Wonders of Ancient Egypt

13 days • Air & land 
12 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 13
• Twin-bedded rooms in hotels listed or similar; hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling
• 4 buffet breakfasts (BB); 7 breakfasts (B), 7 lunches (L), and 7 dinners (D) while cruising
• Services of a professional Tour Director
• Private luxury motorcoach with air-conditioning and reclining seats
• Flights: Cairo/Luxor/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.

Day 3, Wed. PYRAMIDS EXCURSION.
Drive to Memphis to see the limestone Colossus of Ramses II and the giant Alabaster Sphinx. Then continue to Sakkara, where the Step Pyramid heralded the start of the Pyramid age. From here, travel to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Great Pyramids of Giza, and the Sphinx, which casts its enigmatic gaze across the desert sands. This evening, return to the Pyramids for a spellbinding Sound and Light Show. (BB)

Day 4, Thu. CAIRO / LUXOR / NILE CRUISE: DENDERA.
Take an early morning flight to Luxor to visit the gigantic temple complex of Karnak. Explore the mighty temple of Amun, then marvel at the remains of the amazing Avenue of the Sphinx. This afternoon, cruise on the Nile, north to Dendera. (BB,L,D)

Day 5, Fri. NILE CRUISE: LUXOR.
This morning visit Dendera Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Hathor, with its sunken relief of Cleopatra with Caesarion, her son by Julius Caesar. Reboarding the ship, sail back to Luxor. Ride horse-drawn carriages to the grand Temple of Luxor, dominating the town. After a guided visit, return to the cruise ship. (B,L,D)

Day 6, Sat. NILE CRUISE: LUXOR / EDFU.
First visit the West Bank and the Valley of the Kings where the New Kingdom Pharoahs were buried. Next visit breathtaking Deir el-Bahri, Queen Hatshepsut's impressive temple, and see the gigantic statues of Memnon Colossi. Relax for the rest of the day as the ship sails via the Esna Lock to Edfu. Tonight don traditional Egyptian galabias for a Egyptian Dinner and Galabia Party. (B,L,D)

Day 7, Sun. NILE CRUISE: EDFU / ASWAN.
Travel by coach to visit Egypt's best-preserved cult temple which was dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Then continue the tranquil cruise along the Nile to Aswan. (B,L,D)

Day 8, Mon. NILE CRUISE: ASWAN.
Explore the High Dam and Granite Quarries and see the massive unfinished obelisk. Then travel by motorboat to the island of Philae to visit the Temple of Isis. This afternoon, take a felucca ride across the Nile to visit the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener's Island. (B,L,D)

Day 9, Tue. NILE CRUISE: ASWAN / KOM OMBO / EDFU.
This morning, perhaps take an optional excursion by air to the Sun Temple of Abu Simbel, flanked by four giant stone statues of Ramses II. This afternoon, leave Aswan and sail to Kom Ombu. Visit the roofless Temple of Kom Ombu, which was built for the falcon and crocodile gods. (B,L,D)

Day 10, Wed. NILE CRUISE: EDFU / LUXOR.
A leisurely morning cruise to Luxor. There is time here to explore this attractive town. Alternatively you may wish to relax on the deck of the ship and watch the sunset. (B,L,D)

Day 11, Thu. LUXOR / CAIRO.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for a return flight to Cairo. Tonight, perhaps relish an optional dinner and entertainment. (B)

Day 12, Fri. CAIRO.
Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Cairo, including the Citadel, the Sultan Hassan Mosque and Mohammed Ali's Alabaster Mosque with its ornate interior. In Old Cairo, visit the Hanging Church of St. Mary above the old Water Gate and, finally, the Egyptian Museum, home of King Tutankhamun's priceless and dazzling treasures, discovered by Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings in 1922. (BB)

Day 13, Sat. DEPART CAIRO.
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (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 Fabulous Nile Cruise

A highlight of this tour is a seven night cruise along the legendary Nile on board one of the latest and most luxurious of all ships, the superb ms Giselle.†

5-star features of the ms Giselle include fully air-conditioned, luxury two-berth cabins with an en suite bathroom, full size bath, shower and toilet. There is a TV with satellite system, hairdryer, internal telephone and mini-bar. On-board facilities of this superb vessel include a swimming 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, a large restaurant serving Egyptian and international cuisine, and two gift shops.

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

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Wonders of Ancient Egypt Optional Excursions

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$)

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 - Meridien Pyramids (SF)
CAIRO -   Ramses Hilton (DLX)