Your journey begins with an overnight flight to Egypt, arriving in Cairo on Day 2. Or depart earlier for a fascinating pre-trip extension to Jerusalem & Bethlehem.

Welcome to Egypt! If you purchased your airfare with us, a Vantage representative will meet you at the airport and assist with transfers to your hotel. You’ll have time to settle in and relax before joining your fellow travelers for a Welcome Dinner at the hotel tonight.

Your day will begin with breakfast and a Welcome Briefing at your hotel. Enjoy a morning at leisure and lunch at the hotel before heading out to explore Cairo’s Egyptian Museum. This is the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East, and houses the largest collection of pharaonic antiquities in the world. The museum’s extensive collection spans from the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman Era. Following lunch at your hotel, you’ll head out for visit of this storied institution and its unrivaled collection, including the complete burials of Yuya and Thuya, and the Narmer Palette commemorating the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under one king. Later, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Included Feature:

• Egyptian Museum visit

Your day begins with an exciting excursion to the Giza Plateau to see Egypt’s iconic Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. Constructed as tombs for the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, each of these three structures was built by hand using finely tuned ancient techniques that remain a mystery today. At 455 feet tall, the Pyramid of Khufu — also called the Great Pyramid of Giza — is the oldest and largest of the three, dating back to approximately 2580 BC. Neighboring this ancient archaeological site, is the enigmatic Great Sphinx, a huge limestone statue depicting the body of a lion with falcon wings and a human head. While the true date of its construction is not, the consensus amongst Egyptologists is that the head bears a likeness to the pharaoh Khafre, making it over 4,600 years old. Next, visit one of Cairo’s many carpet-making schools for a live demonstration of this skilled handicraft before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, you’ll conclude your tour at the ancient UNESCO site of Saqqara, where you’ll explore the Step Pyramid. Built to honor Djoser, the second king of Egypt’s 3^rd dynasty, this limestone structure is believed to be the world’s earliest pyramid, constructed around the 27^th century BC.

Included Features:

• Pyramids of Giza excursion
• Visit the Great Sphinx
• Carpet school visit
• Step Pyramid visit in Saqqara

Cultural Connection:

• Carpet-making demonstration

Following breakfast at your hotel, you’ll have a full day to explore Cairo at your own pace. Tonight’s dinner will be served at your hotel.

Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Delve into the fascinating history of Islam in Egypt on an optional tour of the Cairo’s ancient religious sites. Learn more

After breakfast, you’ll transfer to the Cairo airport and board a flight to Luxor. Upon arrival, you’ll embark the luxurious h/s Nebu, your home for the Nile River portion of your journey. Settle into your sumptuous stateroom and enjoy a delicious lunch on board, before heading out for an afternoon exploration of Luxor Temple. Situated on the East Bank of the Nile River, in what was once the ancient city of Thebes, this magnificent temple complex dates back to approximately 1400 BCE. Unlike other ancient Egyptian temples, Luxor Temple was not dedicated to a deity, but rather it signified the rejuvenation of kingship in Egypt. In fact, the temple was expanded over the following centuries by several pharaohs, including Amenhotep III, Ramses II, and Tutankhamun, among others. You’ll explore this massive structure before returning to the ship for dinner and an evening of relaxation on board.

Included Features:

• Luxor Temple visit

Following breakfast this morning, you’ll set off for an early morning visit to the West Bank of the Nile and the legendary Valley of the Kings. Over 60 pharaohs and other notable rulers of Egypt’s New Kingdom were entombed in the burial chambers excavated on this site over the span of 500 years. The West Bank location of this royal burial ground was specifically selected due to its religious significance. Due to the rising and setting of the sun, ancient Egyptians believed the sun god Set died in the west and was reborn in the east. For this reason, the west came to have funerary associations and ancient Egyptian cemeteries were generally situated on the West Bank of the Nile River. Your discoveries will continue with a visit to one of the most beautiful temples in all of Egypt: Deir el-Bahri. Built right into the side of a sheer rock wall, this multi-terraced, royal mortuary is known as the Temple of Hatshepsut. Following the death of her husband, Hatshepsut became Egypt’s longest-reigning female pharaoh. Her reign was marked by prosperity and the establishment of new trade routes, making her one of Egypt’s most successful rulers. You’ll return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon at leisure on board.

Included Feature:

• Tour the Valley of the Kings
• Visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

Today you continue cruising up the Nile, arriving late morning at the Temple of Kom Ombo, beautifully situated on a small hillside right beside the river. Discover its unique “double” design, with symmetrical halves dedicated to two different gods.

The southern half of the temple is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and protector against the dangers of the Nile, while the northern part of the temple is dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris, or "Horus the Elder,” patron god of the pharaohs. The path out of the temple complex leads to the Crocodile Museum, which houses a fascinating collection of mummified crocodiles and ancient carvings. We’ll return to the ship for lunch and sail onwards to the city of Aswan.

Enjoy cruising toward Aswan, Upper Egypt’s most beautiful location, with its views of the West Bank.

Included Feature:

• Temple of Kom Ombo visit

You’ll get an idea of the vastness of Egypt’s ancient dynasties as we fly 175 miles south from Aswan to visit the great twin temples of Abu Simbel. Along with the Temple of Isis at Philae, they are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known collectively as the Nubian Monuments. Here, imposing 70-foot statues of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari overlook the Nile. Originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC to commemorate Ramses II’s victory against the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh, the huge rock relief figures at their entrances have become famous icons, and the sight of them is well worth the extra flight.

What makes them even more interesting, however, is that these enormous temples were not always found here. Between 1964 and 1968, a famous rescue mission — overseen by UNESCO — was undertaken to save them from the waters’ inexorable rise behind the Aswan High Dam. In an epic feat of engineering, the entire complex was carefully cut into large blocks, dismantled, lifted and reassembled in a new location.

