The Grand Nile Heritage Journey: Cairo, Dahabiya Cruise & Abu Simbel

After breakfast, begin your exploration of Egypt's most celebrated monuments on the Giza Plateau. Stand in awe before the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, visit the enigmatic Great Sphinx, and explore the Valley Temple where mummification was perfected. In the afternoon, discover thousands of priceless pharaonic artifacts at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), including the treasures of King Tutankhamun and statuary spanning over 3,000 years of civilization. Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

**Included Meals**: Breakfast

Following breakfast, transfer to Cairo Airport for your morning domestic flight to Luxor—the ancient capital of Thebes. Upon arrival, begin exploring the world's greatest open-air museum. Visit the immense Karnak Temple Complex, marveling at the forest of 134 towering sandstone pillars in the Great Hypostyle Hall. In the late afternoon, explore the magnificent Luxor Temple, connected to Karnak by the grand Avenue of Sphinxes. Later, check into your luxury hotel overlooking the Nile and enjoy an evening at leisure.

**Included Meals**: Breakfast

After breakfast, cross the Nile to Luxor's West Bank to discover the subterranean wonders of ancient Thebes. Descend into brilliantly painted royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, admire the dramatic terraced limestone colonnades of Queen Hatshepsut's Temple at Deir el-Bahari, and view the towering Colossi of Memnon. Following your tour, board the boutique Mazaj SEBA Dahabiya. Meet the attentive crew, settle into your stateroom, and enjoy your first gourmet lunch freshly prepared onboard as your luxury sailing adventure begins.

**Included Meals**: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Enjoy breakfast on deck as Mazaj SEBA unfurls her natural white canvas sails toward Esna. Experience the fascinating engineering operation of passing through the historic Esna Lock, watching boats raise or lower between river levels. Continue sailing south through peaceful, timeless Nile scenery lined with date palm groves, lush farmlands, and traditional riverside villages. Relax on the sun deck, soak in the tranquil rhythm of river travel, and savor fresh culinary creations by your private onboard chef.

**Included Meals**: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Following breakfast, arrive in Edfu and travel by traditional horse-drawn carriage to explore the magnificent Temple of Horus—one of the best-preserved ancient sanctuaries in Egypt. Marvel at its towering relief pylons, grand hypostyle hall, and intact sacred granite shrine. Return to the Dahabiya and continue sailing toward Gebel el Silsila, where towering sandstone cliffs supplied stone for nearly all of Ancient Egypt's greatest temples. Explore the rock-cut shrines and Speos of Horemheb, followed by dinner on deck surrounded by dramatic cliffs.

**Included Meals**: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Awaken to the peaceful rhythm of the river as Mazaj SEBA sails toward Kom Ombo. Step ashore to explore the remarkable dual temple uniquely dedicated to two deities: Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the Elder. Visit the adjacent Crocodile Mummy Museum before returning to the vessel for lunch. Continue sailing gracefully south toward Aswan, enjoying your final afternoon aboard Mazaj SEBA. Celebrate an unforgettable Nile sailing voyage with a festive farewell gala dinner prepared by the chef.

**Included Meals**: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, disembark Mazaj SEBA and begin discovering the extraordinary beauty of Aswan. Take a scenic motorboat across the Nile to the romantic Island Temple of Philae, dedicated to Goddess Isis. Next, tour the immense Aswan High Dam, a triumph of 20th-century engineering creating Lake Nasser. Later, check into your luxury Nile-view hotel in Aswan. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, or choose an optional sunset felucca sail around Elephantine Island or a colorful boat excursion to a traditional Nubian Village.

**Included Meals**: Breakfast

Depart early this morning in a private air-conditioned vehicle for one of Egypt's most breathtaking archaeological wonders. Carved directly into the sandstone cliffs by Ramesses II over 3,200 years ago, the twin temples of Abu Simbel stand among the greatest engineering achievements of the ancient world. Saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser during UNESCO's historic relocation project, explore the Great Temple of Ramesses II with its four 20-meter colossal seated statues, and the adjacent Temple of Queen Nefertari. Return to Aswan in the afternoon and transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Cairo. Check into your luxury hotel for your final evening in Egypt.

**Included Meals**: Breakfast

After a leisurely breakfast at your hotel, meet your private chauffeur for your transfer to Cairo International Airport for your departure flight. Depart with unforgettable memories of the Great Pyramids, magnificent temples, peaceful Nile sunsets, and the timeless elegance of the Mazaj SEBA Dahabiya—a journey through one of the world's greatest civilizations that will remain with you for a lifetime.

**Included Meals**: Breakfast