Odysseys Unlimited

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Cairo, Egypt

Day 2: Arrive Cairo We arrive in the Egyptian capital late this afternoon then meet our fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner. D

Day 3: Cairo Our full-day tour begins at the acclaimed Egyptian Museum, the world’s great­est repository of ancient relics. Then we tour the Citadel of Saladin housing the alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali. Later this afternoon we navigate bustling Khan el-Khalili bazaar. B,L

Day 4: Cairo Today’s tour starts at the open-air museum at Memphis, whose ruins evoke its former glory as Egypt’s first capital, dating to the early 4th century bce. Here, too, we encounter the enigmatic Sphinx, whose leonine body and human face were carved from a single piece of limestone. We continue on to Sakkara, a necropolis used as the burial grounds of Old Kingdom royalty. After lunch we visit the astounding Pyramids of Giza. B,L

Day 5: Cairo This morning we encounter Old Cairo, where we visit 5th-century St. Sergius Church; el-Mauallaqa, the “hanging church” built over the bastions of a Roman gate; and Ben Ezra Synagogue, built in 882. This afternoon is at leisure. B

Day 6: Cairo/Abu Simbel Early this morning we fly south to Aswan then continue by coach across the edge of the Sahara to Abu Simbel. We board our deluxe cruise ship in time for lunch, then visit the temples and colossal 65-foot high statues of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari that were dismantled and moved to higher ground during the construction of the Aswan dam. Tonight we watch a dramatic sound-and-light show at Abu Simbel. B,L,D

Day 7: Lake Nasser Cruise – Kasr Ibrim/Amada/ Wadi el-Seboua Early risers can watch the sun climb over the temples at Abu Simbel before we sail to Kasr Ibrim, the last remaining Nubian settlement in its original location. From the sun deck we learn about this ancient site (it’s forbidden to go ashore here), then sail to Amada, followed by Wadi el-Seboua. B,L,D

Day 8: Lake Nasser Cruise – Valley of the Lions/ Aswan This morning we visit the striking avenue of sphinxes at Wadi el-Seboua’s “Valley of the Lions,” then cruise to Aswan to tour New Kalabsha, site of the largest freestanding Nubian temple. B,L,D

Day 9: Aswan After disembarking this morning we tour the acclaimed Nubia Museum. Built in 1997, this striking building nestled into the hillside features open-air displays; ancient statues, columns, and ­obelisks; and a complete Nubian house. This afternoon we visit a popular riverfront market and a Nubian village. B

Day 10: Aswan/Embark Nile Cruise Ship We board our deluxe Nile river ship in time for lunch then disembark for a leisurely felucca sail on the Nile. These replicas of ancient Nile sailboats cruise around several well-known sites, including Elephantine Island, Kitchener’s Botanical Garden, and the tomb of the Aga Khan. Tonight: a Nubian folklore show. B,L,D

Day 11: Nile Cruise – Aswan/Edfu Today we tour the Aswan High Dam, which created Lake Nasser (the world’s largest manmade lake). We also tour the Philae Temple complex, dedicated to the goddess Isis. After lunch we visit the ancient trading town of Kom Ombo and see outstanding Nile views from the Temple of Sobek. We sail on to Edfu, where tonight we attend the Captain’s welcome cocktail party. B,L,D

Day 12: Nile Cruise – Edfu/Luxor We visit Edfu’s Temple of Horus today, Egypt’s best-preserved temple. Then we cruise to Luxor, enjoying a relaxing afternoon on the river. B,L,D

Day 13: Nile Cruise – Luxor Today we explore Luxor, whose vast temple complexes, tombs, and statues dating from 2755 BCE represent the pinnacle of Egyptian architecture. We start on the West Bank at the haunting Valley of the Kings, with some 50 royal tombs; then the Valley of the Queens, with the dramatic Temple of Hatshepsut; and the imposing Colossi of Memnon. After lunch we head to the East Bank, home of the greatest temple complex of them all: Karnak. We tour Luxor Temple, whose builders included both Tutankhamun and Alexander the Great; and Karnak Temple, constructed over a 1,500-year period. B,L,D

Day 14: Luxor/Cairo/Alexandria We fly today from Luxor to Cairo where we board a motorcoach for the 3½-hour drive to Alexandria, great city of antiquity founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE and today Egypt’s main port and second largest city. On arrival we see the Fort of Quaitbay, where once stood the Pharos of Alexandria, the lighthouse counted as one of the Seven Ancient Wonders. B

Day 15: Alexandria Today we discover Alexandria’s Greco-Roman heritage at the Library of Alexandria and the tri-level catacombs in Kom el-Shoukafa dating to the 2nd century CE. After lunch we tour the well-preserved ruin of the ancient Roman Amphitheater. B,L

Day 16: Alexandria/Cairo We depart for Cairo today, arriving mid afternoon. Tonight we celebrate our journey at a farewell dinner at our hotel. B,D

Day 17: Depart for U.S. We leave this morning on our return flight to the U.S. B

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking on uneven terrain and at sites of ancient ruins. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.