From Pyramids to Skyscrapers

Touch down in Cairo and transfer to the hotel. Once you've settled in, the remainder of the day is free at your leisure to get to know the sights and sounds of Cairo, in the shadow of the Great Pyramids! Go shopping at the local souk or sample the national cuisine. Overnight stay in Cairo.

Breakfast at the hotel. Get to know the Egyptian capital today with a tour of Cairo's most emblematic sights. Begin at the Giza plateau, home of the three Great Pyramids, built over 4,500 years ago and one of the Seven Wonders of the World! Explore the pyramids and learn about their fascinating history as you walk in the footsteps of the pharaohs. Continue to the Great Sphinx to unearth more secrets of Ancient Egypt. The rest of the day is at your leisure, if you wish to dive even deeper into the fascinating Egyptian culture, don't miss our optional visit to the spectacular new Grand Egyptian Museum.* To round off your day, you may wish to join an optional evening tour of Cairo, where you can explore the city by night** and enjoy a traditional Egyptian dinner. Overnight stay in Cairo.

*Optional Visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum: Discover the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which houses over 50,000 artifacts spanning 7,000 years of history. With breathtaking views of the Pyramids, it features highlights such as the Hanging Obelisk and the impressive Grand Gallery, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

**Optional Cairo by Night: we take a walk around the most beautiful corners of Cairo (Tahrir Square, Zamalek, Cairo Tower and the Opera House) before heading to the restaurant where we will enjoy a delicious dinner in an Egyptian restaurant. We will finish the evening with a visit to the famous Mirror Café.

Please note: If you choose to book the activy packages, you won't be able to book the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Luxor*. On arrival, transfer to the port to board your Full-Board Nile Cruise Boat, your home for the next four nights. Get settled in your cabin and enjoy lunch and the views of the river Nile. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Karnak, a huge complex of decayed temples, columns and other buildings. On the way back to the ship, stop at the impressive Temple of Luxor, dedicated to Amun-Ra, Mut and Khonu and built by Amenophis III and Ramses II. Back on the ship, enjoy the remainder of the evening at your leisure. We recommend an optional Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show**. Dinner and overnight on board.

*The order of the excursions and visits may vary, depending on the schedule of the internal flights, traffic and other logistical reasons. The planned visits will be carried out in any case.

**Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show: Visit the largest open-air museum in Egypt, the Karnak Temple in Luxor. Discover the secrets behind the temple's ancient name, Thebes, and explore its significant monuments.  As you wander through the ruins of this once great complex, you will be guided by the voices of the pharaohs who built this site to honor their god Amon. Watch as the temples and statues come to life with the clever use of special effects, relive the times of the ancient pharaohs with their customs and rituals as they recount the dramatic history of ancient Thebes.

Alternatively, for a full experience of Egypt, you can choose one of our optional excursion packages to add 3/4 optional excursions to your trip!

Important: The order of the optional excursions may vary depending on your departure day.

Full-board on board. Begin the day with a visit to the legendary Valley of the Kings, the burial site of the pharaohs between the 18th and 20th ancient Egyptian dynasties and the famous site of the tomb of Tutankhamun. After exploring the valley, head to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, set on large terraces beneath the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. Continue to the Colossi of Memnon, two imposing stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, before returning to the ship as it navigates towards Edfu. Overnight on board. 

Please note: The excursion to the Valley of the Kings includes visits to three tombs. Entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun is not included but, if you are interested in visiting, you can buy a ticket to see this tomb at the site during your visit.

Full-board on board. Disembark the ship in Edfu and take a buggy ride to the magnificent Temple of Horus, the famous, falcon-headed Egyptian god. Explore the atmospheric temple ruins as you trace the footsteps of the pharaohs. Return to the ship and continue sailing south to Kom Ombo. Upon arrival explore the twin Temples of Haroeris and Sobek and see the amazing Nilometer, used to measure the rising and falling levels of the Nile, an important life source in Egypt. Return to the ship and relax onboard as you continue towards Aswan. Overnight on board.

Full-board on board. This morning, we recommend an optional visit to the amazing temples of Abu Simbel*. Today, enjoy a tour of Aswan to uncover the sights of this fascinating city. Explore the famous granite quarry, where the building blocks of many of ancient Egypt's monuments were produced and visit both the old and new Aswan Dams, monumental engineering works built in the 19th and 20th centuries respectively to control the flooding on the banks of the Nile. End the day with a peaceful ride in a felucca, a typical fishing boat, on the river Nile. Overnight on board.

