Itineraries
Day 1: Arrive Cairo, Egypt
Settle into your first-class accommodations to refresh and enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure. Awake tomorrow to the extraordinary views of the pyramids outside your room.
Overnight: Cairo
Day 2: Cairo / Memphis / Giza
After breakfast, set out for a short drive to the ancient city of Memphis, dating from around 3,100 BC. It's the legendary city of King Menes—who united upper and lower Egypt and controlled the land and water routes between the two. This area features approximately 19 miles of necropolises, including Sakkara—host to the kings of the 1st and 2nd Dynasty—with the oldest known of Egypt's 107 pyramids.
In the afternoon, visit the iconic Great Pyramid of Giza—the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—and the Great Sphinx, impressively carved from a single mass of limestone.
Overnight: Cairo
Day 3: Cairo
Today, take a guided tour of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, featuring 107 halls filled with nearly 160,000 pieces of ancient artifacts covering 5,000 years of Egypt's past. View displays of treasures from royal tombs, royal portraits, and rare artifacts.
Ascend to the medieval Citadel of Cairo for lunch overlooking the city, then continue to the imposing Mosque of Sultan Hassan. Next, visit some of Cairo's ancient Coptic churches and learn more about this minority ethnoreligious group. Then stroll through one of the largest bazaars in the Middle East—Khan El-Khalili. Founded in the 14th century, this lively market (or souk) is a labyrinth of vendors selling colorful fresh spices, traditional foods and fabrics, and baubles and trinkets.
Beyond the bustling crowds, glimpse the unique archways and vaulted ceilings designed in original Mamluk-style architecture—Islamic art that became prevalent during the Mamluk Dynasty.
Overnight: Cairo
Day 4: Cairo / Flight to Luxor
After breakfast and checking out, transfer to Cairo International Airport to board the flight to Luxor. En route to the hotel, stop to explore the Karnak Temple Complex—the largest man-made religious building on the east bank of Luxor and one of the most important places of worship during the New Kingdom. This site is a fusion of stone structures, including an avenue of human-headed sphinxes, grand pylons, and towering obelisks. It experienced various phases of construction and restoration over a nearly 2,000-year period.
This evening, explore the majestic Luxor Temple by night and enjoy its illuminated beauty. The impressive temple is in the center of the city and was buried for centuries before its full excavation was completed in 1960. Enjoy the special opportunity to admire this structure by night, when dramatic lighting enhances its intricacies.
Overnight: Luxor
Day 5: Luxor / Abydos / Luxor
This morning, take in a panoramic view of life on the banks of the Nile as you follow the river north during a three-hour drive to the ancient city of Abydos. On display are temples with some of the finest carvings and colors in all of Egypt.
Learn of the site's importance from your Egyptologist before exploring on your own. Wander the halls of the impressive Temple of Seti I, which was dedicated to the god of the underworld, Osiris. See the Abydos King List—a carved list of the names of 76 former kings of ancient Egypt. Drive back to Luxor
Overnight: Luxor
Day 6: Luxor / Esna – Embarkation
After breakfast and check out, travel across the Nile to the west bank of Luxor. At the famous Valley of the Kings designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978—descend into the elaborately decorated tombs of Egypt's most influential rulers, including Tutankhamun.
Next, admire the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, one of the few female pharaohs. This grand temple, framed by massive limestone cliffs, is notable for its precise architectural features.
A short drive to Esna brings you to your sailing vessel and home-away-from-home for the following four days. After a relaxing lunch, settle into your stateroom and spend time lounging on the sun deck as you watch the peaceful scenery go by. Join fellow travelers for dinner this evening.
Overnight: Dahabiya
Day 7: Nile River / Edfu
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before joining your Egyptologist on a guided tour to El Kab, one of the oldest settlements of upper Egypt and now a famous necropolis with remarkable tombs of nobles and army generals.
Continue to the city of Edfu for a tour of the Ptolemaic Temple of Horus—the most complete and best-preserved temple in Egypt. Horus, the principal god of resurrection, is depicted in his role as avenger of his father, Osiris, who was murdered by his brother, Seth. Although construction of this temple was finished only a few decades before the rise of Antony and Cleopatra, its design reflects traditional pharaonic architecture.
For the remainder of the day, enjoy the plentiful amenities of the dahabiya. This evening, prepare to dine on a lavish buffet of Egyptian specialties presented with a performance of local music and dancing.
Overnight: Dahabiya
Day 8: Edfu / Nile / Kom Ombo
After a leisurely morning sailing up the river, visit Gebel el-Silsila, an ancient quarry where the pharaohs excavated sandstone and limestone to build their temples. The site also houses numerous tombs dating back to the 18th Dynasty. We Gather for a special barbecue dinner this evening on a nearby island.
Overnight: Dahabiya
Day 9: Kom Ombo / Nile / Aswan
Explore the unique Temple of Kom Ombo. Designed for and dedicated to two gods, Horus and Sobek (the ancient god of crocodiles), it's two temples in one. Captive crocodiles were once kept within the temple, and mummified crocodiles can be seen in the sanctuary today.
