DAY 2, Monday - Arrive in Cairo
Welcome to Egypt, one of the world's greatest ancient civilizations. Arrive in Cairo and transfer to your hotel with the remainder of the day at leisure. Your tour will begin with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 6 PM, followed by dinner
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Dinner

DAY 3, Tuesday - Full Day in Cairo
Spend the day at leisure in Cairo, or join the optional Egyptian Museum & Khan el-Khalili bazaar with lunch. Begin with a visit to the Egyptian Museum, a neoclassical style building located in Tahrir Square that houses one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts. After lunch, continue to Khan el-Khalili bazaar to browse vibrant displays of fabrics, handicrafts, and antiques
Optional: Egyptian Museum & Khan el-Khalili with lunch (AM)
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4, Wednesday - The Pyramids & Sphinx of Giza
After breakfast, visit the Pyramids of Giza, built during the 3rd and 4th dynasties of the Old Kingdom. These monumental undertakings stand as a marvelous testimony to the almost unbelievable skill and determination of their builders. Get a close-up view of the Great Pyramid, built for the Pharaoh Khufu, as well as the Pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure. Not too far from the Pyramids, see the great Sphinx of Giza, the legendary statue with the head of a human and the body of a lion, amazingly carved out of a huge piece of limestone. Leisure time this afternoon, or join the optionaltour to Sakkara Pyramids with lunch. In Sakkara, site of hundreds of tombs, view the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser. Next, visit a carpet school before heading back to your hotel
Optional: Sakkara Pyramids with lunch (PM)
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5, Thursday - Flight to Aswan
After lunch at a local restaurant, transfer to the airport for your flight to Aswan. On arrival, check into your hotel
Overnight: Aswan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 6, Friday - Nubian Village, Nile Cruise Embarkation, Philae Temple
This morning, take a tour to Nubian Village. On this tour, board a motorboat and cruise along the Nile River to a Nubian village. Along the way, admire the sweeping views over the river. Upon arrival, visit a traditional Nubian village in Aswan. Embark on your Nile cruise and have lunch on board. Next, take a tour to Philae Temple dedicated to the goddess Isis. Arrive by motorboat and marvel at the Temple's beautiful island location. Return to the ship and continue sailing
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7, Saturday - Edfu Temple, Cruise to Luxor
Admire the scenery as you cruise along the Nile. In the afternoon, visit the stunning Temple of Horus in Edfu, considered one of the best preserved of all the Egyptian temples. It was built during the Ptolemaic times and was completed over a 180-year period. The temple is dedicated to the falcon god Horus, son of Isis and Osiris. Its extravagant design and sheer size is an indication of the country's prosperity at the time. Return to the ship for dinner
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8, Sunday - Full Day Luxor
Enjoy your morning at leisure, or join the optional Excursion to West Bank. Begin with a visit to the UNESCO listed Valley of the Kings, the necropolis of Thebes and admire the tombs of ancient Egypt's rulers. Next, head to the Temple of Hatshepsut, a colonnaded structure surrounded by cliffs and learn about the life of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's famous female ruler. Visit an alabaster factory, where you can view a demonstration of grinding alabaster the old-fashioned way. Browse the extensive collection of alabaster pieces
Optional: Excursion to West Bank (AM)
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9, Monday - Luxor Temple
Spend the morning at leisure, or join the optional Dendera Temple. Set out on an excursion to Dendera Temple, one of the best preserved temple complexes in Egypt, located on the west bank of the Nile, approximately 40 miles away from Luxor. Explore the Temple of Hathor, dedicated to the wife of god Horus. Marvel at the spectacular ceiling painting in the main hall, displaying stars, planets, and symbols of the Roman zodiac. The colors seen throughout the temple complex are original, and amazingly vibrant. Visit the temple crypt, and climb the staircase up to the roof, learning about Egypt's Ptolemaic period along the way. Free time to explore the temple complex at leisure. In the afternoon, visit Luxor Temple to admire the colossal statues of the great pharaoh Ramses II
Optional: Dendera Temple Excursion
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10, Tuesday - Temples of Karnak
Visit the magnificent Temples of Karnak, dating back over 3,000 years. Walk along the avenue of the Sphinxes and marvel at the Hypostyle Hall with its 134 massive sandstone columns. Next, visit a shop where you can view a brief demonstration of how papyrus paper is made from the papyrus grass
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11, Wednesday - Kom Ombo
This morning, tour the imposing Greco-Roman Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Horus, the sky god and Sobek, the crocodile god. Admire the fascinating detailed reliefs on the walls. Return to the ship
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12 Thursday - Cruise to Aswan
Spend the morning at leisure, or join the optional to Abu Simbel temples. An early morning bus ride from Aswan transports you back in time to the mighty Temples of Abu Simbel, reclaimed from the floodwaters of the Aswan High Dam and totally reconstructed in the present location. The site is dominated by the looming twin temples of Ramses II and his wife Queen Nefertari. It is one of the most recognizable ancient sites of Egypt. Afterwards, drive back to Aswan. Choose to relax the rest of the evening, or take part in the optional Aswan Felucca Ride. Enjoy a relaxing cruise aboard a felucca, the traditional sailboat of Egypt used along the Nile
Optional: Abu Simbel by Bus (AM)
Optional: Aswan Felucca Ride (PM)
Overnight: Nile Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13 Friday - Disembarkation, Flight to Cairo
After breakfast, disembark from the cruise ship and transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairo with remainder of the afternoon at leisure or join the optional Coptic Cairo with lunch. Make your way to the Old Cairo, this area is the original home of the Coptic Christians, one of the world's oldest Christian denominations. Here, visit the Hanging Church, that was built in the 7th century. Proceed to Abu Serga, a 5th century Coptic church and hear how the church was built over the site of a cave, believed to have sheltered the Holy Family during their flight into Egypt. Then, tour The Church of St. George, a Greek Orthodox church built atop the north tower of the old Roman fortress of Babylon. Tonight, bid farewell to your Tour Manager during dinner at the hotel
Optional: Coptic Cairo with lunch
Overnight: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 14, Saturday - Depart Egypt
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast