Today, we depart our home cities for Cairo. Connoisseurs Tours offers an Airline Concierge Service to help with your reservations. Your dedicated reservation team will manage your airline reservations from the time you begin selecting flights until the day you return and will spend extra effort to find just the right airline schedule to suit your needs. This will alleviate any of the unexpected headaches that can arise in today’s travel environment with schedule changes and flight cancellations.

For those who wish to arrive early, an optional pre journey extension is available on a limited basis.

We begin today with a visit to The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, which has an incredible collection that includes mummies and treasures from across Egyptian history. This new state-of-the-art museum boasts a vast collection of artifacts from Ancient Egypt through the modern day – all in a megalithic building overlooking a lake.

The museum’s exceptional collection includes the royal mummies, which are exhibited in a new interactive display using 21st-century cutting-edge technology to go beneath the wrappings and reveal their secrets, in addition to shedding light on the rituals and religious beliefs surrounding mummification in ancient Egypt. The NMEC’s collection tells the story of Egyptian civilizations from pre-historic to Ancient Egyptian, through the Greco-Roman, Coptic and Islamic periods right up until modern times. You’ll see everything from pre-historic stone tools to the golden coffins of Ancient Egypt and the glass lamps of medieval mosques. There are also 19th-century busts of Khedive Ismail, who inaugurated the Suez Canal, and sculptures by early modernist Egyptian artists. It’s a sweeping collection that gives you a great overview of Egyptian culture through the ages - a perfect introduction to your travels across the country.

Coptic Cairo | Fortress of Babylon
We continue from the NMEC to the captivating locale of Coptic Cairo. Long before the city’s foundation back in the 10th century, a Roman fortress called Babylon existed in what is now Coptic Cairo at the crossing of the canal which links the Nile to the Red Sea. Furthermore, the Hanging Church derives from its location above a gate of the Fortress of Babylon.

According to the New Testament, the family of Jesus Christ is said to have lived in what is now Coptic Cairo during his exile from Herod. Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church, the oldest one in Coptic Cairo, stands at this very point. This community also features the Ben Ezra Synagogue, which, according to Jewish tradition, is located on the very spot where the baby Moses was found.

Once known as the Roman stronghold of Babylon, Cairo’s oldest section is the ancient heart of the Coptic Christian community featuring five original churches, the first mosque built in Egypt and the oldest synagogue, all representing three of the major world religions. Egypt’s rich Coptic heritage is preserved at the Coptic Museum, home to the largest collection of Coptic art and historical memorabilia anywhere in the world.

This evening we have a private reception and dinner at the Ritz Carlton.

Overnight at the Ritz-Carlton Cairo.
(B,R,D)

Our historical city tour begins with a visit to the Citadel of Salah al-Din, a massive compound containing mosques and museums and offering breathtaking views of Cairo. Founded in the seventh century by Arab conquerors, the Fatimid dynasty rulers made Cairo their capital and named it al-Qahira (“the Victorious”). The great sultan Salah al-Din built his citadel in the 12th century. The citadel was the home of Egypt’s rulers for more than 700 years. We have included a visit to his masterpiece, the great Alabaster Mosque, also known as the Mosque of Muhammad Ali.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo (EMC) is the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East, housing over 170,000 artifacts. It has the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world. The Museum’s exhibits span the Pre-Dynastic Period till the Graeco-Roman Era (c. 5500 BC - AD 364). Encompassing Tutankhamun's major pieces from his tomb, including his famous mask, two of his inner coffins and a collection of his finest jewelery, this exhibition also shows Tutankhamun’s family relationships.

After lunch on your own at the EMC, you will have the choice to continue on or return to the hotel for a restful afternoon. For those who wish, we will explore the grand Museum of Prince Muhammad’s Palace in Manial. The Manial Palace Museum and Garden is one of the most beautiful and important historical museums in Egypt. Exhibiting an important period in the history of modern Egypt, it is characterized by its unique architectural design. Its modern Islamic style merges with Persian and Mamluk elements, inspired by Syrian, Moroccan and Andalusian motifs, as well as Ottoman style, thus harmonizing between a number of Islamic architectural traditions.

This evening you are free for dinner.

Overnight at the Ritz-Carlton Cairo.
(B)

This morning we will depart Cairo for Luxor. Upon arrival, we will begin our exploration of the Karnak Complex.

