In Transit: Depart US/Canada on international overnight flight.

Afternoon: Arrival at the Cairo International Airport (CAI). Meet group inside the customs area. Transfer to hotel.

Dinner: 8:00 PM Welcome Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel - Cairo

Meals Included: Dinner

Note: Visit is to the exterior of pyramids only. If you wish to go inside, there is an additional charge, but this is not recommended for those with claustrophobia or with breathing, knee or back problems. Photography is not allowed inside the pyramids.

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Welcome Orientation and Introduction to the program. Some free time to relax and recover from jet lag.

Lunch: Lunch at the Mena House Hotel.

Afternoon: Following lunch, we will have an excursion to Giza to visit the Pyramids. Although modern civilization has landed on the doorstep of this phenomenal site, it still remains an impressive affair. Dominating the site are the pyramid complexes of the kings of the 4th dynasty, Cheops, Chefren, and Mycerinos, surrounded by the tombs of their families and courtiers. The pyramids of Giza are the only survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Cheops, the Great Pyramid, required the use of 100,000 men over a period of 20 years, hauling 2 to 3 million heavy stone blocks to complete. Its height today stands at 137 meters of its original 140 meters. Boat pits are found adjacent to the pyramids: one next to the great pyramid still contains a dismantled boat. The structure was originally faced with white limestone from the quarries at Tura but has since been striped away over time. Cheprens pyramid gives a false impression of being larger than its neighbor as it is built on slightly higher ground. A feature of the construction is the way the blocks have been fitted into position, rather than just piled up, some are rebated and others have the corners carved into them. The third and smallest pyramid is that of Mycerinos, son of Chefren and one of the last kings of the 4th dynasty. A short distance away is the Sphinx. Its name means terrible or wonderful one. Although its face depicts that of King Chefren it does not actually represent him but rather a guardian deity of the necropolis, a god known as Hwron. Being made of soft stone the sphinx has suffered considerably due to the elements. Although damaged by time his majestic presence is still inspiring. There will be time for shopping in the nearby oriental bazaars and papyrus institutes.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel dining room.

Lodging: Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel - Cairo

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Transfer to the airport for an 8:25 AM flight to Luxor. Arrive in Luxor at 9:35 AM and transfer to hotel to settle in.

Lunch: Lunch at the hotel dining room.

Afternoon: Enjoy an afternoon excursion to the West Bank. Site of the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes and the necropolis known as the Valley of the Kings, the West Bank is the burial place of the New Kingdom pharaohs (including Tutankhamun and Ramses the Great). The magnificence of these tombs and temples has attracted visitors since the time of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. We also see the Valley of the Queens and Hatshepsut's Temple.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel dining room.

Lodging: Sheraton Luxor Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Transfer from Luxor to Safaga. En route, enjoy a morning excursion to the East Bank where we will explore Karnak, including the magnificent Temple of Amun and the open-air museum. Built over a 1,300-year period, the 100-acre site comprises a magnificent array of archaeological treasures.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Embark the MV Aegean Odyssey. Road Scholar orientation to the ship.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: This day includes heavy walking for one or more hours over uneven terrain, with multiple uphill segments. This excursion is not recommended for participants with back or neck problems. Please wear a hat, sunscreen, lightweight clothing and comfortable, rubber-soled walking shoes.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: At sea. Enjoy the Observation Deck if the weather is nice. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lunch: Lunch on board.

Afternoon: Wadi Rum has been inhabited by many human cultures since prehistoric times, with many cultures–including the Nabateans–leaving their mark in the form of rock paintings, graffiti, and temples.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: Overnight in Aqaba.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: This day includes heavy walking for one or more hours over uneven terrain, with multiple uphill segments.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: One of the great moments in travel is when you emerge from the narrow winding Siq to encounter the extraordinary rose-red city of Petra. Once you arrive at Petra, this guided excursion is entirely on foot so you can more intimately interact with this UNESCO World Heritage Site, chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Together with your guide, start your walk from the main gate to the obelisk tombs. Then continue to the Siq, the sole entrance to Petra, a long winding path between two overhanging cliffs that acts as the city's main gate. As you proceed along this mile-long fissure, your guide will point out such details as Petra's ingenious water system where some of the original terracotta pipes are still in place. Your first sight will be the magnificent spectacle of Al Khazneh (The Treasury), carved out of the rock by Nabatean Arabs some 2,000 years ago. Continue along the Street of Façades taking in such sights as the amphitheater and the Royal Court, where recent excavations have revealed a public pool and gardens. Walk back to the main gate where the coach will be waiting to take you to lunch.

Lunch: Lunch in Petra.

Afternoon: After lunch drive back to Aqaba and the ship.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: At sea. Attend a talk by your Road Scholar Group Leader.

Lunch: Lunch on board.

Afternoon: At sea. Treat yourself at the ship's spa or dive into a good book from the ship's library.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: At sea. The daytime sailing through the 119 mile-long Suez Canal is one of the most spectacular sea passages anywhere.

Lunch: Lunch on board.

