A Grand Passage by Sea: Cairo, Nile & Petra

Cairo

For your added comfort, upon your arrival at the airport, an airport representative will greet you in the tunnel and escort you through customs and immigration. The representative will facilitate the included visa process for you. Continue to the baggage claim hall and passenger pick up. Here an airport representative will help you connect with your private transfer to your hotel.. Enjoy a private airport transfer accompanied by an English-speaking representative.. Settle in at your own pace, whether exploring independently or unwinding at your hotel with access to its full range of amenities.

Accommodation: Marriott Mena House Hotel (B) (Deluxe Partial Pyramid View ), Cairo

Cairo

Cross an item off your bucket list as you explore one of the Seven Wonders of the World on a private tour. Today, you will get an opportunity to marvel at one of the true ancient masterpieces, the Sphinx and the Pyramids. Following a pick-up from your hotel, you will be transferred to the Giza Plateau. Ponder at the majesty of the Great Pyramids and listen to your guide as they reveal the history of Ancient Egypt. Your experience includes a visit to a panoramic viewpoint, where you will be able to marvel at the grandeur of the Pyramids in all their glory. Continue to the Great Sphinx with its head of a man and body of a lion, gazing imposingly across the valley. During today’s tour, you will also enjoy a delicious lunch at 9 Pyramids Lounge overlooking the Plateau. Proceed to Grand Egyptian Museum, home to some of the most valuable treasures from this era. Your tour provides a unique opportunity to witness a selection of the most impressive artifacts, including magnificent statues, royal regalia, and ancient monuments. Your knowledgeable guide will lead you on this journey back in time, sharing insights on the treasures you'll encounter along the way. After the visit, transfer back to the hotel.. The mysteries of the Great Pyramids have piqued the curiosity of visitors for thousands of years. Today, follow in their footsteps as you enter the Pyramid of Chephren, also known as the Pyramid of Khafre. The second tallest and second largest of the major pyramids, it sets on bedrock 33 feet higher than Khufu’s pyramid, which makes it appear to be taller.. Dine at one of Marriott Mena House's delectable in-house restaurants this evening.

Accommodation: Marriott Mena House Hotel (B) (Deluxe Partial Pyramid View ), Cairo

Cairo, Luxor, Cruising the Nile

Enjoy a private airport transfer accompanied by an English-speaking representative.. Board a flight in Cairo with direct service to Luxor. Approximate flight duration is one hour. Please note, luggage restrictions apply to this regional flight. 1) Maximum of one checked bag, weighing up to 50 lbs (23 kg) – Economy, 70 lbs (32 kgs) - Business; Checked baggage cannot be larger than 62 linear inches (158cm). 2) Guests can also bring a piece of carry-on luggage with a maximum weight of 17 lbs (8 kg). Passengers flying in Business Class may bring two pieces of carry-on luggage.. Transfer from Luxor Airport to your accommodation by private vehicle.. Some of the most spectacular sites in all of Egypt can be found on the West Bank of the Nile, near Luxor. Meet with your private guide and driver to spend a half day exploring the West Bank of the Nile, home to the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. Start with a visit to the Valley of the Kings to explore the famous Tomb of Tutankhamun along with two other interesting tombs. King Tut became Pharaoh at the tender age of nine or ten, and the discovery of his nearly intact tomb in 1922 fascinated the world. For a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were constructed for the kings and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom (the Eighteenth to the Twentieth Dynasties of Ancient Egypt). Explore the recently renovated mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the second historically confirmed female Pharaoh. She is generally regarded by Egyptologists as one of the most successful Pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of an indigenous Egyptian dynasty, and remembered as the first great woman in history of whom we are informed. Next head to the nearby Valley of the Queens, where the wives of Pharaohs were buried during the 18th through 20th Dynasties. End the visit to the West Bank with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon, the only remaining monuments of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III.. The tomb of Seti I (Sethos I) is the longest, deepest and most completely finished in the Valley of the Kings. Recently re-opened, being closed for public visit for years, the tomb is located in a small lateral wadi in the Valley of the Kings. Entering into Seti I’s tomb, you will capture the spirit of discovery of the archeologists as you explore one of Egypt’s most treasured and rare experiences.. Welcome aboard! Take some time to get settled into your stateroom and explore the ship. Tonight you'll overnight at port in Luxor.. Relax this evening on board the comfort of your Nile cruise and enjoy the evening of entertainment, including local Egyptian music.