Most visitors to the archaeological site of Karnak may see little more than a jumble of ruinous sandstone blocks and statues. We will have access to the elaborate religious complex of massive pylons and pillars, decorated columns and courts, shrines and sacred lakes with enchanting processional avenues lined with sphinxes. For ruler after ruler over some 2,000 years of Egypt’s past, this was the ancient Egyptian god Amun-Ra’s house on earth. Today, Karnak is the second largest religious site in the World, second to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. One of the conversational projects currently underway at the Karnak complex is the restoration of the carving and inscriptions of the Temple of Khonsu.

Later, we will board the magnificent River Tosca and sail for beautiful Dendera. Before our Gala Dinner this evening, we will be treated to a folkloric dance performance. A local band of dancers in traditional costumes representing different Egyptian districts will perform a Whirling Dervish show.

Overnight aboard the River Tosca.
(B, L, D)

Today we will visit the magnificent Temple of Hathor and Luxor.

The temple of Hathor at Dendera is one of the best-preserved Ptolemaic temples. The temple has recently been conserved, revealing brightly painted astronomical ceilings. The impressive Temple of Hathor at Dendera was dedicated to the goddess of love and beauty. Built between 125 BC and AD 65, it is one of the best-preserved temples in all of Egypt and features a rare bas-relief of Cleopatra with Caesarion, the son she bore to Julius Caesar.

We enter the temple of Luxor through the great pylon—a ceremonial gateway—where two enormous statues of Ramses II still stand, along with a pink granite obelisk (its mate stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France). Continue to an enormous interior courtyard, where the Abu Haggag Mosque once stood atop the temple's ruins.

The temple’s chief architects were Amenhotep III (Egypt’s “Sun King,” also known as Amenophis III) and Ramses II, and it was constructed over hundreds of years, beginning around 1400 BC. It was dedicated to the “father of all life,” the god Amun, sometimes referred to as Amon or Amon-Ra. Ancient Egyptians came to the temple to pay tribute to this god during the Opet Festival, celebrated during the annual flooding of the Nile.

Overnight aboard the River Tosca.
(B, L, D)

Luxor is said to be the most extraordinary open-air museum and consists of one-third of the monuments in the world. The Valley of the Kings is understandably a World Heritage Site and it can be regarded as the most magnificent burial ground of anywhere in the world. The tombs are hewn into limestone and the walls are sculpted and painted with stunning murals that depict the daily scenes of life and of the land of the gods.

Within the tombs and along the walls of The Valley of the Kings, inscriptions from the Book of the Dead provided instructions on how the pharaohs could safely journey to the next world and avoid dangers along the way. For the sake of preservation, only a handful of the most interesting tombs are open to visitors at any given time.

We will have privileged access to visit the temple of one of Egypt’s rare female pharaohs to explore Nefertiri’s magnificent, 3,000-year-old tomb. 

The tomb of Queen Nefertari, which is located in the Valley of the Queens on the west bank of Luxor, is one of the most spectacular tombs that you can visit in Egypt. On the walls of the tomb are brilliantly colored pictures of Nefertari. These show her position in the eyes of her husband and how beloved she was. The tomb of Queen Nefertari underwent restoration work 30 years ago, to restore the paintings from deterioration from water damage, salt formation, and bacterial growth. Now, the number of visitors is limited in order to prevent further damage from traffic and the humidity of visitors’ breath. 

We will return to the ship for dinner and a festive party featuring traditional Egyptian music after dinner.

Overnight aboard the River Tosca.
(B, L, D)

The Kom Ombo Temple, unlike most ancient Egyptian temples, is dedicated to two gods—the crocodile god Sobek and the hawk god Horus, the Elder. Of special interest are the reliefs that record the “Triumph of Horus,” showing the battles of Horus and Seth, and several of the 300 crocodile mummies discovered in the vicinity are displayed inside the temple.

After a scenic cruise to Aswan, we will board small boats and sail along the banks of the Nile on a bird-watching excursion for colorful native birds, different species of herons, kingfishers, vultures, sunbirds, and other wildlife that thrive in the marsh grass along the riverbanks.

Overnight aboard the River Tosca.
(B, L, D)

Today is an epic day, filled with wonders from start to finish. You’ll visit a marvel of modern engineering—the Aswan High Dam—the Unfinished Obelisk, and the beautiful Philae Temple complex. This beautiful temple complex is one of the most picturesque in Egypt.

We will sail in a felucca— a small traditional boat with large triangular sails—a wonderful way to experience the river as Egyptians have for a thousand years—and enjoy afternoon tea at a famous Cataract Hotel. The historic Old Cataract Hotel Aswan is a colonial-era gem that counts Winston Churchill and Princess Diana among its former guests. This famous hotel was depicted in Agatha Christie’s acclaimed mystery novel Death on the Nile.

