See some of Egypt’s greatest monuments today on a full-day excursion. You’ll visit the famed Giza Plateau, where you can ponder the magnificence of the Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerionos Pyramids and look into the soul of the Sphinx. After an included lunch, transfer to Sakkara to explore the Step Pyramid. Afterward, you’ll visit a carpet factory where young people are trained in the art of carpet weaving. The evening is at leisure.

Enjoy your morning at leisure, or join an optional half-day tour of Old Cairo, where you’ll visit the Coptic Museum, the Hanging Church, and see the Crypt in St. Sergius Church. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, with its gallery of the golden treasures of King Tutankhamun. Tonight, you'll be hosted by an Egyptian family for dinner in their home, where you'll learn about everyday life in Cairo.

You’ll fly early this morning from Cairo to Aswan, then motorcoach to Abu Simbel to tour the magnificent temples built by Ramses II. Through an international effort, these massive structures were moved to the top of the cliffs, saving them from the waters rising behind the Aswan Dam. In the afternoon, you’ll board the deluxe 5-star ms Omar El Khayam — beginning your 3-night cruise to explore hidden ruins and timeless landscapes along the shores of Lake Nasser — an opportunity offered by very few other travel companies! Enjoy free time on board this afternoon and evening.

This morning you’ll hear the story of the famous fortress, Kasr Ibrim. Then sail across Lake Nasser to Amada for a tour of the temples. The Amada temple is the oldest of the Lake Nasser temples and was dedicated to the gods Amun-Re and Re-Horakhty. Amazingly, you’ll notice the temple retains much of its painted relief work, including polychrome decorations. We then follow the shore to Wadi es Seboua for an overnight on board.

The day begins with an early tour of the Wadi es Seboua, the “Valley of Lions” temple, so named because of the sphinxes that once lined the avenue leading to the temple. Next you’ll cruise to Aswan, delighting in the vast desertscapes along the shore.

After an early morning tour of the Temples of Kalabshah, you’ll disembark the ms Omar El Khayam. En route to your hotel in the pleasant old city of Aswan, you’ll visit the High Dam and the Papyrus Institute. In the afternoon, embark for a felucca cruise on the Nile, disembarking on Kitchener’s Island to stroll the Botanical Gardens. The evening is at leisure or decide to join the optional tour Philae Temple Sound & Light show.

Cultural Connections: Today you’ll walk back in time with a visit to a Nubian village, and stop by a local school. Then, visit the Kyphi Oriental Perfume Gallery. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a panoramic city tour of Aswan and a visit to the Nubian Museum. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.

Cultural Connection: This morning, you'll visit an Aswan spice market, followed by a tour of the Philae Temple. Midday, you’ll transfer to the Deluxe ms Crown Jubilee. Cultural Connection: After lunch on board, attend a lecture about “Egypt Today”. Then, spend a final night in Aswan aboard the ship.

Sail early down the Nile to Kom Ombo for a guided tour of Sobek Temple, dedicated to the crocodile god. Set dramatically on a hill overlooking a bend in the river, Kom Ombo is the only Egyptian temple dedicated to two gods — the aforementioned Sobek, and Haroeris, the great winged solar disk. Next, you’ll cruise to Edfu to visit Horus Temple — dedicated to the Falcon god. This temple is the second-largest and best-preserved temple in Egypt. You’ll be duly impressed by the fine statue of Horus guarding the entry, the walls covered in hieroglyphs, the large sunny courtyard, Chapel of the New Year, and the paintings on the ceiling depicting a solar barque sailing through the 12 hours of the day. In the afternoon we cruise to Luxor and arrive in the late evening.

Many of the most fascinating pharaonic legacies await you today! For early risers, you may choose an optional morning hot air balloon ride. After breakfast, begin with a guided outing to the West Bank, the “Valley of Kings.” In the afternoon after lunch, you’ll enjoy an expert-led visit to Karnak and Luxor temples, which took over 1500 years to build! Karnak is a vast open-air museum, and the largest ancient religious site in the world. Luxor, located on the east bank of the Nile, is dedicated to the Theban Triad of Amun, Mut, and Chons, and was the focus of the annual Opet Fertility Festival. Return to the ship for dinner.

Disembark the ship and fly to Cairo for your last night in Egypt. Your last day in Cairo reveals itself to you on a city tour that includes the Citadel, and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Cultural Connections: You’ll also browse the fascinating Old Bazaars of Khan el Khalili. You’ll have the afternoon free, perhaps for some last minute souvenir shopping. Tonight, toast your journey’s end at a Farewell Dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or begin optional 5-night Jordan extension.

Note: Select departures operate in reverse and the itinerary varies slightly.

Please Note: This program requires a lot of walking. Also, the natural Egyptian environment has been preserved, so you will be walking on uneven and sometimes sloped terrain. Also, there are a lot of stairs leading to and from the ms Omar El Khayam when embarking your Lake Nasser cruise in Abu Simbel.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The above day-by-day itineraries are preliminary and therefore subject to change. If any major changes occur in advance of your departure, you will be notified in writing by Vantage Deluxe World Travel. If changes occur while on board ship or on tour, you will be notified by your Vantage Program Manager.