Itinerary

DAY 1 — U.S./Fly Overnight to Cairo, Egypt
Flight times are subject to change. Please be sure to verify your individual flight time prior to departure.
Cairo
    
DAY 2 — Cairo
Arrive late in the day and transfer to the Four Seasons at the First Residence in Cairo, your home for three nights. Note that all guests will be met at the Cairo airport and transferred.
Cairo
    
DAY 3 — Cairo
This morning, you will have a tour of the Egyptian Museum, which holds an almost endless collection of some of the greatest masterpieces ever crafted, including the brightly painted limestone sculptures of Prince Rahotep and Princess Nofret, and the bizarre relief of Akhenaton. You’ll also see mummies of some of Egypt’s pharaohs. In the late afternoon there will be a private talk at the hotel by an expert on Egyptian culture, about an aspect of Egyptian history or contemporary Egyptian society. Our welcome cocktail reception and dinner are at Le Pacha 1901, a floating restaurant. (B,D)
Cairo
    
DAY 4 — Cairo
This morning you will explore Old Cairo, founded by the Romans long before the modern city arose. It’s known for its Coptic churches, including the 4th century “hanging church” and the Church of Abu Serga, which stands on the spot where the Holy Family is said to have rested. You will visit the Coptic Museum (if open) to view its priceless collection of religious works, some of which are up to 1,500 years old, and then stroll through winding streets to the thousand-year-old Ben Ezra Synagogue.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant, and then you’ll explore Islamic Cairo, including the Mohamed Ali Mosque, whose five domes can be seen throughout the city, and the Ibn Tulun Mosque. After lunch in a local restaurant, you will continue to the Khan el Khalili bazaar, where you can stroll to browse for jewelry, copper work, silver and colorful clothing. You’ll also walk along a nearby Cairo street and have a chance to see life in an Egyptian neighborhood. (B,L)
Luxor/Embark <i>Salacia</i>
    
DAY 5 — Luxor/Embark Salacia
This morning, you will embark on an early flight for the journey to Luxor, in Upper Egypt. On arrival you’ll visit Karnak Temple, where for 2,000 years successive kings added their own monuments and shrines. The 134 columns of the great hall create a forest of stone 70 feet high, while the towering obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut shadows the rear of the temple.

You’ll then embark Salacia, your home for the next seven nights, and have lunch aboard ship.

In the afternoon you’ll visit the Luxor Museum, where you will see one of the best displays of antiquities of Egypt. Then explore Luxor Temple, guarded by the massive statues of Ramses VI. This evening, there will be a welcome dinner aboard Salacia. (B,L,D)

DAY 6 — Abydos
Today we sail northward to the town of Nag Hammadi, then drive to the outstanding temple of Seti I at Abydos, one of the finest in all Egypt. The reliefs are done with a refinement and artistic style that make them unique, and the effect is enhanced because some of the reliefs have retained their color. We return to Nag Hammadi and have time to enjoy life along the Nile this afternoon. (B,L,D)
Dendera/Luxor
    
DAY 7 — Dendera/Luxor
This morning we sail to the beautifully preserved temple of Dendera. It was constructed during the time of the Roman emperors, and the reliefs on the temple walls depict the empress Cleopatra. Also of note are the dramatic columns topped with images of the cow-headed goddess of love, Hathor. After the visit, Salacia sails back to Luxor. (B,L,D)
Luxor
    
DAY 8 — Luxor
After breakfast, you will begin your exploration of Luxor's West Bank. After stopping to see the Colossus of Memnon, you will travel through the desert to the Valley of the Kings. For four centuries, this area served as the burial ground for Egypt's greatest pharaohs. Although not all of the tombs are always open, there will be many to choose from, including those of Tutankhamon and Ramses VI. You’ll continue to the brightly painted tombs in the Valley of the Queens and stop at the tombs of the Nobles, decorated with vivid scenes of ancient Egyptian life.

