^{Abbreviation: [B,L,D] Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner}

Day 1. Depart Australia

Day 2. Arrive Cairo - Giza

Welcome to Cairo, the sprawling capital of Egypt and the largest city in Africa. This evening we'll enjoy a group welcome dinner in Giza. [D]

Day 3. Giza

Our touring in Egypt begins at the oldest structures in existence, the amazing Great Pyramids of Giza, where construction began approximately 4,500 years ago. We'll visit the nearby Great Sphinx, with the body of a lion and the head of a king, often referred to as the national symbol of Egypt. We'll also discover the ancient capital of Memphis and the incredible Step Pyramid of Sakkara, believed to have been designed by the famous vizier of King Zoser, Imhotep. [B]

Day 4. Cairo

Today begins in the heart of lively Cairo with a visit to the world-famous Egyptian Museum, home to Tutankhamun's priceless treasures and many other historic artefacts. There will also be time for an optional visit to the "Mummy Room". We'll then visit the 12th century Saladin Citadel of Cairo and the Mohammed Ali Mosque. Built in classic Turkish style, it resembles the great mosques of Istanbul. Our last stop is the 14th century Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, a major souk in Cairo's Islamic District. Famous for its handmade crafts, it's also the perfect place to enjoy a traditional Arabic coffee. There are no fixed prices here, so make sure you practice your haggling skills! [B]

Day 5. Giza - Aswan

Today we take a short flight to Aswan, gateway to the incredible history, temples and monuments of Upper Egypt. Here we'll visit the High Dam, the magnificent Temple of Isis on Philae Island and the Unfinished Obelisk. This afternoon we'll relax on a cruise along the Nile on board a traditional felucca sailboat. [B]

Day 6. Aswan - Abu Simbel - Nile Cruise

Special Experience: An early start this morning to cross the desert. Our destination is the incredible twin temples of Abu Simbel. The temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC, as a monument to himself and his queen, Nefertari. [B,L,D]

Embark Cruise: Later this morning we'll return to Aswan and board our Nile River cruise ship.

Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to discover Aswan further or relax on board.

Day 7. Nile Cruise

After breakfast we set sail for the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the gods Sobek and Harris. We'll then cruise onward to Edfu where we'll visit the magnificent Temple of Horus, dedicated to the Falcon God. This beautiful ancient temple is one of the best-preserved in Egypt and the second-largest after Karnak Temple. Continuing our journey, we cross the lock at Esna and sail on towards Luxor. Tonight we'll experience a traditional galabeya party on board. [B,L,D]

Day 8. Nile Cruise

We'll arrive in Luxor after breakfast and explore the fascinating Karnak Temple, dedicated to the Pharaoh Amun. Approximately 30 pharaohs contributed to the temple's structure over time, which explains its monumental size! We'll then visit Luxor Temple, once connected to Karnak Temple by a 3-kilometre-long Avenue of Sphinxes. Luxor Temple is also home to a 25-metre pink granite obelisk, which was part of a matching pair until the 1830s when one was given to France. It now stands in the centre of the Place de la Concorde in Paris. [B,L,D]

Day 9. Nile Cruise - Luxor

Disembark Cruise: We disembark the cruise after breakfast and set off to explore the West Bank - the world's largest open-air museum!

Special Experience: Our first stop is the Valley of the Kings. Carved deep into the limestone rock, each tomb has a similar pattern of three corridors, an antechamber and a sarcophagus chamber. We'll be able to descend into some of the tombs to see examples of the elaborate and well-preserved hieroglyphic paintings.

