
An astonishing day exploring Petra! Enter the "rose red" city hand-sculpted from a mountain range by the Nabateans in the 3rd century BC. Begin your walk (or ride) through the "Siq", a winding canyon road. At the end, you'll gaze in total amazement at Petra's most extraordinary monument - the towering Treasury building rising over 140 feet. Beyond, discover soaring temples, elaborate royal tombs, a theatre, burial chambers and water channels - all remnants of a once great Nabatean culture. Today, Petra is both a Jordanian national treasure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Overnight: Petra
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 15, Wednesday - Kerak Castle Visit, Amman City Tour
Depart Petra this morning and travel north, towards Amman. En route, we visit Kerak, situated on the King's Way. The city is known for its Crusader Kerak castle, dating back to the 12th century. Tour the imposing fort that consists of stone-vaulted halls and endless passageways, then after lunch at a local restaurant continue north for a city tour of Amman, often referred to as the "White City" because of the white stone used to build the houses. The tour will take you to the museums, the Citadel, the Roman Amphitheater, the souks, and the city's modern district. The balance of the day is at leisure
Overnight: Amman
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 16, Thursday - Jerash, Flight to Cairo
Today, embark on a tour to the city of Jerash, the best-preserved example of Roman civilization in Jordan. Jerash, part of the Decapolis (the ten large Roman cities of the East) has been called the Pompeii of the East for its unique state of preservation. The city features theaters, churches, temples of Zeus and Artemis, a Nymphaeum and colonnaded street. Enjoy lunch, before flying back to Cairo, later this evening
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 17, Friday - Depart Egypt
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast
Cruise sailing times are subject to change.
At certain times of the year your itinerary may be amended to travel early in the morning and late afternoon to avoid the heat.
Order or duration of some visits may be affected during official holidays.
Due to regional laws, hotels and restaurants will not serve alcoholic beverages on certain holidays. On these days, no wine or beer will be included with dinner.
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