Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Fly to Luxor this morning.

Lunch: Upon arrival in Luxor, a boxed lunch will be provided as we make our way to Karnak Temple.

Afternoon: We'll set off to explore Karnak Temple, the huge complex of shrines, built and enlarged over a period of 1,300 years. The ancient Egyptians called the enormous temple complex of Karnak “the most perfect of places,” and today it is one of the most important sites in Egypt as it encompasses a wealth of ancient Egyptian history, primarily between the Twelfth and Twentieth Dynasties. Construction began under Senusret I in the 19th century BC, and subsequent rulers continued to expand the complex with their own shrines, rooms, and monuments.

Your Trip Experience Leader will point out some of the temple's most noteworthy features as you explore together. Its centerpiece is the huge Hypostyle Hall, with its outer walls decorated with battle scenes. Walk through the soaring Hall of Pillars, and imagine how difficult it must have been to construct the 134 columns here without the use of modern machinery. You'll also see the tallest obelisk in Egypt—97 feet tall and weighing approximately 320 tons—which was raised by Queen Hatshepsut in honor of the god Amun. You'll also have the opportunity to seek out your own discoveries. Be sure to take a close look at the walls—most are covered in hieroglyphics that seem as deep and pronounced today as they might've been when they were first carved 3,000 years ago.

After our visit, we'll transfer to the dock where our privately chartered small ship awaits us. For the next seven nights, the 75-passenger Nefertiti will carry us from one iconic site to the next and give us an intimate look at life along the Nile River. Travel this storied waterway as many have over the centuries—from Cleopatra to Agatha Christie—and trace the routes of legendary pharaohs who built their empires along the Nile. As we sail, relax on your private balcony—a feature not often found on other Nile River ships—and keep an eye out for traditional felucca boats gliding in the water alongside us, while simple stone homes cozy up to the riverbanks.

Later, gather with your fellow travelers in the lounge for a Welcome Briefing and the first of a series of nightly Port Talks. These informative conversations, led by your Trip Experience Leader, will give you an overview of the following day’s itinerary and prepare you for the destination ahead. Shortly afterwards, enjoy a Welcome Cocktail and meet the crew before dinner.

Dinner: Gather for a Welcome Dinner onboard in the ship’s dining room. In addition to the standard dinner options (appetizer, soup, entrée, and dessert), we’ll enjoy a few more special offerings at this celebratory meal. We'll also meet the Rayes (chief) of our ship. As a native of Upper Egypt, the Rayes will likely be wearing a traditional galabeya (floor-length tunic) throughout our voyage. But there's no need for you to match his formal style: The dress code for dinners onboard is smart casual. However, some travelers choose to wear a day dress or slacks to the Welcome Dinner.

Evening: We are docked in Luxor for the evening; you have the freedom to explore the city as you wish.

Early Morning: As the sun rises over Luxor, so can you—aboard an optional hot-air balloon ride (weather permitting). The sights, sounds, and sheer spectacle of seeing these antiquities from the sky will surely make for a memorable morning.

Breakfast: Onboard our ship.

Morning: Today, we’ll enjoy our A Day in the Life experience with a local family on the west bank of the Nile River. The east bank, where our ship is currently docked, is Luxor like you’ve always imagined: home to bustling markets, the elegant Old Winter Palace Hotel, and the grand Luxor Temple. The other side of the Nile, however, seems like a different world entirely. Rural, reedy, and less developed, the west bank is home to villagers who are far removed from the Hollywood-ready attractions just across the water. Most of the houses here are modest, made from mud bricks or concrete and surrounded by date-palm and henna trees.

We’ll cross by motorboat to El Ramla or one of the other villages on the west bank. Upon arrival, we’ll set off on a walking tour of the village, while learning about everyday life in this close-knit community from a villager and local leader whose family has lived on the west bank since the 1960s. Then, we’ll venture deeper into the village for the opportunity to participate in some hands-on activities. Then, we'll sit down with members of the family and spend some time discussing their lives, struggles, taboos, and traditions. We might also help feed the animals or use the old millstone to grind wheat into flour.

Lunch: We’ll gather around the table to enjoy a meal with the family. Our lunch concludes—as most Egyptian meals do—with a cup of either black or hibiscus tea. While it may seem counter-intuitive to drink a warm beverage in a hot climate, Egyptians know that it actually tricks the body into cooling off.

Afternoon: We’ll bid farewell to the family and walk to the Nile’s bank, where we’ll encounter a local icon: a felucca. These traditional wooden-hulled boats with lateen (triangular) sails ply the water in profusion here. They’re the ideal vessel to take us back to our ship on the east bank. Our leisurely crossing will allow us to take in the views of both sides of the Nile and reflect on the power of this ancient, life-giving river.

We’ll re-board our river ship and set sail to Qena. Following a safety briefing aboard ship, our groups will engage in an enlightening conversation on hieroglyphics with your Trip Experience Leader before dinner.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in the lounge.

Breakfast: Onboard our ship.

Morning: Early this morning, we will awake in Qena—a docking destination few other travel companies offer. Situated north of Luxor, Qena sits at a bend in the Nile, and is ideally positioned at the intersection of two main roads. Both a market town and a provincial city, Qena is also the perfect base for visiting the nearby Temple of Dendera.

We'll disembark to visit the colorful Temple of Dendera, built by Romans and Greeks and dedicated to Hathor—goddess of maternal and family love. This well-preserved temple complex contains birth houses, a Coptic church, the Hathor Temple, and Hypostyle Hall. One of the celebrated features of the temple is an astronomical ceiling intricately decorated with vultures, winged disks, and the union between Hathor and Horus. Paintings on the ceiling—which are some of the most well-preserved in the ancient world—also represent the two halves of the sky with its northern and southern constellations, the hours of day and night, the sun and moon, and the symbols of the zodiac.

After returning to our ship , the Nefertiti will begin cruising back to Luxor.

Lunch: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Afternoon: Enjoy some time at leisure as we continue making our way to Luxor this afternoon. Sit out on your private balcony and drink in the passing vistas of everyday life along the banks of the Nile River. Perhaps you will witness a farmer leading his cattle to graze in the fields, or local women bringing their brightly-colored laundry to the banks for washing. Later, you may also choose to take part in an onboard cooking lesson with our ship's chef to learn how to prepare a local specialty.

Upon arrival in Luxor, we'll disembark and make our way to Luxor Temple. Rising from the east bank of the Nile, this sprawling ancient complex was a center of power for Egypt’s mighty pharaohs over a nearly 1,500-year period. The temple complex was largely built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, the most celebrated pharaoh of the New Kingdom (his reign lasted some 66 years, up until his death at age 91). Many other pharaohs and rulers added to the temple over the centuries. Tutankhamen even contributed—the only mark left by the boy king.

Dinner: Onboard in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: Gather with your fellow travelers to enjoy onboard entertainment tonight.