On each excursion, your extremely knowledgeable Egyptologist will share extraordinary details that bring ancient Egypt to life. Today, tour the remarkable Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest dedicated to one civilization, that showcases extraordinary relics spanning ancient Egyptian history, including pre-history; the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms; and the Late and Roman period. At tonight’s Welcome Reception in the hotel, get better acquainted with your fellow travelers.

Today, witness the pyramid’s evolution from flat, mudbrick prototypes called mastabas to terraced stone tombs and ultimately, Giza’s colossal structures. In Saqqara, visit the Mastaba of Mereruka, King Teti’s Pyramid Tomb and the Step Pyramid of Djoser, considered the first pyramid. Marvel at the Great Pyramid of Giza built for the pharaoh Khufu out of approximately 2.3 million massive blocks, as well as the iconic, enigmatic Sphinx nearby.

Discover Al-Muizz Street and Islamic Cairo today. Stroll with your guide along lively Al-Muizz, where Cairo’s many grand mosques are located. Tour the 13th-century Qalawun complex, featuring a madrassa, mausoleum and historic hospital, and visit Bayt Al-Suhaymi, a beautiful, 17th-century house. Then, take in the local scene at the colorful Khan el Khalili bazaar. After a delicious lunch, delve into Coptic Cairo with visits to the Hanging Church, one of the oldest churches in Egypt, and the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus, believed to be built over a cave where Mary, Joseph and Jesus once rested after fleeing to Egypt.

Fly to Luxor this morning to explore the glories of ancient Thebes, the capital city of the Middle and New Kingdoms. At the Luxor Museum, admire artifacts from its temples and necropolis. Afterward, enjoy lunch at the Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa before checking in. Rejoin your group later and sail by felucca along the Nile River to the Temple of Luxor. Commissioned by Amenhotep III, this majestic complex was connected to the Temple of Karnak by an avenue of sphinxes.

Explore the captivating Valleys of the Kings and Queens, where New Kingdom pharaohs and their families awaited immortality in once hidden tombs. Amazingly, hieroglyphics adorning the walls still spring vibrantly to life. Visit Tutankhamen’s tomb, the Tomb of Seti I, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and Amun-her-Khepeshef’s tomb before embarking the ship for your Nile cruise. Later in Luxor, learn about the Chicago House’s preservation work during an exclusive visit.

This morning, visit the Temple of Karnak, a sprawling city of temples built over a period of 2,000 years. In this awe-inspiring religious site, be awed by a veritable forest of 134 gigantic sandstone columns while wandering through the great hall of the Temple of Amun-Ra. After lunch on the ship, take advantage of the onboard amenities during your leisure time this afternoon. Later, watch from the rail as the ship transits the Esna Lock.

Relax at leisure amid the tranquil scenery while cruising to Edfu this morning. At the wonderfully preserved Temple of Horus, see decorative reliefs that have revealed intriguing details about ancient life. After lunch on board, join an Egyptologist for an engaging talk. Disembark in Kom Ombo to explore the unusual double temple complex of crocodile-headed Sobek, god of fertility, and falcon-headed Haroeris, god of the sky. Enjoy tonight’s onboard entertainment.

After docking in Aswan this morning, fly to Abu Simbel to visit the Great Temple of Ramses II carved out of sandstone cliffs. Behold the four mammoth statues of the king flanking the entrance. Equally captivating is the neighboring temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari. Fly back to Aswan and unwind this afternoon during free time. Tonight, gather for a gala Farewell Reception and Dinner on the ship to commemorate your unforgettable adventure in Egypt.

Your Nile River cruise concludes this morning. Disembark the ship and sail by felucca to the beautiful island temple complex of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis. Afterward, learn the ancient process of handcrafting papyrus at the Papyrus Institute and continue to the High Dam, an engineering marvel built in the 1960s. Later, fly to Cairo. Relax in your evening room at the InterContinental Citystars Cairo before an early morning departure for your flight home.

Very early this morning, head home.

NOTE: Itinerary may change due to local conditions.