Signature: Egypt's Cairo, Luxor & the Nile Valley

You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

The adventure begins tomorrow. Feel free to explore on your own before your welcome meeting on the morning of day two. Check for the meeting time in the welcome note at the hotel. There will be an included dinner this evening at the hotel.

Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group. There will be an included group welcome dinner after the meeting.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Enjoy a tour of the magnificent great pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx. No matter how many photos or documentaries you have seen, the first glimpse of these marvels of the ancient world will take your breath away. As a qualified Egyptologist, your Expedition Leader has all the facts about these massive structures.

Nawaya is a community project dedicated to empowering females and preserving the deep heritage of small-scale farming families across Egypt, while fostering sustainable development, cultivation, and cooking practices. The project works with women, providing a safe space to gain independence while working to sustain the community. The project also works closely with local farmers and village youths, teaching them how to encourage the exchange of knowledge between those who visit Cairo and those who have always called this place home. Upon arrival, the group will meet with the local women who run and manage the kitchen, and enjoy a true farm-to-table meal amid the friendly hospitality of these local women as you swap stories and share laughter together.

Travel through desert and farm lands to visit Sakkara, the necropolis of the old kingdom of Ancient Egypt. The main attraction here is the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the very first constructed in human history. It dates back to 2750 BC! Delve into the history of one of Egypt’s most important archeological sites.

Sail across the Nile to the beautiful island of Agilkia and explore the Greco Roman history of the Temple of Philae, built as a dedication to the Goddess Isis. This temple complex was moved from its original location on the Island of Philae after the flooding of Lake Nasser, the word "philae" meaning "the end" in reference to this island's placement on what was once the southernmost border of Egypt.

Fly from Cairo to Aswan this morning as the adventure continues.

Climb in and move swiftly through the water to the next stop.

Board a felucca and float along the magnificent Nile, with views of the Aga Khan Mausoleum and Kitchener Island. Stop on one of the inhabited Nile islands in this area, to tour a local Nubian village, where you will learn about Nubian people, their culture, and their own distinct language. A language that actually can not be learned as it does not have an alphabet. Visit a local family for mint tea and a chat about their lives and history.

Create unforgettable memories during your Nile cruise experience over the next three nights. Sail along the magical Nile and witness life along the shore up close. From Aswan to Luxor, you'll see a lot of history and culture along the way.

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Visit Abu Simbel temple. Abu Simbel is special due to its statues, and its unique solar alignment. The temples were carved into a mountain side along the Nile by Pharaoh Ramses II to reflect his power, it features four giant statues of him. Each year, sunlight illuminates the inner sanctuary twice, on February 22nd and October 22nd. The Temple had to be moved in the 1960 to be saved from the flooding caused by the building of the dam. Part historic monument and part modern marvel, Abu Simbel is one of Egypt’s grandest temples.

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Enjoy a visit to Kom Ombo Temple located in a scenic spot, right on the banks of the Nile. It was dedicated to the crocodile god, and you can still see the remains of an ancient mummified crocodile that was worshipped here thousands of years ago at the museum.

Create unforgettable memories during your Nile cruise experience over the next three nights. Sail along the magical Nile and witness life along the shore up close. From Aswan to Luxor, you'll see a lot of history and culture along the way.

Enjoy an early morning pre-opening visit to Edfu Temple. Dating back to the Ptolemaic period, Edfu Temple is one of Egypt's best-preserved temples. Dedicated to Horus, it features a gran pylon, courtyard, hypostyle hall, and inner sanctuary with well-preserved reliefs depicting rituals and mythology. Learn more about this beautiful structure from your Expedition Leader.

Spend a free afternoon aboard the cruise vessel on the Nile Attend a pre-dinner cocktail hour with a Q&A session lead by your Expedition Leader and Expert.

Create unforgettable memories during your Nile cruise experience over the next three nights. Sail along the magical Nile and witness life along the shore up close. From Aswan to Luxor, you'll see a lot of history and culture along the way.

After breakfast the group will travel to the West Bank to meet our student-guide on a visit to the Funtasia Project Center where the group will learn about the Planeterra project at this location over tea with our guide. Funtasia is a local nonprofit that works with young people in the West Bank of Luxor to develop life skills and social consciousness. They work with youth in after school programs that teach art, communication, and social skills. Afterwards, the group will bike through the village. If unable you may remain at the centre to speak further with the student guides about life in the village.

Visit Habu Temple, a magnificent complex built by Ramses III, famed for its well-preserved carvings and vivid depictions of ancient battles. The group will spend an hour here exploring before moving on to the next site.

Visit the stunning Temple of Hatshepsut, an architectural masterpiece built into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari, honoring Egypt’s remarkable female pharaoh.

Enjoy a visit to the Karnak Temple, which was once the centre of all religious life in ancient Egypt. Built and extended by successive generations of rulers, admire the amazing architecture, massive columns, and painted hieroglyphs.

Cross the Nile to the west bank, passing through farmers fields on your way to the Valley of the Kings. Descend the narrow, rock-hewn corridors and take in the magnificent decoration and designs of the tombs of the pharaohs. While the treasure has now all gone, the tombs contain the incredible paintings of the life of their incumbent and stories from the Book of the Dead. The group will visit King Tut’s tomb along with three others.

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Gather at the rooftop lounge of your hotel in Cairo tonight. Enjoy a cocktail and tapas dinner with panoramic views of the Nile and city. The perfect end to a travel day featuring elegant bites.

Enjoy the historic sites of Old Cairo today as you become acquainted with the city. Begin after breakfast with a visit to Saladin Citadel of Cairo. Then stop by Mohamed Ali Mosque. From there the group will visit the Hanging Church, St Sergej Church and Synagogue Ben Ezra.After the mosque visit in the moring, this is a walking tour with short distances between the churches and synagogue. As you go, gain a deeper appreciation for the overlapping of three major world religions in one city.

Visit the narrow alleyways of Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. Rummage through the stalls and check out the fine brassware, copper, perfumes, leather, silver, gold, and antiques it is famous for. Lunch will be had nearby.

Enter the Royal Mummies Museum after-hours and in the quiet of the evening attend a presentation by you expedition expert on the whole science behind mummification. This intimate encounter provides a powerful perspective on ancient beliefs surrounded by history itself.

Spend the evening at your leisure.

Visit The Grand Egyptian Museum, explore the greatest treasures of Egypt after a guided visit of some of the main artifacts, enjoy time to explore on your own and make sure to gaze at the treasures of King Tut.

After lunch on your own in the afternoon, you can choose to stay at the GEM and explore more, or return to the hotel for some time to walk around Cairo, or rest. There will be a farewell dinner in the evening.

You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport at the end of your adventure.