Taste of Egypt

CAIRO, EGYPT Welcome to Cairo, “Mother of the World”

CAIRO Desert Sands and Secrets of the Sphinx

CLASSIC Enjoy a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum. Peruse King Tutankhamun’s fabulous treasures and many other priceless artifacts of ancient Egypt.

CLASSIC Take a close-up look at one of the World’s Seven Wonders and guardian of the great pyramids, the enigmatic Sphinx, and the Great Pyramid of Giza. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built, and of course enjoy the visit to the newly discovered Noble Tombs.

CAIRO Ancient Cairo, a Boy King, and the Christ Child

CLASSIC Drive to walled city of Old Cairo, with Saladin’s 12th-century citadel, and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali. Afterwards drive to Memphis to admire the statue of Ramses II.

Afterwards, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

CLASSIC Drive to Sakkara, a vast desert necropolis built for kings and nobles, and its “Stairway to the Sky,” the oldest of all pyramids. Also, admire the special tomb of Mary Roca and the Step Pyramid of King Zoser.

CAIRO Amazing Civilization and Marketplace Mazes

CLASSIC Start the day with a guided tour of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. No visit would be complete without time to experience the Royal Mummies’ Hall, considered the crown jewel of the museum.

CLASSIC Drive to “Coptic Cairo” to Abu Serga Church, not only the oldest church in Egypt but built on the spot where the Holy Family stopped and rested towards the end of their journey to Egypt. Proceed to visit the hanging church, which dates back to the fourth century, built on the remains of an old Roman Babylon fortress. Walk to see Cairo’s oldest Jewish synagogue, founded in the 9th century.

CLASSIC Take in a full panoramic view of Cairo from the Nile River—on board a traditional wooden sailing vessel (Felucca) and enjoy a typical Egyptian light lunch.

CLASSIC Browse the maze of shops in the vast labyrinths of the Khan al Khali Souk bazaar and Medieval alleyways.

Since the early steamers visited Egypt in the nineteenth century, Luxor has remained a tourist hotspot. Situated on the east side of the Nile in the centre of The Nile Valley, Luxor is an ideal location for tours and trips to surrounding places of interest.

CAIRO–LUXOR (EMBARKATION) The World’s Greatest Open-Air Museum

Fly 300 miles up the Nile Valley to Luxor to embark on your Nile River cruise.

CLASSIC See the stunning monuments of Karnak complex, developed over more than 1000 years. Walk among the pillars of the colossal Temple of Amun Ra for an experience you will treasure for a lifetime.

Embark your ship and enjoy your first lunch onboard.

CLASSIC In the afternoon enjoy a visit to Luxor temple, one of the two primary temples on the east bank, together with Karnak.

This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LUXOR

Since the early steamers visited Egypt in the nineteenth century, Luxor has remained a tourist hotspot. Situated on the east side of the Nile in the centre of The Nile Valley, Luxor is an ideal location for tours and trips to surrounding places of interest.

LUXOR–EDFU Royal Resting Places of Kings and Queens

CLASSIC Venture to the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens on the west bank of the Nile where generations of pharaohs and nobles were entombed in Cliffside crypts. See where 63 royal tombs have thus far been discovered, of which one was virtually intact—the splendid tomb of Tutankhamun discovered in 1922.

Visit Deir El-Bahri, Queen Hatshepsut’s monumental rock temple. Stop for pictures at the two Colossi of Memnon guarding the valleys.

DISCOVERY This afternoon, join an exclusive lecture on this ancient civilization by your Egyptologist while sailing to Edfu.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN EDFU

Aswan is Egypt’s southernmost city and remains hot and dry all year round. It is considered the most picturesque setting on the Nile and serves as a base for tourist excursions to many local sites of interest.

EDFU–KOM OMBO–ASWAN Egyptian Gods of the River and Sky

CLASSIC This morning visit Edfu Temple, also known as the Temple of Horus with its menacing black stone statue of the falcon god.

Enjoy a leisurely sail to Kom Ombo.

DISCOVERY While sailing enjoy an Egyptian cooking class.

CLASSIC Enjoy beautiful Kom Ombo for a short walk to its bluff-top twin temples. The right side is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek-Ra, while the left side is dedicated to the falcon god Horus.

This evening, enjoy a party night on board.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ASWAN

Aswan is Egypt’s southernmost city and remains hot and dry all year round. It is considered the most picturesque setting on the Nile and serves as a base for tourist excursions to many local sites of interest.

ASWAN Temples from Above and Islands Below

This morning, consider joining a Guided Optional Excursion to the massive sandstone temples of Abu Simbel (by coach).

CLASSIC Board a motorboat and cross the blue waters of the Nile. En route, see the ancient water measurement system, “Nilometer,” on the Nile’s Elephantine Island and the splendid Aga Khan Mausoleum.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ASWAN

Aswan is Egypt’s southernmost city and remains hot and dry all year round. It is considered the most picturesque setting on the Nile and serves as a base for tourist excursions to many local sites of interest.

ASWAN (DISEMBARKATION)–CAIRO Work in Progress and the Goddess Isis

CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Excursion at to explore the Granite Quarries that supplied ancient Egypt with its hard stones for the pyramids in Giza. See the famous unfinished obelisk, still remaining in the quarry. Board a motor launch to the island of Agilika between the two dams and visit the Temple Of Isis, which was dismantled from the submerged island of Philae and reassembled here. Take a photo stop at the gigantic Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970.

Board your flight back to Cairo later today.

CAIRO Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.