Day 01: Arrival
Welcome to Cairo! Your tour begins when you are greeted by
our representative who will assist you through immigration and customs
formalities. After you have collected your luggage he will then take
you, in our deluxe vehicle, to your Cairo hotel.
Day 02: Cairo
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a full day tour. In
the morning you will be taken to Sakkara to see the very first pyramid
ever built; the Step Pyramid of Djoser. You will also get the chance to
see some fantastic mastabas, including the mastaba of Mereruka, the
largest one built in ancient Egypt. You will then be able to marvel at
the Pyramid Texts inside the Pyramid of Teti before heading off to the
ancient capital of Egypt: Memphis. The Colossus of Ramses II dominates
the museum here; do not forget your camera!
After lunch, at a local restaurant, you will be driven to
see the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx: the most famous
monuments of not only ancient Egypt, but of the entire ancient world!
These massive stone structures were built around 4,500 years ago on a
rocky desert plateau close to the Nile. After the visit, you will be
taken to the Papyrus Institute where you will see how the ancient
Egyptians made this forerunner to today's paper; have a go at making it
yourself; and get the opportunity to look at some fantastic examples of
papyrus art, with no obligation to buy.
After this amazing trip through Egypt's pharaonic past you will be driven back to your hotel.
Day 03: Cairo
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by another full day
tour, but this time you will spent the forenoon at the Egyptian Museum:
gaze at the wonders of King Tutankhamen, including his golden death
mask; stare upon the mummies of some of Egypt's ancient pharaohs
(optional); lose yourself in the many rooms and galleries, where
thousands of artefacts are awaiting your visit.
After lunch, at a local restaurant, you will be taken to
the Citadel of Saladin, the fortress built between 1176 and 1183 AD, to
protect Cairo from the Crusaders and rebuilt by Muhammad Ali Pasha,
whose mosque is a "must see".
At the end of this exciting day you will be taken back to your hotel
Day 04: Lake Nasser Cruise: Abu-Simbel
After breakfast you will check out and our representative
will escort you to the airport for your flight to Abu Simbel, via Aswan.
Upon arrival you will be met and assisted by our representative who
will transfer you to your Lake Nasser cruise boat: your floating hotel
for your next 4 days. Upon embarkation you will check-in and then have
your lunch.
After lunch you will be taken to see the marvelous
temples of Abu Simbel, which were originally carved out of a rocky
mountainside by Ramses II. After dinner you will return to Abu Simbel to
see the phenomenal sound and light show, whilst the waters of Lake
Nasser lap behind you.
Day 05: Lake Nasser Cruise: Amada
After breakfast you will visit Kasr Ibrim, though only
from the outside. In ancient Egypt this area was known as Per-Mit, which
became Premis during the Greco-Roman Period, eventually being known as
Ibrim during the Arab times. There are many monuments here, including
tombs of the rulers of Nubia during the reign of Tuthmosis III.
The boat sails on as you have lunch, eventually arriving at Amada, where you will embark to visit the temple.
The temple here was built in the New Kingdom by Tuthmosis
III and Amenhotep II. It was dedicated to the gods Amun-Re and
Re-Horakhty. It was later added to by Tuthmosis IV and Seti I.
After the visit you will return to the boat for dinner, as it continues its journey towards Wadi El-Sebou.
Day 06: Lake Nasser Cruise: El-Sebou And Dakka
After breakfast it is time to visit the temple of Wadi
El-Sebou. Like Abu Simbel, it was built by Ramses II and is the second
biggest of the Nubian temples. An avenue of sphinxes lead to the
entrance of this temple, which was dedicated to the worship of the gods
Amun-Re, Re-Horakhty and the deified Ramses II. It is one of the many
temples that were rescued, and relocated away from their original
locations, to escape the rising water of Lake Nasser.
Your next visit will be to the Temple of Dakka.
Originally built on a site which dated from the New Kingdom, but moved
to save it from being destroyed, this temple was built by the Nubian
Akamani who ruled during the reign of Ptolemy II.
After these visits, which include lunch, you will be
returned to the cruise boat for your dinner as you now start to return
to Aswan.
Day 07: Lake Nasser Cruise: Kalabsha And Beit El-Wali; Nile Cruise: Aswan
65 Km before reaching Aswan you will have another temple
to visit. After breakfast you will be taken to see the temple of
Kalabsha, named after the nearby village. Constructed in the Roman
Period, during the reign of Augustus, it was later added to by other
Emperor's, such as Caligula and Trajan. It was built on an earlier site
which is thought to date back to the 18th dynasty reigns of Tuthmosis
and Amenhotep II. It is considered to be among the most complete temples
in Nubia. The last temple you will visit on the shores of this massive,
man-made lake is the temple of Beit El-Wali. Not only is it another of
the many temples built by Ramses II, and dedicated to his deified self,
Amun-Re and Re-Horakhty, it is also another which was moved to preserve
it.
These Nubian temples of Ramses II were built as part of a
state sponsored policy designed to maintain Egyptian control over
Nubia. In the New Kingdom Nubia was not only ruled by the Egyptian
officials but its whole identity was destroyed, an attempt to make it
more like Egypt.
Upon arrival at Aswan you will be transferred to your Nile
cruise and after lunch you will be driven to see the High Dam, the
worlds largest rock filled dam, and then a short sail to the Temple of
Philae, moved to the island of Agilika after the waters of Lake Nasser
flooded its original location. It is then back to Aswan to rejoin your
cruise and as the Nile laps gently underneath you, dinner will be
served.
