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146 For complete itinerary details and videos, visit vikingcruises.com.au PHAR AOHS & PYR AMIDS 12 day cruise/tour with 11 guided tours DAY 1 Cairo, Egypt Arrive in Egypt, the cradle of civilisation, then transfer to the Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo (or similar) on the banks of the Nile for a 3-night stay. DAY 2 Cairo, Egypt This morning we take an excursion to the necropolis at Sakkara to see the world's oldest step pyramid. After a typical Egyptian lunch, continue to Giza Plateau to behold the only Wonder of the Ancient World still standing: the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. There, you experience the "ships of the desert" with a camel ride. Giza Pyramids & Sphinx Witness one of the most iconic landmarks in the world on the Giza Plateau. (B, L, D) DAY 3 Cairo, Egypt This morning, tour Cairo's Museum of Egyptian Antiquities and admire its huge collection of artefacts, then visit the famous gallery displaying the riches of King Tutankhamun. A guided walk takes you to landmarks like the iconic Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. (B) DAY 4 Luxor, Egypt Fly to Luxor, where history will be brought to life by our expert Egyptologist. Visit the Great Temples of Luxor and Karnak, long buried beneath desert sands, and walk through monumental peristyles and examine the hieroglyphics illustrating how ancient Egyptians lived. Proceed to your Nile cruise ship for check-in and a welcome lunch. (B, L, D) DAY 5 Luxor, Egypt Upon arrival, visit the Valley of the Kings and the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of Egypt's few female rulers and most successful pharaohs, on the Nile's west bank opposite the city of Luxor. Also see Madīnat Habu, the Mortuary Temple of Ramses III. Walk through its monumental peristyle hall decorated with complex hieroglyphics. Hot Air Balloon Ride Rise above the Nile's west bank for spectacular sunrise views. (B, L, D) DAY 6 Edfu, Egypt This morning, ride in a horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Horus, the falcon god, built in Edfu during the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Have lunch aboard the ship while sailing toward Kom Ombo. There, you take a guided tour of the unusual double temple dedicated to the sky god Haroeris and the crocodile god Sobek, a protective deity thought to have created the world. (B, L, D) DAY 7 Aswan, Egypt After breakfast, visit the small, elegant Philae sanctuary, dedicated to Isis, rescued from the rising waters. This temple is one of the Nubian monuments that comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour the Nubian Museum to view treasures salvaged from temples and monuments flooded by the Aswan Dam; the museum's gardens are beautifully landscaped with terraced waterfalls. (B, L, D) DAY 8 Abu Simbel, Egypt After a final breakfast on board your ship, disembark and fly to Abu Simbel, before proceeding directly to the temples. These magnificent structures, renowned for their four giant seated figures, were built in the 13th century BC by Ramses II and are thought to depict him and his queen, Nefertari. The colossal structures were dismantled and moved to this new location during construction of the Aswan High Dam, which created Lake Nasser, a major engineering feat. After exploring the temples on your own, check in on your second ship for your Lake Nasser cruise and enjoy the afternoon at leisure. (B, L, D) DAY 9 Kasr Ibrim & Amada, Egypt This morning, we sail past the iconic Kasr Ibrim Fortress. Learn the story of the last Nubian monument remaining in its original location, and see it from the ship's Sun Deck. This afternoon, tour the small but interesting Nubian Amada Temple. The oldest of the Lake Nasser temples, it houses a collection of brightly painted historical carvings. (B, L, D) DAY 10 Wadi el Seboua, Egypt Take a walk through the Valley of the Lions, lined with sphinxes. Then, tour the Temple of Dakka, dedicated to the ibis-headed Thoth, and the Greco- Roman Temple of Meharakka, both located at the Wadi el Seboua Temple Complex. (B, L, D) DAY 11 Aswan, Egypt After a leisurely onboard breakfast, disembark for a tour of the Temple of Kalabsha, which honors the androgynous Nubian sky and sun god, Mandulis. Afterward, you'll see the Aswan High Dam, completed in the 1960s. After a local lunch, head to the airport for your flight back to Cairo. Check in to the superior first-class InterContinental Hotel Citystars Cairo (or similar) for one night, then enjoy free time. (B, L, D) DAY 12 Cairo, Egypt After breakfast, proceed to the airport for your return flight. Or, extend your journey for four nights in Jordan to see the "lost city" of Petra, the Dead Sea and the capital of Amman. (B) L U X O R , E G Y P T Key Example of Optional Shore Excursion