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Departures |
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Includes |
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Base Tour $250.00 Per Person
Airport Taxes and Fees from NY |
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Itinerary |
| Day 1:
Wednesday - Depart to Egypt today. Day 2: Thursday - Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, you will be met and assisted through customs and formalities, then transferred to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. (Optional Nile Dinner Cruise available this evening $70.00 per Person). Overnight in Cairo. Day 3: Friday - Visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which houses the world's largest collection of artifacts from the era of the pharaohs including some belonging to King Tut. Tour Old Cairo, where early  Judaism and Christianity flourished in Egypt . Visit sites like the Ben Ezra Synagogue
which was originally named El-Shamieen Church, and is situated behind the “hanging
church”. The Synagogue once had an old copy of the Old Testament, and it was said that Ezra the Prophet (Al-Azir) had written it,
and the Moallaka Church , where the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus took refuge. The church of St.
Sergio (also known as St. Sergius or Abu Serga) was built in the centre of the Ancient Roman fort of Babylon.
The church is considered as one of the sites visited by the Holy Family during their escape from King Herod to
the land of Egypt. One of the most important locations in this church is the cave in which the Holy Family stayed
during their journey into Egypt. It has a nave and 2 aisles and the ceiling is domed. At the end of the southern
aisle of the Cave, is a baptistery.  Spend the afternoon at the Great Pyramids of Giza and the
defending Sphinx. End the day at the bazaar of Khan El Khalili. Cafes, restaurants, shops, and large number of vendors and buyers
constitute a dynamic panorama of the place. Drinking Hibiscus, Karakare, Helba, or any of the various typical
Egyptian beverages, is a pleasant experience for visitors and guests to get a real taste experience.
For smokers, there is the Shisha, or water pipe, to be tried. Every visitor can take the opportunity to
safely enjoy the walk through the narrow streets of Khan El-Khalili. Keep in mind that in open traditional markets,
the prices are not fixed; remember to bargain (haggle) to get the best price. The Khan El-Khalili Bazaar is place
where art and commerce come together to give a unique and remarkable, harmonious experience.
(Sound and Light Show available this evening.$35.00 per person.) Overnight in Cairo .
(B/L) |
Day 4:
Saturday - You will be transferred to Cairo Airport for your flight to
Luxor. Upon arrival at Luxor Airport , you will be transferred to your Deluxe Nile Cruise Boat for a 7-day/6-night
Nile cruise. Accommodations aboard will consist of an Outside Junior Suite Cabin with private facilities.
 In the afternoon visit Luxor Temple, which is among the most beautiful Temples in Egypt. It was known in the
New Kingdom period as Ipt-Rsyt, which means the southern shrine. This was to differentiate between this Temple
and Karnak Temple, which was the northern house of Amon Ra. Luxor Temple It was expanded by Ramses II, who added
statues of himself. Next we visit the magnificent Karnak Temple, the largest Temple in the World! The complex
contains a group of Temples such as the Great Temple of Amon Ra, The Temple of Khonso, The Ipt Temple, The Temple
of Ptah, the Temple of Montho and the Temple of the God Osiris. (Optional Sound and Light Show available this evening.
$35.00 per person.) Overnight on board. (B/L/D)Day 5: Sunday - Today we sail to Esna, a city located about 485 miles (776 Kilometers) south of Cairo and lies on the west bank of the Nile. It was the  ancient city of Senat, called Latopolis by the Greeks.
The “city of the fish” where the Nile perch was worshipped. The Temple of Esna, which was buried beneath its own
debris for many centuries, is located in the centre of the town, close to the River Nile and only a short walk from
your boat, through the local market. To reach the Temple you have to descend a flight of steps, but be careful!
They are very steep! The Temple is dedicated to the ram headed God Khnum, the God of creation. Tuthmosis III laid
the foundations of the Temple in the 18th Dynasty, but Ptolemaic and Roman Emperors, from 40-250 CE, completed it,
and their names are recorded all over the Temple walls. As we continue to sail to Edfu, we will have to wait our
turn to go through the locks on the river, and while the boat is waiting the locals will attempt to sell you a
Galabia, knowing that tonight there is a “Galabia party”. During the party, some games are conducted that are run
by the tour guides on board. To buy a Galabia will cost you around 50 LE. Overnight on board.
