Itinerary Details
Egypt With Nile Cruise And Treasures Of Jordan
Day 1: ARRIVE IN CAIRO, EGYPTWelcome to Cairo! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2: CAIRO. EXCURSION TO GIZASecrets of the Sphinx Your Egyptian discovery starts in the vibrant city of Cairo, located on the River Nile, with a guided sightseeing tour that features a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum. Later, a short drive to Giza is the start of an iconic visit to see some of the most recognizable landmarks in the world - the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Get up close and personal with the Pyramids of Giza, home to the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. Ponder the enigmatic secrets of the Sphinx and marvel at the Great Pyramid of Giza, the most colossal pyramid ever built, with an original height of 481 feet.
Day 3: CAIRO–LUXOR (EMBARKATION)River Mysteries Revealed Today, depart Cairo and fly to Luxor to embark on your Nile River Cruise. Start to get acquainted with the ship and enjoy lunch on board. This afternoon, join the guided sightseeing tour to see the breathtaking Karnak Temple, the largest temple complex in Egypt, and the Luxor Temple, also known as “the Southern Sanctuary”. (B,L,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
See the stunning monuments of Luxor and Karnak, ancient cities whose combined populations once topped one million. Walk among the pillars of the colossal Temple of Amun-Ra and along the Avenue of the Sphinxes for an experience you will treasure for a lifetime.
Day 4: CRUISING: LUXOR–ESNA–EDFUKings, Queens & Captain’s Cocktails Enjoy some free time to explore more of Luxor at your own pace, once the site of ancient Thebes and still home to an amazing number of Egyptian monuments. Alternatively, join an optional excursion to the West Bank. Back on board, enjoy the captain’s welcome cocktail party and set sail for Edfu. (B,L,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Venture into the “World’s Greatest Open-Air Museum”, where most of the ruins and artifacts at the site have been preserved and are still in their original forms.
Day 5: CRUISING: EDFU–KOM OMBO–ASWANEgyptian Gods & Gowns Today, in Edfu, visit the impressive Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Return to the ship and enjoy lunch while sailing. Call at Kom Ombo for a guided walking tour featuring the temple dedicated to the crocodile and falcon gods. Enjoy some free time to browse. Continue sailing towards Aswan and this evening enjoy a Galabeya (traditional Egyptian gown) party on board. (B,L,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Explore captivating Kom Ombo with a walking tour of its bluff-top twin temples. Gaze at the spellbinding temples dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus.
Day 6: CRUISING: ASWANLandscapes & Legends of the Nile Today, discover Aswan, the “Land of Gold” that has kept the treasures of the pharaohs for centuries. [LF] Sail on a felucca (traditional wooden sailing boat) around Kitchener’s Island and the Mausoleum of Aga Khan. This evening, on board your ship, take part in a Nubian Folklore presentation. (B,L,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
Sail from Aswan on a felucca, a traditional Egyptian wooden boat with a canvas sail. Capture the wind to move effortlessly around the botanical sanctuary of Kitchener’s Island and the Mausoleum of Aga Khan – the stately and austere dome-topped roselimestone monument and Carrara marble tomb of the 20th-century religious and political leader.
Day 7: DISEMBARKATION. ASWANAt Leisure in Aswan This morning, disembark your ship and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure to explore more of Aswan independently or join an optional excursion. (B)
ENHANCED FREE TIME
Explore more with an optional excursion to the High Dam, the Philae Temple, and the Unfinished Obelisk. Learn how, in the early 1970s, after the inauguration of the Aswan High Dam, raging floods risked the submersion of Philae. The rescue of these Nubian monuments is thanks to the joint effort between the Egyptian government and UNESCO, who then moved the sanctuary to higher ground. How did they do it? They dismantled the structures into 40,000 blocks and transferred them brick by brick to their new home.
Day 8: ASWAN–CAIROCapital Ideas in Cairo Depart Aswan this morning and take a flight to Cairo. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in this exciting city before joining your travel companions for dinner at your hotel. (B,D)
ENHANCED FREE TIME
Explore more in the “City of a Thousand Minarets” with its skyline filled with mosques, castles, and churches in this bustling and historic metropolis.
Day 9: CAIRO–AMMAN, JORDANFrom Africa to Asia Today, leave Egypt and fly to Amman, the captivating capital city of Jordan, famed for its impressive architecture and rich history. Meet your Tour Director, who will accompany you during your Jordanian discovery, and enjoy dinner in the hotel. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
For a relatively small country, Jordan is a treasure trove with so much to offer. Playing a prominent role as an ancient crossroads connecting three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe), it is home to the lowest point on Earth – situated in the Dead Sea; one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world – Amman; a landscape that inspires movie directors; and over 100,000 archeological, religious, and tourist sights.
Day 10: AMMAN–WADI RUMEpic Desert Adventures This morning, leave Amman and head for Wadi Rum. Enjoy a fascinating 4-wheel drive tour in the stunning desert landscape of Wadi Rum and see the Seven Pillars of Wisdom made famous by Lawrence of Arabia. [LF] Overnight under canvas at a luxury camp located in the heart of Wadi Rum. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
Although known as the “Valley of the Moon,” Wadi Rum’s breathtaking red landscape is often considered to resemble Mars. Protected by UNESCO and covering about 180,000 acres, it is home to several nomadic Bedouin tribes. Captivating views of sunsets, sunrises, and starry skies will be on your doorstep when you overnight at a luxury camp - enjoy a taste of authentic hospitality, without forfeiting modern amenities.
Day 11: WADI RUM–PETRA–DEAD SEACinematic Treasures Arrive in Petra for a guided walking tour. Enjoy an unforgettable experience as you walk down the Siq, the narrow gorge made famous by Indiana Jones. Stand in awe in front of the iconic and famed Treasury. See spectacular temples and tombs created out of the rose-hued sandstone, and sip tea in an authentic Bedouin tent. Later, continue to your hotel by the Dead Sea. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Sometimes referred to as the “Lost City,” Petra’s existence was forgotten about for centuries until it was rediscovered in 1812. What a discovery it became – an architectural and engineering masterpiece carved out of the rose-colored rocks.
Day 12: DEAD SEA. EXCURSION TO MADABA, MOUNT NEBO & BETHANY BEYOND THE JORDANThe Promised Land A fascinating day awaits! Drive to Madaba, known as the “City of Mosaics.” Visit St. George’s Church, home to an exquisite mosaic map of the Holy Land, and explore the Madaba Archaeological Museum. Continue to Mount Nebo for an orientation walk on the legendary mountain ridge. Reach Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Jesus is believed to have been baptized by John the Baptist, and follow an orientation walk. Later, return to your Dead Sea hotel for a farewell dinner. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Explore the market town of Madaba, home to a bounty of breathtaking Byzantine mosaics. See the most famous of these ancient works discovered amid the rubble of the floor of St. George’s Church – revealing a treasure of early Christianity and the oldest surviving original map of the Holy Land.
Day 13: DEAD SEA Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning (the nearest airport is Amman). (B)
