Treasures of Egypt

Day 1, Fri: Cairo
Welcome to the buzzing metropolis that is modern day Cairo! Sat on the banks of the Nile for over 1000’s of years, this exciting capital city has offered all a tourist could ask for and more: Ancient monuments, cool culture and great food mixed with the magnetitic bustle of life. After arrival formalities, meet your guide for a drive to the hotel in a luxury A/C vehicle. Gn the way to your hotel get a glimpse of the adventures to come while your guide gives you all the information about the coming days tours. Check into hotel and overnight.

Day 2, Sat: Cairo (Giza & Memphis)
Meet your guide at the hotel to start your tour with a visit to one of the remaining Seven Wonders of the World: The ancient Pyramids of Giza! These amazing structures, each dedicated to a different Pharoah, are a testament to how rich and important the Egyptian Civilization was 4,000 years ago. Encounter their guardian, the Sphinx, and try and unravel her enigmas before wandering through the Valley of the Temple. In the afternoon continue to Memphis, one of the oldest and most important religious cities of Lower Egypt, to visit its open-air museum which testifies to the significance of this ancient city. Then, onwards to Saqqara, the royal necropolis, the city and site of the very first pyramidal constructions, including Djoser's famous Step Pyramid. Return to hotel for overnight. [B]

Day 3, Sun: Cairo (The city)
Today is free to rest and relax or take some optional tours. [B]
Option: Egyptian Museum
Visit to the Egyptian Museum, famous for its extensive collection of Egyptian artefacts, including the famous treasures of Tutankhamun, as well as understand the development of Egyptian culture and art through the ages.
Option: Medieval Cairo & Coptic Quarter
Or take a wander through Medieval Cairo to see the Fortified Citadel home to the rulers of Egypt for over 700 years then stop at the Coptic Quarter of Cairo to see the famous churches where the Holy Family reportedly took refuge in the exile form Israel. Return to hotel and overnight.

Day 4, Mon: Cairo, Luxor     
At the appointed time, our guide will pick you up for a transfer to the airport to take the flight to Luxor, one of the world’s greatest open-air museums. First we will visit the Temple of Luxor, that served as “the place of the First Occasion” where the god Amun-Ra (to whom the city of Thebes was dedicated) experienced rebirth during the pharaoh’s annual coronation ceremony and where Alexander the Great was crowned king of Egypt. Check in to the cruise and lunch on board. In the afternoon visit Karnak Temple’s amazing complex, the largest religious building in Egypt with its stunning collection of temples, chapels, towers and pylons in Sphinx Avenue. Return to the cruise fordinner and overnight on board. [B/L/D]

Day 5, Tue: Luxor, Nile River   
This morning, short drive to the West Bank to tour the Valley of the Kings, where Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun’s Tomb. Continuing through the valley, visit the temple dedicated to Egypt’s only female pharaoh: Queen Hatshepsut. Then, onto the Colossi of Memnon, guardians of the tomb of King Amenhotep III. Return to the cruise for lunch. This afternoon, we start sailing south towards the Equator, so take a seat on the sundeck and watch the Nile float by. Over 80% of the population lives by the banks of this river of life that provides the lush backdrop to the desert, delivering food, water and life to many Egyptians. Arrival to Esna Lock where you will be able to watch how the boats pass from one part of the Nile to the next. Dinner and overnight on board. [B/L/D]

Day 6, Wed: Nile River (Edfu, Kom Ombo)  
Disembark in Edfu to visit the Temple dedicated to the God Horus, considered to be one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. After lunch on board, continue sailing towards Kom Ombo arriving late afternoon to visit the twin temples, the only of their kind, dedicated to the gods Sobek and Horus. You may also visit the crocodile mummification museum. Take time to browse the many souvenir shops or try out a Shisa pipe in one of the open-air cafés before returning to the boat. [B/L/D]

Day 7, Thu: Nile River (Aswan)  
Free morning to relax, enjoy life in Aswan or take one of the optional tours. In the Afternoon you will sail around the Nile Cataracts on a Felucca and see the Elephantine Island and the Mausoleum of Aga Khan. Explore Nubian culture further on this excursion to a nearby Nubian Village, where you can admire its vibrant, brightly colored houses and bustling village market. Meet a local Nubian family in their home, where you can enjoy traditional coffee or hibiscus tea. Return to the boat for dinner on board. [B/L/D]
Option: Temple of Ramses II in Abu Simbel
Those wishing to get up very early in the morning (3:00 am) have the opportunity of an immersive experience in pharaonic Egypt during this optional trip to Abu Simbel*.  Pick-up your picnic breakfast box and take a trip through the Nubian Desert, the most eastern of the Sahara desert, until you reach Lake Nasser. Here Rameses II built his greatest temple, raised as a demonstration of his power after the victory at the Battle of Kadesh. The Temple of Abu Simbel, carved into the mountainside and presided over by 65-foot-tall statues of the pharaoh is an astonishing vision! After the visit of the temples dedicated to Rameses II and his wife Nefertari, return to Aswan for a lunch on board.
Option: Visit to the Temple of Isis
After breakfast, take an optional tour to The Temple of Isis in Aswan, also known as Philae Temple, a majestic ancient Egyptian temple complex situated on an island in the Nile River. The temple is renowned for its beautifully preserved reliefs and structures, reflecting the Ptolemaic and Roman periods of Egyptian history. Visitors to the temple can explore its courtyards, sanctuaries, and hypostyle halls adorned with intricate carvings depicting mythological scenes and religious rituals dedicated to Isis.

Day 8, Fri: Aswan, Cairo  
After breakfast on board, check out of the cruise to be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Cairo. Arrival and transfer to hotel. In the evening, you’ll be picked-up for a farewell sail on the Nile, aboard a Pharoah’s cruise ship. Appreciate dinner while we drift past the amazing Cairo skyline. After dinner enjoy a show by the typical Tanoura spinning dancers before returning to the hotel. [B/D]

Day 9, Sat: Cairo, USA
Breakfast in hotel and private transfer to the airport with check-in assistance before we finally wave goodbye. [B]

[B] = Breakfast | [B/L/D] = Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Notes:
Customarily, there is a prepaid gratuity of approximately $9.00 US per day collected upon arrival to be distributed to Customer Service Agents, Drivers, Porters, Concierges, Bellmen and Maids.
Our suggestion per guest is $80 for 9 Days, $90 for 10 Days, $100 for 11 Days, and $110 for 12 Days.