Day 1: CAIRO ARRIVAL TRANSFER:
After your long-haul flight from the United States, you will be transferred from Cairo International Airport to your hotel in the heart of Cairo. Take some time to freshen up and rest before an evening on the town.
Optional: Sufi performance in a magnificently restored Ottoman-era mansion in Khan al Khalili

Day 2: PYRAMIDS OF SAQQARA, DAHSHUR, AND GIZA:
There is no better example of Cairo's eclectic mix of ancient and modern than the Pyramids. You will travel chronologically, starting with the oldest, complete, hewn-stone building complex known in history, Saqqara. The Step Pyramid at Saqqara was designed by Imhotep for King Djoser, in approximately 2650BC. The area served as the necropolis to the surrounding region.

Later, you will continue to Dahshur for a closer look at the Red and Bent Pyramids, the next chronological step in pyramid construction. These two pyramids were constructed during the reign of Sneferu, who was father of Cheops (known for his Great Pyramid at Giza). The Red Pyramid is quite interesting as large pieces of the limestone casing are still intact, allowing you to imagine how the pyramids originally looked with their all-white color.

Finally, you will visit the last surviving ancient wonder of the world. You will be guided through the Pyramid and Sphinx complexes, learning the significance of the Giza Pyramids, then and now. (B)

Day 4: ISLAMIC & COPTIC CAIRO:
Free day in Cairo to explore on your own.
Optional: Guided tour of Coptic Cairo and end in the Islamic Quarter. it will include Saint Sergius and Bacchus Church, The Hanging Church, Saint Barbara Church, the Synagogue of Ben Ezra, nd Babylon Fortress. Moving further north, you will eventually reach the beginning of the Islamic Quarter. Your first stop will be the Gayer Anderson Museum, the Ibn Tulun Mosque, and the Khan al Khalili market. (B)

Day 5: HIGH DAM AND CAMEL EXCURSION:
Arriving in Aswan, just a 75 minute flight from Cairo, is always an event to remember. Arriving by private car to the Aswan High Dam where you realize the fragility of nature and our reliance on water is … indescribable. After checking into your hotel, you will have the opportunity to just sit back and relax. Later in the day, as the sun begins to set, you will be taken on a one hour camel trek through the West Bank for stunning views of St. Simeon's Monastery, the periwinkle-colored Nubian villages, and the Aga Khan Mausoleum. After dinner, we recommend a wander through the East Bank souqs, where locals and tourists alike mingle in the evening. (B)

Day 6: ABU SIMBEL AND FELUCCA EXCURSION:
This morning you have the option to journey to Abu Simbel, home to one of Ramses II's great masterpieces. Known as the Great Builder, he requested this temple to be built into the face of a mountain, aligned with the rising sun. Standing unscathed for millennia, our modern technology eventually threatened its existence. To combat the effects of the 1960 Aswan High Dam, a team of archaeologists raised the entire mountain 61 meters, trumping the engineering genius of Ramses II.

In the afternoon you will be met by your felucca (traditional sailboat) captain for an afternoon on the River Nile. You will sail between Aswan's islands while feasting on a freshly prepared meal. Feel free to stop at Elephantine Island - a small Nubian village, Kitchener's Island - the botanical garden, or the southern shores where the dunes meet the river for some swimming. (B,L)

Day 7: EDFU TEMPLE AND LOCAL LUNCH:
After breakfast, you will be transferred 90 minutes to one of our favorite temples - Horus Temple in Edfu. This sacred place is a relatively new discovery as the desert sands enveloped the area over the years. Unlike the other freestanding temples you will visit in Egypt, the roof here is completely intact offering a unique perspective on what these monuments used to look like in their heyday. The visit will be followed by lunch in our friend's home. Please tell us if you prefer chicken, beef, or fish and we guarantee a delicious, freshly-cooked meal in a REAL home, not one designed for tourist groups. Afterwards, you can wander along the river bank and small agricultural area just outside our friend's house, watching the package tourists float by on their giant cruise ships! Another 90 minutes drive and you will be in Luxor, once known as Thebes - the powerhouse of Egypt when it comes to sites and history. (B,L)

Day 8: VALLEY OF THE KINGS AND BICYCLE EXCURSION:
Optional: Start today with a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the West Bank, allowing you to take in the sites from a completely different perspective. After landing near the Colossi of Memnon, you will visit some of the best sites on the West Bank. First, you will visit the Valley of the Kings. This relatively small area of land contains 63 burial chambers hidden within the surrounding mountains. The tombs were built between the 16th and 11th centuries B.C. and contain the famed resting place of King Tutankhamun and his mummy. After, you will visit Hatchepsut's Temple, dedicated to the only female pharaoh ever to rule Egypt. Curiously, the façade takes on a very modern, almost militaristic look. (B)

This afternoon, we will arrange a bicycle ride through the West Bank villages and farming territory. A beautiful, eye-opening experience all of our guests enjoy. This also serves as a nice opportunity to visit some of the temples you saw from the air, like Medinat Habu, the Ramesseum, the Workers Tombs, the Tombs of the Nobles, and the list goes on! (B)