9 or 14 Days Cairo, Luxor, Nile River Cruise, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Sweetwaters, Masai Mara

EGYPT

Day 1 Fri: Arrive Cairo
Arrive in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. You are met and escorted to MENA HOUSE OBEROI.

Day 2 Sat: Pyramids / Memphis / Saqqara
Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza, including the Pyramid of Khufu and the Sphinx. Drive to Memphis, once a vast metropolis and capital of the Old Kingdom. Continue to Saqqara, the oldest stone complex in the world, to see the towering Step Pyramid of Djoser, the earliest of all pyramids. (BL)

Day 3 Sun: Cairo Sightseeing
Explore the ancient city of Cairo, including the Egyptian National Museum, Old Cairo, the Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali and the colorful Khan el Khalili Bazaar. (BL)

Day 4 Mon: Cairo / Luxor - Nile River Cruise
Fly to Luxor to board the deluxe MS TU-YA, your home for the next four nights as you cruise the majestic and mystical Nile River. This afternoon, tour the Karnak and Luxor temples. This evening, enjoy a Sound & Light show at the temples, followed by an evening of dinner and dancing on board. (BLD)

Day 5 Tue: Luxor / Esna
Cross the Nile to the West Bank to the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. Continue to Esna, the site of a temple dedicated to the ram-headed god, Khnum. (BLD)

Day 6 Wed: Esna / Edfu / Kom Ombo
A short horse-drawn carriage ride takes you to the temple dedicated to the falcon-headed god, Horus. Sail to Kom Ombo. (BLD)

Day 7 Thu: Kom Ombo / Aswan
Visit the Ptolemaic Temple of Kom Ombo before sailing to Aswan. See the High Dam, Old Dam, Granite Quarries and the Temple of Philae. (BLD)

Day 8 Fri: Aswan / Abu Simbel / Cairo
This morning, go sightseeing by felucca (wooden sailboat) around the botanical gardens on Kitchner Island. Fly to Abu Simbel for a tour of one of the most spectacular and best-preserved temples in the country. Later, fly back to Cairo and enjoy a farewell dinner and folk show, complete with belly dancer. FAIRMONT HELIOPOLIS (BD)

Note: For those continuing on to Kenya, fly late this evening to Nairobi to experience an entirely different face of Africa.

Day 9 Sat: Depart Cairo
For those visiting Egypt only, depart Cairo, or continue your exploration with one or more extensions to Jordan or Turkey. (B)

KENYA

Day 9 Sat: Arrive in Nairobi
Arrive Nairobi where you are escorted to your luxurious accommodations at NAIROBI SERENA HOTEL.

Day 10 Sun: Nairobi / Sweetwaters Game Reserve
Drive through the fertile central highlands to Sweetwaters Game Reserve for a game drive and a visit to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary. SWEETWATERS TENTED CAMP (BLD)

Day 11 Mon: Sweetwaters Game Reserve / Mount Kenya
Travel to SERENA MOUNTAIN LODGE on the flanks of Kenya’s highest mountain and secreted deep within her largest forest reserve. Fall asleep to the symphony of the African night or sit in stillness and observe the fascinating interplay of the animals as they arrive to drink, bathe, spar and forage around the water hole. (BLD)

Day 12 Tue: Mount Kenya / Masai Mara Game Reserve
Awake to the trumpeting of elephant before we fly across the Great Rift Valley to the Masai Mara Game Reserve, the highlight of any East African safari. MARA SERENA SAFARI LODGE (BLD)

Day 13 Wed: Masai Mara Game Reserve
Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in the Masai Mara, widely considered to be Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve. A balloon safari is also available (additional cost). (BLD)

Day 14 Thu: Masai Mara Game Reserve / Depart Nairobi
Enjoy one last morning game drive before you bid farewell to safari life. Return to Nairobi by air. Upon arrival, a day room will be provided at NAIROBI SERENA HOTEL. Alternatively, end this tour with a relaxing beach holiday along the East African Coast or perhaps visit another ancient city in the Middle East. (B)