Best of Egypt

Welcome to Cairo! Upon arrival at Cairo international airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Cairo, called Al-Qahirah in Arabic, with a population of 17 million, is not only one of Africas largest cities but the political and cultural center of the Arab World. Cairos old quarters retain their ancient charm with many streets still known by descriptions given to them by medieval chroniclers. Modern Cairos architecture is distinguished with Ottoman and later European influences, particularly in commercial architecture as the citys population boomed during the 19th century.




Overnight in Cairo

Spend your day on the Giza Plateau home to Egypts signature attractions: The Great Pyramids, proclaimed by the Greeks to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. A single pyramid is built with 2,300,000 blocks, each weighing an average of two and one–half tons. In the face of such immensity, one cannot help but feel the wonder and awe that so many writers and artists have sought to convey over the centuries. This morning, visit the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the timeless Great Sphinx of Giza, dating from the time of Chephren (2620BC). Hewn from natural yellowish limestone, standing 65 feet high & 187 feet long, this unforgettable statue combines the head of a Pharaoh with a lions body. From there, pay a visit to Memphis which served as the capital of Upper and Lower Egypt roughly 5,000 years ago during the 1st Dynasty. Menes, the first pharaoh of this dynasty, built a great, white-walled palace and the Temple of Ptah. Sakkara is one of the most exciting historical and archaeological areas in all of Egypt, situated roughly 12 miles southwest of Cairo. This site is dominated by the famous step pyramid of King Zoser. It was the first pyramid that was built in Egypt, preceding those at Giza by many centuries. It is also the work of Imhotep, the famous pharaonic architect.




Overnight in Cairo

Today you will be transferred back to Cairo Airport for a flight to Luxor. Upon arrival in Luxor, you will be met and transferred to your cruise ship on the Nile, your floating hotel for the next five days. Enjoy lunch on board before visiting Karnak Temple erected in 1928 BC as a small shrine dedicated to Amun, the god of Thebes. The complex consists of three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples — all constructed over 1300 years. The three main temples of Mut, Monthu, and Amun are enclosed by enormous brick walls, with the temple of Amun at the center. Karnak is now one of the largest and oldest temple compounds on Earth. Many festivals were celebrated in Thebes. The Temple of Luxor was the center of the most important one, the Festival of Opet. Built largely by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, it served as a setting for the rituals of the festival, which was held to reconcile the human aspect of the ruler with his divine office. The procession of images of the current royal family began at Karnak and ended at the Temple of Luxor.




Overnight Onboard Cruise

Today you will cross the newly constructed Luxor Bridge to visit the Valley of the Kings, with a visit to the three-royal tomb based on the availability of the day. The Valley of the Kings in Upper Egypt is home to many pharaonic tombs of the New Kingdom. Each king's formal name and title are inscribed on his tomb, which is also adorned with images and statues. Most of the tombs were cut into the limestone following a similar pattern: three corridors, an antechamber, and a sunken sarcophagus chamber. From there, tour the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, the only woman Pharaoh to rule ancient Egypt. The mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut of the 18th dynasty was built just north of the Middle Kingdom temple of Mentuhotep Nebhepetre, amid the bay of cliffs known as Deir El-Bahri. In ancient times the temple was called Djeser-djeseru, meaning the sacred of sacreds. The female pharaoh chose to build her temple in a valley sacred to the Theban Goddess of the west, on a direct axis with the Karnak Temple of Amun on the East Bank. After the visit, you will return to your cruise for dinner.




Overnight Onboard Cruise

After breakfast, you will disembark the ship at Edfu. A \"caleche\" ride will take you through the town to the Temple of Horus, the Falcon God. The Temple of Horus is the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt and the second largest after Karnak. Built from sandstone blocks, the huge Ptolemaic temple boasts a massive entrance pylon covered with traditional scenes of the king smiting his enemies before Horus. Continue sailing for most of the day before you arrive at Kom Ombo, where you may enjoy a short walk to the twin Temples of Sobek and Horus. One is dedicated to the crocodile-God, Sobek, and the other to the falcon-God, Horus the Elder. There are clear depictions of ancient medical instruments on one wall. Kom Ombo's Greco-Roman-style Temple of Sobek built for the Crocodile God stands serenely on a hilltop. The site offers magnificent views of the Nile. In ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank near here, and hundreds of mummified crocodiles were found within the vicinity.




Overnight Onboard Cruise

Enjoy breakfast on board the cruise in Aswan, the southernmost city in Egypt. South of here lies the flooded lands of Nubia, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Just north of the border between Egypt and Sudan, you will find the Aswan High Dam, a huge rock-filled dam that captures the world's longest river, the Nile, in the world's largest artificial reservoir, Lake Nasser. The dam, known as “Sadd El-Aali” in Arabic, was completed in 1970 after 10 years of work. From there, continue to the granite quarries, which supplied the ancient Egyptians with most of the hard stone used in their pyramids and temples. See the famed Unfinished Obelisk, located in the Northern Quarry, where a crack was discovered as it was hewn from the rock. This obelisk would have been the largest ever built if it had not cracked before it was fully quarried. Tools left by builders have given archaeologists insight into how the work was performed. Invoke the healing powers of the goddess Isis with a visit to the Temple of Philae and the Temple of Isis. Enjoy a short trip on a motorboat to the Philae Temple, which will bring you to a magnificent vista of the island of Agilika before landing at what would have been the ancient quay on the southern side. The temple was dedicated to the goddess Isis and boasts many legends connected to it. The best-known legend tells the story of how Isis found the heart of Osiris here after he was murdered by his brother Seth. Ancient Nubia was known as the “Land of Gold” to the pharaohs, and its wealth and lands were eventually incorporated into Egypt around 1500 BC.




Overnight Onboard Cruise

Enjoy breakfast onboard the cruise before disembarkation. From there, transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Sharm El Sheikh. Upon arrival in Sharm, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.




Overnight in Sharm El Sheikh

Admire the crystal-clear waters of Sharm El Sheikh, a breathtaking destination in Egypt. Enjoy deep-sea diving, snorkeling, fishing, golfing, and search for colored fish along the sandy beaches in the area. Partake in water sports, book a camel ride, explore the desert safari, or relax in a Bedouin tent.


Overnight in Sharm El Sheikh

Enjoy deep-sea diving, snorkeling, fishing, golfing, and search for colored fish along the sandy beaches of Sharm El Sheikh. Partake in water sports, book a camel ride, explore the desert safari, or relax in a Bedouin tent.




Overnight in Sharm El Sheikh

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be driven to Sharm El Sheikh airport for a flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, explore the Egyptian Museum with 107 halls housing 160,000 artifacts spanning 5,000 years. Highlights include Pharaonic and Graeco-Roman pieces, including King Tutankhamun's treasures and ancient mummies. Visit the Citadel, a historical nerve center on Mokattam Hills, and Khan El Khalili, a vibrant bazaar built in 1382 featuring antiquities, handcrafted items, and local eateries—a hub for both tourists and Egyptians.




Overnight in Cairo

Today you will be transferred back to Cairo International Airport for your onward flight.