Your first stop is Dahshur which has only recently been opened to the public and is not as developed commercially as Giza, still maintaining a certain peace and tranquility to the site. It is most noteworthy for being the site that best demonstrates the change from the “step” pyramid to the “true” pyramid that occurred during the Third and Fourth Dynasties. Continue on to the 14 pyramids of the Sakkara necropolis including one of the world’s oldest stone structures and step Pyramid of King Zoser. Lunch at the Panorama Restaurant with its amazing views over the pyramids and then see the Sphinx and the 4,500-year-old Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus. MENA HOUSE.

Begin your day at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) which displays a collection of 50,000 artifacts, presenting Egyptian Civilization from prehistoric times to the present day. Twenty-two royal mummies are displayed, including that of King Ramses II and Queen Hatshepsut. Then, visit the Citadel, the nerve center of Egypt for almost 700 years, with the impressive Mosque of Sultan Hassan. Next comes Coptic Cairo, and the 4th Century Suspended Church of the Virgin Mary; see Ben Ezra, Egypt’s oldest synagogue purported site of Moses’ rescue from the bulls, Coptic monasteries and the Coptic Museum. MENA HOUSE.

Fly to Abu Simbel early this morning to behold two of the ancient world’s most impressive monuments with two 100-foot-high colossi of Ramses II which were painstakingly relocated here during the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Afterwards, fly to Aswan and board your dahabeya which offers an intimate, exclusive experience. Large cabins boast panoramic windows, luxuriant bathrooms, and modern amenities. SONESTA DAHABEYA AMIRAT or similar.

See one of Egypt’s modern wonders – the Aswan High Dam completed in 1971. Built not only to regulate the yearly flood of the Nile, it also stores water to prevent famine during severe droughts. Gain insight into Egypt’s ancient construction methods at the unfinished Obelisk. Visit the island of Agilkia to see the complex at Philae with its third century B.C. Temple dedicated to the goddess Isis. Afterwards, sail to Kom Ombo where you moor for the night and enjoy dinner in Baloula or Hardiab Island. SONESTA DAHABEYA AMIRAT or similar.

Arrive at the unique third-century Kom Ombo double temple, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and to Horus, which features beautiful stone reliefs, murals, and a dramatic view of the Nile. Later, sail for Edfu. SONESTA DAHABEYA AMIRAT or similar.

Take a horse and carriage ride to visit one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, the Horus Temple in Edfu, built by Ptolemy II, which honors the falcon-headed god. Inscriptions on its walls have greatly enriched our knowledge of Egyptian civilization, especially in the area of theology and cult practices. Later, sail for Esna. Next day is a leisurely day, sailing through the Esna lock, and eventually mooring in Luxor. SONESTA DAHABEYA AMIRAT or similar.

This morning, explore the Luxor Temple, site of the ancient festival of Opet. Continue to the extraordinary Karnak Temple, a complex of obelisks, pylons, courts, colonnades, halls, reliefs and sanctuaries once connected to Luxor Temple by a two-mile path lined with sphinxes. In the afternoon, discover the ancient city of Thebes, including the Valley of the Kings and Queens. See the awe-inspiring Colossi of Memnon and the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Enter three very distinct tombs with spectacularly vivid ancient paintings and carvings. SONESTA DAHABEYA AMIRAT or similar.

Hathor, the ancient Egyptian goddess of love and joy, was what Aphrodite was to the Greeks and Venus to the Romans. It was at Denderah, some 60 kms. North of Luxor that the Egyptians worshipped Hathor in a Temple which is exceptionally well-preserved. Then visit Abydos another 60 kms. north, which occupies an important place in the religious history of Pharaonic Egypt. By the end of the Old Kingdom, its local god, Osiris, was the most prominent and popular of the Egyptian gods, since he was considered the god of afterlife. According to the popular tradition, Osiris’ head was buried in Abydos. Here Seti I and his son Ramses II built a beautiful temple ca. 1300 B.C. Return to the dahabeya for one last night. SONESTA DAHABEYA AMIRAT or similar.

Disembark and fly back to Cairo, where upon arrival, visit the Khan El Khalili Bazaar and wander through the labyrinthine streets to shop for some fantastic bargains. CAIRO MARRIOTT.

Start your day at the Grand Egyptian Museum, the largest archaeological museum complex in the world and host to more than 100,000 artifacts. For the first time ever, King Tut’s entire treasure collection of 5,000 items is on display. Enjoy a farewell dinner in the evening. The following day you board your flight home with new memories and photos to share with friends and family. CAIRO MARRIOTT.

Fly to the White City of Amman, a modern city holding 5,000 years of history. Explore Jerash, the ‘Pompeii of the East’ and its pristine architectural wonders. Visit Madaba, Mt. Nebo and the Crusader Castle at Kerak en route to ancient Petra, carved into the desert’s red sandstone cliffs. Discover soaring temples, elaborate tombs, a Roman theater and one of the most elegant remains of antiquity, Al Khazneh. End your journey sojourning on the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on land in the world!