Splendors of Egypt & the Nile

The ancient quarter of Cairo is intense—the colors, the sounds, the density of people—and it's likely been this way for thousands of years. Your local expert will show you a 12th-century citadel, the beautiful Alabaster Mosque, and the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Featured Excursion: Citadel of Salah Al-Din, The Alabaster Mosque, & Grand Egyptian Museum

Note: Dressing modestly is recommended as a show of respect for the culture and customs of the Egyptian people. In particular, women should ensure that shoulders are covered and legs are concealed at least to the knee on all shore excursions throughout this itinerary.

Prepare to be amazed at the legendary Temple of Karnak, a massive and absolutely astounding site, with gigantic columns, broad avenues lined with stone sphinxes and halls of truly epic proportions. This evening, you'll revel in a Welcome Reception and Dinner onboard.

Featured Excursions: Choice of Temple at Karnak OR The Uniworld Cup

Note: Flights to Luxor depart early in the morning to take advantage of more favorable weather and traffic conditions, and to optimize tour scheduling. Before dinner onboard this evening, guests will be treated to a folkloric dance performance. A local band of dancers, in traditional costumes representing different Egyptian districts, will perform a Whirling Dervish show.

Like its twin shrine, the Temple of Karnak, the Temple of Luxor stands on the site of ancient Thebes, the once flourishing capital of Egypt's New Kingdom. It was built over hundreds of years and even in ruins it is still an extraordinary place. You'll also visit the Temple of Hathor, dedicated to the goddess of love and beauty.

Featured Excursions: Choice of Temple of Hathor OR Temple of Luxor

The word “colossal” will take on a whole new meaning after today's excursion to the gigantic twin statues known as the Colossi of Memnon. And that's just the beginning—you'll also visit the temple of one of Egypt's rare female pharaohs as well as the Valley of the Kings, used as a royal burial place for nearly 500 years and where the mummified remains of Tutankhamen are on display.

Featured Excursions: Choice of Colossi of Memnon, Hatshepsut Temple and Valley of the Kings OR Village Life

Note: After dinner onboard tonight, guests will enjoy a Galabeya Party with music, dancing and singing by crew members. Guests are encouraged to bring their own Galabeya clothing.

After visiting a temple dedicated to a crocodile god today (don't miss the display of some of the 300 mummified crocs found in the local area), take a ride in a felucca—a traditional Egyptian sailboat—and enjoy afternoon tea at a famous hotel depicted in Agatha Christie's novel Death on the Nile.

Featured Excursions: Choice of Kom Ombo Temple OR Boat Ride in Traditional Nile River Felucca and Sunset Tea at the Old Cataract Hotel Aswan

Today is an epic day, filled with wonders from start to finish. You'll visit a marvel of modern engineering—the Aswan High Dam—as well as the Unfinished Obelisk and the beautiful Philae Temple complex, which was moved from one island to another back in the 1970s. But wait, there's more. You'll also hop aboard a small boat for a bird-watching excursion along the Nile.

Featured Excursions: Choice of Aswan High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Temple of Isis OR Life on the Nile Tour by Motorboat OR Surfing the Dunes

Note: After dinner onboard this evening, you'll be treated to an enchanting Nubian show featuring traditionally attired performers, live music and dancing.

Spend the day at leisure or join us for an optional excursion to see the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel.

Featured Excursion: Game Night

On today's excursion, you'll learn how the Temple of Esna was buried under debris for many centuries and is one of the last great Egyptian temples ever built. Your Egyptologist guide will share all sorts of fascinating insights about this significant cultural site and show you the façade bearing the last known hieroglyphic inscriptions ever recorded in Egypt.

Featured Excursions: Choice of Temple of Khnum OR Aye Aye Captain OR Biking the Nile

Note: Later, savor the Nile's majestic scenery as the ship cruises to Luxor.

Disembark in Luxor and transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo. After checking in to your luxury hotel, you'll have time to relax on your own and explore Cairo at your leisure.

Note: Flights to Cairo depart early in the morning to take advantage of more favorable weather and traffic conditions, and to optimize tour scheduling.

It's a day of Bucket List Moments today as we venture to see a number of amazing monuments—including the enigmatic Great Sphinx. You'll have a thrilling opportunity to view the pyramids from an up-close perspective, the only way to fully appreciate their remarkable size and grandeur.

Featured Excursions: Choice of Pyramids at Giza, the Great Sphinx, and Sakkara Visit OR A Country Club Outing

Check out of your hotel. If you have arranged a Uniworld departure transfer, you will be transferred to the Cairo International Airport for your flight home. Or, extend your trip with a memorable optional extension in Jerusalem or on the Red Sea.

Note: Ship schedule and order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary. Tour to port of destination by motorcoach and substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to the impact of water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors.