Egypt is a land of great contrasts. The bustling world city of Cairo, just a few miles away from small towns along the Nile. The ancient wonders of Giza and Luxor and the 20th-century masterwork of the Aswan Dam. See it all-gaze upon the Great Pyramids, the mysterious Sphinx, the mighty temples of Luxor and Karnak and the colossal statues of Rameses and Nefertari. Hear Nubian drums and shop in colorful souks. Enjoy the comfort and style of deluxe hotels and a Nile cruise ship the pharaohs could only dream of. Learned Egyptologists accompany you throughout your 9-day journey, enhancing your experience with background and context.

Day 1 Cairo

Arrive in Egypt, then transfer to the superior first class Cairo InterContinental Semiramis (or similar) for a 3-night stay.* Relax at your hotel, or take a leisurely evening stroll around the city.

Day 2 Cairo & Giza

Today, you encounter Egypt's ancient pyramids. After breakfast, ride to the necropolis at Sakkara to see the world's oldest step pyramid. Lunch in a local restaurant on your way to the Giza plateau. There, you stand before the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Kephren and Mykerinus and the nearby Sphinx; a brief camel ride completes the experience. Return to your hotel for dinner and a free evening. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Cairo

A morning city tour takes you to landmarks like the iconic Citadel of Saladin and Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Lunch is on your own at or near your hotel. This afternoon, tour Cairo's Museum of Egyptian Antiquities-see its vast collection of relics and statuary, hall of mummies, and the famous gallery displaying the riches of King Tutankhamen. Dine on your own in Cairo, or take an optional visit to Khan el Khalili, a colorful outdoor souk (bazaar)-shop and have dinner there. (B)

Day 4 Cairo & Aswan

After breakfast, fly to Aswan. Tour the Aswan High Dam, completed in the 1960s. Then, visit Philae, a small island retreat, and walk through the Nubian Temple of Isis. Embark your Nile cruise ship and have lunch on board. This afternoon, travel to the Nubia Museum to view treasures salvaged from temples and monuments flooded by the dam; the museum's gardens are beautifully landscaped with terraced waterfalls. Take a scenic ride on a felucca-a traditional Egyptian wooden sailboat-on the Nile before returning aboard for a welcome reception and dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Aswan & Kom Ombo

Spend the morning in Aswan on your own; explore the souks, where you can find high-quality Nubian crafts ranging from baskets to African masks, live produce, fresh vegetables and exotic fruit. Have lunch on board as we sail to Kom Ombo for a tour of the unusual double temple dedicated to both the falcon-headed Horus and the crocodile god Sobek, a fertility deity. Dine aboard as we sail toward Edfu. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Edfu

After breakfast, visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu, built during the Ptolemaic Dynasty and buried under desert sands until the 1860s. Spend the remainder of the day cruising along the Nile, enjoying shifting views of the desert, small riverside towns and temples. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Luxor

Wake up to a full day exploring the antiquities of Luxor, a city once known as Thebes. This morning, visit the Valley of the Kings and the temple of Hatshepsut-one of Egypt's most successful pharaohs and one of her few female rulers-on the Nile's west bank. You also encounter the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous statues depicting Amenhotep III, circa the 14th century B.C. This afternoon, stroll through the glorious Temples of Karnak and Luxor, beautifully preserved by the desert sands for centuries and now unearthed. Relax aboard after dinner or attend an optional sound and light show at Karnak. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Luxor & Cairo

This morning, explore a bit more of Luxor on your own-or (weather permitting) take an optional early-morning hot air balloon ride over Luxor's temples and monuments. Disembark and take a short afternoon flight to Cairo. Check in to the superior first class CityStars Hotel for your final night in Cairo; enjoy an evening at leisure, or attend an optional sound and light show at the pyramids. (B)

Day 9 Cairo

After breakfast at your hotel, proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your journey for 4 nights in Jordan-see the lost city of Petra, the Dead Sea and the capital of Amman. (B)

The following meals are included:
B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner