Egypt: Jewels of the Nile

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Marriott Mena House, Cairo. A transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to the Marriott Mena House, Cairo, a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner that celebrates your arrival in this historic land.

From your hotel, you've already seen the silhouette of the pyramids, but today, drive to nearby Giza to see them up close. On a guided tour this morning, visit Egypt's storied pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza – the last of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World and one of the world's most recognizable landmarks. View the mysterious Great Sphinx, guardian of the plateau for more than 3,000 years, before lunch. With an expert guide, visit the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), one of the largest archaeological museums in the world and home to King Tutankhamun's remarkable collection. Then enjoy the remainder of the day in Cairo as you please.

The River Nile has been an invaluable source of life for the people in Egypt throughout history as it provides them with food, water and an important transportation route. Fly to Luxor this morning, site of the ancient city of Thebes and an extraordinary open-air museum, where your Nile cruiser awaits, embarking ship in time for an onboard lunch.

This afternoon, join us for an excursion to the Valley of the Queens, where the antiquities amaze. Continue to the Valley of the Kings for an after-hours private visit that includes entry to King Tutankhamun's tomb, renowned for the wealth of valuable antiquities it contained when it was discovered unopened in 1922. Return to your ship for dinner at leisure.

With three main temples and several smaller ones constructed over hundreds of years, Luxor's Temple of Karnak is the largest complex of its time ever built, developed over a thousand years. Explore the site with an expert guide who shares insights about its history and construction, including the 134-columned Great Hypostyle Hall. A locally guided visit to Luxor Temple, connected to Karnak by an avenue of sphinxes, and dating back to the 1300s BC, follows. Return to your Nile cruiser for lunch and a leisurely afternoon cruise to Esna.

Sail from Esna early morning and disembark at Edfu and visit the Temple of Horus, considered to be among the most beautiful and best-preserved temples in Egypt, with its roof still intact. It took 180 years for the temple to be built, and during your guided visit you'll discover why. Massive statues of Horus as a falcon guard entrances and the reliefs on its interior walls relate the story of the birth of Horus and depict Ptolemaic rulers making offerings to the gods and destroying their enemies.

Return to your ship and cruise to Kom Ombo, where its unusual twin temples are just a walk away from your ship. Temple reliefs here feature a unique engraving thought to depict the first representation of medical and surgical instruments.

Your morning begins with a visit to the ruins of the Monastery of St. Simeon. Dedicated to a 4th century local saint by the name of Anba Hedra, at its peak, the monastery was once home to over 300 monks and 100 pilgrims before, unfortunately, being destroyed in the 12th century.

Your Egyptian exploration continues with a boat ride to Agilkia Island to see the sacred Temple of Isis at Philae, one of the last of the ancient temples constructed in the "classic" Egyptian style. Back aboard ship, enjoy a relaxing afternoon charting a course towards Aswan, highlighted by a sunset felucca cruise and dinner at leisure.

A morning flight brings you to the Nubian village of Abu Simbel for a locally guided visit to its massive temples cut into a solid rock cliff and created during the reign of Ramesses II in the 1200s BC. The Great Temple stands 98 feet high with four seated colossi flanking the entrance and smaller statues depicting Ramessess' conquered enemies lining up below. The smaller temple, some 40 feet high, is adorned by four colossi depicting Ramesses and two of his queen Nefertari at a height of 32 feet.

Your journey continues with an afternoon flight back to Cairo where you'll check into your riverside hotel, The St. Regis Cairo, with outstanding views of the Nile and Old Cairo. Enjoy dinner tonight at the hotel. . Regis Cairo

Begin your day with a visit to the City of the Dead to explore a tomb and meet the family that cares for the deceased. Established in the 7th century as a burial ground filled with grand mausoleums, the area has, over time, been transformed into a living community – home to nearly a million people who dwell among the dead. Pause for lunch in nearby Al-Azhar Park, a lush green space beloved by locals, before a visit to the Al Rifa'i Mosque or the Sultan Hassan Mosque. Enjoy an evening at leisure.

On the right bank of the Nile River, explore the sites of historic Old Coptic Cairo, dating to the 6th century BC, including places associated with the Holy Family – Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus. A guided tour includes Roman ruins, ancient Coptic churches, and mosques, with visits to The Hanging Church and St. Sergius Church.

After exploring Coptic Cairo, drive to the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar and enjoy lunch at Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant, named after Egypt's most celebrated writer. Spend time wandering the market's lanes filled with textiles, jewelry, spices, and souvenirs. Join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight.

Tour ends: Cairo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the The St. Regis Cairo to Cairo Airport. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport.