Daily deal: Cairo resort and cruise along the Nile

The Sphinx is just one of the marvels you'll encounter.

Discover the legendary sights of enchanting Egypt with this week's seven-night Classic Escape, which includes round-trip airfare from New York; transportation to and from hotels, airports, and sightseeing destinations; and superior accommodations throughout your trip ($1,977; $2,277; or $2,427 per person, depending on travel dates).

The trip starts in Cairo, where you'll be ensconced for three nights in your own personal oasis at Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa's modern luxury lodging, or in the bungalows of Mövenpick Resort Cairo-Pyramids—both are situated in gardens with sparkling pools just a few short miles from your first stop.

After an all-American breakfast, it's off to the mysterious Great Sphinx, the largest monolith statue in the world. Next, you'll head to the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is the oldest and best preserved of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Then, you're off to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities for a rare glimpse into the richest collection of pharaonic treasure in the world, including Tutankhamen’s burial booty.

Take a day to find your precious baubles in the famous Khan el-Khalili souk (or bazaar), left largely unchanged since the 14th Century. Or just relax by the pool and soak up the desert sun.

You can even take an optional excursion to the Open-Air Museum at Memphis, the millennia-old capital of Egypt, and the nearby necropolis of Saqqara, a vast burial ground.

In part two of your Escape, you'll be river-bound on a four-day, three-night Nile cruise aboard the Sonesta Goddess or M/S Royal Lily, both featuring all the modern amenities, including a refreshing swimming pool, sun deck, and onboard bar.

Indulge Cleopatra-style in a nearly endless stream of sights, like the towering Aswan High Dam, the elegant island Temple of Isis, and the enormous engravings at Edfu.

But it's all sensory training for the real mother lode: the mind-melting ruins of Karnak, a 60-acre complex of temples, obelisks, pylons, courts, colonnades, halls, reliefs, and sanctuaries culminating in the famed Luxor Temple.

And since you're travelling like royalty, it only makes sense to tour through the resplendent ruins of the Valley of Kings and its sister city of the dead, the Valley of Queens.

Your last night will be spent in the opulence of The Concorde El Salam Hotel or the Radisson Blu Hotel, both superbly situated in Cairo's upscale Heliopolis district.

Sorry, Bangles—that sphinx strut just wasn't enough.

Escape kit

• A seven-night tour for one guest to Cairo and the Nile River from 19 to 27 December, 2011 or 26 December, 2011 to 3 January, 2012 ($1,977); from 16 to 24 January, 2012, 13 to 21 February 2012, 5 to 13 March, 2012, 7 to 15 May, 2012, 27 August to 4 September, 2012, or 3 to 11 September, 2012 ($2,277); or from 2 to 10 April, 2012 ($2,427), Including:
• A three-night Nile River cruise, Including all meals
• A four-night stay in Cairo
• Round-trip airfare from JFK International Airport Including fuel surcharges
• All transportation to and from hotels, airports, and sightseeing destinations
• Daily American breakfast in Cairo
• Baggage tags and passport wallet
• Purchase by 30 October

For details and to reserve your stay, visit LivingSocial Escapes.