After marveling at the architectural ingenuity of both the past and present, fly back to Aswan in time to enjoy lunch on board the ship. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure in Aswan. Enjoy dinner back on board this evening.

Included Feature:

• Abu Simbel temple visit

Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Embark on a leisurely cruise along the Nile River aboard a traditional wooden felucca sailboat. Learn more

Today you’ll explore the area around Aswan, beginning with the massive Aswan High Dam. This 13,000-foot-long and 3,200-foot-wide wall was built across the Nile between 1960 and 1970 with Soviet support. It supplanted the British-built Low Dam of the 1900s and created the vast reservoir known today as Lake Nasser. Standing atop its ramparts, you’ll learn how it transformed the economy and culture of Egypt.

Later, take a short boat ride across the reservoir of the Aswan Low Dam to visit the elegant Temple of Philae, another of UNESCO’s Nubian Monuments that had to be rescued from flooding. Philae was originally located near the First Cataract but was flooded after the construction of the Aswan Low Dam. As part of the UNESCO Nubia Campaign project, the temple complex was moved to a nearby island to protect it before the completion of the Aswan High Dam. You'll also see the granite quarries of Aswan, where high-quality stone was sourced for sculptures and structures throughout ancient Egypt, and visit some of the monuments here.

After lunch on board ship, you set sail for Edfu. This evening, don traditional galabiyas for a fun costume party on board. Dressed like an Egyptian, you’ll be ready to dance like an Egyptian, too, as a vibrant Oriental show with lively music sets the mood for a festive night like no other.

• Tour the Aswan High Dam
• Visit the Temple of Philae
• Visit the granite quarries of Aswan

Cultural Connection:

• Galabiya party

Horse-drawn carriages will be waiting for us along the waterfront at Edfu this morning for the ride through this small river city to the famously well-preserved temple of Horus. The largest temple dedicated to the falcon god, it is notable for the two stone falcons at its entrance and the huge relief figures on its façade.

The temple was built in the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC, but was literally lost beneath the sands of time as drifting desert sand and river silt deposited by the Nile buried it to a depth of 40 feet. Local inhabitants built their homes over it and, by 1798, when the temple was discovered by a French expedition, only the upper portions of the pylons were visible.

This afternoon, during lunch on board ship, you’ll enjoy more scenic Nile cruising as we return to Luxor.

Included Feature:

• Visit Horus Temple

Today, you’ll explore two of Egypt’s most illustrious shrines: the Karnak and Luxor temple complexes. Said to be the world’s largest religious structure in area, the vast Karnak Temple complex was built and used over a period of 2,000 years. You’ll be awed by the Great Hypostyle Hall, where a monolithic forest of 134 huge columns is laid out in 16 rows. The largest are 33 feet around and soar to 80 feet in height.

A walkway lined with rams-head sphinxes leads all the way from Karnak to the 3,500-year-old Luxor Temple complex. Dedicated to the Theban Triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu, Luxor’s graceful inner courtyards are lined with Ramesside colossi and graceful columns covered in carvings and hieroglyphics.

After dinner this evening, you’ll be treated to a transfixing belly-dancing show on board ship. Famed for its controlled and precise movements, this gyrating art form is said to have originated in Cairo’s nightclubs before graduating to the silver screen.

Included Features:

• Karnak Temple Visit
• Luxor Temple Visit

• Belly dancing show

It's time to bid farewell to the Nile and the crew of the h/s Nebu, as you continue to the city founded by Alexander the Great, Egypt’s port with a decidedly Mediterranean climate. After a flight to Cairo and a transfer to Alexandria, you arrive in time for lunch at a local restaurant — the perfect opportunity to indulge in some of the city’s famous seafood. After checking into your sumptuous shorefront hotel, you’ll have the evening and dinner at leisure.

After breakfast, you'll explore Alexandria's historical treasures. Begin with the underground catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, an extensive subterranean burial site that dates to the Greco-Roman era of the 2nd century. Many of the features of the catacombs merge Roman, Greek, and Egyptian cultures; for example, some statues are Egyptian in style, yet bear Roman clothes and hairstyles. The location of the site had long been lost and was only rediscovered in 1900 when an unfortunate donkey stumbled into one of the shafts.

You’ll also visit Alexandria’s tallest monument, Pompey’s Pillar. Dating to the 4th century, it stands 90 feet tall and 30 feet wide and was hewn from a single block of red granite brought all the way from Aswan, almost 700 miles away. Following lunch at a local restaurant, your tour of Alexandrine history and culture continues with a visit to the Roman Amphitheatre and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Built in 2002 as a worthy successor to the lost Ancient Wonder of the Great Library of Alexandria, the extraordinary library and cultural center contains millions of books in English, French, and classical Arabic, as well as four museums. Enjoy dinner on your own tonight.

• Visit the Kom el Shoqafa Catacombs
• Visit Pompey's Pillar
• Visit the Citadel
• Visit Roman Theater
• Visit Library of Alexandria

This morning, we’ll conclude our explorations of Alexandria with a visit to the Royal Jewelry Museum, home to the vast collections of jewelry and acquired by the royals of Egypt’s Muhammad Ali Dynasty. After, we return by motorcoach to Cairo. Upon arrival, check into your deluxe hotel, located in the upscale Cairo suburb of Heliopolis, conveniently close to Cairo Airport. After an afternoon at leisure to pack or relax in the hotel’s pool and garden, drink a final toast to your Egyptian journey during a Farewell Dinner at the hotel.

• Visit the Royal Jewelry Museum

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Cairo airport for your flight home to the U.S., or fly on to Jordan for your post-trip extension to the Lost City of Petra and Amman.