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 this morning to Luxor and enjoy lunch on board your luxury ship. This afternoon, 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. At 60 acres, it is the largest religious structure in the world; the temple area, dedicated to Amon-Ra, was used for over 2,000 years, longer than any other religious building in history. M/S SONESTA MOON GODDESS or similar.

Visit Luxor’s West Bank and explore the ancient city of Thebes. Stand in awe at the necropolis of pharaohs and nobility as you are greeted by the Colossi of Memnon: two giant seated statues of Amenophis III. You will visit three very unique tombs on your tour of the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs of the New Kingdom were interred. Inside you’ll see ancient paintings and carvings in colors that retain much of their original freshness illustrating the life of the owner and his passage to the afterlife. Continue to the Valley of the Queens and Nobles and the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, called Set Neferu, meaning “seat of beauty” by the ancients. As the ship sails to Edfu enjoy an afternoon relaxing on the sundeck while watching local life unfold before you. M/S SONESTA MOON GODDESS or similar.

Take a horse and carriage ride to visit one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, the Horus Temple in Edfu, 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. Return to the ship and sail to 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. This evening, navigate to Aswan. M/S SONESTA MOON GODDESS 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. Continue by felucca (traditional sailboat) to see the beautiful gardens at Kitchener’s Island and view the mausoleum of the Agha Khan. Visit the island of Agilkia to see the complex at Philae with its third century B.C. Temple dedicated to the goddess Isis. M/S SONESTA MOON GODDESS or similar.

Disembark the boat and sail on the Nile by a motorboat for 3 hours to the Nubian Village, located on Soheil Island near the Aswan Dam passing by the First Cataract of Aswan. Old villages used to be where Lake Nasser is now, and they were relocated in 1964 as a result of building the High Dam of Aswan. As you sail, watch the Sahara and sand dunes of the Western desert, the flowing water over the granite stone (the first cataract), flora and fauna of the area, as well as birds, especially migrants such as herons, egrets and kingfishers. You’ll have two days to fully immerse yourself in their simple lifestyle, culture and traditions. Walk through the village and see its traditional colorful houses built from mud brick, meet and interact with Nubian families, partake in a henna session, plate your hair into braids, feast inside one of the Nubian houses with Egyptian/Nubian specialties like tajin, mahshi, etc., and much more! NUBIAN DREAMS GUESTHOUSE.

Return to Aswan and take a flight back to Cairo. 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!