Afternoon: At sea. A time to relax, enjoy the sunshine and take in an inspiring talk or two by the shipboard lecturers.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: This field trip includes strenuous walking and some steep steps to sites not accessible by wheelchair. A visit to the grotto inside the Church of the Nativity is usually not possible due to time constraints. Modest attire is required when visiting holy sites. Order of visits may vary.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: Within the walls of Jerusalem's old city lie some of the holiest sights known to man, while nearby Bethlehem is revered as the birthplace of Jesus. This full-day field trip starts with a drive to the panoramic Mount of Olives and continues to the Gardens of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed, to visit the Church of All Nations. Your walking excursion of old Jerusalem plunges you into a world of narrow streets and stirring landmarks. Enter at the ancient Jaffa Gate to take in the sights of the Christian Quarter. Trace the path Jesus took carrying the cross along parts of the Via Dolorosa. At Golgotha, site of the crucifixion and resurrection, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. See the splendid Islamic shrine known as Dome of the Rock and stand before the Western (Wailing) Wall, sacred to Judaism.

Lunch: Lunch on board.

Afternoon: After an included lunch, continue to Bethlehem, where the highlight is a visit to the Church of the Nativity, built over a grotto held to be the location of the stable in which Jesus was born. Along the town's streets, shops offer handicrafts in olive wood, an ancient tradition in this land where the Bible comes to life.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Sights are not wheelchair accessible. There is slight up-hill walking to the art colony with wide, easy-to-access steps and cobblestone lanes. Lightweight clothing, hats and comfortable shoes are advised. Order of visits may vary.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: Discover two faces of Israel: Jaffa, an ancient port city, and Tel Aviv, the thriving metropolis that is home to an extraordinary cache of Bauhaus architecture called "The White City," a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start with a drive from the ship to Tel Aviv, the hub of the country's financial, business and cultural life. Along Rothschild Blvd., view the original Modern Movement buildings introduced in the 1920s and 30s by German-Jewish architects who fled the Nazis. See such landmarks as the Habimah National Theater and Mann Auditorium, as well as the Tel Aviv Art Museum, Golda Meir Center and the square where Prime Minister Itzak Rabin was assassinated. Continue along the Mediterranean coast to Jaffa, one of the world's oldest ports. Solomon had the cedars of Lebanon shipped here to build the Temple. Jonah sailed from this port to meet with a whale. Visit the old section, now an artist's colony. Amble along winding cobblestone lanes past art studios, galleries and even an exotic flea market. See the clock tower, mosques and churches. Get that perfect photo at the observation point overlooking Tel Aviv.

Lunch: Lunch on board.

Afternoon: Early afternoon departure. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: At sea. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Entrance to castle museum is additional. With stairs and uneven surfaces at Kourion and the castle, this excursion is not suitable for wheelchairs.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: Although five earthquakes shook the thriving city kingdom of Kourion during the 7th century BC, it took a tsunami – created by the last earthquake – to deliver the final blow. Today visit this remarkable Greco-Roman city founded by Mycenaen Greeks and a major cultural center of its time. The setting is superb, perched atop a hill just outside the modern city of Limassol with breathtaking views of cultivated lands stretching to the Mediterranean. A highlight is the fully restored Roman theater, built in the 2nd century BC. Once two thousand spectators watched gladiators in this arena, today the site's wonderful acoustics and stunning sea views make it ideal for musical performances. Also explore the House of Eustolios with its beautiful 5th-century mosaic floors, colonnaded courtyard and unique baths. Continue to the romantic remains of the Sanctuary of Apollo, a 7th-century shrine to the sun god that features stunning Corinthian columns. The stadium nearby was a venue for such Greek sports as wrestling, and you can still see the urns that provided water to the athletes. En route to Kourion, enjoy a short photo stop at the 13th-century Colossi Castle, a fine example of Crusader architecture. An opening above the entrance gate served as ornamentation and also allowed the castle occupants to pour boiling oil or tar over unwanted entrants. Besides being the best-preserved medieval castle on Cyprus, the site is where Coummandaria, the island's famous sweet dessert wine was first produced over 800 years ago. After visiting Kourion, return to Limassol and head to the center of old town and the city's medieval castle. This is where Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England in 1191 before going on to conquer Cyprus. The castle was a prison under the Turks and a British Army head-quarters during World War II, and is today home to a medieval museum, which can be visited as an option.

Lunch: Lunch on board.