(B/L/D)Day 6: Monday - Sail to Kom Ombo which stands on the e  ast bank of the Nile, right next to the river,
about 2.48 Miles (4 Kilometers) from the town. This temple was dedicated to both the and Crocodile-Headed God Sobek
and Falcon-Headed God Horus. The Temple was mainly dedicated to the God Sobek, the crocodile God, together with his
wife, in another form of the Goddess Hathor. The Temple is of Greco-Roman structure, dating back to the year 119 BCE,
when Ptolemy VI, who started the construction, built it out of limestone. Neos Dionysus finished most of the building,
while the Emperor Augustus added the final touches. Sail to Aswan . Overnight on board.
(B/L/D) |
Day 7:
Tuesday -
(Optional excursion to Abu Simbel available. $220.00 per person. or Morning at
leisure) The Temples of Abu Simbel are amongst the most interesting Pharaonic Temples. Located close to the southern
border with the 
Sudan, it is 174 Miles (280 kilometers) south of Aswan and consists of two, rock-cut Temples, which
both date back to the reign of King Ramses II 1290-1223 BCE. The first Temple was built by King Ramses II and is
dedicated to the God Re-Hor-Akhty, Amon, Ptah, and King Ramses II as a deified King. Its façade is 114.8 Feet
(35 Meters) long and 98.4 Feet (30 Meters) high. The façade has four seated colossi of the King; each one is 65.6 Feet
(20 Meters) tall and represents the King seated on his throne wearing the double crown, accompanied by 3 small figures
of his wives, daughters and sons flanking his legs. The Temple of Queen Nefertari is located 394 Feet (120 Meters)
from the Temple of Ramses II and was also built by Ramses II, dedicated to the Goddess Hathor and to his wife Queen
Nefertari. Queen Nefertari was the principal, and the most beloved, wife of King Ramses II. It is also a rock-cut
Temple with a façade of about 91.8 feet (28 Meters) long and 39.3 Feet (12 Meters) high, which contains 6 standing
colossi, each one being about 36 Feet (11 Meters) in height. Four of them represent Ramses II and the other two
represent Queen Nefertari, each is accompanied by two smaller figures of their children. (After this visit, fly back
to Aswan .) This afternoon we will visit the High Dam and the Granite Quarries, where you will see the unfinished Obelisk.
The Unfinished Obelisk lies, in its original location, in a granite quarry in Aswan. It is 137.8 Feet (42 Meters)
in length and was most probably abandoned when some cracks appeared in the rock, during its construction. Had this
obelisk been completed, it would have been the heaviest obelisk ever cut in Ancient Egypt, weighing nearly 1100 tons!
It is believed that it was constructed and abandoned during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut (18th Dynasty). Continue to
the Temple of Philae dedicated to the goddess Isis.
Philae Island was a rocky island in the middle of the River
Nile, south of Aswan. It was called in Hieroglyphic “Apo” which means Ivory. It was also known by the Greek
“Elephantine”, most probably because it was an important centre of trade, especially for ivory. The Temple of Isis
is one of the greatest Temples in Egypt and it occupies about a quarter of the island. It is the main Temple on the
island, with its huge, complete, pylons and beautiful scenes. The construction began during the reign of King Ptolemy
II, and then other Ptolemaic Kings (Ptolemy’s IV, V, VI, VII and XI) contributed by adding more parts to the main
Temple. Overnight on board. (B/L/D)Day 8: Wednesday - Today we sail by felucca for an outside visit to th  e Agha Khan Mausoleum and Elephantine Island . Shortly before his death in 1957, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the
Ismaili sect of Islam, chose as his resting place a solitary sand dune on the West Bank of the Nile at Aswan.
Princess Yvonne Aga Khan, known as the Begum, a French national and the Sultan's third wife, has cared for this tomb
ever since, staying at their house nearby for six months of the year and spending the summer at their villa in Cannes.
