EGYPTIAN TREASURES

Day 01: Feb 22, 2026: Depart North America     [IFM]
Depart North America on an overnight flight to Egypt.

Day 02: Feb 23, 2026: Cairo, Egypt  [IFM]
Arrive in Cairo where you will be greeted by a local guide for assistance with customs. Transfer to the hotel on the west side of Cairo.

Day 03: Feb 24, 2026: Cairo, Egypt [B/L/D]
Explore the ancient burial site of Sakkara, home to Egypt’s oldest pyramids and beautifully preserved tombs with scenes of pharaonic agriculture.  Visit a family-owned farm, operating since the 1880s, known for its experimental crops, including endive, a vegetable that thrives in northern Europe's low temperatures. After lunch at the farm, spend the afternoon at the Grand Egyptian Museum before enjoying an authentic Egyptian dinner.

Day 04: Feb 25, 2026: Faiyum, Egypt       [B/L]
Depart Cairo via the Alexandria Desert Road to visit one of Egypt’s largest export farms, spanning 3,000 acres and cultivating a variety of fruits and vegetables. After a light lunch at the farm, continue into the desert, arriving at the oasis in the early afternoon. Check into a former hunting castle of King Farouk, overlooking the brackish Qarun Lake.

Day 05: Feb 26, 2026: Faiyum - Cairo, Egypt [B/L]
After checking out, board 4x4s for a scenic drive along Qarun Lake, passing fields of flowers and crops before heading into the desert and the remote Valley of Whales. Walk among ancient whale skeletons, and enjoy light dune bashing with Bedouin guides. Back at the oasis, have lunch at the Faiyumi Cooking School, visit the village’s famous pottery workshops, then return to Giza to check into your hotel.

Day 06: Feb 27, 2026: Cairo, Egypt [B/L]
We will start with the Gayer Anderson Museum. This house from 15th century, which had just been restored, was filled with his personal collection of art, furnishings, and carpets. The James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me was partially shot in the museum, in the ceremonial reception hall and the rooftop terrace. We then continue to one of the most magnificent mosques of Cairo, El Rifai, where we will learn more about Islam. The mosque is also the burial site of among others King Farouq and the last Shah of Iran. We end our tour in the very oriental bazaar district called Khan El Khalili. While walking through this famous bazaar we observe daily life and the oriental character of this place with its typical shops and cafés. We have lunch overlooking the 1000 minarets of Cairo, in the Al Azhar park.

Day 07: Feb 28, 2026: Cairo - Aswan  [B/L]
We check out in the morning and start our day with the most famous sight in Egypt, the Giza Pyramids at the Giza Plateau, dating back to 2500 B.C. One of the seven classic Wonders of the World, they are the oldest and the only remaining. The visit will take us to the highest point of the plateau to have a panoramic view of the area, to one of the two smaller of the three pyramids where those who wish may enter and we will pass by the mysterious Sphinx. We have our lunch with a view of the 9 Pyramids. Transfer to the airport and flight to Aswan. Meet & greet upon arrival and transfer to the hotel in Aswan.

 Day 08: Mar 01, 2026: Aswan   [B/L]
Start the day with free time to take in Aswan’s stunning views. In the afternoon, visit Mohamed, an elderly Nubian man who founded a small museum to preserve Nubian heritage. He or his daughter, Fatima, will guide you through the village, sharing insights into their history and traditions. End the day with a boat ride to the legendary Old Cataract Hotel for a classic high tea on the terrace, just as Agatha Christie once did. Overnight Aswan.

Day 09: Mar 02, 2026: Aswan - Lake Nasser Cruise   [B/L/D]
We check out late morning and transfer to our ship. We check in around noon and have lunch onboard. Today we will visit the Aswan High Dam, this wonder of the new world and learn a little about how it has changed life in the valley. We then continue to the Philae temple situated on a small island between the old Aswan Dam and the High Dam. Here the goddess Isis ruled, after she was left alone when her husband the god Osiris was murdered by her brother according to the ancient mythology. The unfinished obelisk in the granite quarry will be our last stop and one cannot help but to be fascinated by the enormity of projects done during a time when no real tools existed.

Day 10: Mar 03, 2026: Aswan - Kasr Ibrim - Amada [B/L/D]
Begin with an early morning visit to Kom Ombo Temple, followed by the remarkably well-preserved Edfu Temple later in the day.  As the cruise continues north through the Esna Dam and lock, relax on the sundeck and take in the stunning contrast of lush Nile Valley fields against the surrounding desert.

Day 11: Mar 04, 2026: Karnak Temple [B/D]
In the morning we go for a visit to the famous Karnak Temple, the Vatican of the Pharaonic Era. Here everything is large and some of the most impressive sights will be the monumental gates, enormous halls with pillars and beautiful wall carvings. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 12: Mar 05, 2026: Lake Nasser - Luxor, Egypt [B/D]
We check out in the morning and go to the west side of the river to see the Valley of Kings where among others the tomb of Tutankhamen´s was found almost intact in the 1920s. The texts and the pictures of the walls of the tombs are describing the thoughts and imagination of the transformation from life to death. Once totally clear to the pharaohs it is for us today to a great extent incomprehensible but oh, so fascinating. Approximately 10 of the 60 tombs are opened to the public and we will visit three of them together, among which Ramses VI, one of the most beautifully decorated and with few visitors due to its high entrance price. Deir el Medina is the village where the workers of pharaoh were living during the New Kingdom. The city with its narrow lanes is well preserved and so also the tombs of the workers with very vivid colors. Rest of day at leisure.

Day 13: Mar 06, 2026: Luxor, Egypt    [B/D]
This morning you will rise with the sun for a hot air balloon ride over the Nile River. Today is a day at leisure to enjoy the pools and the beautiful views of the hotel. In the early evening we will visit the illuminated Luxor Temple before having dinner in the hotel.

Day 14: Mar 07, 2026: Luxor, Egypt   [B/L]
Excursion to the Valley of Queens, the tombs of the nobles as well as the home of Howard Carter who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen. Here you will find his house as he left it, some of his drawings and more. We enjoy lunch overlooking the fields.

Day 15: Mar 08, 2026: Luxor - Cairo, Egypt [B/D]
On the final full day, enjoy a leisurely Nile boat trip with an Egyptian brunch, including a stop at a traditional banana farm.  This afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairo, and enjoy a farewell group dinner.

Day 16: Mar 09, 2026: Cairo - Flight to Canada [B/IFM]
All good things must come to an end. Transfer to the Luxor Airport for flight(s) back to Canada.