Egypt and the Nile

Cairo conjures images of monuments that truly stand outside of time: the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, the treasures of Tut’s tomb. Beyond the remnants of ancient glories lies a bustling, bursting metropolis, with spacious tree-lined boulevards and souks fragrant withcinnamon and sumac.

Your expert A&K Egyptologist guides you through the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum, a showcase of over 100,000 artifacts dating back millennia, including the treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb. Tonight, gather for a welcome dinner.

The Giza Plateau is Egypt at its most iconic, with the pyramids of Mycerinus and Chephren, the Great Pyramid and the inscrutable Great Sphinx presiding eternally over the desert sands. Step inside one of these ancient tombs and explore the chambers of the pharaohs.

Fly to Luxor, site of the ancient city of Thebes, and visit the striking Temple of Luxor, with its towering statues of Ramses II and the Colonnade of Amenhotep III. Board Sun Boat IV — the elegant Nile riverboat that is your home for the next four nights; then head to Karnak, a spectacular complex of temples built by generation after generation of pharaohs, its courtyards and soaring pillars carved with symbols and gods painted gold in the afternoon sun.

On the West Bank of the Nile River lies quite possibly the world’s most incredible open-air museum: the Necropolis of Thebes. Here lie the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, the grandest resting places of the rulers of Ancient Egypt. See the mysterious “singing” Colossi of Memnon and the stunning Temple of Hatshepsut. Delve inside Queen Nefertari’s colorfully painted tomb; the storied chamber of Tutankhamun, revealed to the world in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter; and the beautifully preserved and decorated tomb of Seti I.

View the Temple of Horus, falcon-headed god of the sky, at Edfu. Back on your river ship, learn to prepare local dishes during a cooking lesson with your onboard chef. Later this afternoon, sip a cocktail on deck as you cruise to Kom Ombo, the Greco-Roman temple dedicated to Haroeris (the sun god) and Sobek (the crocodile god). Disembark to explore this twin temple and view the mummified remains of several crocodiles that once basked on the banks, just as their descendants do today.

In Aswan, see the ancient granite quarries and site of the Unfinished Obelisk, a partially excavated monolith taller than any other ancient Egyptian obelisk. Board a motorized boat to picturesque Philae Temple on the island of Agilika. A sacred complex dedicated to the goddess Isis, it reflects a fusion of Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations. Later, sail around the Aswan Islands in a felucca (traditional sailboat).

Abu Simbel finds you face to face with 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. The entire site was disassembled and moved here to save it from the floodwaters caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Fly back to Cairo this evening.

Explore Sakkara, site of hundreds of tombs and 14 pyramids, including the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser. After lunch, enjoy your chosen Design Your Day activity.

• Discover Coptic Cairo, visiting a church built where the Holy Family stayed, as well as St. Barbara and the Church of the Virgin Mary.
• Tour Islamic Cairo, including a walk along El- Moaz Street, and the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar.
• View the Royal Mummies as you tour the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

This evening, gather with your fellow guests to toast the conclusion of your journey at a farewell dinner.

After breakfast, take your private transferto the airport to board your departing flight.