Begin 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. Then, visit the Citadel, the nerve center of Egypt for almost 700 years, with the impressive Mosque of Sultan Hassan, and Coptic Cairo to see the 4th Century Suspended Church of the Virgin Mary and Ben Ezra, Egypt’s oldest synagogue purported site of Moses’ rescue from the bulls. Wander the labyrinthine streets of the Khan el Khalili Bazaar for some great bargains. MENA HOUSE.

This morning, an optional flight and visit to Abu Simbel (at additional cost) is available to discover the massive temples dedicated to Ramses II and his legendary wife, Nefertari. Fly to Aswan, Egypt’s sun-drenched southern city and ancient frontier town. Here, the Nile flows through amber desert and granite rocks, surrounding emerald islands lush with palm groves and tropical plants. Board your home for the next three nights, for a cruise on the longest river in the world, the mighty Nile. This afternoon, discover the traditions of the Nubian people as you travel by motorboat to one of their villages to interact with a Nubian family, and 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 ST. GEORGE 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. Visit three very unique tombs on your tour of the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs of the New Kingdom were interred. At the Valley of the Queens and Nobles, see 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 MOVENPICK ROYAL LILY 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. After lunch, 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. M/S SONESTA ST. GEORGE or similar.

Arrive Luxor and visit Luxor’s West Bank to 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. Visit three unique tombs on your tour of the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs of the New Kingdom were interred. Continue to the Valley of the Queens and Nobles and the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. This afternoon, explore the Luxor Temple, and 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. M/S SONESTA ST. GEORGE or similar.

Disembark the vessel and fly to Sharm el-Sheikh, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Arabic world. In the afternoon enjoy an orientation on diving. The bright azure sea, warm sun, and the clean white sandy beaches come together to create a paradise. With palm trees, warm year-round weather and a stunning beach in Sharm el Sheikh, your accommodations will be at one of South Sinai’s premiere hotels. ROYAL SAVOY HOTEL.

Your next two days are filled with dives at the Straights of Tiran and Jackson Reef, where a wrecked freighter rests. Awesome coral reefs greet you below the surface of the water, where sharks and eagle rays glide amongst colorful schools of fish. Enjoy one of the most spectacular dives at one of the most breathtaking coral reefs teeming with all kinds of marine life – the legendary Ras Mohammed. Visibility underwater is excellent as is diversity of life, with over 1,000 different kinds of fish, several types of sharks, and turtles. Every ledge and crevice offer a new visual delight. Underwater caves and fascinating landscape make diving here an unforgettable experience. ROYAL SAVOY HOTEL.

Travel by bus to Dahab, originally a Bedouin fishing village that today is world-renowned for its many reefs immediately adjacent to waterfront hotels. Enjoy a full three days of diving North and South of Dahab. One of the dive sites is appropriately named The Canyon, famous for a large crack running along the ocean floor that starts at 40 feet and goes down to 90 feet and is accessible to divers who wish to swim through the “Canyon.” Rick’s Reef, another dive site, is a gentle dive that is perfect for photography with octopus, scorpion fish, morays, schools of Red Sea goatfish, Fusiliers fish, bluespotted stingray and behemoth humphead wrasse. Your luxury resort is situated just outside Dahab and has a beautiful private beach and onsite diving school, with direct access to a natural lagoon, ideal for windsurfing, diving and snorkeling. Another optional highlight (at additional cost) is a climb to Moses Mountain (St. Catherine’s Monastery), which takes about 3 hours but provides an amazing view of the top at sunrise. SAFIR DAHAB EGYPT.

Say goodbye to Dahab and its diving delights as you return to Cairo, where you have the rest of the day at leisure. Enjoy a farewell dinner in the evening, then bid farewell to Egypt the next day and return home. LE MERIDIEN CAIRO AIRPORT.

Continue your journey through time in Jordan with a transfer to Aqaba. Dive again at the Red Sea, which includes over 140 species of coral and abundant varieties of brightly colored fish, and also explore Aqaba’s historic sites that document over 5,500 years of human habitation. Continue to the ancient metropolis of Petra to discover soaring temples, elaborate tombs, a Roman theater and one of the most elegant remains of antiquity, Al Khazneh. Visit Madaba to see the oldest map of the Holy Land and Kerak crusader castle, and witness Mt. Nebo, the alleged burial site of Moses. Explore Jerash, the ‘Pompeii of the East’ and its pristine architectural wonders. End your journey sojourning on the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on land in the world!