Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, a representative welcomes you and assists you through the immigration process. Modern, air-conditioned coaches will take you to your hotel in Cairo, and your representative will ensure a smooth hotel check-in. 

After breakfast, go on a full-day guided tour to visit the Pyramids of Giza (Cheops, Chephren, and Mycerinus), one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A single pyramid is built over 2.3 million blocks, each weighing an average of two and a half tons. In the face of such immensity, one cannot help but feel the wonder and awe that countless writers and artists have sought to convey over the centuries. The Cheops Pyramid is more interesting because its interior burial chambers are open for inspection by the public. Not far from the Pyramids is the Great Sphinx of Giza, which dates from the time of Chephren (2620 BC). This iconic statue, carved from natural yellowish limestone and standing 65 feet high and 187 feet long, combines the head of a Pharaoh with a lion's body. After the visit, you can take a quick trip to the papyrus institute or a perfume shop. 

Take a leisurely lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, visit the Egyptian Museum for another unforgettable tour. In 1835, the Egyptian government established the Egyptian Museum. The present museum building was built in 1900 in the new classical style by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon. The museum's exhibited collections now exceed 120,000 objects, ranging from the pre-historic era to the Greco-Roman period. With 107 halls, the ground level is home to enormous statues. The upper floor houses small statues and jewels. 

After an early breakfast in Cairo, transfer to the airport for a flight to Luxor. Meet your guide upon arrival and begin your tour of Luxor, visiting Deir al Bahiri to see the memorial Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a woman who declared herself pharaoh. The temple structure is to identify the pharaonic Hatshepsut with the sun god. 

The Valley of the Kings is the next destination. The Valley of the Kings is a collection of tombs that are always open, visit three tombs included in the ticket. Embark on your cruise before lunch. Take your dinner and overnight on board your cruise. 

After breakfast, visit Luxor Temple on the East Bank. The Luxor Temple was called the Southern Opet, or “Place of Seclusion,” the God Amenmope Amun of the opet. Off into the Theban desert too. In the late afternoon, explore Karnak Temple, a massive complex dedicated to the chief Egyptian god, Amun-Re. Karnak’s building elements and setting have astronomical references, tying them to ancient Egyptian cosmology. 

After breakfast, visit the temple of Horus at Edfu. It is one of the best-preserved monuments in Egypt and a highly significant part of an annual pilgrimage and festival celebrating the sacred marriage of the gods Hathor and Horus. Scenes of the New Year Festival and distinctive reliefs in its chapels are the temple’s drawing cards. 

Sail to Kom Ombo and visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, built during the Ptolemaic era, dedicated to two gods—hawk-headed Haroeris and crocodile-headed Sobek. It is richly decorated and even has a hieroglyphic calendar. Stand on deck as you approach Aswan, a glorious location on the Nile, backed by hills, with granite rocks protruding from the riverbed and sailboats (called feluccas) plying the water. 

After breakfast, visit the beautiful temple complex of Philae, one of the most picturesque in all of Egypt. It sits on Aglika Island just south of the old Aswan Dam, and you can board a water taxi to the island to get to the ruins. The temple was moved to its current location following the construction of the High Dam, which threatened to submerge it permanently. The careful reconstruction at the site was carefully completed, painstakingly preserving the original appearance and layout of the complex and even landscaping the island to match its former location.

In the afternoon, embark on a felucca ride around the islands of Aswan. Enjoy the magnificent scenery and the fresh breeze while witnessing Kitchener’s Botanical Garden, where you will see different beautiful types of subtropical, exotic, and rare plants that have been brought in from all over the world. The Elephantine island is the largest in the Aswan area. Elephantine is Greek for elephant, and it is believed that the island received its name because it was a major ivory trading center. Different monuments were excavated on the island, like the ruins of a temple dedicated to the ram god Khnum, God of water. Elephantine was considered a cult center for God Khnum. 

Collect the breakfast boxes and disembark on the Blue Shadow Nile Cruise. Return to Aswan where the rest of the day is free. Transfer to the airport and fly to Cairo, where you will stay overnight at your hotel.

*Post-cruise excursion available at additional cost.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to your home.