Egypt: Jewels of the Nile

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Marriott Mena House. A transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to the Marriott Mena House, a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge, where your room enjoys views of the pyramids. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner that celebrates your arrival in this historic land.

Drive to nearby Giza this morning for a guided tour of its storied pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, the last of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, that have stood as defining symbols of Egypt for millennia. Here, take a camel ride* if you so choose, before viewing the most instantly recognizable statue in the world, crafted in limestone with the body of a lion and the head of a king – the Great Sphinx has been mysteriously reclining atop its Giza plateau for more than 3,000 years, guarding still the unanswered secret of who built it and why. Your visit includes entry to the Solar Boat Museum, built to house a rebuilt cedar ship that was unearthed next to the Great Pyramid by archaeologists more than 5,000 years after it was buried under the sand. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the pyramids at Saqqara, site of the necropolis (burial ground) for the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. The pyramids you will see here, including the Step Pyramid, the Bent Pyramid, and the Red Pyramid, are magnificent reminders of the early architecture of the pharaohs of the Old Kingdom. The rest of day is yours to explore Cairo as you like.

The River Nile has been an invaluable source of life for the people in Egypt throughout history as it provides them with food, water and an important transportation route. Fly to Luxor this morning, 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. This afternoon, join us for 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. Return to your ship for dinner at leisure.

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, including the 134-columned Great Hypostyle Hall. A locally guided visit to Luxor Temple, connected to Karnak by an avenue of sphinxes, and dating back to the 1300s BC, follows. Return to your Nile cruiser for lunch and a leisurely afternoon cruise to Esna.

Sail from Esna early morning and disembark at Edfu to take a horse and carriage to the Temple of Horus, considered to be among the most beautiful and best-preserved temples in Egypt, with its roof still intact. It took 180 years for the temple to be built, and during your guided visit you’ll discover why. 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 your ship by horse cart 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.

A full day of Egyptian exploration includes a visit to the ruins of Saint Simeon Monastery on Elephantine Island in the Nile River, once housing some 300 monks when it was completed in the 10th century; 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; and a visit to a Nubian village for an opportunity to discover an authentic taste of daily life – and local tea. Back aboard ship, enjoy a relaxing afternoon charting a course towards Aswan, highlighted by a sunset felucca cruise and dinner at leisure.

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, some 40 feet high, is adorned by four colossi depicting Ramesses and two of his queen Nefertari at a height of 32 feet. 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!

Fly back to Cairo this morning, touching down late morning. 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 in Cairo, inviting with views of the Nile, where the remainder of the day is at leisure.

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. Have lunch at a local restaurant in the Khan El Khalili Market, a bustling souk in the city’s historic center, and enjoy free time to experience the labyrinth lanes of this colorful bazaar. Join us for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel tonight.

Tour ends: Cairo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Four Seasons Hotel Nile Plaza to Cairo Airport. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport.