Imagine sailing down the Nile in a style once reserved for pharaohs and queens
Experience amazing Egypt onboard the all-suite River Tosca. For eight splendor-filled days, Uniworld takes you to the Nile’s most fascinating sites in style. Spend time exploring breathtaking Karnak Temple—the largest temple complex ever constructed—with its avenues of sphinxes and halls of gigantic temples. Visit the Greco-Roman Temple of Hathor, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Wander around the Temple of Hatshepsut, which rises majestically out of the surrounding limestone cliffs, and the Valley of the Kings, where many illustrious pharaohs were buried.
Enjoy four nights in captivating Cairo, where you’ll be taken to the famous Egyptian Museum, an unrivaled warehouse of Pharaonic treasures as well as the remarkable artifacts recovered from the tomb of King Tut. Journey to Giza to pay homage to the mighty Pyramids and the very face of ancient Egypt, the Sphinx. Get ready to gaze in awe at the extraordinary creations that define Egypt—a land of complexity, marvels, and mythology.
Who will enjoy this cruise: Those who want to experience the splendors of ancient Egyptian history in a relaxed and refined way via cruise ship, with ever-changing scenery and frequent stops at ancient wonders.
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Day 1
fly to Cairo
Arrive in Beijing and be greeted by a Uniworld representative who will escort you to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
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Day 1
transfer to the airport
Arrive at Beijing airport, where you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative who will escort you to your hotel, the five-star Ritz-Carlton Beijing.
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Day 2
fly to Cairo
Featured Excursions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine
Your first full day in Beijing takes in many of the major sites, such as Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City—a 250-acre complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards, and gardens. Visit the imperial gardens of the Summer Palace. In the evening, enjoy a Peking Duck Welcome Dinner. (BB, L, Welcome Dinner)
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Day 2
transfer to the airport
Featured Excursions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, hutongs tour with home-hosted lunch, and Peking duck Welcome Dinner with complimentary wine
Your first full day in Beijing takes you to Tiananmen Square, which is both a center of contemporary civic life in Beijing and the gateway to the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll stroll through the square and enter the 250-acre complex of imperial palaces and gardens.
Next, you’ll take a rickshaw ride through the hutongs, the historic neighborhoods of Old Beijing. You’ll stop outside a traditional courtyard home where a local family will invite you in for lunch. Later in the evening, you’ll enjoy a Welcome Dinner of succulent Peking duck, a signature dish of the city, with wine. BB L Welcome Dinner
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Day 3
transfer to the airport
Featured Excursions: The Great Wall; Kung Fu show at Beijing’s Red Theater
Walk along the Great Wall, which has been built, rebuilt, and maintained for thousands of years. Back in Beijing, spend the evening enjoying a spectacular show that combines kung fu prowess with acrobatics and dance; it’s the best performance in town. BB L D
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Day 4
fly to Cairo
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (BB)
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Day 4
fly to Xi'an
Featured Excursions: Hutongs tour and dumpling dinner
Ride in a rickshaw for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hutongs, the ancient alleyways located in the old residential area of Beijing, and enjoy lunch with a local family before you fly to Xi’an and transfer to the hotel. Tonight you will enjoy a sumptuous traditional dumpling dinner at a local restaurant before returning to the hotel. (BB, L, D)
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Day 4
transfer to the airport
Featured Excursions: Temple of Heaven and traditional
dumpling dinner
The Temple of Heaven (or Altar of Heaven), is a UNESCO-designated site, completed in the 15th century, that symbolized the relationship between heaven and earth—and the emperor’s place within that cosmography. A masterpiece of architectural and landscape design, it influenced architecture throughout China for centuries. After lunch, you’ll fly to the ancient city of Xi’an, where you’ll settle into the Westin Hotel before heading to a local restaurant to feast on the delicious dumplings that are a specialty of the region. BB L D
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Day 5
fly to Cairo
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (BB)
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Day 5
transfer to the airport
Featured Excursions: Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, City Wall, and Tang Dynasty dinner show
One of the most astonishing archaeological finds of the last century, the life-size Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses were made nearly 2,500 years ago to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. You’ll visit the museum where some of these 8,000 figures are exhibited, then see the ancient city wall built to protect Xi’an from invaders during a tumultuous era in China’s history. In the evening, indulge in a delightful dinner and cultural performance that re-creates the music, folk dance, and traditional costumes of the Tang Dynasty. BB L D
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Day 6
fly to Cairo
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (BB)
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Day 6
Fly to Lhasa
Fly to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, which has a fascinating history dating back more than 1,300 years. The former seat of the Dalai Lama, Lhasa embodies the culture of Tibetan Buddhism. Tonight, relax at the Four Point Sheraton Hotel. (BB, L, D)
