Description

Day 1, Arrival
Upon arrival in the Land of the Pharaohs, at Cairo International airport, you will be escorted through customs with our representative and transferred to your hotel.

2, Cairo (BL)
After breakfast you will begin your day with a morning visit and guided tour of the Egyptian Museum where you will find artifacts of the Pharaonic era and the treasures of king Tutankhamun’s tomb. After the museum you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing your tour to Moez Street where you will enjoy a guided visit to Bayt El Seheimy or El Seheimy which is one of the prominent houses in Cairo that dates back to the 18th century and is regarded as a perfect example for the style of decoration and designing at that time.

Your tour continues to Sabeel Prince Al Rohman Kotkhuda. This caravansary and school dates back to 1744 and is a good example of the combination of Mamluk and Ottoman styles of architecture. You will enjoy a walking tour of Moez Street where you can immerse yourself in the history of the Islamic culture. You will then be returned to your hotel to enjoy the rest of your day.

Day 3, Cairo (BL)
This morning you will visit the Giza Plateau, home of the Great Pyramids and Sphinx Temple Complex. The largest among the six pyramids stands the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Standing 480 feet tall this pyramid is unique in that it is based on the number 5, and its top points directly to the middle star in the constellation Orion’s belt. After visiting these fabulous monuments you will travel on to see the inscrutable and mysterious Sphinx Temple.

After lunch at the Saqqara Restaurant, continue to Saqqara and the Temple of the Sun. The Saqqara plateau continuously provides many discoveries for Egyptologists such as the Sarapium, where mummified bulls were placed in huge sarcophagi, or tombs indicating royal births. Each discovery has a fascinating story, with many adventures for the archaeologists as they reveal the secrets of the past. In the evening you will enjoy the famous Sound and Light show displayed at the Giza Pyramids and inaugurated in April of 1961. With the narrative voice of the late Richard Burton, magnificent sound and lighting effects, the show begins with the narrative of the Sphinx, who has been the guardian of the city of the dead for five thousand years. Overseeing the building of the three pyramids, the Sphinx reflects on the historical contributions of Thutmosis IV, Akhenaton, Nefertiti and Tutankhamen, back to your hotel for overnight.

Day 4, Cairo/Aswan (BLD)
This morning after your breakfast you will be transferred to Cairo Airport for your flight to Aswan for a free afternoon to wander through the market, or you may choose our optional Abu Simbel tour, situated 280km south of Aswan. the magnificent monuments carved into solid rock 3,000 years ago. In a monumental feat of modern engineering, these massive temples were moved to their present location when construction of the Aswan High Dam in 1960 created Lake Nasser and flooded their original location. This extraordinary operation to save one of the world`s greatest treasures took years and the efforts of an international team of engineers and archaeologists.

The two temples at Abu Simbel were built by Egypt`s great Pharaoh Ramses II (Egypt`s longest-ruling king) as a tribute to the deities and his favorite wife Nefertari. Four colossal statues, 60 feet high and directly facing the rising sun, are of the pharaoh himself, with his queen and daughters at his feet. More tremendous statues surrounding you as you enter the temple. And in the very depths of the temple, Ramses sits in state flanked by the gods to whom the construction is dedicated.

Upon arrival at Aswan Airport, you will be transferred to your Deluxe Nile Cruise Boat for a 4-day/3-night Nile cruise. Accommodations aboard will consist of an Outside Cabin with private facilities. Afternoon sail by felucca for an outside visit to the Agha Khan Mausoleum and Elephantine Island. Overnight on board.

Day 5, Aswan/Kom-Ombo/Edfu (BLD)
You will enjoy a scenic drive to the Aswan High Dam where you will see how Egypt controls the river, and produces 1/3 of the electricity for Egypt. After taking a photo opportunity you will then board a water taxi which will take you to the beautiful island of Philea and the temple of the great goddess Isis. On the return to your boat you will stop to see the unfinished obelisk still in the quarry and an essential oils factory. You will have a wonderful buffet dinner on board and overnight in Aswan.

After lunch you will set sail to the town of Kom Ombo. Under the late afternoon sun you will walk to this special double temple (Kom Ombo) dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek. This evening you will enjoy a special Gallabia Dinner and Party where staff and guests will dress in the traditional Egyptian dress. During this time the boat sails to Edfu. You will stay overnight in Edfu.

Day 6, Esna/Luxor (BLD)
After breakfast you will board your magical horse carriage or air conditioned bus to visit the wonderful temple dedicated to the falcon headed god Horus. After breakfast you will enjoy a late morning sail to Luxor via the Esna Locks. Upon arrival to Luxor and after your afternoon tea you will visit the magnificent Karnak and Luxor Temples.

Day 7, Luxor/Cairo (B)
Cross the Nile to the West Bank. Visit the Necropolis of Thebes, Colossi of Memnon, Queen Hatshepsut Funerary Temple, and the Valley of the Kings and Queens. Visit Luxor Temple dedicated to the god Amon-Ra. It was expanded by Ramses II, who added statues of himself. Visit the magnificent Karnak Temple. After disembarkation, you will be transferred to Luxor Airport for your flight to Cairo. Upon arrival at Cairo Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Day 8, Cairo (B)
Day of leisure to explore Cairo on your own. (Optional tours available upon request, such as visit of Khan El-Khalili, Old Cairo, Citadel, Albester Mosque, etc…)

Day 9, Cairo (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer to the airport for your onward flight.