Gems of Egypt & The Nile River

Day 1 : Fly to Egypt

An overnight flight takes us to mystical Egypt.

Day 2 : Arrive in Cairo

When you arrive in Cairo, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. Enjoy getting to know one another on the way to our comfortable accommodations.

Day 3 : Pyramids & the Great Sphinx

Today we discover some of Egypt’s most mysterious monuments with a visit to the Great Pyramids of Giza featuring the Pyramid of Khufu, the oldest and largest of the pyramids and the only surviving structure of the remaining six wonders of the ancient world. We also witness the iconic Great Sphinx of Giza dating back to the 26th century BC when the other civilization of the time was next-door Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). We drive to Memphis, once a thriving metropolis and capital of the Old Kingdom where we stop to see Sakkara, the legendary step pyramid of the Third Egyptian Dynasty.

Day 4 : Cairo Sightseeing

Set on the Nile, the longest river in the world, explore the ancient city of Cairo filled with fascinations including the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Khan el Khalili Bazar, Old Cairo, and the Citadel of Cairo featuring the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Old Cairo is the historic part of the city that tells its origin stories. Spark the imagination when you consider how Old Cairo was once a Roman-era fortress called “Fort Babylon” and at another time, an Islamic-era settlement, both which pre-dated the founding of Cairo in 969 AD.

Day 5 : Karnak & Luxor Temples

We fly south to Luxor where we board the ms Tulip, our home for the next four nights. Cruise the Nile River which flows northward through Africa and into the Mediterranean Sea. We visit Karnak, a complex that consists of decayed pylons, temples and chapels. Karnak Temple has not only religious significance, it also served as a treasury, administrative center, and palace for the New Kingdom pharaohs and is considered the largest temple complex ever constructed anywhere in the world. It is divided into three parts, and the largest is the precinct of Amun which contains the Great Hypostyle Hall of 134 massive columns, one of the most impressive places in all of Egypt. This temple must have been awe-inspiring over 2000 thousand years ago when these massive structures were first erected. Luxor Temple was built around the 14th century BC, and by the time of the Roman Empire, it was used as a fortress for the Roman government. Originally dedicated to the mother goddess of Mut, Luxor Temple has since turned into a Tetrarchy cult chapel, and then a church.

Day 6 : Valley of the Kings & Valley of the Queens

Today we cross the Nile over the west bank and into the monumental burials of the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. Continuing on to Esna, we arrive at a temple dedicated to the ram-headed god of Khnum, the god of “the source” of the Nile, that river which brings all life to be in the middle of these sprawling Egyptian deserts.

Day 7 : Edfu & Kom Ombo

A brief horse-drawn carriage ride is a delightful way to start the day, traveling to the Temple of Edfu dedicated to the falcon-headed god of Horus. One of Egypt’s most iconic deities, the Eye of Horus originates from this spirit, representing well-being, protection, and healing. Later today we cruise to the agricultural city of Kom Ombo.

Day 8 : Ptolemaic Temple & Aswan

This morning discover the Ptolemaic Temple of Kom Ombo before cruising to Aswan. Sobek is the deity we discover here, the crocodile-headed god associated with pharaonic power, military prowess, fertility, and magic to protect against the dangers of the Nile’s predator-filled waters. Coming into Aswan we see High Dam (the world’s biggest embankment dam), Old Dam, intriguing granite quarries, and the temple on Philae island, a destination that Victorian-era Brits found so fascinating that tourism was popular here by the 1800s.

Day 9 : The Botanical Island

Start the day with sightseeing the Aswan Botanical Garden by felucca, a traditional Egyptian wooden sailboat. We sail around the botanical gardens of Kitchener Island, a garden island accessible only by felucca and filled with beautiful tropical rarities like the Sabal Palm and Royal Palm trees. This evening, we fly back to Cairo where an overnight flight brings us back to the U.S.

Day 10 : Arrive Home