Accommodation: Soleil (BLD) (Luxury Cabin), Cairo

Luxor, Cruising the Nile

Luxor is home to one of the world’s greatest open-air museums, with the ruins of Karnak and the Temples of Luxor in easy reach along the East Bank of the city. With your private Egyptologist guide, visit the impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the monuments of Karnak and Luxor, learning more about ancient Egypt’s fascinating and lengthy history. Begin with a visit to the Temples of Karnak, strolling along the Avenue of Sphinx to enter the complex. The Temples of Karnak make up the history of Thebes and consists of colossal sandstone columns transported 100 miles along the Nile river, panoramic friezes. Discover with your guide how the massive façade was constructed. Continue to Luxor Temple which was once joined to the Temples of Karnak by a 1.25-mile-long Avenue of Sphinx, a portion of which marks the entrance to the temple. The temple dates to approximately 1400 BC and is dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship rather than the Pharaohs, cult gods or deified versions of the king in death. During the Roman era, the temple and its surroundings served as a legionary fortress and acted as the home of the Roman government in the area.. Afternoon tea will be served on board during the cruise to Edfu.

Accommodation: Soleil (BLD) (Luxury Cabin), Luxor

Cruising the Nile

Disembark from your Nile cruise and meet your private guide to explore the Temple of Horus in Edfu. Dedicated to Horus, the falcon god, the temple was built from 230 to 57 BC by Ptolemy III and his successors and is considered the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt because of its later construction date. Despite its late era origins, it reflects traditional pharaonic architecture, and the Temple’s inscribed building texts provides an excellent idea of how all the temples once looked, with details about its construction. It fell into disuse as a religious monument when the Roman Empire banned all non-Christian worship within the Empire in 391. Edfu is an impressive temple, and is the second largest in Egypt after Karnak Temple.. Meet with your private guide and disembark from your Nile cruise to explore on foot the Kom Ombo Temple, a unique Greco-Roman temple dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris, the sun god. The Temple in Kom Ombo dates from about 180 BC, during a period known as the Ptolemaic era, and had some additions built on to it during Roman times. It stands right on the bank of the Nile between Edfu and Aswan. The temple is unusual in that it is a double temple, with one side dedicated to the god Haroesis and the other side to Sobek. The design is almost perfectly symmetrical, with two side-by-side sanctuaries and two parallel passageways leading through the outer parts of the temple. The right side is dedicated to Sobek-Re (the crocodile god combined with the sun god Re), along with his wife (a form of Hathor) and their son Khonsu-Hor. Sobek is associated with Seth, the enemy of Horus. In the myth of Horus and Osiris, Seth and his followers changed themselves into crocodiles to escape. The ancient Egyptians believed that by honoring the fearsome crocodile as a god, they would be safe from attacks. The left side is dedicated to Haroeris, the "Good Doctor" (a form of the falcon-headed god Horus the Elder) along with his consort Ta-Sent-Nefer, the "Good Sister" (another form of Hathor).

Accommodation: Soleil (BLD) (Luxury Cabin), Cruising the Nile

Cruising the Nile, Aswan

The impressive Aswan High Dam was a marvel of engineering when it was constructed. Originally conceived to Egypt’s irrigation of farmland to mitigate against drought and famine in low-water years, and flooding in high-water years. Visit the dam with your private guide and spend a half day learning about Aswan. The dam displaced over 100,000 Nubians in Sudan and Egypt alike and was part of a major relocation project for archaeological sites under the UNESCO Nubia Campaign, including the Abu Simbel temples and Philae. Other sites were eventually flooded by Lake Nasser, the world’s largest artificial lake that was created by the Aswan High Dam. Then head to Philae and the Temple of Isis on Agilikia Island. Stop at the stone quarries to see the unfinished obelisk, the largest known ancient obelisk and a very good practical demonstration of the methods used by ancient craftsmen to create impressive moments. Marks from workers’ tools are still clearly visible on the bedrock.. Glide onboard a traditional Egyptian felucca across the Nile to the historic Elephantine Island. Along the way marvel at the rocky shores guarding ancient ruins, temples, and a Roman-era nilometer once vital for measuring the river’s floods. Explore this natural border between Egypt and Nubia, steeped in thousands of years of history. With an English-speaking guide, head to Elephantine Island to uncover its role as a bustling ivory trading hub, visiting the Khnum Temple, home to one of Egypt’s three famous nilometers. Following your exploration of the island, sail back to Aswan and return you to your hotel or cruise.. Tonight you'll overnight at port in Aswan.