Afternoon: Set sail for Antalya. Attend a talk by your Road Scholar Group Leader.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: A few miles outside Antalya lie the isolated sites of Perge and Aspendos, once part of the ancient kingdom of Pergamon. Your adventure includes both destinations, beginning with a panoramic view of Antalya Castle and Old Town landmarks such as the fluted minaret and Hadrian's Gate, a triumphal arch built in 130AD. Your drive takes you east to the mountains outside the city and the site of Perge, whose impressive ruins date back to around 1,000BC. Visit the basilica where St Paul preached his first sermon in 46AD before heading out to spread the Word across the Eastern Mediterranean. The stadium here is one of the best-preserved in Anatolia, a huge arena where over 12,000 could watch athletic competitions. The vaulted areas under the seating once were shops and the owners' names are inscribed in the marble. Walk through the Roman Gate, the entrance to the city, and follow a fine colonnaded avenue that once took the ancients to the Nymphaeum, the Baths Complex, and the Agora. Note the round towers, the Hellenistic walls, and the chariot grooved streets. Climb up a scenic hilltop to discover the site of Aspendos located on the Eurymedon River and splendidly backed by the Taurus Mountains. This was a major port city in Roman times, and you'll see a marvelous aqueduct, an exemplar of Roman engineering, that brought water from the mountains to the city. To date, only parts of Aspendos have been excavated, but the well-preserved Roman theater was one of the most spectacular buildings of its time. The theater was built by two wealthy brothers during the reign of Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century AD. The architect Xenon gave it a public entrance, dressing rooms, a colonnaded gallery, rows of marble seats and suites for the dignitaries, as well as a canopy to protect patrons from the weather. The founder of the Turkish republic, Ataturk, asked that the theater be used. The acoustics are so perfect that during performances, microphones are often not even needed.

Lunch: Lunch on board.

Afternoon: Enjoy free time among the palm-lined boulevards, beautiful Old Town and excellent shops of Antalya. The ship will offer the optional excursion "A Walking Excursion of Antalya & Archelogical Museum" (additional cost, bookable on board). Please see the Optional Excursions page for a full description.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: Leave behind the port where the Colossus once stood and discover a stunning ensemble of Gothic architecture just a short drive from the port. These World Heritage monuments testify to the role of Rhodes, the largest island in the Dodecanese group, as a strategic crossroads. Many structures date to the era of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, who lived on the island from 1309 until 1522 when the Ottoman Empire finally dislodged the Knights. En route, you’ll visit a lookout named Mount Smith named after the British admiral Sir Sydney Smith who used this vantage point to scan the seas for French ships in the Napoleonic era. Then you enter the citadel of the Knight’s through the d’Amboise Gate and head for the restored Grand Masters Palace. The first building of the 14th-century Crusaders, the Palace was modeled on the great Papal Palace of Avignon. It served as a fortress in times of war, a residence for the Grand Master of the Knights, a meeting place for senior knights, and, in later times, a summer residence of both Mussolini and Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. Stroll the cobblestone Street of the Knights and admire the honey- colored stone buildings with their giant doorways and arched windows. Step into the 15th-century Knights Hospital, now an archaeological museum that counts the Aphrodite of Rhodes in flawless Parian marble among its treasures. At the conclusion of this field trip, you can return to the ship or stay to wander this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lunch: Lunch on board.

Afternoon: Free time. In the afternoon there is an optional trip to the Acropolis at Lindos (additional cost, bookable on board). Please see the Optional Excursions page for a full description.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: Today will include a Road Scholar exclusive excursion to Ephesus, the ancient Roman capital of the province of Asia and today one of the greatest sites of the classical world. Explore the Terrace Houses of Ephesus.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: The afternoon will be spent at the Museum of Ephesus in Selcuk and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: A relaxing morning at sea to enjoy the sunshine as the ship makes its way to Istanbul. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lunch: Lunch on board.

Afternoon: Enjoy the Observation Deck if the weather is nice, or dive into a good book from the ship's library. Enjoy a late afternoon, Road Scholar cocktail party.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: This morning we disembark the MV Aegean Odyssey and begin the day with an excursion in the city of Istanbul. Explore the Topkapi Palace and the Harem. The Topkapi Palace was the seat of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years and a great testimony to the wealth and power of the Ottoman Empire.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: In the afternoon visit the Chora Church/Kariye Museum to witness its exquisite mosaics and frescoes from the 14th century, a period of Byzantine reawakening in arts.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel dining room.

Lodging: Armada Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: We commence our second day in Istanbul at the amazing church of Hagia Sophia. Possibly the most important architectural monument in the city, Hagia Sophia has stood gracefully since 537 AD. Next enjoy a field trip to the Hippodrome, the civic center of ancient Constantinople, where chariot races were run between the four teams of Blues, Greens, Whites and Reds. Then visit the 17th century Blue Mosque, world renowned for its exquisite Iznik tiles surrounding the interior of this wonderful mosque.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Explore the beautiful Underground Cisterns, built by the illustrious Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 532 AD to store water underground. A visit to the award winning Archeology Museum will broaden your horizons as you will witness an outstanding collection of artifacts spanning across millennia including the magnificent Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Lodging: Armada Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: We embark on a private cruise on the Bosphorus to explore the stunning palaces, mansions, and fortresses dotted along the Asian and European shores of this marvelous strait. Next, we visit the Rustem Pasha Mosque, built by the famous architect Sinan, a small but gem-like mosque demonstrating the most stunning examples of 16th century Iznik tiles.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: On to the Spice Bazaar, where exotic aromas immediately capture its visitors. We then continue on to the Grand Bazaar to discover its maze-like streets and alleys boasting over 4,000 shops!

Dinner: Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Armada Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) for departures.

Meals Included: Breakfast