Our journey begins with a flight from the United States to Cairo, Egypt. Dinner will be served on-board the plane. D

This morning, before our arrival, a breakfast snack will be served on board the airplane. Upon our arrival into CAIRO, we will obtain our visas, collect our luggage, and pass through customs formalities. We will then meet our professional local tour guide and bus driver who will take us on a PANORAMIC TOUR OF CAIRO. Following our tour, we will drive to the deluxe, five-star Four Seasons Hotel, where we'll check in and stay for the next two nights. Tonight we will all enjoy a “welcome dinner," and learn more about our exciting expedition and “Traveling With a Quilter’s Eye." B, D

Following a delicious breakfast, we will visit the incredible MUSEUM OF EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES, one of the greatest historical museums in the world. This museum was built during the reign of Khedive Abbass Helmi II in 1897, and opened its doors on November 15, 1902. The museum has 107 halls total, which houses all kinds of ancient statues, jewels, Tutankhamen treasures and hundreds of mummies. Following this morning visit, we will have lunch together at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, for those who are interested, we will visit a local shop and learn the process of papyrus paper making. There will also be an opportunity to shop in one of the local souvenir shops before returning back to our hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free at your leisure. B, L

This morning, following breakfast, we will board our motor coach and drive to one of the most recognizable icons in all of ancient Egypt, THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF GIZA. They are, without a doubt, the main destination for tourists and a source of imaginative thought to the world for over 3000 years. Near these pyramids sits a huge creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. This monumental statue, the first truly colossal royal sculpture in Egypt, is the GREAT SPHINX, and is a national symbol of Egypt, both ancient and modern. We will enjoy our morning learning more about these structures and their history. As a special treat, we are including an exciting camel ride near the pyramids for our entire group to enjoy, which will certainly provide a nice souvenir to bring home.

In the afternoon, we will enjoy a delicious lunch altogether before visiting the KHAN EL KHALILI BAZAAR (nicknamed Khan), once known as the Turkish Bazaar during the Ottoman period. This market was created in 1382 by the Emir Djaharks el-Khalili in the heart of Fatimid City. Later in the day we will return to our hotel were the remainder of the evening is at your leisure. Tonight there will be an “optional tour" to see an exciting and colorful Sound and Light Show at the Giza Temple. Something not to be missed! (COST OF THIS TOUR IS ADDITIONAL PER PERSON AND WILL BE CONFIRMED WITH YOUR FINAL PAYMENT) B, L

This morning following breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and transfer to the Cairo Airport for our flight to the city of LUXOR. Upon our arrival, we will be met by the cruise ship personnel who will transfer us to our deluxe cruise ship, the M/S Tamr Henna. After getting settled and enjoying lunch on board the ship we will participate in a special shore excursion. We will visit incredible Valley of the Kings and Queens, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Later in the afternoon we will continue our journey to see the Luxor Temple. We will return to our ship and enjoy a wonderful dinner. Tonight a Nubian Folkloric Show will be our evening entertainment. B, L, D

This morning following breakfast we will visit the monumental Karnak Temple of Amun, with its famous Hypostyle Hall and the 134 huge columns, the Statue of Ramses II, the Obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut, and carvings that fill the multiple parts of this vast temple. We will transfer back to the ship for lunch and then set sail for the town of EDFU, the capital of the second Nome of Upper Egypt. Tonight, we will enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Party, followed by a delicious dinner. B, L, D

This morning following breakfast, we will visit the Temple of Horus, a beautiful preserved sandstone temple dedicated to the Falcon God Horus. This is the major highlight in the town of EDFU. Following our tour this morning, we will board our ship and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, our ship sails to the city of KOM OMBO. Here we will visit a temple shared by two gods, combining the Temple of Sobek and the Temple of Haroeris. In ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank near here. Very little remains of the temple, due first to the changing Nile, then the Copts, who once used it as a church, and finally by builders who used the stones for new buildings. B, L, D

This morning following a delicious breakfast, we will visit the Temple of Philae. Philae is the main temple complex relocated from one island to the island of Agilika. It was the center of the cult of the Goddess Isis, and her connection with Osiris, Horus and the Kingship, during the Ptolemaic period of Egyptian history. We will return to the ship for lunch and then in the afternoon participate on a special excursion. We will board Egyptian wooden boats called Felucca, and sail around Elephantine Island, the botanical garden and Agha Khan Mausoleum. We will return later in afternoon to our ship where we will enjoy dinner and settle in for the evening, followed by a Belly Dancing Show. B, L, D

Following breakfast this morning we will disembark the cruise ship in ASWAN and transfer to the airport for our flight to ABU SIMBEL. Upon arrival we will be met by our driver and guide for a tour of the incredible High Dam. The dam was an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960’s. It contains 18 times the material used in the Great Pyramids of Cheops. We will then take a tour of the Unfinished Obelisk, which is the largest known ancient obelisk. It is roughly one third larger than any other ancient Egyptian obelisk ever erected, archeologists believe that it was intended to complement the Lateran Obelisk which was originally at Karnak, but is now outside the Lateran Palace in Rome. Following our tour we will transfer back to the airport and fly back to Cairo. Tonight we will enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel. B, L, D

Today we will fly from the Cairo International Airport back to the United States.