Day 1: Cairo, Egypt

Welcome to Cairo, “Mother of the World”

Day 2: Egypt

Desert Sands and Secrets of the Sphinx

Enjoy a visit the Egyptian Museum. Peruse King Tutankhamun’s fabulous treasures and many other priceless artifacts of ancient Egypt.

Take a close-up look at one of the World’s Seven Wonders and guardian of the great pyramids, the enigmatic Sphinx, and the Great Pyramid of Giza. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built, and of course enjoy the visit to the newly discovered Noble Tombs.

Breakfast

Day 3: Cairo

Ancient Cairo, a Boy King, and the Christ Child

Drive to walled city of Old Cairo, with Saladin’s 12th-century citadel, and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali. Afterwards drive to Memphis to admire the statue of Ramses II

Afterwards, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

Drive to Sakkara, a vast desert necropolis built for kings and nobles, and its “Stairway to the Sky,” the oldest of all pyramids. Also admire the special tomb of Mary Roca and the Step Pyramid of King Zoser.

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Cairo - Luxor (embarkation)

The World’s Greatest Open-Air Museum

Fly 300 miles up the Nile Valley to Luxor to embark on your Nile River cruise.

See the stunning monuments of Karnak complex, developed over more than 1000 years. Walk among the pillars of the colossal Temple of Amun Ra for an experience you will treasure for a lifetime.

Embark your ship and enjoy your first lunch onboard.

In the afternoon enjoy a visit to Luxor temple, one of the two primary temples on the east bank, together with Karnak.

his evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.

Overnight docking in Luxor. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Luxor - Edfu

Royal Resting Places of Kings and Queens

Venture to the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens on the west bank of the Nile where generations of pharaohs and nobles were entombed in Cliffside crypts. See where 63 royal tombs have thus far been discovered, of which one was virtually intact—the splendid tomb of Tutankhamun discovered in 1922.

Visit Deir El-Bahri, Queen Hatshepsut’s monumental rock temple. Stop for pictures at the two Colossi of Memnon guarding the valleys.

This afternoon, join an exclusive lecture on this ancient civilization by your Egyptologist while sailing to Edfu.

Overnight docking in Edfu. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan

Egyptian Gods of the River and Sky

This morning visit Edfu Temple, also known as the Temple of Horus with its menacing black stone statue of the falcon god.

Enjoy a leisurely sail to Kom Ombo.

While sailing enjoy a Egyptian cooking class.

Enjoy beautiful Kom Ombo for a short walk to its bluff-top twin temples. The right side is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek-Ra, while the left side is dedicated to the falcon god Horus.

This evening enjoy a party night on board.

Overnight docking in Aswan. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Aswan

Temples from Above and Islands Below

This morning, consider joining a Guided Optional Excursion of the massive sandstone temples of Abu Simbel (by coach).

Board a motorboat and cross the blue waters of the Nile. En route, see the ancient water measurement system, “Nilometer,” on the Nile’s Elephantine Island and the splendid Aga Khan Mausoleum.

Join an Optional Excursion to the Sound and Light show in Philae Temple.

Overnight docking in Aswan. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Aswan (disembarkation) - Cairo

Work in Progress and the Goddess Isis

Join a Guided Sightseeing Excursion at to explore the Granite Quarries that supplied ancient Egypt with its hard stones for the pyramids in Giza. See the famous unfinished obelisk, still remaining in the quarry. Board a motor launch to the island of Agilika between the two dams and visit the Temple Of Isis, which was dismantled from the submerged island of Philae and reassembled here. Take a photo stop at the gigantic Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Board your flight back to Cairo later today, and consider attending an Optional Dinner Cruise on the Nile to celebrate your Egyptian adventure. B

Day 9: Cairo

Amazing Civilization and Marketplace Mazes

Start the day with a guided tour of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. No visit would be complete without time to experience the Royal Mummies’ Hall, considered the crown jewel of the museum.

Drive to “Coptic Cairo” to Abu Serga Church, not only the oldest church in Egypt but built on the spot where the Holy Family stopped and rested towards the end of their journey to Egypt. Proceed to visit the hanging church, which dates back to the fourth century, built on the remains of an old Roman Babylon fortress. Walk to see Cairo’s oldest Jewish synagogue, founded in the 9th century

Take in a full panoramic view of Cairo from the Nile River—on board a traditional wooden sailing vessel (Felucca) and enjoy a typical Egyptian light lunch.

Browse the maze of shops in the vast labyrinths of the Khan al Khali Souk bazaar and Medieval alleyways.

This evening, consider attending an Optional Dinner Cruise on the Nile to celebrate your Egyptian adventure.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Cairo

Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast

Prices shown exclude flights and transfers

Avalon brochure price in black

Travel 55 discount price in red

Telephone Avalon on 0330 0588 237 and quote the code TRAVEL55