Egypt: Ancient Kingdoms

Arrive in Cairo, the largest city in Africa and the hub of your adventure through milennia of history. Meet your A&K representative, who escorts you to your hotel.

This afternoon, visit the Giza Plateau to view one of the world's truly iconic sights: the pyramids of Mycerinus and Chefren and the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the last surviving structure of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and, for much of its existence, the tallest manmade structure on earth. Standing guard before the pyramid of Chefren is the Great Sphinx, the largest statue ever carved from a single piece of stone. This enigmatic figure depicts a pharaoh with the body of a lion, though who the figure represents is unknown. Continue to the Solar Boat Museum, which houses Cheops' 142-foot funerary boat, perhaps the single most important archaeological find in Egypt since the tomb of Tutankhamun. Get to know your fellow guests at tonight's welcome dinner.

Early this morning, fly south to Abu Simbel, site of the magnificent twin temples of Ramses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari. The four towering sculptures of Ramses (each nearly 70 feet tall) are impressive enough; even more astonishing, this entire site was disassembled and moved to its present location to save it from flooding in the waters of the Aswan High Dam. Following your visit, take a short flight to Aswan and enjoy afternoon tea and the Nile views from the terrace of your hotel. Later, pay a visit to the Nubian Museum, home to many rare artifacts and mummies from this distinct Nile-dwelling culture.

Begin the day with a visit to the granite quarries to view the enormous Unfinished Obelisk, a 1,200-ton block that showcases the outstanding skills of ancient Egypt’s stonemasons. From here, take a short boat ride to the exquisite temple of Philae on the island of Agilika. Like Abu Simbel, this temple was dismantled and reconstructed to prevent its eventual destruction by the Nile floodwaters. Later, step off the beaten track when you discover the less-visited temple of Nubian Egypt, Kalabsha, constructed around 30 BC. Continue overland to your five-star deluxe Nile cruise boat, Sanctuary 'Sun Boat IV.' This afternoon, sail in a traditional Nile felucca and continue your discovery of Nubian culture and heritage with a visit to a traditional Nubian village.

After a morning at leisure, take part in a cooking lesson and a chance to help prepare this afternoon's lunch hosted by your onboard chef. Your next port of call is Kom Ombo, where you visit its lovely Greco-Roman temple. Kom Ombo is unique for having been dedicated to two gods, Haroeris and Sobek, and its construction mirrors this dual focus. Mummified crocodiles were also discovered near the site, and a few are on display here. Return to Sanctuary 'Sun Boat IV' for a leisurely sail to Edfu, where you explore the beautifully preserved Temple of Horus, the falcon god, built in 230 BC. The temple spent much of the modern era buried in sand and debris, thus preserving its colorful murals from the ravages of time. This evening's dinner on board is an "Egyptian Night" costume party, with a chance to don traditional galabeyyas (long robes) and enjoy a buffet of savory Egyptian cuisine, followed by music and dancing.

This morning, tour the famed temple of Luxor, built in 1400 BC and containing, among other wonders, a Christian mural dating from the 10th century. Visit the neighboring temple of Karnak, an awe-inspiring complex built by a succession of pharaohs over two millennia. Its highlight is the great Hypostyle Hall, a forest of towering stone columns spanning an area greater than Notre Dame cathedral. After lunch, explore the west bank of the Nile, the famous necropolis of Thebes where many of Egypt’s pharaohs were laid to rest. Begin in the Valley of the Kings, the burial ground of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, including Tutankhamun. Continue to the lovely, terraced mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt’s first female pharaoh, and end with a stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two gargantuan statues of Amenhotep III.

Bid farewell to Sanctuary 'Sun Boat IV' before your return flight to Cairo. On arriving, embark on a sightseeing excursion to Old Cairo and its Coptic area. Explore the remains of the Fortress of Babylon, built in the sixth century BC, as well as the oldest synagogue in Egypt, Ben Ezra. In this basilica-style temple were found the Cairo Geniza documents, an invaluable source of information about the life of the Jews in Egypt's past. You also visit the Coptic Museum, with its many fine examples of pagan and Christian art. Return to your hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure.

Visit the world-famous Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, home to over 120,000 relics of ancient Egypt. While your guide introduces you to many stunning sights, none are as awe-inspiring as the Mummy Room, where some of ancient Egypt's pharaohs and nobility lie in state, and the treasures of Tutankhamun’s tomb, including his priceless gold funerary mask. A wireless earpiece allows you to hear your Egyptologist's commentary even in the most crowded galleries. Continue your tour of Cairo, exploring the Sultan Hassan mosque, remarkable for containing a madrasa for each of the four schools of Sunni Muslim belief. Continue to the Khan El-Khalili, the city's famous bazaar, where you may browse and haggle for all manner of goods, from souvenir keepsakes to rugs, clothing and fresh spices. Celebrate your journey with a farewell dinner tonight.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.