10-day festive escape: Cairo, Nile river journey, and beachside Marsa Alam retreat

December 20th, 2019 — Our Marsa Alam representatives will greet and assist you at Cairo International Airport, then transfer you to your hotel in a private air-conditioned vehicle. In the evening, enjoy an optional private guided night tour of Cairo, one of the city's most enchanting experiences. Ascend Mokatam Hills at sunset for breathtaking views of the city's lights and ancient silhouettes, then explore the winding lanes and vibrant shops of Khan el Khalili bazaar and discover Islamic Cairo's historic treasures.

December 21st, 2019 — Embark on a full-day guided tour of Cairo's most celebrated monuments. Begin at the Giza Plateau to see the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the majestic structures of Khafre and Menkaure, and the enigmatic Sphinx. Move to the panoramic viewpoint to capture stunning photographs of all three pyramids together, then visit the Valley Temple with its iconic limestone and granite architecture. Next, head to the Egyptian Museum to marvel at the treasures of Tutankhamun, including his famous death mask and burial artifacts. (Optional: explore the Royal Mummy Room.) Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local Cairo restaurant with vegetarian options available. Tonight, board the sleeper train to Aswan.

December 22nd, 2019 — Hotel pickup at 08:00 am for an immersive 8-hour guided exploration of historic Cairo with your Egyptologist guide. Visit the fortified Saladin Citadel perched on Mokatam Hills, erected in 1183 AD as a bulwark against Crusader armies. This preserved complex features stunning mosques and museums, highlighted by the alabaster-clad Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, designed by Ottoman architect Yousif Boushnaq. The alabaster walls create a striking contrast against the golden desert stone. Enjoy lunch at a traditional Old Cairo restaurant. Then explore the medieval Old Cairo district, home to the Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, the Church of Saint Barbara, and Abu Serga Church — one of Cairo's most ancient Coptic sanctuaries. Conclude with a stroll through the labyrinthine Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, a centuries-old trading hub since the 14th century. Afterward, board the sleeper train to Luxor.

December 23rd, 2019 — Arrive at Luxor station and transfer to your luxury Nile cruise ship. Following embarkation and lunch onboard, explore the East Bank's greatest treasures. Begin with Karnak Temple, a breathtaking sacred complex far surpassing a single temple — this sprawling sanctuary encompasses shrines, kiosks, towering pylons and obelisks dedicated to Thebes' divine rulers and Egypt's pharaonic glory. Karnak was the supreme sanctuary for venerating the Theban Triad: Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. Next, visit Luxor Temple, largely constructed during the New Kingdom by Pharaoh Amenhotep III, finished by Tutankhamun and Ramses II. The first pylon bears Ramses II's commemorative reliefs depicting the historic Battle of Kadesh. Enjoy dinner and settle into your cabin aboard the cruise.

December 24th, 2019 — Breakfast onboard the cruise. Journey to the West Bank to experience its monumental wonders. Visit the Valley of the Kings, anciently known as the Place of Truth — this majestic royal cemetery holds the stone sarcophagi of pharaohs who sought eternal rest. The isolated desert valley behind Deir el-Bahari is dominated by a pyramid-shaped mountain peak. Next, witness the Colossi of Memnon, massive paired statues rising approximately 18 meters from the valley floor, remnants of the greatest complex ever built on the West Bank by Amenhotep III. Then explore the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, a masterpiece rising in graceful terraces from the desert floor, harmoniously merging with the limestone cliffs of the Theban mountainside as though nature itself had sculpted this extraordinary monument. At 13:00, sail toward Esna Lock with lunch served during the journey. Arrive at 18:00 and continue sailing to Edfu. Dinner and overnight aboard the cruise.

December 25th, 2019 — Breakfast onboard the cruise at 07:00. Visit the Temple of Edfu, an Upper Egyptian treasure dominated by an exceptionally well-preserved sanctuary dedicated to Horus, the falcon god. This Ptolemaic marvel was founded upon an ancient site and dates to the reigns of Ptolemy III (246 BCE). The temple's walls contain inscriptions detailing the mythological struggle between Horus and Seth, which ancient Egyptians likely performed annually as sacred theater. At 09:30, sail toward Kom Ombo. Enjoy lunch onboard during the cruise at 12:30, then arrive at Kom Ombo at 15:30. Explore the Twin Temples of Kom Ombo, located 40 kilometers north of Aswan, dedicated to the deities Sobek and Horus, primarily dating to the Ptolemaic and Roman periods (332 BCE–395 CE). At 17:30, resume sailing toward Aswan with dinner served during navigation. Arrive at 21:00 and settle in for the night aboard the cruise.

December 26th, 2019 — Breakfast onboard the cruise at 08:00. Explore Aswan's magnificent highlights, including a visit to Philae Temple and a traditional felucca sailing excursion around Elephantine Island. Begin with the Philae Temple, constructed to honor the goddess Isis and representing the final temple of classical Egyptian architecture. Construction commenced around 690 BC, making it one of the last sacred strongholds where the goddess was venerated. Next, experience the Aswan High Dam, an engineering marvel positioned at Egypt's northern border with Sudan. Fed by the Nile River, its reservoir creates Lake Nasser. Construction launched in 1960 and concluded in 1968, with official inauguration in 1971. Finally, view the Unfinished Obelisk in the Northern Quarries — a testament to pharaonic ambition. At 1168 tons, this completed monument would have been the heaviest single stone ever worked by ancient Egyptians. Three sides of the 42-meter shaft were finished except for inscriptions. Lunch onboard at 12:00. Dinner and overnight aboard the cruise.

December 27th, 2019 — Breakfast onboard the cruise. Embark on an unforgettable journey to Abu Simbel Temples, Egypt's southernmost triumph. The twin temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari were masterfully carved from the mountainside on the Nile's west bank between 1274 and 1244 BCE. The Great Temple was consecrated to Ramses II, Ra-Harakhte, Amun-Ra, and Ptah, magnificently fronted by four colossal statues. The secondary temple honored Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. When the Aswan High Dam's construction threatened these monuments with inundation, an extraordinary international rescue mission was launched. Both temples were meticulously dismantled, stone by stone, and reconstructed on elevated terrain. This UNESCO preservation triumph remains one of humanity's greatest archaeological achievements. This evening, board the sleeper train for your return journey to Cairo.

December 28th, 2019 — Enjoy a leisurely day at your own pace in Cairo. Relax at your hotel or pursue optional activities. Consider an optional excursion to Alexandria, Egypt's ancient Mediterranean port city, famous for its Hellenistic heritage, the legendary Library of Alexandria, and stunning waterfront promenades.

December 29th, 2019 — Departure Day — Transfer to Cairo Airport from your hotel for your final journey home.