An immersive odyssey through the cradle of civilization, this twelve day expedition balances the scale of ancient wonders with the refined comfort of modern luxury. From the iconic Giza Plateau to the timeless serenity of the Nile, and crowned by a rare total solar eclipse over Luxor, this journey offers an intimate encounter with history, curated for the most discerning traveler.

ITINERARY

• DAY 1 | Arrival to Cairo
• DAY 2 | Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx & GEM
• DAY 3 | Saqqara & NMEC
• DAY 4 | Fly to Luxor, Karnak & Luxor Temple
• DAY 5 | Day at Leisure
• DAY 6 | Habu Temple, Tombs of the Nobles & Deir El Madina
• DAY 7 | Embarkation & Solar Eclipse Event
• DAY 8 | Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens & Hatshepsut Temple
• DAY 9 | Edfu & Kom Ombo Temples
• DAY 10 | Temple of Philae, High Dam & Felucca Excursion
• DAY 11 | Abu Simbel Excursion & Return to Cairo
• DAY 12 | Departure

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN CAIRO

Your journey begins with a seamless arrival in Cairo. A dedicated representative will meet you before passport control to assist with your entry visa, immigration formalities, and luggage. A private chauffeur then escorts you to your hotel in Cairo for check in, easing you gently into the rhythm of the Egyptian capital.

DAY 2: PYRAMIDS OF GIZA, THE SPHINX & THE GEM

Explore the Giza Plateau, home to the great pyramids of Khufu, Khafra, and Menkaura, and to the Sphinx, the largest monolithic statue in the world. You will have the opportunity to step inside the Great Pyramid before continuing to the Grand Egyptian Museum, set at the edge of the desert plateau between the pyramids and the city. Lunch is served at the Khufu Restaurant.

DAY 3: SAQQARA & THE NMEC

Travel to the ancient burial ground of Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid, built by the architect Imhotep in the 27th century BC for the pharaoh Zoser. After lunch at the Sakkara Palm Club, return to the city for the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, then lose yourself in the historic Khan El Khalili bazaar, where craftsmen still work gold, silver, and brass by hand.

DAY 4: FLIGHT TO LUXOR, KARNAK & LUXOR TEMPLES

After breakfast you check out of your Cairo hotel and board a morning flight to Luxor. Your guide leads you along the Avenue of Sphinxes into the vast temple complex of Karnak, where the oldest ruins reach back more than three thousand years. Cross to the East Bank for Luxor Temple, watched over by colossal statues of Ramses II and remarkably intact after centuries of Nile floods and invasion. Lunch follows at the celebrated Sofra Restaurant before you check in at Al Moudira for a quiet evening.

DAY 5: DAY AT LEISURE IN LUXOR

A day entirely your own in Luxor. With nothing on the schedule, you are free to take the city at your own pace, whether resting at the hotel or wandering the surroundings as the mood takes you.

DAY 6: HABU TEMPLE, TOMBS OF THE NOBLES & DEIR EL MADINA

Begin at Habu Temple, dominated by the Mortuary Temple of Ramses III, the largest on the west bank and among the best preserved, its walls carved with vivid reliefs including a rare depiction of a sea battle. Continue to the Tombs of the Nobles, where the private tombs of New Kingdom dignitaries and priests are decorated with lively scenes of everyday life, and finish at Deir El Madina, once home to the artisans who carved the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings.

DAY 7: EMBARKATION & SOLAR ECLIPSE EVENT

After breakfast and check out of Al Moudira, you will witness the event at the heart of this journey: the total solar eclipse of August 2, 2027. Its path of totality passes almost directly over Luxor, granting more than six minutes of darkness, the longest such moment visible from land for generations. You then board your Nile cruise vessel, where the evening unfolds with a traditional Tanoura performance and dinner on the water.

DAY 8: VALLEY OF THE KINGS, VALLEY OF THE QUEENS & HATSHEPSUT TEMPLE

Step into the royal necropolis of the Valley of the Kings, with access to the tombs of Tutankhamun and Ramses VI. Continue to the Valley of the Queens, resting place of the queens and royal children of the nineteenth and twentieth dynasties, and end at the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's most celebrated female ruler. Designed by her steward Senenmut, it remains one of the great achievements of ancient architecture.

DAY 9: TEMPLES OF EDFU & KOM OMBO

Sail south to the Temple of Edfu, the largest and best preserved Greco Roman temple in Egypt, dedicated to the falcon god Horus and reached by private caleche. Continue to Kom Ombo, the unusual twin temple devoted in equal measure to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris, standing right on the banks of the Nile.

DAY 10: TEMPLE OF PHILAE, THE HIGH DAM & FELUCCA SAILING

In Aswan, cross by boat to the island of Philae and the lovely Temple of Isis, a place that draws together Egyptian, Greek, and Roman influence. Take in the scale of the Aswan High Dam, one of the largest rock fill dams in the world, holding back the vast waters of Lake Nasser. Later, board a private felucca to drift among the islands of the Nile, past the botanical gardens of Kitchener Island and Elephantine, closing with a peaceful view of the Aga Khan Mausoleum.

DAY 11: ABU SIMBEL EXCURSION & RETURN TO CAIRO

After disembarking your cruise in Aswan, a private excursion takes you to Abu Simbel, where four colossal statues of Ramses II guard a temple cut straight into the rock, alongside the smaller temple he dedicated to his queen, Nefertari. Once threatened by the rising waters of Lake Nasser, the entire site was lifted to higher ground in a remarkable UNESCO rescue. You then return to Cairo, where you check in at the Four Seasons First Residence for your final night.

DAY 12: DEPARTURE

After a final breakfast and check out, your private chauffeur escorts you to Cairo International Airport, where your representative assists with every departure formality, bringing your Egyptian journey to a calm and effortless close.

ACCOMMODATION

Four Seasons Nile Plaza or St. Regis (Cairo)

A haven of modern luxury overlooking the world's most storied river. Both properties offer generous suites with panoramic views and a standard of quiet, attentive service that anticipates every need.

Al Moudira (Luxor)

A rare boutique gem on the west bank of the Nile. Its hand crafted architecture, domed ceilings, and shaded courtyards make for an authentic, artistic retreat in keeping with the spirit of the Theban landscape.

Farah or Jaz Regent (Nile Cruise)

These vessels represent the finest of river travel. Contemporary in design and finished with broad sun decks, they offer a floating sanctuary from which to take in the Nile in complete comfort.

Four Seasons First Residence (Cairo)

An address of quiet prestige beside the Nile. Known for its refined atmosphere and meticulous attention to detail, it offers an intimate and serene close to your journey.