Ancient Egypt
& Nile River Cruise

Welcome to Cairo, “Mother of the World”.

Arrive any time and enjoy your (included) transfer from the airport to your hotel for check-in. 

Meals included: None

Desert Sands and Secrets of the Sphinx

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 free time for lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch, we'll head 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.

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.

Meals included: Breakfast

Ancient Cairo

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.

We'll then head to walled city of Old Cairo, with Saladin’s 12th-century citadel, and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali.

From there, we're on to “Coptic Cairo” to see the Cave Church where the Virgin Mary and Jesus sought refuge while in 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.

Meals included: Breakfast

The World’s Greatest Open-Air Museum

Today we fly 300 miles up the Nile Valley to Luxor (flight included) to embark on our Nile River cruise.

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.

Overnight docking in Luxor. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Royal Resting Places of Kings and Queens

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 62 royal tombs have thus far been discovered, of which one was virtually intact—the splendid tomb of Tutankhamun discovered in 1922.

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

This evening enjoy live entertainment on board.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN EDFU

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Egyptian Gods of the River and Sky

This morning visit the Temple of Horus with its menacing black stone statue of the falcon god.

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.

Enjoy a leisurely sail to Aswan. 

Enjoy an exclusive lecture on this ancient civilization by your Egyptologist.

Tonight, enjoy live entertainment onboard.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ASWAN.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

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).

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.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Work in Progress and the Goddess Isis

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.

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

Meals included: Breakfast

Amazing Palaces and Marketplace Mazes

Enjoy a special tour of the world’s widest open-air museum to admire palaces and mosques. Browse the maze of shops in the vast labyrinths of the Khan al Khali Souk bazaar and Medieval alleyways.

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) in downtown Cairo.

Discover Cairo by night on an orientation tour in the old city.

Meals included: Breakfast

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Meals included: Breakfast

We'll spend 5 nights in the ancient city of Cairo; 4 nights on the Nile River on a beautiful cruise ship.

All hotels during the land portion of this trip (Cairo) are 5-star, first class accommodations. 

Staterooms on our Nile River cruise are spacious (239 sq ft) deluxe outside cabins with panoramic windows, french balconies, private bathrooms with bathtubs, mini bar and more. 

Trip cost is $4,299 (per person, double occupancy).

A $500 (non-refundable) deposit holds your spot. The final payment is due July 1, 2024.

Travel insurance is required.

*Cost includes accommodations, intra-tour air, transfers, port charges, and everything outlined in the itinerary.

INTRA-TOUR AIR:

• Roundtrip flights from Cairo to Luxor (where we embark upon our roundtrip Luxor to Luxor Nile River cruise)

TRANSFERS: 

• ARRIVALS: Transfers from the airport to hotel accommodations are included for arrivals within 24 hours of the trip start date.
• DEPARTURES: Airport transfers to the airport are provided for flights taking place on November 10th for transfers starting no earlier than 6 a.m., with the last transfer at 6 p.m.

MEALS:

• All meals as outlined in the itinerary 

ON LAND:

• Deluxe, 5-star accommodations
• All transportation as outlined in itinerary
• All included tours and excursions (as outlined in itinerary)
• And more

ON YOUR NILE RIVER CRUISE:

• Outside cabins with panoramic windows.
• Included shore excursions with Egyptologist.
• Headsets for shore excursions. 
• Modern bathrooms. 
• Enjoy color satellite TV on the Nile River. 
• Large closets with shelves for ample storage. 
• Delicious meals - both Western and Eastern cuisine. 
• English-speaking crew. 
• Remarkable service throughout the cruise. 
• Internet access on the Nile River to stay in touch with family. 
• Complimentary glass of wine or beer at dinner. 
• Complimentary soft drinks with lunch and dinner. 
• And, much more.

You'll have very little to worry about on this trip. However, there are a few things that are NOT included in the price:

• International air
• Additional nights hotel
• Transfers outside of the included transfers for this trip
• Tips & gratuities
• Meals not expressly included in the itinerary
• Alcoholic drinks not expressly included in the itinerary
• Additional/optional excursions beyond those included in the itinerary
• Travel Insurance
• Items of a personal nature
• Anything not expressly listed under inclusions for this trip

Travel insurance is required. You have a couple of options available to you:

1. Travel protection is offered through the supplier for $439 per person. This is a comprehensive policy that covers air and includes an "Any Reason" Cancel Waiver. If you purchase within 14 days of your initial deposit, it also includes a pre-existing conditions waiver. You can learn more about that here.

2. You may also purchase travel insurance independent of the supplier. This is who I use.

 
3. I can also take care of this for you. Let me know if you'd like me to prepare and send a quote to you for your consideration. 

You've traveled all this way, why not make the most of your time here? Ask me about the 4-night Jordan extension. 

OR, ask me for more information on the 8-Day Morocco Tour which would take place immediately prior to this trip. Limited spaces are available.

The minimum allowed age on this trip is 8 years of age. 

That's what I'm here for! Call 407-383-4196 or email [email protected] with all your questions, and let's get you one step closer to your trip of a lifetime!