Today, there are no crocodiles north of the Aswan High Dam, but in ancient times a robust population lived in the Nile's waters. The ancient Egyptians believed that by worshipping Sobek they were protecting themselves from these predators.Return to the dahabiya to cruise to Aswan, and partake in a final gala dinner on board.
Overnight: Dahabiya
Day 10: Aswan – Disembarkation
Disembark after breakfast and travel to the Aswan High Dam for a look at contemporary Egyptian construction on a monumental scale. The dam sits 364-feet high with a volume of 57,940,000 cubic yards. The annual flooding of the Nile can now be controlled as the dam collects floodwaters, which can be released manually to maximize benefits for farmland, river flowage, and electric power.
Later, take a motorboat ride to the island of Agilkia, site of the temples of Philae. The most famous temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, was constructed in the 6th century BCE. The site also features the last known inscription written in Egyptian hieroglyphs, dated to 394 CE. Enjoy free time at the hotel to refresh and re-energize before setting out to stroll Aswan's famous market, Sharia as-Souq. Discover endless displays of aromatic flowers and spices, handcrafted perfumes, colorful carpets, and other Egyptian and African goods.
Overnight: Aswan
Day 11: Aswan
After breakfast at the hotel, head directly across the Nile to Elephantine Island, which was an important trading center. Today, it is the only ongoing excavation site that is open to tourists. Afterward, take a peaceful ride through one of the Nile's cataracts, a rocky passageway that prevented boats from sailing the river from Equatorial Africa to Egypt.
The remainder of the day is yours to partake in the amenities at the hotel or to explore Aswan on your own.
Overnight: Aswan
Day 12: Aswan / Optional Abu Simbel Excursion / Flight to Cairo
After breakfast, guests joining the optional excursion will check out and transfer to Aswan International Airport for the brief flight to Abu Simbel. There, tour the impressive temples before flying to Aswan for a connecting flight to Cairo.
Overnight: Le Méridien Cairo Airport
Day 13: Cairo / Flight to Amman
A sprawling city spread over 19 hills, Amman is the modern—as well as the ancient—capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Known as Rabbath-Ammon during the Iron Age and later as Philadelphia, the city was once part of the Decapolis League (10 cities in eastern Palestine that were formed after the Roman conquest of Palestine in 63 B.C.). The city now boasts a population of around four million people. Begin by exploring the region's history at the Jordan Museum, then ascend to the Amman Citadel for a spectacular view of the old city, including the 6,000-seat 2nd-century Roman theatre.
Overnight: Amman
Day 14: Amman / Jerash / Ajloun / Amman
Travel to Jerash, the city of 1,000 Pillars. Buried beneath sand for centuries and excavated during the past 70 years, the ruins of Jerash reveal urban development from an ancient time, such as paved streets, public plazas, temples, and fountains. Admire its Triple Arched Gate, the enormous Hippodrome, the Roman Amphitheatre, and the only Roman Forum surrounded by 63 columns.
Continue to Ajloun's imposing Qalat Al-Rabad fortress, a 12th-century Muslim castle built to protect the region from the Crusaders.
Overnight: Amman
Day 15: Amman / Madaba / Mount Nebo / Petra
After breakfast, explore the prosperous ecclesiastical center of Madaba, where some of the world's finest Byzantine mosaics were produced between the 4th and 7th centuries. Several church floor mosaics can be seen in their original locations, including Madaba's real masterpiece inside the Orthodox Church of Saint George. It features a 6th-century A.D. map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, which is the earliest religious map of that area to survive from antiquity.
Afterward, travel to Mount Nebo, which overlooks the Dead Sea, Jordan's River Valley, Jericho, and the distant hills of Jerusalem. A small church was built on Mount Nebo in the 4th century to commemorate the end of Moses' life. The church was subsequently expanded in the 5th and 6th centuries into the present-day large basilica with its stunning collection of Byzantine mosaics.
Overnight: Petra
Day 16: Petra
Spend the day inside the ancient city of Petra, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and considered Jordan's most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. A major caravan city for merchants during the Hellenistic and Roman times, Petra is impressively carved from the surrounding red rock cliffs and is the site of on-going archaeological excavation missions.
Overnight: Petra
Day 17: Petra / Little Petra / Dana / Dead Sea
Following check out, take a short drive north to Siq al-Barid, also known as “Little Petra.” This site is thought to have been an important “suburb” of Petra and features numerous tombs and temples. One of its main attractions is the Painted House, which contains some of the only remaining 1st-century Nabatean frescoes. Continue to the 15th-century stone village of Dana, where the buildings have rarely changed over the past five centuries. The village is also within Jordan’s largest nature reserve and renowned for its hiking. Take a stroll through the pomegranate grove, then enjoy lunch with the special treat of spectacular vistas over the rugged landscape of canyons and peaks.
The day concludes at the Dead Sea, with its warm, soothing, and supremely salty water. With its sea bed resting some 1,400 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea's azure waters contain a high concentration of minerals, creating an incredibly buoyant site for soaking and rejuvenating.
Overnight: Dead Sea
Day 18: Dead Sea / Amman
Spend a leisurely day at the Dead Sea. Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast and lunch, and perhaps take time for a mud mask and dip. In the late evening, those departing during the suggested times will check out of the hotel and take the complimentary group transfer to Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport for tomorrow's early morning flights home.