Egypt & the Nile: A Holiday Journey

Arrive in Cairo, Egypt’s bustling capital city, where you are met and transferred to your luxury hotel with fantastic views of the Nile.

Today, visit the Giza Plateau, site of the pyramids of Mycerinus and Chefren as well as the Great Pyramid. Built in the Fourth Dynasty (approximately 2690 BC), it is the only survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Step inside one of the pyramids, entering passages and chambers once lost to antiquity. For a very special treat, meet the Great Sphinx and enjoy rare private access to the paws of this enigmatic monument. This evening, gather with your fellow guests at a welcome dinner.

This morning, accompany your Resident Tour Director — who is also an expert Egyptologist — for an exploration of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities (or the Grand Egyptian Museum, upon its opening) to view its huge collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. After lunch at a local restaurant, experience the vast and fascinating Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, reputedly the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Wander through its labyrinth of narrow streets to discover workshops and stalls selling all manner of crafts, from woodwork, glassware and leather goods to perfumes, fabrics and Pharaonic curiosities.

Fly by exclusive charter to Abu Simbel via Aswan. At Abu Simbel, 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 creation of the Aswan High Dam. Fly to Aswan where you step aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat III, your elegant, award-winning river cruiser. Tonight, enjoy cocktails and canapés prior to dinner on board.

Begin your day with a motorized boat ride to beautiful Philae Temple on the island of Agilika. A sacred complex dedicated to the goddess Isis that reflects a fusion of three great civilizations, Egyptian, Greek and Roman. Proceed to the 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. Later, Ride Like a Local around the Aswan Islands in a felucca (traditional sailboat), weather permitting. Back on board, learn to prepare local dishes on an authentic Chef’s Table experience: a cooking lesson with an onboard chef. Enjoy a refreshing Scenic Sundowner as you cruise to Kom Ombo (Hill of Gold) and disembark 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. Tonight’s dinner on board features an Egyptian-themed costume party, with a chance to dress up in galabeyyas (traditional Egyptian garments), and a lavish buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed by local music and dancing.

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. Return to your vessel for lunch as you cruise toward Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes. Disembark onto the Nile’s east bank and visit the Temple of Luxor, dedicated to the god Amun and situated right in the heart of the city. 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.

Spend the day exploring the west bank of the Nile and the necropolis of Thebes, beginning with a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon. Enjoy access to Queen Nefertari’s tomb, famous for the colorful artwork that adorns its walls. Continue to the lovely Temple of Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s first female pharaoh and regarded today as one of its most successful. Proceed to the Valley of the Kings, burial ground of 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. Unearthed in 1922 by British archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter, the tomb of Tutankhamun is yours to explore, as you set foot inside its 35-century-old walls. Next, descend into the lesser-visited tomb of Seti I, the father of Ramses II, which is beautifully decorated and one of the best-preserved tombs in the Valley of the Kings. After returning to ‘Sanctuary Sun Boat III’ for lunch, disembark to visit 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. Toast to your adventure this evening at a gourmet farewell dinner onboard.

Today, bid farewell to Sanctuary Sun Boat III, as you disembark and fly to Cairo. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. This museum overlooking Ain El-Seera Lake showcases Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times to the present day. View its most famous exhibit, the Gallery of Royal Mummies.

Drive to the legendary Old Kingdom city of Memphis, founded in 3100 BC, and Sakkara, a necropolis which is home to hundreds of tombs and 14 pyramids, including the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Admire beautiful tomb art, which yields rare insight into the lives of ancient Egyptians, and revel in exclusive, special access to the recently discovered Wahtye’s Tomb, led by an expert from Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities. Explore its precious unearthed finds, which had remained untouched for 4,400 years, as featured in the popular Netflix series Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb. Enjoy your evening at leisure.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your departing flight.