Saturday, December 1st
Our journey begins with an overnight flight from JFK International Airport to the Cairo International Airport in Egypt. Dinner will be served on-board the plane. D

Sunday, December 2nd
This morning, before our arrival, a breakfast snack will be served on board the airplane. Upon our arrival into CAIRO, we will obtain our visas, collect our luggage, and pass through customs formalities. We will then meet our professional local tour guide and our bus driver who will take us on a PANORAMIC TOUR OF CAIRO. Following our tour, we will drive to the deluxe, five-star Four Seasons Hotel, where we'll check in and stay for the next three nights. Tonight we will all enjoy a “welcome dinner,” and learn more about our exciting expedition and “Traveling with a Quilter’s Eye.” B, D

Monday, December 3rd
This morning following breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and transfer to the Cairo Airport for our flight to the city of LUXOR. After our arrival we will board our motor coach to visit the incredible historical site, the Karnak Temple of Amun. The Karnak Temple is famous for its Hypostyle Hall and the 134 huge columns, the Statue of Ramses II, the Obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut, and carvings that fill the multiple parts of this vast temple. We will then be transferred to our deluxe cruise ship, the Farah, where we will get settled in and enjoy lunch. Later this afternoon we will have the opportunity to visit the Luxor Temple. The Luxor Temple is located on the east bank of the River Nile in the city of Luxor which was the ancient city of Thebes. The temple, know as “the southern sanctuary” was built during the New Kingdom and was dedicated to the Theban Triad of Amun, Mut and Chons. We will also have the opportunity to visit a Papyrus Institute where we will learn the traditional way papyrus is produced and view their collection of papyrus paintings. We will also have the opportunity to take an “optional” horse and carriage tour of the area before returning to our ship. Late this evening, we will enjoy a wonderful dinner, and the remainder of the evening will be at your leisure. B, L, D

Tuesday, December 4th
This morning following a delicious breakfast, we will visit the incredible Valley of the Kings and Queens, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Temple of Deir El-Bahri. Before returning to the ship we will have the opportunity to partake in a demonstration of how alabaster is worked and then turned into products to buy, you will see how to tell genuine alabaster from fakes and be able to purchase some of these fantastic items. We will return to the ship for lunch and sail for the town of EDFU, the capital of the second Nome of Upper Egypt. Tonight, we will have a delicious dinner onboard the ship. The remainder of the evening is free for you to enjoy at your leisure. B, L, D

Wednesday, December 5th
This morning following breakfast, we will visit the Temple of Horus, a beautiful preserved sandstone temple dedicated to the Falcon God Horus. This is the major highlight in the town of EDFU. Following our tour this morning, we will board our ship and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, our ship sails to the city of KOM OMBO. Here we will visit a temple shared by two gods, combining the Temple of Sobek and the Temple of Haroeris. In ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank near here. Very little remains of the temple, due first to the changing Nile, then the Copts, who once used it as a church, and finally by builders who used the stones for new buildings. We will return back to the ship to relax and enjoy the remainder of the day. B, L, D

Thursday, December 6th
Following breakfast this morning we will disembark the cruise ship in ASWAN for a tour of the incredible High Dam. The dam was an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960’s. It contains 18 times the material used in the Great Pyramids of Cheops. We will then take a tour of the Unfinished Obelisk, which is the largest known ancient obelisk. It is roughly one third larger than any other ancient Egyptian obelisk ever erected. Archeologists believe that it was intended to complement the Lateran Obelisk which was originally at Karnak, but is now outside the Lateran Palace in Rome.

We will continue our tour to the Temple of Philae. Philae is the main temple complex relocated from one island to the island of Agilika. It was the center of the cult of the Goddess Isis, and her connection with Osiris, Horus, and the Kingship during the Ptolemaic period of Egyptian history. Following this historical tour we will have an opportunity to visit the Perfume Palace where artisans create the oils and scents that go into some of the finest perfumes in the world. We will return to the ship for lunch along with afternoon tea, later in the afternoon we will participate on a special excursion. We will board Egyptian wooden boats called Felucca, and sail around Elephantine Island, the botanical garden and Agha Khan Mausoleum. We will return later in the afternoon to our ship, where we will enjoy a relaxing evening. B, L, D

Friday, December 7th
This morning following breakfast we will disembark the cruise ship and we will transfer back to the airport and fly back to Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo we will drive to our deluxe, five-star hotel, the rest of the day in Cairo is free to enjoy at your leisure. B

Saturday, December 8th
This morning, following breakfast, we will board our motor coach and drive to one of the most recognizable icons in all of ancient Egypt, THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF GIZA. They are, without a doubt, the main destination for tourists and a source of imaginative thought to the world for over 3000 years. Near these pyramids sits a huge creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. This monumental statue, the first truly colossal royal sculpture in Egypt, is the GREAT SPHINX, and is a national symbol of Egypt, both ancient and modern. We will enjoy our morning learning more about these structures and their history. As a special treat, we are including an exciting camel ride near the pyramids for our entire group to enjoy, which will certainly provide a nice souvenir to bring home.

This afternoon, after lunch together, we will continue our journey to the Pyramid of Djoser. Also known as the Step Pyramid, it was designed by chief architect of the 3rd Dynasty, Imhotep. This six-tiered tomb was the first pyramid, prior to its construction pharaohs were buried beneath rectangular mastabas. The inspiration for the great pyramids of Giza and elsewhere in Egypt were taken from the step pyramid. An extensive complex surrounds the pyramid part of which has been rebuilt, including the hypostyle hall and Great South Court areas. Following our tour to the Step Pyramid we will have an opportunity to visit a carpet school, a specialized school where people are taught the specialized art of Egyptian carpet weaving. The weavers specialize not only in carpets but rugs, tapestry and Kilims and spend years learning and refining their craft. This evening we will return to our hotel where the remainder of the evening is free to enjoy at your leisure. B, L

Sunday, December 9th
Following a delicious breakfast, we will visit the incredible MUSEUM OF EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES, one of the greatest historical museums in the world. This museum was built during the reign of Khedive Abbass Helmi II in statues, jewels, Tutankhamen treasures and hundreds of mummies. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a delicious lunch together before visiting the KHAN EL KHALILI BAZAAR (nicknamed Khan), once known as the Turkish Bazaar during the Ottoman period. This market was created in 1382 by the Emir Djaharks el-Khalili in the heart of Fatimid City. Later in the day we will return to our hotel. Tonight we will enjoy a “farewell dinner” at the hotel as we bring our Extraordinary Egypt Expedition to a close. B, L, D

Monday, December 10th
This morning following breakfast, we will depart for the Cairo International Airport for our flight back to JFK International Airport. B, L