Day 1 - Cairo, Egypt
Welcome to Cairo! For centuries, Cairo has played a central role in religious and cultural developments in Egypt. Today, the city is home to the only Wonder of the Ancient World still intact... the Great Pyramids of Giza. Upon your arrival at the airport, you’ll be met by our representative who will help you with your luggage to transfer to our hotel, the stunning The St. Regis Cairo Hotel located on the Nile River. This evening, meet your fellow travelers at our welcome reception.

Day 2 - Cairo, Egypt
A full day of exploration awaits, beginning with a visit to the Alabaster Mosque, which sits majestically on the summit of the Citadel of Saladin’s courtyard. From the arcaded courtyard, you’ll enjoy the breathtaking view across the city. After an authentic lunch at a local restaurant, we visit Coptic Cairo, part of Old Cairo which encompasses the Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church, and the Greek Church of St. George. After touring each of these sites, you’ll have free time to shop the local bazaar or explore the ancient narrow streets on your own.

Day 3 - Cairo / Giza, Egypt
Today you’ll discover Egypt’s history as never before with a full morning exploring the magnificent Grand Egyptian Museum. The GEM is the brand new, state-of-the-art future dedicated to preserving Egypt’s past. We’ll have lunch at the famous Mena House, a historic palatial hotel, based in the shadow of the great Pyramids of Giza. We’ll spend the afternoon exploring the iconic pyramids and take a camel ride to the most famous panoramic viewing site of the Giza complex. We’ll end our day with a visit to the Great Sphinx, guardian of the ancient pyramids and symbol of Egypt’s glorious history.

Day 4 - Sakkara / Luxor, Egypt / Embark
After breakfast, we’ll check out of our hotel and visit Sakkara... site of the famous step pyramid of King Djoser, the oldest pyramid on earth. You’ll get our Exclusive tour of the Tomb of the Two ‘Brothers’, history’s first recorded same-sex couple, Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep... the king’s hairdressers and the supervisors of his manicurists. The assumed romantic relationship between the men is based on depictions of the two men embracing and standing nose to nose, a gesture in ancient times reserved for spouses. In the afternoon we’ll fly to Luxor to board our riverboat on the Nile.

Day 5 - Luxor, Egypt
Your day starts with a visit to the tombs of ancient Egypt in the Valley of the Kings, one of the most famous archeological sites in the world. The spectacular rock-cut tombs are located on the west bank of Luxor, where we will visit the most famous tomb of all pharaohs, King Tutankhamun. Next, we’ll venture inside the tomb of Seti I, one of the longest, deepest, and most beautifully decorated tombs ever discovered. Finally, we’ll visit Deir el-Bahri to see the Temple of Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s most successful pharaohs and the country’s first female ruler.

Day 6 - Edfu, Egypt
This morning we’ll explore the Temple of Horus, dedicated to the god Horus of Behedet, Lord of Edfu. To honor Horus, the people of Edfu built a grand temple from 237 to 57 BC, a young structure by Egyptian standards. The Temple of Horus is the most famous monument at Tell Edfu. Due to its completeness and state of preservation, it is the best example of a Ptolemaic temple building in Egypt. You’ll learn about the Festival of the Living Falcon, an annual celebration of the crowning of the sacred bird and the re-establishment of the pharaoh’s kingship and power.

Day 7 - Abu Simbel, Egypt
We’ll take an early morning flight over Lake Nasser to Abu Simbel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to Ramses II, one of the most active of pharaohs, along with the smaller temple dedicated to his primary wife, Queen Nefertari. The front of the main temple has four gargantuan statues of Ramses II on his throne, each measuring nearly 70 feet high and discovered half buried in sand in 1813. Later in the afternoon, take a peaceful ride in a felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailboat, around beautiful Elephantine Island, which locals say is the home to legendary Egyptian god Khnumo. Later tonight, we’ll end the day with a traditional folkloric-style belly dance onboard our ship.

Day 8 - Aswan, Egypt
This morning we’ll visit the tiny island of Philae near Aswan. From early times, Philae captured the imagination of countless travelers to Egypt. The Philae Temple complex was dedicated to Isis, the goddess of love, wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. After our time on the island, we’ll travel by boat for to visit a local Nubian tribe and get a special glimpse inside their daily life. We’ll be treated to a traditional dance and spend some time learning about these descendants of an ancient civilization that thrived in the Nile valley.