This evening, you will visit Karnak temple and enjoy the sound and light show. This unique show narrates the story of the temple and the history of Thebes, including the lives and and celebrated achievements of the great pharaohs who built the necropolis. (B,L,D)
Luxor/Edfu
    
DAY 9 — Luxor/Edfu
After breakfast, you return to Luxor’s west bank to continue your explorations. The temple of Queen Hatshepsut lies in a dramatic setting beneath sandstone cliffs and contains wonderful interior reliefs that tell the story of the Queen’s expedition to the land of Punt. You’ll also visit the Ramesseum and see its toppled statue which inspired Shelley’s poem Ozymandias.

Back on board, with lunch, you will sail on towards Esna to transit the Esna Lock, and continue on toward Edfu, enjoying the scenery along the Nile River. (B,L,D)
Edfu/Kom Ombo
    
DAY 10 — Edfu/Kom Ombo
After breakfast, you will visit the Edfu Temple to view what’s considered to be the best-preserved monument of the Ancient World: the temple of Horus, the falcon god. Because the roof is intact, the play of light and shadow is much as it must have been during Ptolemaic times. The art and architecture here are extraordinary.

Later, Salacia sails for Kom Ombo, strikingly set atop a hill overlooking the Nile. It is dedicated to two gods — hawk-headed Haroeris and the crocodile-headed Sobek. (B,L,D)

DAY 11 — Aswan
This morning, sail to Aswan, in a beautiful setting along the Nile, You’ll then visit the lovely temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis, and the quarries where the famous pink granite was mined, where you will see an unfinished obelisk from ancient times.

In the late afternoon, you’ll sail on a felucca (traditional sailboat) around Kitchener Island, then visit the Nubian Museum to view unique its archaeological objects. We return to the Salacia and enjoy a farewell dinner on board. (B,L,D)
Aswan/Disembark/Abu Simbel/Cairo
    
DAY 12 — Aswan/Disembark/Abu Simbel/Cairo
This morning, you’ll will say farewell to Salacia and fly first by private charter to Abu Simbel, where you’ll visit the two great temples built by Ramses II. When the Nile was dammed at Aswan, the temples were disassembled and moved, block by massive block, to higher ground. Our aircraft waits for us, and we continue on to Cairo.

On arrival you will be transferred to the Mena House Oberoi Hotel, located at the foot of the Pyramids. The Mena House was originally built in 1869 as a hunting lodge for the Khedive Ismail, and also accommodated guests at the opening of the Suez Canal. The rest of the day will be free to explore the pyramids independently, shop, or relax by the pool. Dinner this evening will be independent. The Mena House Oberoi has several wonderful restaurants to choose from, including an excellent Indian restaurant. (B,L)
Cairo, Pyramid & Sphinx
    
DAY 13 — Cairo, Pyramid & Sphinx
After breakfast, you will leave to tour the pyramids and the Sphinx. Among the seven wonders of the ancient world, only the Pyramids of Giza have survived. The magnificent Pyramid of Cheops, which you will see this morning, was built from over two million blocks of stone and took tens of thousands of workers twenty years to build. Nearby is the great Sphinx, carved out of a single massive piece of stone, showing the Pharaoh Chefren’s head on the body of a lion. After the visit of the Solar Boat Museum, you will have lunch at the Sphinx Pavilion.

This afternoon will be at your leisure. This evening, you’ll return to the Sphinx for the sound and light performance at the Pyramid plateau. Then return to the hotel; dinner this evening is on your own. (B,L)
Memphis, Saqqara & Dahshur
    
DAY 14 — Memphis, Saqqara & Dahshur
Today you’ll visit the ancient city of Memphis, where you’ll see the colossal statue of Ramses II. At nearby Saqqara is the Step Pyramid of the pharaoh Zoser, a revolutionary design that initiated the art of pyramid-building. You will also see some of Egypt’s most charming wall paintings and reliefs, showing scenes of harvesting, fishing, music making and dancing. Continue to the Bent and Red Pyramids of Dashur.

This afternoon is free for independent activities. If you’re interested in revisiting the Egyptian Museum, transportation will be provided.

This evening we gather for a farewell cocktail reception, followed by dinner at the Rubayyat restaurant at the Mena House Oberoi. (B,D)
Cairo/U.S.
    
DAY 15 — Cairo/U.S.
Transfer to the airport for flights home, or to Jordan for our extension. (B)

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