Tour Duration: 10 days
DAY 1 – MON – DEPART
USA
Overnight flight to Cairo.
DAY 2 – TUE – ARRIVE
CAIRO
Welcome to Egypt! On arrival in
Cairo, you will be met
and transferred to one of the
best hotels in Cairo, where
your room will overlook the
River Nile. Hotel: Conrad.
DAY 3 – WED – CAIRO
SIGHTSEEING
After breakfast and a detailed
pre–tour briefing with your
Tour Director, there is no better
introduction to Egypt
than a visit to the Egyptian
Museum! There are mind
boggling exhibits from all periods
of Egyptian history,
but it`s the treasures
recovered from Tutankhamun’s tomb
that will take your breath away.
Then time to visit the
famous Khan El Khalili bazaars
to try your bargaining
skills. This evening attend a
magical Sound & Light
Show at the world famous
Pyramids, which literally
illuminates the ancient history of
Giza! (BB)
DAY 4 – THU – CAIRO
– ASWAN
A morning flight across
the Egyptian desert takes you
to the exotic city of Aswan.
There is the option of joining
an excursion by air to Abu Simbel to
view the fabulous
temples carved out of the cliff side
by Rameses II and
later transported, in an amazing
feat of modern
engineering, out of the rising waters
of Lake Nasser (see
page 142 for details). Later, take a
ride in a local sailing
boat, a felucca, around
Kitchener Island, to see Aswan’s
Botanical Gardens. Stay on
the banks of the Nile in one
of Egypt`s most elegant
hotels, built in the 19th century
by Thomas Cook. As night falls,
you are treated to high
tea on the terrace of your
hotel while enjoying the
glowing sunset. Hotel: Old Cataract.
(BB)
DAY 5 – FRI – ASWAN
– CRUISING
Visit the Aswan High Dam
and the granite quarries
where many of Ancient
Egypt’s obelisks were made. See
the unfinished obelisk still
attached to the granite
bedrock, commissioned by Hatshepsut
but abandoned due to a large fault line.
Take a motorboat across the
Nile to the extraordinarily preserved
temple complex of
Isis on the island of Philae
before boarding one of the
most stylish and spacious boats
in Egypt for your all–inclusive
cruise. Set sail for Kom
Ombo to see the
riverside temple, uniquely
dedicated to both the
crocodile god, Sobek, and the
falcon–headed Horus. Continue
cruising and dock overnight at Edfu.
Ship: MS Tower Prestige/MS La
Boheme. (BB,L,D)
DAY 6 – SAT –
CRUISING
This morning you visit the well
preserved temple of
Horus at Edfu, dedicated to the Falcon
God. Sit back
and relax with a cold soft drink,
local beer, glass of wine
or bottle of water – all
included on the cruise. Enjoy the
ever–changing scenery as you float
downstream to Luxor. On arrival,
take a horse & carriage ride to visit
the beautiful temple of Luxor.
(BB,L,D)
DAY 7 – SUN –
CRUISING
Cross the Nile by air–conditioned
coach to the West
Bank to see the huge
Colossi of Memnon, and
visit the
Temple of Hatshepsut, blending
into the cliff face
above. Visit the Valley of the
Kings, where the
archeologist Carter unearthed
Tutankhamen`s secret
tomb. Return to Luxor to
visit the immense Karnak
temple, dedicated to the
sun god Amom. Wander amid
the avenues of sphinxes and halls of
gigantic columns –
an unforgettable journey into the
world of Ancient
Egypt. For your last night on
board, don traditional
attire for a fun–filled Egyptian
Dinner and Galabea
Party. (BB,L,HD)
DAY 8 – MON – LUXOR AT
LEISURE
Disembark your cruise boat this
morning and check into
your famous hotel. Originally built in
1886 to attract the
nobility of Europe, it has been home
to Howard Carter,
Jane Fonda, King Farouk as well as
many other crown
princes and princesses. Spend the
afternoon at leisure. A
visit to the Luxor Museum is just one
suggestion. Hotel: Old Winter
Palace. (BB)
DAY 9 – TUE – LUXOR
– CAIRO
After breakfast, transfer to the
airport for your flight
back to Cairo where you are at
leisure. Perhaps take an
optional excursion to visit the Coptic
Museums and
hanging church? Hotel: Conrad.
(BB)
DAY 10 – WED – CAIRO
SIGHTSEEING
Your tour comes to an exciting climax
today with a tour
of the riches of Giza. First drive to
Sakkara to see the
Step Pyramid of King Zoser;
the oldest pyramid in the
world, it dates from 2700 BC.
Now enjoy a guided tour
of Giza where you see the enigmatic
Sphinx and the
magnificent Pyramids with a
highlight visit inside one
of these extraordinary creations!
(BB)
DAY 11 – THU – RETURN
TO USA
The tour ends with transfers
to Cairo Airport. (BB)