*Optional Excursion to Abu Simbel: Visit these amazing temples, carved on the western cliff of the desert by Ramses II in the Xl century BC. See the iconic 20-metre high statues, dedicated to the god Amon Ra, and the Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor.

*Optional Island of Philae Excursion: Discover the historic island of Philae, in the reservoir of the Old Aswan Dam. It is home to the ancient ruins of the Temple of Isis and offers a fascinating insight into life and beliefs in Ancient Egypt. 

Please note: If you take the optional excursion to Abu Simbel, you will depart from the ship at approximately 3 a.m. to make the most of the coolest and quietest part of the day. This way, you can fully experience Abu Simbel without the crowds and avoid sightseeing in high temperatures.

Alternatively, for a full experience of Egypt, you can choose one of our optional excursion packages to add 3/4 optional excursions to your trip!

Important: The order of the optional excursions may vary depending on your departure day.

Breakfast on board. At the indicated time, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for a short flight to Cairo. Arrive in the capital and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure to get to know Cairo. While away the day visiting the amazing Egyptian Museum, where it's worth spending some time to really get the most out of its unbeatable exhibitions or go shopping in the busy city souks to bag a bargain.Afterwards, take a stroll through the vibrant Khan el-Khalili neighborhood, home to the city's largest and most famous bazaar*. We recommend an optional excursion to the Saladin Citadel.* Overnight stay in Cairo.

* Optional Excursion to Saladin Citadel: Visit the Alabaster Mosque and medieval fortification of Saladin Citadel, perched atop a hill in central Cairo and dating back to the 12th-century. Learn about the importance of the site to Egypt's Islamic heritage before walking through the Coptic Neighborhood, home to various churches. 

Breakfast at the hotel*. It's time to continue your journey as you transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Dubai. Arrive in Dubai and transfer to the hotel.** The remainder of the day is free to discover this modern Emirati metropolis at your leisure. We recommend visiting the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world and a symbol of the city of 828 meters and 160 floors. Since its inauguration in 2010, it offers the best views of the desert and the city. Underneath is the largest shopping centre in the world, the Dubai Mall where 1200 stores of all kinds are located. A shopping paradise! Overnight stay in Dubai.

*Depending on the flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.

**You will have the option to add early check-in on arrival in the next step of the booking process. To guarantee optional services, we recommend that you add them to your current booking, as they are subject to availability.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the morning at your leisure, exploring the old town or sunning yourself on Dubai's idyllic beaches. We recommend an optional excursion to explore the older parts of the city*. At dusk, take an exciting 4x4 excursion to the desert. Pass through camel farms and spectacular desert landscapes, as the sand dunes are illuminated at sunset until arriving at a traditional camp. Here, enjoy a delicious barbeque dinner under the stars with traditional entertainment including belly dancing. Return to the hotel and overnight stay in Dubai.

*Optional Half-Day Classic Dubai Tour: Visit the Bastakia neighbourhood, home to old merchant houses and cafes, and learn about Dubai's history with included entrance to the Dubai Museum. Take a traditional river taxi, known as an 'Abra' across Dubai Creek to the aromatic souks of Old Dubai, filled with stalls selling exotic spices and golden wares. 

Please note: this optional excursion operates on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday only.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, enjoying a shopping spree in Dubai's fabulous malls or relaxing at your leisure on the beach. We recommend an optional tour of the city's modern attractions*. Overnight stay in Dubai. 

*Optional Half-Day Modern Dubai Tour: Visit the most emblematic sights in the city starting at the Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a traditional arabian bazaar and popular marketplace where you can find typical hand-made crafts. Next, travel to the man-made palm-shaped island of Palm Jumeirah to see the amazing Atlantis Hotel before heading back to the city on the monorail. Afterwards, explore glittering Dubai Marina, a man-made canal city and one of the most sought-after neighbourhoods in Dubai and end the trip in the Burj Khalifa area (entrance not included) and back to the hotel. 

Please note: this optional excursion operates on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday only. You will have the option to be dropped off at the Dubai Mall for some shopping and return to the hotel on your own. 

Breakfast at the hotel*. At the indicated time**, transfer to the airport for a flight back to Canada. Arrive in Canada and end your trip***.

*Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.

**You will have the option to add late check-out on departure in the next step of the booking process. To guarantee optional services, we recommend that you add them to your booking now, as they are subject to availability.

***Depending on the choice of flight, you may arrive back in Canada the following day.