Best of Egypt

11 days • Air & land 
10 days • Cairo/Cairo

Escorted
All departures guaranteed

Prices & Dates : Below

Based on per person traveling, Prices are subject to change 

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:

• Airport transfers in Cairo on days 2 and 11 when we issues the air tickets
• Twin-bedded rooms in hotels listed or similar; hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling
• 5 buffet breakfasts (BB); 4 breakfasts (B), 4 lunches (L), and 4 dinners (D) while cruising
• Services of a professional Tour Director
• Private luxury motorcoach with air- conditioning and reclining seats
• Flights: Cairo/Luxor and Aswan/Cairo, including airport transfers
• Nile cruise accommodation in luxury 2-berth outside cabins with private facilities, including all daytime shore excursions
• Inside visits and special features as shown in bold in the tour description including admission charges where applicable

Pricing excludes

• Airport taxes and security charges
• Transfers from airport / hotel /airport
• Meals not specifically identified
• Other personal expenses

DAILY ITINERARY

Day 1 BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2, Wed. ARRIVE CAIRO, EGYPT.
Upon arrival, you will be met at Cairo Airport and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure to discover the amazing contrasts of ancient and modern Cairo.

Day 3, Thu. CAIRO / LUXOR / NILE CRUISE.
A morning flight takes you from Cairo to Luxor on the River Nile. Board your luxury cruise ship in time for lunch. Later, visit the grand Temple of Luxor, which dominates the town, and the gigantic temple complex at Karnak. Explore the mighty temple of Amun with its pylons, columns and courts. Marvel at the remains of the amazing Avenue of the Sphinx, which once stretched between the Temples of Karnak and Luxor. Later, return to the cruise ship for dinner. (BB,L,D)

Day 4, Fri. NILE CRUISE: LUXOR / EDFU.
A highlight today is a visit to the Valley of the Kings. Secluded in the Theban Hills, it is where the New Kingdom pharaohs were buried in dramatically shafted tombs built into the hillsides. Next visit the Temple of Medinet Habou and on to the breathtaking Deir el-Bahri, Queen Hatshepsut's impressive temple. Then return to the ship and sail for Edfu. (B,L,D)

Day 5, Sat. NILE CRUISE: EDFU / KOM OMBO.
This morning visit Edfu to see Egypt's best-preserved cult temple, dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Then continue the tranquil cruise along the Nile, arriving at Kom Ombo. Why not relax on deck and enjoy the scenery as the ship glides past small villages? (B,L,D)

Day 6, Sun. NILE CRUISE: KOM OMBO / ASWAN.
Visit the roofless Temple of Kom Ombo, which was built for the falcon and crocodile gods. From here, cruise to Aswan to take a traditional felucca ride across the Nile to visit the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener's Island. (B,L,D)

Day 7, Mon. ASWAN / CAIRO.
Disembark to explore the High Dam. Then visit the Temple of Isis on the island of Philae and see the massive Unfinished Obelisk. Afterwards, there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take an optional excursion to the mighty Sun Temple of Abu Simbel, flanked by four giant stone statues of Ramses II. The temple was reclaimed from the dam and reconstructed in its present location. Finally, transfer to the airport for the return flight to Cairo. (B)

Day 8, Tue. CAIRO.
A full day of sightseeing today includes the Citadel, the spectacular complex dominating Cairo's skyline. From here, visit the Sultan Hassan Mosque and Mohammed Ali's Alabaster Mosque with its highly decorated and ornate interior. In Old Cairo visit the Hanging Church of St. Mary above the old Water Gate. Also visit the Egyptian Museum, home of King Tutankhamun's priceless treasures, discovered by Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings in 1922. Your evening is free; you might want to take in an optional Egyptian folklore show. (BB)

Day 9, Wed. PYRAMIDS EXCURSION.
Drive to Memphis to see the limestone Colossus of Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. On to Sakkara, where the Step Pyramid heralded the start of the pyramid age. Then to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Great Pyramids of Giza, and the Sphinx. (BB)

Day 10, Thu. CAIRO.
A free day to relax or maybe head to the bazaar. NOTE: Ask an agent about a day trip to Alexandria. This must be prebooked before you leave the USA. (BB)

Day 11, Fri. DEPART CAIRO. (BB)

Note: The Esna Lock is closed Jun 01-30 and Dec 01-16; your Luxor sightseeing tour will be operated by coach from Esna.

On occasion, there may be the possibility of a slight alteration in the itinerary due to the sailing conditions on the Nile, domestic air schedules, religious holidays or any other unforeseen circumstance. In any case, all included visits will be operated.

Your Nile Cruise Ship

A highlight of this tour is a four night cruise along the legendary Nile on board one of the latest and most luxurious of all ships, the superb ms Medea.† Five-star features include fully air-conditioned, luxury two-berth cabins with a bathroom, full size bath, shower and toilet. There is a TV with video channels, a music system, hairdryer, internal telephone and mini-bar. On-board facilities include a pool and sun deck which runs the length and width of the ship, a salon, two bars, a lounge for relaxing, dancing and folklore entertainment, two gift shops and a large restaurant serving Egyptian and inter..national cuisine.

† Note: At certain times, a similar cruise ship of the same category as the ms Medea may be used.

EG1 - ASWAN. Abu Simbel Excursion
A four-hour excursion including flights to Abu Simbel, site of the Temple of Ramses II with its four great statues of the pharaoh himself. Also see statues of his queen, Nefertari, on the facade of the Temple of Hathor. (A total of 90 minutes will be spent at Abu Simbel - the remainder will be travel time)
224 (US$)

EG2 - CAIRO. Sound and Light Show amongst the Pyramids
Enjoy the marvellous sight of the Pyramids and Sphinx illuminated against the night sky, and hear the story of the ancient days of the Pharaohs accompanied by a haunting musical background.
28 (US$)

EG3 - CAIRO. Dinner on Cruising Restaurant
A two-hour Nile cruise on a luxurious ship, with dinner and a belly-dancing show included.
44 (US$)

EG4 - CAIRO. Overday Alexandria
Enjoy a day trip by car or bus to Egypt’s second city Alexandria, with its nineteenth-century architecture. Here we visit the Greco-Roman Museum, the catacombs of Kom es-Shoqafa, Pompey’s Pillar, Fort Qaitbey built during the 1480’s with great views of the city and the Mediterranean, and finally the Roman Theatre with its marble seating for 700-800 people before returning to Cairo.
99 (US$)

EG5 - GIZA. Half Day Pharonaic Village
Morning pick-up from your hotel. We travel to the Pharonic Village, located on the Nile in the Giza area. There are about 200 actors and actresses who show the daily life of the ancient Egyptians in agriculture, harvesting, pottery-making and mummification which is seen whilst touring the village. Our visit is about 4 hours.
48 (US$)

EG6 - LUXOR. Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple
This show is operated in Karnak Temple in Luxor during the evening. It last for about 2 hours. We listen to voices of ancient kings, queens and gods who tell us stories about places which we have seen in the Temple during a walking tour. The show ends with another show whilst we are seated around the Divine Lake in the Temple.
28 (US$)

EG7 - ASWAN. Sound & Light at Philae Temple
This most romantic of shows begins with a short boat ride across the lake towards Philae Island. Two short presentations on foot follow, then we are seated in a Roman style theatre setting for the main event. A retelling of the perennial Nile flood, building of the dam and eventually rescue of the temple from the depths of the lake. We also hear of the godesses Isis and Hathor, to whose worship the temple was originally dedicated.
28 (US$)

Hotels

CAIRO - Sheraton Heliopolis (DLX)
CAIRO -   Ramses Hilton (DLX)