Elephantine Island gets is name from Elephantine which is Greek for elephant. In ancient times, the Island, as well
as the southern town, was called Abu, or Yabu, which also meant elephant. It is believed that the island received it's
name because it was a major ivory trading center, though in fact, it was a major trading post of many commodities.
There are large boulders in the river near the island which resembled bathing elephants, particularly from afar, and
this too has been suggested as a reason for the island's name. In the afternoon, we sail to Kom Ombo. We then cruise
to Edfu. Overnight on board. (B/L/D) |
Day 9: Thursday - Today we travel by horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Horus, in the city of Edfu, the best preserved of all the large Egypti  an Temples. Edfu was a flourishing city in Ancient Times.
Today, the most important monument in the city of Edfu is the Temple of Horus, which is considered to be one of the
most beautiful and preserved Temples in Egypt. The origins of the Temple probably date back to the Second Intermediate
Period, but the actual Temple only dates back to Ptolemaic times. The work of construction began during the reign of
Ptolemy III (about 237 BCE) and was finished during the reign of Ptolemy IV. Some other additions were made by other
Ptolemaic Kings, and Roman Emperor Augustus. The construction of this Temple and its additions, inscriptions, and
relief’s took about 180 years! Sail to Luxor . Overnight on board. (B/L/D)Day 10: Friday - Cross the Nile to the West Bank . Visit the Necropolis of Thebes, Colossi of Memnon, These two, gigantic figures of Amenhotep III w  ere originally situated in front of his Mortuary temple, which
was destroyed for unknown reasons! The two colossi are made of sandstone, which during ancient times was brought from
Gabal El Silselah. Each colossus, including the pedestal and the crown, is about 21m tall and represents King Amenhotep
III seating on his throne, wearing the Nemes, or royal headdress, with the divine cobra protecting his forehead.
On the sides of the colossi there is a representation of the Nile god Hapi, bending together the lotus and the papyrus
plants, symbolizing the union of Upper and Lower Egypt. Queen Hatshepsut Funerary Temple , and the Valley of the Kings
and Queens . 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. Overnight in Cairo .
(B)Day 11: Saturday - You will be transferred to Cairo Airport for your return flight. (B) |
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Optional Extension |
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$365.00
per person - Double Occupancy – Extension Only |
| Day 10:
Friday - Transfer upon Arrival in Cairo to the Grand Hyatt, Evening at
Leisure. (B) Day 11: Saturday – This Day is free to do as you please or yo  u may opt for a Day trip to
Alexandria. If you choose the Optional tour to Alexandria you will rise at 5:00AM to be on the road at 7:00AM, after a
3 hour ride to Alexandria across the desert road we will visit the Catacomb of Kom El Shukafa, Alexandria
National Museum, the Library at Alexandria and more. Late afternoon we will drive back to Cairo.
(Cost to Alexandria is $150 per person, lunch is included.) (B)Day 12: Sunday – Again this day is up to you. Golf can be arranged, shopping is always fun in Cairo. Walk over to the Cairo Museum for a more in depth look. OR you might want to go and visit the first of the Pyramids at Sakkara and Dashur. (An optional Excursion to this area for the full day will be $135 and include lunch) (B). Day 13: Monday – Your last full Day in Egypt. Today can be spent  wandering the streets of Cairo, packing or
lounging by the pool. Shop for last minute items as well. If you like, you can enjoy a visit to Islamic Cairo
and learn more about Islam. Visit the Alabaster Mosque and the Citadel,
which are very beautiful. (If this excursion is for you the cost will be $80.) (B)Day 14: Tuesday - You will be transferred to Cairo Airport for your return flight. (B) |
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The
Fine Print: Deposit of $200.00 is non refundable. Egyptian Visa
$25.00 per person . The round trip cost of transportation to JFK is
not included. All pricing now includes air fuel surcharges per U.S.
D.O.T Regulations. Air taxes are additional. In the past fuel surcharges
were paid with final payment and were collected along with the taxes,
now the fuel surcharge is collected as part of the package price. Bottom
line is the same. You are not paying more now, you did not pay less
before!
Prices quoted do include fuel surcharges, but do not include airport fees or airline taxes. |
11
Days in Egypt