Highlights Of Jordan & Egypt (2009)

Today, you travel through countryside rich in Biblical history. From Amman, drive along the scenic King's Highway south over mountains and through the beautiful Gorge of Amman. Visit Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist; then proceed to Mount Nebo where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. Continue to Madaba, the "City of Mosaics," which has the oldest preserved mosaic map of the Holy Land. Drive to the abandoned city of Petra later in the day. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner hosted by Abercrombie & Kent. M?venpick Resort Petra B L D

Spend a full day exploring the "rose-red" city of Petra, sculpted from a mountain range by the Nabataeans in the third century BC. Tonight get an inside glimpse of the secrets behind the famous regional cuisine of the Levant during your Petra Kitchen dinner. M?venpick Resort Petra B L D

Travel back in time to visit Jerash, a third-century city often called the "Pompeii of the Middle East" for its spectacular and well preserved Roman remains. Four Seasons Amman B L

Fly to Cairo, the starting point for your journey back to the time of the pharaohs. Later, visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, housing the world's greatest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the Mummy Room and the treasures that were extracted from Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino (dayroom) B L

Travel to Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, and to the legendary city of Menes, named after the Egyptian king credited with founding the First Dynasty. Continue to the necropolis of Sakkara to see the world-famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser. After lunch, travel to the Giza Plateau, site of the Great Pyramids. Cheops' Pyramid, the largest of the three, was built around 2690 BC and is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Guarding these ancient masterpieces is the Great Sphinx, the largest monumental statue in the world. Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino (dayroom) B L

Aswan has long been a trade center and a gateway to the south and today is an intriguing blend of African and Oriental influences. Fly here and connect to Abu Simbel, site of the magnificent temple dedicated to Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor, built for his beloved wife Queen Nefertari. Return by plane to Aswan and continue overland to board the deluxe 'Sun Boat IV,' moored in A&K's private dock. The crew welcomes you with chilled fruit juice and assists you to your cabin. After lunch on board, join your Egyptologist for a tour of Aswan's High Dam and the granite quarries that supplied the hard stone used in the construction of the pyramids and temples. See the 1,500-ton Unfiniished Obeslisk, an example of ancient Egyptian architectural techniques. Then return to your Nile cruiser for afternoon tea. Later, meet your boat manager and crew for a cruise briefing, cocktails and canap?s, followed by a gourmet dinner. MS 'Sun Boat IV' B L D

A short boat ride takes you to Agilika Island and the exquisite Temple of Philae, dedicated to Isis and decorated with the image of Hathor, her alter ego. Return to 'Sun Boat IV' to participate in a cooking class with your on-board chef and a chance to help prepare lunch. If you prefer, relax and enjoy the scenery as you cruise to Kom Ombo. On arrival, pay a visit to the site of the Greco-Roman temple dedicated to Haroeris (the sun god) and Sobek (the crocodile god). The temple, built in the third century BC, stands at a bend in the Nile where in ancient times sacred crocodile basked in the sun on the riverbank. Then return to your Nile cruiser in time for afternoon tea and sail to Edfu. Visit the Temple of Horus (the falcon-god), built in 230 BC by Ptolemy III. Dress in traditional galabeyyas for tonight's on-board "Egyptian Night" costume party. Dine on delicious Egyptian specialties and then join in for Arabic music and dancing while 'Sun Boat IV' makes her way to A&K's private dock in Luxor. MS 'Sun Boat IV' B L D

Tour the West Bank of the Nile this morning. In the Valley of the Kings and Queens, see the Necropolis of Thebes, the ancient burial grounds of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, and the terraced funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's first female pharaoh. View the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous seated statues of Amenophotep III, known in ancient Greek times for their haunting voices at dawn. After lunch on board, explore the East Bank: the Temple of Luxor; the colonnade and court of Amenophotep III; and the huge complex, the Temple of Karnak. Return to 'Sun Boat IV' for afternoon tea, and later, attend a gala farewell dinner. White-gloved waiters serve gourmet cuisine, and belly dancers and whirling dervishes provide entertainment. MS 'Sun Boat IV' B L D

Today you bid farewell to Upper Egypt. Your tour of Islamic Cairo includes a visit to the medieval citadel of Salah El Din, containing the ottoman style alabaster mosque of Mohammed Ali. From here, you enjoy a walking tour from Bab El Fotouh to Khan El Khalili Bazaar. This unique tour takes you from one end of the ancient Khan El-Khalili thoroughfare to the other - the area that was once the heart of the old walled city of Cairo. This evening join your fellow travellers for a special farewell dinner. Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino (dayroom) B L D

Board your international departure flight. B