After dinner onboard this evening, you’ll be treated to an enchanting Nubian show featuring traditionally attired performers, live music, and dancing.

Nubia was home to some of Africa’s earliest kingdoms. Known for rich deposits of gold, Nubia was also the gateway through which luxury products like incense, ivory, and ebony traveled from their source in sub-Saharan Africa to the civilizations of Egypt and the Mediterranean. Archers of exceptional skill provided military strength for Nubian rulers. Kings of Nubia ultimately conquered and ruled Egypt for about a century.

Overnight aboard River Tosca.
(B, L, D)

Spend the day at leisure or join us for an optional excursion to see the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel. Guests participating in this optional excursion will fly roundtrip from Aswan to Abu Simbel.  The Abu Simbel Temples are some of the most famous in Egypt after the Giza Pyramids. Built by the greatest of the pharaohs, Ramesses II, which made it also known as the Temple of Ramses II or Ramesses II, these huge rock-cut temples marked the southern boundary of the Egyptian Empire with Nubia at the peak of its power during the New Kingdom. 

 They were meant to convey Egypt’s rulers' power to anyone who looked at them. The four statues guarding the doorway to the larger of these temples are the largest sculptures that survive from the ancient Pharaonic era.

Aswan has many treasures to explore. The fine Nubian Museum is housed in an Aga Khan award-winning Nubian-influenced building. The exhibits feature painting, sculptures, weapons, pottery, textiles, and utensils that document more than 6,000 years of Nubian history.

The Sharia el Souk is a seven-block-long market that runs parallel to the Nile. This colorful bazaar is bustling with locals and the atmosphere puts you right in the thick of it.

Overnight aboard River Tosca.
(B, L, D)

We will have time to slow down and savor the Nile’s majestic scenery as the ship cruises to Luxor.

The Late Roman Temple of Esna lies on the west bank of the Nile about 34 miles (55 kilometers) south of Luxor. Buried under debris for centuries, the temple is just a short walk from the ship through the local market. It dates from the Ptolemaic and Roman periods (180 BC to AD 251) and is one of the last Egyptian temples ever built. We will see two large inscriptions praising Khnum, the ram-headed god of creation, who fashioned mankind on a potter’s wheel from the clay mud of the Nile. There’s also a hypostyle hall with 24 pillars and a ceiling depicting Egyptian astronomical figures and Roman zodiac signs. On the temple’s western wall, look for images of Horus, the god of victory, and Khnum, dragging a net full of fish. At the foot of this façade are the last known hieroglyphic inscriptions ever recorded in Egypt.

Overnight aboard River Tosca.
(B, L, D)

Today we disembark in Luxor and transfer to the airport for our return flight to Cairo. 

We will visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), which is opening in phases with a collection of artifacts that is set to be the largest archaeological museum in the world. During our visit to the soft opening of the GEM, we will be among the privileged few to experience the highly acclaimed "Tutankhamun – The Immersive Exhibition". In collaboration with Madrid Artes Digitales, this groundbreaking exhibition invites visitors to embark on an epic odyssey, walking alongside King Tutankhamun, the Golden King whose story has captivated the world for millennia. 

We return to the Ritz-Carlton for our Farewell Dinner.

Overnight at the Ritz-Carlton Cairo.
(B,L,D)

This morning we drive to Giza, where we will visit the great Pyramids of Giza which continue to be an unsolved mystery to scientists, historians, and archaeologists. No matter how much we discover about the famed Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, there always seems to be an air of mystery surrounding these structures. Constructed roughly 4,500 years ago, these massive relics of the Old Kingdom era have survived seemingly everything.We continue to the Great Sphinx. Afterward, we see the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Dynasty 4) and ascend to the king’s burial chamber.

Our program continues to Sakkara, one of Egypt's richest archaeological sites—tombs and pyramids here date from the early Dynastic into the Graeco-Roman era. Our special focus is on the Step Pyramid of King Djoser (Dynasty 3), which preserves invaluable information about architecture, engineering, and the cult of the pharaoh in the 27th century BC. The Step Pyramid of Djoser is the oldest pyramid in the world and the prototype for all subsequent pyramids.

Time permitting we will also visit the Serapeum, the vast catacomb for the burials of the sacred Apis bulls. Horemheb’s Tomb was Tutankhamun's general, who succeeded Ay, Tutankhamun's briefly reigning tutor. His tomb has beautiful decorations showing the first use of bas-relief in the valley.

Overnight at the Ritz-Carlton Cairo.
(B, L)