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Day 6
transfer to the airport
Fly to Lhasa, the ancient, sky-high cultural and religious center of Tibet, and check into the supremely comfortable Four Points by Sheraton Hotel. BB D
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Day 7
fly to Cairo
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (BB)
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Day 7
Fly to Lhasa
Featured Excursions: The Jokhang Temple and Tibet Museum
See the early Buddhist Jokhang Temple, with Nepalese and Indian touches and capped by a golden canopy. Visit the Tibet Museum’s rich collection of prehistoric cultural relics. Glimpse the life of local people with a visit to a Lhasa family’s home, and enjoy a dinner with a traditional folk show. (BB, L, D)
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Day 7
transfer to the airport
Featured Excursions: Jokhang Temple and Tibet Museum
See the holiest site in Tibet—gold-domed Jokhang Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains the most revered icon of Tibetan Buddhism, a seventh-century statue of Buddha. Tour the rich collection of prehistoric artifacts, some of which date back 50,000 years, at the Tibet Museum. Visit a Lhasa family’s home for a glimpse of ordinary life, and then savor dinner accompanied by a traditional folk show. BB L D
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Day 8
fly to Cairo
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (BB)
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Day 8
transfer to the airport
Featured Excursions: Potala Palace and Sera Monastery
Onetime residence of the Dalai Lama and seat of Tibetan government, the vast UNESCO-designated Potala Palace is exceptionally well preserved. Wander through its chapels as pilgrims make offerings at thousand-year-old altars and admire the religious paintings called thangkas, which are a unique Tibetan art form. From here, you’ll head off to see Sera Monastery’s colorful murals and mandalas. BB L D
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Day 9
fly to Cairo
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (BB)
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Day 9
fly to Chongqing, cruising the Yangtze River
Featured Excursion: Chongqing city tour
Fly to Chongqing for a tour of the city and a glimpse of the city zoo’s giant pandas. Then board your ship, Victoria Anna, and enjoy an onboard dinner. (BB, L, D)
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Day 9
transfer to the airport
Fly to Chongqing, where you’ll stop at the zoo for a look at the giant pandas. Then you’ll head to the dock to board your luxurious ship, the new Century Legend. BB D
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Day 10
Fengdu
Featured Excursion: Fengdu
Visit the “Ghost City” of Fengdu. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Reception, D)
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Day 10
fly to Cairo
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (BB)
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Day 10
transfer to the airport
Featured Excursion: Shibao Pagoda
Mist-shrouded peaks loom above the winding Yangtze for miles as you cruise through the Three Gorges region. Your ship will stop at the Shibao Pagoda, a 12-story red temple built into the side of a hill that is now surrounded by water. BB L Captain’s Welcome Reception D
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Day 11
fly to Cairo
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (BB)
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Day 11
transfer to the airport
Featured Excursion: Shennong Stream
You’ll get a close-up view of the beautiful landscape as you board a small boat and cruise along a tributary to the Yangtze, the extraordinarily beautiful Shennong Stream. Later in the day, your ship will navigate the enormous Three Gorges Dam locks. BB, L, Farewell Dinner
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Day 12
fly to Shanghai
Featured Excursion: Three Gorges Dam
Visit the world’s largest hydroelectric plant, the Three Gorges Dam. Disembark in Yichang and fly to Shanghai. Enjoy dinner at the Pudong Shangri-La Hotel. (BB, L, D)
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Day 12
transfer to the airport
Featured Excursion: Three Gorges Dam
You’ll disembark this morning, but before you leave Yichang, you’ll tour the world’s largest hydroelectric project, the Three Gorges Dam, which supplies power to millions of people. Following your visit, you’ll fly to Shanghai. Settle into your lovely room in the Pudong Shangri-La Hotel and relax over dinner. BB L D
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Day 13
transfer to the airport
Featured Excursions: Shanghai city tour, dim sum lunch, and Shanghai Acrobats show
Shanghai, located at the mouth of the Yangtze, has been a trading center for 400 years. Today, it’s an economic dynamo with one of the busiest ports in the world. Stroll along the Bund, Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade, with its historic buildings and spectacular view of the high-rises that typify China’s largest city. Savor a dim sum lunch; then take some time to browse through the shops in the district. In the evening, prepare to be dazzled by the world- renowned Shanghai Acrobats. BB L
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Explore the majestic Yangtze and experience the best of China and Tibet
Lhasa means "holy land" and indeed, it is the heart and soul of Tibet. In existence since the seventh century and ruled by the Dalai Lamas from the early 1600s to 1959, Tibet is a country long associated with peace and spirituality. Marvel at Lhasa's unique architecture—from gilt roofed temples and intricately decorated monasteries to homes that face south and have flat roofs for energy efficiency—and enjoy an inner calm as you wander through its peaceful gardens.
Who will enjoy this cruise: Travelers who appreciate the true yin and yang of life will find a wonderful balance on this tour between the burgeoning capital of Beijing and exotic bustle of Shanghai, and the spiritual Shangri-La of Tibet.
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