Accommodation: Soleil (BLD) (Luxury Cabin), Cruising the Nile

Aswan, Cairo

A private transfer between the airport and hotel is provided.. Board a flight in Aswan with direct service to Cairo. Approximate flight duration is one hour and 30 minutes. Please note, luggage restrictions apply to this regional flight. 1) Maximum of one checked bag, weighing up to 50 lbs (23 kg) – Economy, 70 lbs (32 kgs) - Business; Checked baggage cannot be larger than 62 linear inches (158cm). 2) Guests can also bring a piece of carry-on luggage with a maximum weight of 17 lbs (8 kg). Passengers flying in Business Class may bring two pieces of carry-on luggage.. Enjoy a private airport transfer accompanied by an English-speaking representative.. As the day draws to a close, Cairo’s Khan Khalili Bazaar becomes a vibrant scene: a maze of shops lined with souvenirs and antiques, restaurants and coffee shops, workshops, mosques, and food vendors. The sights and sounds intermingle in an enchanting display over wafting aromas of freshly baked bread and roasting meats. Stroll down Al Moaz Street with your private guide, and marvel at the largest concentration of medieval architectural treasures from the Islamic world. End the evening with a memorable dinner at the Egyptian restaurant Naguib Mafouz, located in the heart of the bazaar. The restaurant is one of Cairo’s top-rated dining establishments. After dinner, return to your hotel by private vehicle.

Accommodation: Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis (B) (Deluxe Room), Aswan

Cairo, Petra, Amman

Enjoy a private airport transfer accompanied by an English-speaking representative.. Board a flight in Cairo with direct service to Amman. Approximate flight duration is one hour and 20 minutes.. A Jordanian Tourism tax will be paid on your behalf to cover public liability insurance.. Upon arrival you will be met by our representative at the immigration area prior to the Visa desks. Proceed to baggage claim and finally to passenger pick up. It is here where your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel.. A private vehicle and driver will provide a transfer from Amman airport to Petra. The approximate transfer duration is three hours.

Accommodation: Petra Marriott (B) (Deluxe Room), Cairo

Petra

Cross an item off your bucket list on a private tour of the enchanting sandstone city of Petra. A treasure of the ancient world, the Rose City is full of mysterious charm that has attracted adventure seekers from all over the globe for many decades, and there is simply no better way to experience it than in the company of a private local guide. Today’s full day tour takes you south to Wadi Musa, the home of Petra nestled in the arid heart of Jordan. Journey back in time as you marvel at the remains of this Nabatean city painstakingly chiseled into rocky environment. After lunch, you will also get an opportunity to do some self-guided exploration of the site before heading back to your accommodation.

Accommodation: Petra Marriott (B) (Deluxe Room)

Petra, Wadi Rum

A private transfer from Petra to Wadi Rum is provided. The approximate transfer duration is one hour and 30 minutes.. Wadi Rum has a timeless feel to it – a stupendous open space, virtually untouched by humanity and its destructive forces. Here, it is the weather and winds that have carved the imposing, towering skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as vast, echoing and God-like.  Head into the desert today for a thrilling off-road tour perched up in the back of a specially-modified truck, traveling through the monolithic moonscape of Wadi Rum; discover the valleys and gorges that hide tales of human presence dating back millennia and feel enchanted by the sweeping red dunes of Arabia.

Accommodation: Memories Aicha Luxury Camp (BD) (Panoramic Tent ), Petra

Wadi Rum, The Dead Sea

A private transfer from Wadi Rum to Dead Sea is provided. The approximate transfer duration is four hours.. Enjoy unhurried time at leisure at Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, where refined luxury and serene surroundings invite complete relaxation. Spend your day floating effortlessly in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, unwinding by cascading infinity pools, or strolling through tranquil gardens and sun-drenched terraces. Whether you choose to relax poolside, take in sweeping sea views, or simply savor the calm of this extraordinary setting, every moment is designed for effortless elegance and restoration.. Indulge in an exceptional culinary journey at the lowest point on Earth, where Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea pairs refined gastronomy with breathtaking natural beauty. Choose from an exquisite collection of on-site dining venues, each offering a distinct ambiance and culinary focus. Savor authentic Lebanese cuisine crafted from regional ingredients, Mediterranean classics reimagined with contemporary flair, or international dishes enjoyed against sweeping Dead Sea vistas. From relaxed poolside dining and open-air terraces to intimate fine-dining settings, impeccable service, thoughtfully curated menus, and serene surroundings come together to create unforgettable dining experiences throughout your stay.

Accommodation: Kempinski Ishtar (B) (Ishtar Superior ), Wadi Rum

The Dead Sea, Amman

A private transfer from the Dead Sea area to the airport in Amman is provided. The driver will assist you with your bags and check-in process.