Day 08: Nile Cruise: Kom Ombo And Edfu
A new day and your first breakfast on board this boat as
it sails majestically towards Kom Ombo, where you will visit the Temple
of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the gods Horus and Sobek. After the visit you
will be taken back to the boat for your lunch while it sails onward to
Edfu, home of the best preserved temple in Egypt: the Temple of Horus.
After your visit to this superb temple you will be taken back to the
boat in plenty of time before it departs Edfu and sets sail for Esna.
Once you reach Esna you will watch as it sails through
the Esna locks. Once through the locks the boat continues on its course
towards Luxor, which it will reach after you have had dinner.
Day 09: Nile Cruise: Luxor
An early breakfast and then it is time to visit the West
Bank of Luxor: the tombs of the New Kingdom Pharaohs in the Valley of
the Kings; the tombs of princes in the Valley of the Queens; the
magnificent temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahri finishing with
the immense Colossi of Memnon.
After lunch, which you will have on board, you will visit
the magnificent Karnak and Luxor Temples. Once your visit to these
ancient Theban Temples is completed you return to the boat where your
last dinner, upon this floating hotel, will be served.
Day 10: Luxor And Cairo
You will have your final breakfast on the boat before you
have to check out and then are transferred to Luxor airport for your
flight to Cairo (about 45 minutes). Upon arrival at Cairo you will be
met by our representative who will transfer you to your hotel for
check-in. The rest of the day is for you to enjoy in any way you want.
Day 11: Wadi El-Natron And Alexandria
After breakfast the drive to Alexandria has a slight
detour to see the Wadi El-Natrun; the site of 4 ancient monasteries, as
well as being a huge salt-pan where the ancient Egyptians collected the
salt for use in mummification and cleansing rituals.
After lunch you will continue the journey, arriving at
your Alexandria hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free to relax
or explore.
Day 12: Alexandria
After breakfast you will start your first tour in this
beautiful city, originally built by Alexander the Great, including a
trip to the New Alexandria Library (Bibliotheca Alexandrina),
inaugurated on October 16, 2002, with shelf space for eight million
books, with the main reading room on eleven levels; Montazah Gardens, a
private park where world leaders often meet, 150 acres of numerous
trees, palms, and flowers which overlook many bays and beaches; and
finally the Alexandria National Museum, built in a former palace and now
houses almost 2000 artefacts which tell the story of the city,
including the recent finds from the sunken part of the city;
Lunch will be supplied at a local restaurant in the
middle of this exciting tour, and at the end of the day you will be
returned to your hotel for dinner.
Day 13:
Alexandria
After breakfast you will experience a trip into the
catacombs (Kom el Shoqafa), where the early Christians were buried;
Pompey's Pillar, the biggest memorial column in Egypt, made of red
granite and standing about 28 metres high, with a base diameter of 2.7
metres. During the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, the Roman
ruler of Egypt, between 284 and 305AD, erected this memorial column in
his honour, as a sign of gratitude; the Roman Amphitheatre, which every
town in the ancient Roman Empire had; and the Citadel of Qaitbay, where
about 1480 AD the Mameluke Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay fortified the site,
which held the ruins of the Alexandria Lighthouse, and with successive
improvements it now stands as a very prominent Citadel on the
Mediterranean coastline.
Again lunch will be supplied at a local restaurant in the
middle of the day, and as the sites start to close you will have a
tired, but fulfilled, drive back to your hotel for dinner.
Day 14: El-Alamein And Cairo
After breakfast you will be taken, in our air-conditioned
vehicle, to El-Alamein where you will see the war cemetery and museum
dedicated to the 2 battles fought here during World War II. Once this
visit is completed you will be driven back to your Cairo hotel.
Day 15: Cairo
Once you have finished breakfast you will be taken on a
tour of Cairo famous Churches, including: The Hanging Church and the
Church of St. George the Martyr, 2 churches built into the walls of the
Fort of Babylon and its remains could be Cairo's oldest structures; and
the Church of Abu Serga (St. Sergius), where, it is said, the Holy
Family took shelter in a cave, with the church being erected her to
commemorate this. This whole area is a world famous destination for
Pilgrims. You will next be driven to visit the old market of Cairo (Khan
El-Khalili).
In the late afternoon we will take you to an authentic
Egyptian restaurant for a farewell dinner before taking you back to your
hotel.
Day 16: Final Departure
Your final day starts with breakfast at the hotel followed
by check-out. You will then be transferred to the airport for your
final departure.
Above prices are WITHOUT international airfare
Above prices are applicable all year: except for the Easter and Christmas periods.
A private tour with private guide and private transportation
Package Includes:
6 night's accommodation in Cairo at a 5 star hotel on bed and breakfast basis
3 night's accommodation on board a 5 star Lake Nasser
Cruise on full board basis (all meals included) including all above
shore excursions
3 night's accommodation on board a 5 star Nile Cruise
on full board basis (all meals included) including all above shore
excursions
3 night's accommodation in Alexandria at a 5 star hotel on half board basis (breakfast and dinner included)
All transfers as per above mentioned program
Private and personalized sightseeing shore excursions for 6 nights on both cruises
Private English speaking Egyptologist guides as per the itinerary
Entrance fees for all sightseeing
All applicable taxes
Private and deluxe air conditioned vehicle for all transportation
Meals: 15 breakfasts + 13 lunches + 10 dinners
Arrival/departure assistance
Domestic flights: Cairo to
Abu Simbel and Luxor to Cairo
Luggage handling at airports and hotels
