Onboard the international flight to Cairo.

Arrive in Cairo, find your own transportation to your hotel or you can choose the optional private airport pick-up service ($80/ Person--Minimum to 2 ppl). 

Overnight stay in Cairo.

Cairo, the largest city in Africa with a population of 16 million, has been the capital city since 973 AD. Nicked-named “City of a Thousand Minarets”, Cairo has 3100 years of splendid history especially after 641 AD which has earned the historical section a UNESCO  site listing.  Your guide will take you to the outskirts of the city and admire the UNESCO  listed Great Pyramids of Giza, built some 4500 years ago. Being the tallest constructions of the whole world till the 19th century, Pyramids have been one of the “Seven Wonders of the World” and the symbol of ancient Egyptian civilization for thousands of years. Next is the famous Great Sphinx which was carved out of one huge piece of limestone about 4600 years ago. Afterwards, tacking on the busy Khan el-Khalili Market will for sure add a local touch on your journey in the historic center of the ancient Cairo.Visit Papyrus Institute and learn how this ancient art has been revived after thousands of years.

Tonight, we are flying to Aswan and stay overnight in Aswan.

Today is an exciting day as you will board your 5-star cruise on the Nile. Before the embarkation, we highly recommend our optional tour to Abu Simbel Temples.

 Optional Tour: Abu Simbel Temples tour U$149/Person

Departure:  Approximate 4:00-4:30 AM 

Duration: 8-9 Hours

Upon arrival, discover the majestic Abu Simbel Temples, the largest and the most impressive temples of Ancient Egypt. The Abu Simbel Temples are two massive rock temples. The complex is listed as the UNESCO  World Heritage Site known as the “Nubian Monuments” which runs from Abu Simbel downriver to Philae near Aswan. The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the 19th dynasty reign of the Pharaoh Ramesses II. They serve as a lasting monument to the king and his queen Nefertari as well as to commemorate the victory at the Battle of Kadesh. Believe it or not, this whole complex was relocated little by little to the present site from 1964 to 1968 to avoid the rising flood from the construction of the High Dam.

For all group members,begin your day by exploring the well-known Aswan Dam Site, one of the seven world largest hydropower stations. Aswan has been around known for the local quarries of high quality marbles and that is part of the reasons why the dam was built here. In ancient times, most of the stone pillars and granite columns for the temples and mausoleums were from Aswan and you will be invited to see the Unfinished Obelisk in an open-air archaeological museum during the tour. Because of the construction of the High Dam and in order to avoid being submerged in the man-made lake, the Temple of Philae, built for worshiping Isis, was dismantled and removed to an island in 1979 piece by piece. Being one of the temples left from the Ptolemaic dynasty, this temple complex has been well protected by UNESCO  and it is becoming an unique island-based temple attracting numerous pilgrims from all over the world. Egyptian cotton is world famous and never miss out the opportunity to explore the local workshop in Aswan to get first hand information. 

Overnight stay on the cruise.

Remarks for the Nile cruise:

1.Wifi on the cruise might be slow or unstable. Rate is around U$5 per hour or U$10 per day for each device.

2.Beverages onboard including alcohol, soft drinks and water are all available for a fee.

3.Time to go through the lock is depending on the navigation authority and water conditions.

4.Daily meals are generally buffet style.

5.There is normally no elevators on the vessel.

Today, our cruise starts sailing downstream from Aswan and will be docked for you to go ashore for touring some significant historical sites. The Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus, was built in a strict symmetrical order in the New Kingdom with delicate reliefs and intricate texts on the walls. An amazing Nilometer was found inside the temple for measuring the water conditions and flood level back in the old days. Continue on to the Temple of Horus at Edfu which is still intact from the Ptolemaic Kingdom. This temple is by far one of the best preserved shrines in Egypt due to the fact that it was buried 12 meters underground for centuries owing to the layers of silt from the Nile. The carvings and inscriptions on the wall indicate the mythical legend of Osiris, Seth, Isis and Horus.

Overnight on the cruise.

Today, our cruise navigates its way towards Luxor, an old capital city named Thebes in the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom period, now called an “Open-air Museum Town” dotted with over 500 ancient tombs. The whole ancient Thebes with its Necropolis has been granted UNESCO  status, bearing witness to the height of Egyptian civilization. Get off the ship and hit the road to admire the Luxor Temple built 3400 years ago by Amenhotep III of the 18th dynasty to enshrine and worship Amon-Ra, Mut and Khonsu. Connected by the Rams Road, on the other side of this avenue is the magnificent Karnak Temple, the world"s largest religious complex existing from ancient times. It took about 50 Pharaohs, around 1700 years since 2000 BC to finish this huge project. The 134  iconic and massive columns of the Hypostyle Hall are often seen in some blockbuster movies.

