Depart on your overnight flight to Cairo.

Upon your arrival in Cairo - "the Mother of the World" - you are met at the airport and go by private car to your hotel. The new Four Seasons Hotel is located on the scenic west bank of the Nile River, with impressive views over the canopy of Cairo’s ancient botanical gardens. This tranquil oasis introduces a superb new standard of gracious hospitality among the city’s ancient pyramids and modern skyscrapers.

The afternoon is free for you to relax and settle in. This evening, join your tour manager and travel companions for cocktails and à la carte dining in the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant overlooking Cairo and the Nile, with cuisine influenced by North Africa, Lebanon, Morocco, and Italy. (D)

A passage in the "Arabian Nights" reads "He who hath not seen Cairo, hath not seen the world". Your journey begins with a tour of the city – you visit the Egyptian Museum which holds the world’s greatest collection of Egyptian artifacts; the treasures from the tombs of Tutankhamun and Hetepheres are just some of the masterpieces on display.

You go to the 14^th-century Mosque of the Sultan Hasan; 27 varieties of marble were imported for the impressive flooring here. Across the street is the Rifa’I Mosque, which was not built until the late 19^th century, yet its architecture complements its neighbor perfectly in scale and style. And nearby, you visit the 12^th century Citadel, the seat of the governments of many of Egypt’s rulers. You also explore the winding lanes of the Khan al-Khalili, Cairo’s most famous bazaar, where jewelry, antiques, and souvenirs are sold.

Returning to your hotel, luxuriate in the beautifully landscaped pool with whirlpool or browse through the three levels of internationally recognized shops adjacent to the Four Seasons. (B,L,D)

This morning, you drive to the city of Memphis, an important predecessor to Cairo. It was founded around 3100 BC by Menes, who is believed to have been the first king of the First Dynasty. The famed Alabaster Sphinx is here, as well as a statue of Ramses II.

Down the road a bit, overlooking the greenery of Memphis, is the extensive cemetery of Saqqarah – an impressive pyramid field. Dominating the whole complex is the Step Pyramid of Zoser – the earliest of all the pyramids and the first great monument to be constructed of hewn stone.

Of the Seven Wonders of the World, only the striking royal pyramids of Giza still survive. Their size is astonishing as you stand before them; the Pyramid of Khufu was originally almost 500 feet high. Unlike the pyramids at Luxor, these were not built by slaves, but rather by skilled laborers. You enter the Great Pyramid and see a grand chamber, with its remarkable corbelled roof. You also see the pyramid of Khafre and its surrounding complex, which includes the famous Sphinx. (B,L,D)

You fly this morning to Abu Simbel to visit the renowned Temple of Ramses II – the largest and most majestic monument in Nubia - and the smaller Temple of Queen Nefertari. These temples had to be relocated to protect them when the Aswan High Dam was built in the mid-1960s. The Temple of Ramses was cut into more than one thousand pieces before it could be moved 200 feet above its old site to protect it from the rising water of the Nile River.

Later in the day, you fly on to Aswan and check into your hotel – the Old Cataract Hotel. From the rim of the Aswan High Dam to Alexandria, there is no better spot in Egypt to stay. Nestled atop an outcropping of enormous granite boulders with spectacular views of the Nile and Elephantine Island’s ancient Temple of Khnum, this secluded garden retreat has attracted such travelers as Percy Bysshe Shelley, Agatha Christie, and Georges Clemenceau.

Take time to enjoy the jacarandas, bright red bougainvilleas, and exotic cacti in the garden or take a dip in the pool before your à la carte dinner. (B,L,D)

You board the five-star Oberoi Philae Nile cruiser to begin your journey down the Nile. This new super-deluxe cruiser is driven by a paddle wheel and appointed with luxurious turn-of-the-century interiors. Up to 116 passengers are pampered with such facilities as a lounge, gourmet restaurant, beauty salon, barber shop, gift shop, swimming pool and sun deck. Your luxurious stateroom has a private balcony from which you can watch the intriguing landscape of the Nile between Aswan and Luxor.

After lunch on board, you travel by felucca (an indigenous boat with a graceful sailing rig) for a visit to the botanical garden on Kitchener Island, where you see exotic plants from all over the world. Later, relax on your balcony before attending the cocktail reception and dinner onboard. (B,L,D)