| Egypt
& The Nile
11 Days
Sample Itinerary
Day 1 - En Route
Depart the U.S. on your overnight flight Egypt.
Day 2 - Cairo
Morning arrival in Cairo. Meeting, assistance and transfer
to your deluxe hotel. (Egyptian visas will be processed upon arrival
for U.S. citizens.) Remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight in
Cairo.
Day 3 - Cairo/Luxor - Nile Cruise
Early morning flight from Cairo to Luxor, ancient city of
Thebes. Upon arrival, transfer to your boat for a 5-day/4-night
Nile Cruise. Tour of Luxor includes the Avenue of the Sphinxes and
the imposing Temple of Luxor. Continue to the spectacular Karnak
Temple complex, built over a 2000-year period.
Day 4 - Luxor/Esna - Nile Cruise
Sail to Esna. Afternoon tour of the Valley of the Kings,
famed necropolis where 62 tombs have been found to date, including
the Tomb of Tutankhamen and Ramses VI. On to the fabled Colossi
of Memnon, standing over 70 feet tall, and the beautifully terraced
Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of the most brilliant concepts in
the history of architecture.
Day 5 - Edfu/Kom Obmo - Nile Cruise
Sail to Edfu. Visit the Temple of Horns, the best preserved
of all large Egyptian Temples, built by the Ptolemies over a 180-year
period. Sail to Kom Ombo, a hill town overlooking the banks of the
Nile.
Day 6 - Kom Ombo/Aswan - Nile Cruise
Tour the unique twin Greco-Roman Temples. Continue to Aswan,
surrounded by a universe of desert. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing
sailing trip on a typical Egyptian "Felucca" (sailboat), which glides
along the Nile, passing Elephantine Island, Lord Kichener's Botanical
Gardens and the dramatic white-marble Aga Kltan Mausoleum.
Day 7 - Aswan/Abu Simbel/Cairo/Alexandria
Morning visit to the Aswan Dam and the granite quarries
where the stone for the ancient monuments and modern dam of Aswan
were cut. Continue to the Temple of Philae. Transfer to the airport
for your flight to Abu Simbel; tour of this magnificent site. Then,
return flight to Cairo; arrival and transfer by private bus to Alexandria
for overnight.
Day 8 - Alexandria
Morning visit to the Museum and Pompey's Pillar which was
part of the Serspis Temple. On to the Roman Amphitheatre; carving
of the cross and other Christian symbols indicate that it was used
long after the Romans departed. Continue to the Catacombs of Kom
El-Shuqafa, dating back to the 2nd century; the Catacombs are unique
both for their plan and decoration, which are curious blends of
Greco-Roman and Egyptian designs. Overnight in Alexandria.
Day 9 - Alexandria/Wadi el Natrun/Cairo
Travel along the desert highway to Wadi el Natrun, where
in the midst of the Rift Valley, persecuted Christians established
monasteries in the 4th century. Visit two functioning complexes
which feature fine examples of early Christian architecture and
artwork. Return to Cairo for overnight.
Day 10 - Cairo
The day begins with a visit to the world-famous Egyptian
Museum with its 100,000 objects covering 4000 years of ancient Egyptian
civilizations, including the Treasures of Tutankhamen and the Mummy
Room. After lunch at the historic Mena House Hotel, drive to Giza
to see the three Great Pyramids. Marvel at the Solar Boat, the oldest
known ship in the world, uncovered in 1954 after being buried for
4800 years. Stand in awe at the magnificent Sphinx carved out of
a single piece of stone, guarding the Giza Plateau. Overnight at
our hotel in Cairo.
Day 11 - En Route
Departure transfer to Cairn Airport for your return flight
to the U.S.
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