Egypt & the Nile

Arrive in Cairo, where you are met by your A&K representative and transferred to your historic hotel ideally situated near the last remaining Ancient Wonder of the World — the Great Pyramid of Giza.

This morning, join your expert A&K Egyptologist for an exploration of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities to view its huge collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts including the treasures from King Tut's tomb. After lunch, accompany your Egyptologist for the unveiling of 12 never-before-seen main galleries at the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum, part of a soft opening that showcases 15,000 artifacts spanning Egypt's history. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity puts you up close with items, from the stone tools and pottery of the earliest human settlements along the Nile to the artifacts of the Graeco-Roman era, that reflect the evolution of one of the world's most remarkable civilizations. Tonight, gather with your fellow guests for a welcome dinner.

Today, roam the Giza Plateau, site of the pyramids of Mycerinus and Chephren as well as the Great Pyramid, built in the Fourth Dynasty (approximately 2690 BC). Revel in the opportunity to enter the interior of one of these legendary structures, and marvel at the massive stones used to construct them. Afterward, enjoy time to view the Great Sphinx backdropped by the pyramids, a setting that has captured the imaginations of adventurers for centuries.

Fly to Luxor, site of the ancient city of Thebes. Begin your full day of exploring by visiting the striking Temple of Luxor. View the three large statues of Ramses II along the front of the temple pylons, the Courtyard of Ramses II and the Colonnade of Amenhotep III, with its 50-foot-high columns. Walk in their shadows, as visitors have done since antiquity, and ponder the astonishing feats of engineering it took to create them. Then, step aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat IV, an elegant river cruiser renowned for the warmth and attentiveness of its service staff. Enjoy lunch on board before disembarking to explore the Temple of Karnak, where generations of pharaohs wished to record their names. Walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall, strolling among its expertly aligned columns, which soar 80 feet high.

Journey to the west bank of the Nile river and the Necropolis of Thebes, and view the Colossi of Memnon. Stop at the Valley of the Queens, enjoying access to Queen Nefertari’s tomb, famous for the colorful artwork that adorns its walls. Continue to the architecturally stunning Temple of Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s first female pharaoh and regarded today as one of its most successful. Carry on to the Valley of the Kings, burial ground of the pharaohs and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a period of 500 years beginning in the 16th century BC, tombs were built along this valley for pharaohs and nobles, including that of “the boy king,” Tutankhamun. Enter the tomb of Tutankhamun — found in 1922 by British archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter — to discover the secrets of this storied chamber. Next, descend into the beautifully decorated tomb of Seti I, the father of Ramses II, one of the best-preserved tombs in the valley.

Today, view the Temple of Horus, falcon-headed god of the sky, at Edfu. Built in 230 BC by Ptolemy III, this amazingly well-preserved and colorful structure reveals what temple worship in ancient Egypt was like. Back on board, learn to prepare local dishes during a Chef ’s Table experience: a cooking lesson with an onboard chef. Later this afternoon, enjoy a refreshing Scenic Sundowner as you cruise to Kom Ombo. Disembark at Kom Ombo (hill of gold) to visit the Greco-Roman temple dedicated to Haroeris (the sun god) and Sobek (the crocodile god), whom some ancient Egyptians considered the creator of the world. View the mummified remains of several crocodiles that once basked along the ancient Nile shore, just as their descendants do today.

Cruise to Aswan and proceed to the ancient granite quarries and site of the Unfinished Obelisk. Illustrating the skills of Egypt’s stonemasons, this monolith is taller than any other ancient Egyptian obelisk. Board a motorized boat to picturesque Philae Temple on the island of Agilika. A sacred complex dedicated to the goddess Isis, it reflects a fusion of three great civilizations: Egyptian, Greek and Roman. Later, sail around the Aswan Islands in a felucca (traditional sailboat).

Today, bid farewell to Sanctuary Sun Boat IV, disembarking to fly to Abu Simbel and discover the commanding twin temples of Ramses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari. The former’s façade is dominated by four 70-foot-tall statues of the pharaoh. Perhaps even more impressive, this entire site was disassembled and moved here to save it from the floodwaters caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Return to Cairo for an evening at leisure.

Drive to Sakkara, site of hundreds of tombs and 14 pyramids, including the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser. After lunch, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities: Discover Coptic Cairo, visiting a church built where the Holy Family stayed, as well as St. Barbara and the Church of the Virgin Mary. Tour Islamic Cairo, including a walk along El-Moaz Street, and the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. View the Royal Mummies, and countless other artifacts, as you tour the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. This evening, gather with your fellow guests to reflect on your journey through Egypt and along the Nile at a farewell dinner.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart.