Taste of Egypt

Day 1

CAIRO, EGYPT Welcome to Cairo, “Mother of the World”

Day 2

CAIRO Desert Sands and Secrets of the Sphinx

CLASSIC This morning take a close-up look at one of the World’s Seven Wonders and guardian of the great pyramids, the enigmatic Sphinx, and the Great Pyramid of Giza. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built, and of course enjoy the visit to the newly discovered Noble Tombs.

Afterwards, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

CLASSIC Drive to Sakkara, a vast desert necropolis built for kings and nobles, and its “Stairway to the Sky,” the oldest of all pyramids. Also admire the special tomb of Mary Roca and the Step Pyramid of King Zoser.

CLASSIC This evening, enjoy a Guided Visit to the National Museum of Civilization, displaying a collection of 50,000 artifacts, presenting the Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times to the present day.

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Day 3

CAIRO Ancient Cairo, a Boy King, and the Christ Child

CLASSIC Enjoy a guided visit to the now-famous Tahrir Square and visit the Egyptian Museum. Peruse King Tutankhamun’s fabulous treasures and many other priceless artifacts of ancient Egypt.

CLASSIC Drive to walled city of Old Cairo, with Saladin’s 12th-century citadel, and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali.

CLASSIC Drive to “Coptic Cairo” to Abu Serga Church, not only the oldest church in Egypt but built on the spot where the Holy Family stopped and rested towards the end of their journey to Egypt. Proceed to visit the hanging church, which dates back to the fourth century, built on the remains of an old Roman Babylon fortress. Walk to see Cairo’s oldest Jewish synagogue, founded in the 9th century.

* Note: upon its opening, the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza will replace Cairo’s Egyptian Museum for this itinerary.

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Day 4

CAIRO–LUXOR (EMBARKATION) The World’s Greatest Open-Air Museum

Fly 300 miles up the Nile Valley to Luxor to embark on your Nile River cruise.

CLASSIC See the stunning monuments of Luxor and Karnak, ancient cities whose combined populations swelled to more than one million. Walk among the pillars of the colossal Temple of Amun Ra and along the Avenue of the Sphinxes for an experience you will treasure for a lifetime.

Consider an Optional Guided Excursion to enjoy the sound and light show in Karnak Temple.

This evening enjoy live entertainment on board.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LUXOR

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Day 5

LUXOR–EDFU Royal Resting Places of Kings and Queens

CLASSIC Venture to the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens on the west bank of the Nile where generations of pharaohs and nobles were entombed in Cliffside crypts. See where 63 royal tombs have thus far been discovered, of which one was virtually intact—the splendid tomb of Tutankhamun discovered in 1922.

CLASSIC Visit Deir El-Bahri, Queen Hatshepsut’s monumental rock temple. Stop for pictures at the two Colossi of Memnon guarding the valleys.

DISCOVERY This evening enjoy live entertainment on board.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN EDFU

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Day 6

EDFU–KOM OMBO-ASWAN Egyptian Gods of the River and Sky

CLASSIC This morning visit Edfu Temple, also known as the Temple of Horus with its menacing black stone statue of the falcon god.

Enjoy a leisurely sail to Kom Ombo.

DISCOVERY Join an exclusive lecture on this ancient civilization by your Egyptologist.

CLASSIC Enjoy beautiful Kom Ombo for a short walk to its bluff-top twin temples. The right side is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek-Ra, while the left side is dedicated to the falcon god Horus.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ASWAN

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Day 7

ASWAN Temples from Above and Islands Below

This morning, consider flying to Abu Simbel to join a Guided Optional Excursion of the huge massive sandstone temples (weather permitting).

CLASSIC Board a Felucca (traditional wooden sailing boat) and cross the blue waters of the Nile. En route, see the ancient water measurement system, “Nilometer,” on the Nile’s Elephantine Island. Visit Kitchener Island’s lush Botanical Gardens and the splendid Aga Khan Mausoleum on the left bank.

Join an Optional Excursion to the Sound and Light show in Philae Temple.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ASWAN

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Day 8

ASWAN (DISEMBARKATION)–CAIRO Work in Progress and the Goddess Isis

CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Excursion at to explore the Granite Quarries that supplied ancient Egypt with its hard stones for the pyramids in Giza. See the famous unfinished obelisk, still remaining in the quarry.

CLASSIC Visit the gigantic Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970. Board a motor launch to the island of Agilika between the two dams. Visit the Temple Of Isis, which was dismantled from the submerged island of Philae and reassembled here.

Board your flight back to Cairo later today, and consider attending an Optional Dinner Cruise on the Nile to celebrate your Egyptian adventure.

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Day 9

CAIRO Amazing Civilization and Marketplace Mazes

CLASSIC Start the day with a guided tour of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. No visit would be complete without time to experience the Royal Mummies’ Hall, considered the crown jewel of the museum.

CLASSIC Take in a full panoramic view of Cairo from the Nile River—on board a traditional wooden sailing vessel (Felucca). Then enjoy a typical Egyptian light lunch (Coshair or Falafel) with yummy ice cream in downtown Cairo.

CLASSIC Browse the maze of shops in the vast labyrinths of the Khan al Khali Souk bazaar and Medieval alleyways.

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Day 10

CAIRO Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

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