Legends of sand and stone

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.

* Optional 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.

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. If you're an early riser, you have the chance to enjoy an optional excursion to Abu Simbel*, home to many rock-carved temples. 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. Afterwards, we recommend to take the chance to book an optional visit to the Island of Philae**. A river island in the Nile where the ancient temple of the goddess Isis is located. End the day with a peaceful ride in a felucca, a typical fishing boat, on the river Nile. Return to the ship and enjoy relaxing on board. Dinner and 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.

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.

** 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.

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. 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.