Day 1 Departure flight:  Meet RTT escort for the airport transfer to Frankfurt, or join the group at Frankfurt airport for check-in. Direct flight to Cairo. Transfer to the Domestic Terminal and your follow-on flight to Luxor.  A local representative will meet the group at the airport for transportation to the 5-star deluxe cruise ship.  Dinner on the arrival night is not included.  Overnight on the cruise ship.

Day 2 Luxor Necropolis and Temples: Early in the morning, cross the Nile and with a short bus ride arrive at the cultural zenith of the tour – the Valley of the Kings. Here the pharaohs came to their final rest in the mysterious and rugged valley of the Thebes Mountains. Stand in awe before the fabulous Necropolis of Queen Hatchepsut and take in a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon, stone guardians of the West Bank. Visit the temples of Luxor and Karnak with their gigantic galleries of pillars, their mammoth entrance pylons and oversized statues of the pharaohs. Sail in the afternoon and pass through the locks at Esna. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included (excluding beverages). Overnight on the cruise ship.

Day 3 Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples: Cruise today on the River Nile! Enjoy photographing the riverbanks and local culture while relaxing on the sun deck on your way to Assuan, the next destination. Land excursions include the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo. The well-preserved temple dedicated to Horus at Edfu includes wall illustrations of the ancient “royal family” and their family feuds! Kom Ombo includes the dual temples of the gods Sobek and Horus on a picturesque terrace beside the Nile. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included (excluding beverages).  Overnight on the cruise ship.

Day 4 Unfinished Obelisk, Assuan High Dam, Philae Temple: After arriving in Assuan, visit the unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarry, an example of the gigantic projects undertaken by an ancient civilization. A photo stop on the Assuan High Dam will give you insight into the importance of the project for Egypt and its impact on the local population. Motorboat rides on Assuan Lake take us out to the Philae Temple, raised from the lake bed and preserved in its original form. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included (excluding beverages).  Overnight on the cruise ship.

Day 5 Abu Simbel (optional) and boat ride on the Nile in Assuan: Join an optional excursion to Abu Simbel, the gigantic Ramses Temple and its companion Hathor Temple were the first World UNESCO Project, saved from the rising waters of Nasser Lake with the building of the High Dam. Relax in Assuan with a sailboat ride (depending on the weather, a motorboat may be substituted for the felucca) on the Nile and visit a typical Nubian Village (optional) along the shore. During the boat ride you will see some of the scenic areas and islands of the Nile: Kitchner’s Island, Elefantine Island and the Aga Khan Memorial. Camel rides here may complete the experience (not included)! Breakfast, lunch and dinner included (excluding beverages).  Check out of the ship cabin and return to Cairo.  Overnight at the hotel in Giza (Cairo).

Day 6 Sakkara, Memphis, Giza:  An all-day excursion takes in the silent witnesses of the earliest Egyptian civilization of the Old Kingdom. Visit Sakkara, with the famous Step Pyramid of King Djoser. Walk among the treasures of Memphis, the capital of the Old Kingdom and the home of the Alabaster Sphinx and the reclining statue of Ramses II.  On the Giza plateau, see the breathtaking epitome of ancient Egyptian sepulchral art and architecture - the overwhelming sight of the mighty Cheops pyramid, the Chephren and Mykerinos pyramids and the gigantic Sphinx. Decide whether you want to visit the inside of a pyramid (entry fee not included). Breakfast, lunch and dinner included (excluding beverages).  Overnight at the hotel in Giza (Cairo).

Day 7  Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, Mosque, Khan El Khalili Market: A full-day city tour focuses on Coptic Cairo, with the Hanging Church, the Crypt of the Holy Family, the oldest synagogue in Africa, and a representative mosque of the old city – all before visiting the famous Khan El Khalili bazaar! Informative time is spent in the Egyptian Museum, contemplating the treasures of ancient civilization and the wonders found in King Tut’s tomb. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included (excluding beverages).  Overnight at the hotel in Giza (Cairo).

Day 8  Return flight: Full of unforgettable experiences and impressions, return from Cairo to Frankfurt.