Our next destination is the Temple of Hatshepsut. Regarded by Egyptologists as one of the most successful pharaohs, Queen Hatshepsut was one of only a few women to be given the title of pharaoh. We'll then visit the Colossi of Memnon. [B]

Day 10. Luxor - Cairo

The morning is at leisure for you to explore Luxor or simply relax before our flight back to Cairo. This evening we'll enjoy a group farewell dinner. [B,D]

Day 11. Depart Cairo

Today we bid farewell to Egypt and begin our journey home. [B]

Day 12. Arrive Australia

^{Abbreviation: [B,L,D] Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner}

Day 1. Depart Australia

Day 2. Arrive in Cairo

Welcome to Cairo, the sprawling capital of Egypt and the largest city in Africa. This evening we'll enjoy a group welcome dinner. [D]

Day 3. Cairo

Our touring in Egypt begins at the oldest structures in existence, the amazing Great Pyramids of Giza, where construction began approximately 4,500 years ago. We'll visit the nearby Great Sphinx, with the body of a lion and the head of a king, often referred to as the national symbol of Egypt. We'll also discover the ancient capital of Memphis and the incredible Step Pyramid of Sakkara, believed to have been designed by the famous vizier of King Zoser, Imhotep. [B]

Day 4. Cairo - Aswan

Today we take a short flight to Aswan, gateway to the incredible history, temples and monuments of Upper Egypt. Here we'll visit the High Dam, the magnificent Temple of Isis on Philae Island and the Unfinished Obelisk. This afternoon we'll relax on a cruise along the Nile on board a traditional felucca sailboat. [B]

Day 5. Aswan - Abu Simbel - Nile Cruise

Special Experience: An early start this morning to cross the desert. Our destination is the incredible twin temples of Abu Simbel. The temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC, as a monument to himself and his queen, Nefertari. [B,L,D]

Embark Cruise: Later this morning we'll return to Aswan and board our Nile River cruise ship. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to discover Aswan further or relax on board.

Day 6. Nile Cruise

After breakfast we set sail for the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the gods Sobek and Harris. We'll then cruise onward to Edfu where we'll visit the magnificent Temple of Horus, dedicated to the Falcon God. This beautiful ancient temple is one of the best-preserved in Egypt and the second-largest after Karnak Temple. Continuing our journey, we cross the lock at Esna and sail on towards Luxor. Tonight we'll experience a traditional galabeya party on board. [B,L,D]

Day 7. Nile Cruise

We'll arrive in Luxor after breakfast and explore the fascinating Karnak Temple, dedicated to the Pharaoh Amun. Approximately 30 pharaohs contributed to the temple's structure over time, which explains its monumental size! We'll then visit Luxor Temple, once connected to Karnak Temple by a 3-kilometre long Avenue of Sphinxes. Luxor Temple is also home to a 25-metre pink granite obelisk, which was part of a matching pair until the 1830s when one was given to France. It now stands in the centre of the Place de la Concorde in Paris. [B,L,D]

Day 8. Nile Cruise - Luxor

Disembark Cruise: We disembark the cruise after breakfast and set off to explore the West Bank - the world's largest open-air museum!

Special Experience: Our first stop is the Valley of the Kings. Carved deep into the limestone rock, each tomb has a similar pattern of three corridors, an antechamber and a sarcophagus chamber. We'll be able to descend into some of the tombs to see examples of the elaborate and well-preserved hieroglyphic paintings.

Our next destination is the Temple of Hatshepsut. Regarded by Egyptologists as one of the most successful pharaohs, Queen Hatshepsut is one of only a few women to be given the title of pharaoh. We'll then visit the Colossi of Memnon. [B]

Day 9. Luxor - Cairo

The morning is at leisure for you to explore Luxor or simply relax before our afternoon flight back to Cairo. [B]

Day 10. Cairo

Today begins with a visit to the 12th century Saladin Citadel of Cairo and the Mohammed Ali Mosque. Built in classic Turkish style, it resembles the great mosques of Istanbul. We'll then discover the 14th century Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, a major souk in Cairo's Islamic District. Famous for its handmade crafts, it's also the perfect place to enjoy a traditional Arabic coffee. There are no fixed prices here, so make sure you practice your haggling skills! This afternoon we'll continue into the lively heart of Cairo to visit the world-famous Egyptian Museum, home to Tutankhamun's priceless treasures and many other historic artefacts. There will also be time for an optional visit to the "Mummy Room". This evening we'll enjoy a group farewell dinner. [B,D]

Day 11. Depart Cairo

Today we bid farewell to Egypt and begin our journey home. [B]

Day 12. Arrive in Australia