Overnight on the cruise.

We invite the early risers to participate in an unforgettable adventure (optional) by riding on a hot air balloon at sunrise time. Luxor is one of the top 3 world-famous destinations ideal for hot air balloon activity as this is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy the aerial views of the spectacular Valley of the Kings, the striking monuments and the wriggling Nile.

 Optional Tour: Morning hot air balloon ride U$149/person

Remarks for hot air balloon experience:

1. 1)We strongly suggest early booking as the demand is usually high and the availability is limited especially during busy seasons.
2. 2)The ride may be canceled any time depending on the weather conditions.
3. 3)Bring extra layers for the high-altitude chill and do not wear high heels or short skirts.
4. 4)Follow safety instructions and keep the correct landing position.
5. 5)Participants are offered safety insurance by the reputable licensed service providers.
6. 6)Seniors,very young kids or anyone with physical/health issues are not recommended for this activity.
7. 7)Participants come back to the cruise for breakfast after the activity.

Departure: Approximate 5:00-5:30AM depending on the season

Duration: 3 Hours

After breakfast on the cruise, bid farewell to your moving home on the Nile and we are scheduled to marvel at the Valley of the Kings with a quick stop en route at Colossi of Memnon. These two huge sandstone statues of Amenhotep III have been standing here for 3400 years as if he is still elaborating his motivations for all his construction works. Proceed to the grand Mortuary of Hatshepsut on three elevated terraces against the sheer cliffs. This masterpiece of architecture was built to commemorate and worship Hatshepsut who was enthroned as a female Pharaoh and stayed in power for 21 years.Stop at a local perfume gallery and study the history of this well known special local product.

Fly back to Cairo. Enjoy the rest of the day for free.

Overnight stay in Cairo.

Head to Alexandria by bus (135mi/220km) and enjoy the unique North African countryside along the way. Being the second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria used to be the capital city for Copts and now it is a captivating summer resort known as “Bride of the Mediterranean Sea". Upon arrival, spend some time admiring the Citadel of Qaitbay constructed on the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the “Seven World Wonders”. It is estimated that the lighthouse was at least 330ft/100m tall but it collapsed during a severe earthquake after standing for about 1700 years. Al Muntazah Palace is our next stop where you have a chance to appreciate this Summer Palace finished in 1892 in Roman and Turkish styles, catering to the Egyptian royal family. Kom El-Shuqafa lies the western necropolis of Alexandria with three stories underground. The catacombs were cut and carved from solid stone about 98ft/30m deep from about 1800 years ago, symbolizing the ancient Roman funeral tradition. Next,  visit Pompey’s Pillar, the city landmark tower built in 291 AD accompanied by two red granite sphinxes. Take a walk along the Seaside Promenade, lined with restaurants, malls, clubs and coffee shops.

Drive back to Cairo and stay overnight.

 Optional Tour: Cairo by night with dinner U$99/person

Step out in the evening and take in the beauty of Cairo by night. Embark on a cruise and glide through Cairo from the old town to the new town while savoring a tasteful dinner. Watching and enjoying the belly dance, folklore show, live band, Tanoura spin and illuminated skyline of the city will be a perfect way to wrap up your unforgettable day.

Enjoy your free day or you may join us for an optional in-depth tour of Cairo with special lunch.

 Optional Tour: Cairo city tour with special lunch U$169/person

Head straight to the French designed Cairo Museum, home to a large collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. Among the 300,000 priceless relics, the valuable Narmer Palette, the storied Rosetta Stele, the mysterious mummies and the shining gold mask of Tutankhamun are some of the most significant treasures depicting the dazzling glory of Egypt in history. Continue to the Citadel of Saladin, a medieval fortress set on top of Mokattam Hills overlooking the whole city. Situated on the summit of the citadel, there is an impressive Ottoman style structure, Alabaster Mosque built by Muhammad Ali who was the governor of Egypt and the founder of modern Egypt. Walk around the unique Coptic Section before a delicious Kebab&Kushari lunch. Afternoon visit is the ancient Memphis, the capital city of ancient Egypt featuring the Pyramid of DJoser, the very first pyramid ever constructed in the history of Egypt and also the huge granite Statue of Ramesses II, a 9-meter tall figure made 3200 years ago.

Overnight stay in Cairo.

After breakfast, check out from your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home (transfer is not included).

*Please note: Depending on the air scheduling and availability, your flight back to USA/Canada may depart very early in the morning the next day (00:00 am-03:00 am).

For your final day, you may explore the city on your own and transfer to the airport in the evening. Hotel check-out is before noontime. (Late check-out may be available for a fee subject to the hotel policy).