Visions Of Egypt Aboard The Oberoi Philae + Zahra

Guests arrive today and will be met at the airport and chauffeured to our boutique hotel in the heart of Cairo. Enjoy this complimentary pre-tour night in a Nile-view guestroom.

After breakfast, our guests have this day to enjoy as they wish.

You'll be back at your luxury hotel around 5 p.m., giving you time to refresh before deciding on where to dine this evening. Right here at the Kempinski, you can enjoy Mediterranean and Italian fare at the Blue Restaurant & Grill or the authentic Ottoman cuisine of Osmanly. Or head up to the 11th floor where The Roof offers casual international dining with marvelous views of the Nile.

To avoid crowds of visitors, we'll enter the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities with our fine Egyptologist in mid-afternoon for a guided tour through the largest repository of ancient artifacts in the world, including those from the tomb of King Tut. (When the Grand Egyptian Museum opens, we'll see an even greater collection of artifacts.) We'll return to the hotel around 6 p.m. where the balance of the evening is yours to dine as you wish. Your Egyptologist will be on-hand to offer suggestions and assistance.

In mid-afternoon, you'll go ashore to visit two of Egypt's celebrated sites of antiquity, beginning with the great Karnak Temple. With our skilled Egyptologist leading the way, you'll stand before its massive pillars and admire the grand Hypostyle Hall; encompassing more than 50,000 square feet, this is the largest hall of any temple in the world. Your sightseeing continues at the nearby Luxor Temple, built in the 14th century BC and connected to the Karnak complex by the awe-inspiring, newly restored Avenue of Sphinxes. The temple walls of Luxor are embellished with skillful carvings of the Gods of Karnak accompanied by a festival procession of priests, musicians, dancers and sacred cows. With keen insight from our Egyptologist, today's sightseeing offers a fascinating look into the culture and beliefs of ancient Egypt. Return to the ship for Tea in the Lounge, with time to refresh before this evening's welcome cocktail reception and dinner.

Return to the ship at midday and enjoy lunch onboard as our luxury vessel continues its journey toward Esna. This afternoon, you might wish to be on deck as the Oberoi Philae traverses through the Esna Lock. Afternoon tea and passing vistas of the Nile Valley landscapes with their small village hamlets and timeless scenes of life highlight the afternoon. Dinner will be served this evening at 7:30 as we continue navigating up the Nile toward Edfu.

Return to the ship and enjoy lunch onboard as we chart a course for Kom Ombo. Throughout this pleasant afternoon of cruising the Nile, you can retreat to your stateroom with its floor-to-ceiling views, or delight in the passing scenery as you enjoy the convivial company of your fellow passengers, either in the air-conditioned lounge or on deck. Following Afternoon Tea, you'll step off at our ship's private pier to explore the Temple of Kom Ombo. Built on a picturesque bend in the Nile, where crocodiles used to sun themselves, this unusual dual-deity temple of the Ptolemaic Period is dedicated to both Haroeris (one of the oldest forms of the falcon-headed God Horus) and, appropriately enough, the fearsome Crocodile God Sobek. Return to ship with time to refresh before dinner is served at 7:30.

Following our exploration, we'll return to our Oberoi cruiser for a delightful dinner.

Hear the story of how the temple and its immense statues were moved 200 feet above their original site to protect them from the rising waters of the Aswan Dam — a feat so successful and precise that twice a year, on February 22 and October 22, the rays of the rising sun pierce the temple entrance

Later, we fly back to Cairo for a last overnight at the airport's stylish Le Meridien Hotel in Club Rooms. You'll gather for a farewell dinner in the conveniently located hotel.

You'll be escorted to the airport today for your onward flight.