Day 8 - Kom Ombo, Egypt
This morning we’re sailing to Kom Ombo, a small town along the Nile. In the heart of one of Egypt’s fertile agricultural regions, Kom Ombo is surrounded by vast fields of sugarcane and corn. The town’s highlight is its namesake temple, the Grand Temple at Kom Ombo, perched on a low hill overlooking the Nile. The temple is unique because it is, in fact, a double temple, dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon-headed god. The layout combines two temples in one, with each side having its own gateways and chapels.

Day 9 - Luxor, Egypt
Spend a morning relaxing on the Sun Deck as we sail from Esna back to Luxor. We’ll visit the Temple of Karnak, the largest religious complex in Egypt. Next, we’ll discover the art of papyrus making, learning how the ancient Egyptians used this special plant that flourished in the Egyptian Delta. Made from the aquatic papyrus plant, this unique writing material served many purposes in ancient times from sails, cloth, food and especially paper. You’ll then visit the colorful Luxor Market, where you can find eye-catching piles of spices, jewelry and clothing as well as irresistible smells of incense and perfumes.

Day 10 - Qena / Luxor, Egypt
Today we set sail to Qena and Dendara to visit the best-preserved temple in Egypt, the Temple of Hathor, Goddess of Love, to whom the powers of joy, feminine love and motherhood were attributed. The temple was built by Ptolemy and a group of Romans who worshipped her. Don’t miss the back of the temple where there is a relief depicting Cleopatra with Caesarion, her son by Julius Caesar, the Roman Emperor who brought us the months of July and August. Following your visit here, we’ll sail back to Luxor in the afternoon.

Day 11 - Disembark / Cairo, Egypt
Today we will disembark our ship in Luxor and fly back to Cairo where you will be taken to the Abdeen Presidential Palace, considered one of the most luxurious palaces in the world. The palace is also one of the official residences and places of work for the President of Egypt. Afterwards, we’ll be treated to a special lunch at the palace. Finally, you will explore the old part of the city, which includes Coptic Cairo, where the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue are located.

Optional Post-Cruise Petra Extension

Visit Petra, Amman, Wadi Rum & The Dead Sea!

Embark on another adventure of a lifetime with a trip to Petra, Jordan, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World! Hidden in the rose-red cliffs of the Jordanian desert, Petra is a city carved into stone, filled with mystery, beauty, and ancient wonder. We’ll wander through the narrow Siq canyon and witness the breathtaking first glimpse of the iconic Treasury (Al-Khazneh), exploring ancient tombs, temples, and amphitheaters that tell the stories of the Nabataean people.

During our adventure, we’ll visit the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth and world-famous for its healing properties. We’ll have lunch at a seaside resort overlooking the surreal, shimmering blue waters set against a backdrop of stark desert landscapes.

Finally, we’ll experience the raw beauty of Jordan’s desert in a jeep ride through Wadi Rum, a cinematic landscape of towering red sandstone cliffs and sweeping dunes. We’ll enjoy traditional Bedouin hospitality with a dinner under a canopy of stars in a luxury desert tent.

Day 12 - Fly to Amman, Jordan & Check Into Hotel
Today we'll take a short flight from Cairo to Amman and check into our hotel, the St Regis Amman. After settling into our luxurious 5-star hotel, join us for dinner to celebrate our first night in Jordan!

Day 13 - Madaba, Mt.Nebo & the Dead Sea
This morning, we'll start with a visit to Madaba, known as the City of Mosaics, most famous for its 6th Century mosaic map of the Holy Land in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. After, we'll see Mt Nebo, one of the most revered sites in Jordan where it is believed that Moses gazed upon the Holy Land before his death. From this point you can look out at the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, and on a clear day, even Jerusalem. Finally, we'll visit the Dead Sea for lunch at a seaside resort before driving to Petra later this afternoon.

Day 14 - Petra & Wadi Rum
This morning, we'll visit Petra, known as the Rose City and one of the world's most famous archaeological sites. Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. Admired for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels, Petra is a UNESCO World Heritages Site and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. After, we'll take a jeep tour of Wadi Rum, a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock. Known as the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum features dramatic sandstone mountains like the Jebel Um Ishrin, and natural arches such as the Burdah Rock Bridge. We'll end our day with dinner in a Bedouin tent.