Days 1 & 2: The Wonders of Cairo

Marvel at the fabled Sphinx and Great Pyramid of Khufu, the one remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Visit the Solar Boat Museum, which houses the 140-foot-long cedar boat discovered at the base of the Great Pyramid. Tour the Church of St. Sergius (Abu Serga), where Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus are said to have rested. Continue to the first mosque on the continent of Africa, Amr ibn al-As Mosque. Join in the excitement of the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar as you shop for spices and silks, or simply watch the excitement from one of its coffeehouses.

Days 3, 4, & 5: Temple Excursions from a Nile Cruise

Fly to Abu Simbel, part the Nubian Monuments archaeological site, and see the two massive rock temples originally carved out of the mountainside as a lasting monument to Pharaoh Ramesses II and his wife Queen Nefertari.

Begin a 3-day cruise down the Nile, sipping refreshing cocktails onboard in between excursions to temples of the Ptolemaic period, including the island temple of Philae, the Temple of Kom Ombo, and the Temple of Edfu. Stop at the vast Karnak Temple Complex, whose history is synonymous with the history of Thebes. Walk the avenue lined by sphinxes, grand colonnades, and colossal statues of Ramesses II to the Temple of Luxor. Visit the Luxor Museum, displaying rich archeological finds from the region’s temples and tombs, including the treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamen. End you cruise with a farewell dinner enlivened by local festivities.

Day 6: Valleys of Royalty

Follow an Egyptologist to the Valley of the Queens. See the uniquely designed and decorated Temple of Deir El-Bahri, built for Queen Hatshepsut. Explore the Valley of the Kings, where at least 62 ornately decorated pharaoh tombs were hidden. Descend into the tomb of King Tutankhamen, discovered with its glorious treasures almost entirely intact. That night return to your luxurious hotel on the western Nile bank.

Day 7: A Felucca Sail and King Tut’s Gold Mask

Enjoy a morning sail on a felucca (traditional sailboat) before viewing the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities at the Egyptian Museum. Examine the treasures of King Tutankhamen’s tomb, including the renowned 24lb. Gold Mask. Come face-to-face with ancient pharaohs in the Royal Mummy Room.

Day 8: The Step Pyramid of Dioser

Journey to Memphis, Egypt’s first capital and visit its necropolis Saqqara. See the Step Pyramid of Dioser, one of 17 pyramids in the area. The oldest known complete stone building and built of limestone, the Step Pyramid was built to resemble woven mats.

Day 9: Fortress against the Crusaders

Return to Cairo to tour the Saladin Citadel of Cairo, the mountaintop complex that fortified against the Crusaders from 1176-1183. Get a bird’s eye view of Cairo from the Citadel’s ramparts before entering the Ottoman-style Mohammed Ali Mosque, one of three mosques contained within the Citadel.

Day 10: Journey Home

Have a refreshing breakfast before boarding the plane for a safe flight home.

Egypt & Jordan: 12-Day Sample Itinerary

Days 1 & 2: Amman

Travel to Jordan and settle into Amman, one of the Middle East’s most Westernized cities. Explore the modern marvels of this splendid metropolis.

Day 3: Mt. Nebo, Madaba, and Kerak

Travel to the summit of Mt. Nebo and view the Holy Land as Moses did centuries ago. Afterwards travel to Madaba and visit St. George’s Church, whose floor is a gorgeously tiled mosaic depicting a 6th century map of Byzantine. Continue on, past Wadi Mujib with its stunning bird life, to the Crusader Castle of Kerak.

Day 4: Petra

Tour the 2,000-year-old city of Petra, beginning at the Siq. This winding canyon road leads to Al Khazneh (the Treasury), which was carved out of the rocky rose red mountainside. Continue exploring the city’s royal tombs, glorious temples, and theater.

Day 5: Jerash

Explore Jerash, one of the best preserved Greco-Roman cities in the Middle East. Tour the colonnaded Cardo, Theater, Temple of Zeus, Arch of Hadrian, Artemis Temple, and Nymphaeum.

Day 6: Cairo

Examine the 100,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts at the Egyptian Museum. Enter Royal Mummy Room, which contains ancient pharaohs and the treasures of King Tutankhamen’s tomb, including the renowned 24lb. Gold Mask. Continue to Giza, where lie the fabled Sphinx and Great Pyramid of Khufu, the one remaining Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Visit the Solar Boat Museum, which houses the world’s oldest boat, discovered at the base of the Great Pyramid.

Days 7, 8, & 9: Nile Cruise

Enjoy a leisurely sail down the Nile aboard a felucca (Egyptian sailboat) before beginning your 4-Day cruise. Visit Aswan and see the Unfinished Obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut, a marvelous example of Egyptian construction techniques. Sail to the island of Philae to see the sandstone Temple of Isis, and then sail to Kom Ombo to see its Greco-Roman Temple. End with a visit to the well-preserved Temple of Horus in Edfu.

Day 10: Nile Cruise & Luxor

Explore the Valley of the Kings, where ornately decorated pharaoh tombs, including King Tut’s tomb, were hidden. Then see the uniquely designed Temple of Deir El-Bahri, built for Queen Hatshepsut, at the Valley of the Queens. Stand before the massive twin statues of the Colossi of Memnon before continuing on your cruise.

Stop at the vast Karnak Temple Complex, located in Thebes. Walk the avenue lined by sphinxes, grand colonnades, and colossal statues of Ramesses II to the Temple of Luxor. Visit the Luxor Museum, displaying rich archeological finds from the region’s temples and tombs, including the treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamen.

Days 11 & 12: Journey Home

Transfer to the airport and board your plane for a safe flight home.