11 Days / 10 Nights

Day 1| Arrive Cairo

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Meet and Greet at Cairo Airport

Arrive Cairo airport, where you will be met by our representative after passport control and before luggage collecting. Later you will be transferred to your hotel.

 

Day 2| Sakkara / Memphis / Pyramids of Giza / Sphinx.

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Meals Included: B.

Begin the day with a visit to Saqqara, the ancient burial site. On the site, which is considered by many archaeologists to be one of the world's most important excavations, is the Step Pyramid, which was constructed by Imhotep in the 27th century BC.  The pyramid is part of the tomb complex of Zoser, who was the first Pharaoh of the Old Kingdom.  The pyramid began as a simple mastaba, or long, flat tomb building. Continue to Memphis which was the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom (ca 2700-2180 BC). At the ancient city of Memphis, we will see several statues in a garden-like setting including the colossal statue of Ramses the Great. Then to Giza Plateau with the famous Great Pyramid and Sphinx. Dominating the plateau and running in a southwest diagonal through the site are the three pyramids of the pharaohs Khufu, Khafra, and Menkaura. The northernmost, and the largest, one belongs to Khufu. Khafra's pyramid is built precisely on a southwest diagonal to his father's pyramid, as well as having been built on higher ground to create the illusion of being bigger. The pyramid of Menkaura is much smaller and is not aligned along the same diagonal line as the other two pyramids. The Sphinx is the largest monolith statue in the world and it is the oldest known monumental sculpture. Commonly held to have been built by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom during the reign of the Pharaoh Khafra there are some who believe it is much, much older.

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Return to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the evening at your leisure.                  (B)

 

Day 3| Egyptian Museum / Citadel / Coptic Cairo / Khan EL Khalili

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Meals Included: B.

Leave the hotel and head to the famous Egyptian Museum where you can see the unique and only collection of Pharaonic art, starting with the Old Kingdom Collection, on to the Middle and New Kingdom galleries and Greco-Roman periods. The museum contains the world's most extensive collection of pharaonic antiquities; no visit to Egypt is complete without a trip through its galleries. The original collection was established in the late 19th century under Auguste Mariette and housed in Boulaq. The objects were moved in 1891 to the palace of Ismail Pasha in Giza before being transferred in 1902 to the current building at Tahrir Square, which is the first purpose-built museum edifice in the world.

 

Continue to Coptic Cairo, were you will visit Hanging Church, dating to the late 4th and early 5th Century, this basilica was named "Al-Mu'allaqah" because it was built on top of the south gate of the Fortress of Babylon. Continue to Church of St. Sergius, dating back to the beginning of the 5th Century, this basilica is built on the cave in which the Holy Family stayed and is regarded by visitors as a source of blessing.

 Heading to the recently restored Synagogue of Ben Ezra-- the oldest Jewish synagogue in Egypt. Despite the 45 Jewish families that remain in Cairo, the synagogue is no longer operational. Drive to Mokattam Hill where Old fortress built by Salah El Din Al Ayoubi, you will see The Citadel encompasses the Mosque of Mohamed Ali.

 

Continue to El Moez Street. In 2008, Moez street turned to be an open-air Museum. It is one of the most amazing streets in Islamic Cairo it dates back to the Fatimid era and has almost all types of Islamic architecture decorated with Arabic calligraphy. It has recently been renovated and it is a place to see and I recommend going at the time of the sunset to get the most out of the experience to witness the lighting of the mosques and the skyline is breath taking.

 

Finishing the tour with the fascinating Khan El-Khalili Bazaar – reputed to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Originally founded as a watering stop for caravanserai in the 14th century, the bazaar has now grown to vast proportions. As you wander through the labyrinth of narrow streets you will find workshops and stalls selling all manner of things from woodwork, glassware and leather goods to perfumes, fabrics and Pharaonic curiosities

Back to Hotel                                                                                                              (B)

 

Day 4| Fly to Luxor.

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Meals Included: B.

Buffet Breakfast.

Transferred to Cairo Airport for flight to Luxor, our representative will meet you for your private transfer to Cairo Airport for your scheduled departure flight to Luxor.

Private transfer to your hotel.

Visit Dier El Madinah, here lived the workers and sculptors who built the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Written evidence shows the skill of these artisans – and the scarcity of metal tools: Scribes recorded the date of issue and return of every bronze chisel. Continue to Habu Temple, the site that is dominated by the Mortuary Temple of Ramses III (1194 – 1163 B.C.), the largest on the west bank and one of the best preserved. Many fin paintings and reliefs bearing the usual scenes of the King’s military exploits, including a unique portrayal of a sea battle. Then to Ramesseum Temple, the Mortuary Temple of Ramses II, although half in ruin, still has a romantic appeal due to the remains of a colossal statues of the king lying shattered in the first court. Reputed as the inspiration for Shelley’s well-known poem “ Ozymandias ”, it is as much a tribute to the superb work of the sculptors as to the king himself.

Back to Hotel                                                                                                               (B)

 

Day 5| Embarkation / Karnak Temple / Luxor Temple.

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Meals Included B/L/D.

Buffet breakfast at the hotel

Our representative and your driver will meet you for your private transfer to Nile cruise to check-in.

Embarkation.

Leave the Hotel and head to visit Karnak Temple. Walk along the Avenue of Sphinx to enter the complex as your guide explains how the massive facade was constructed. On entering the Temples of Karnak you will see each legacy left by the various pharaohs as the complex grew even larger. The deeper you go into the complex, the further back in time you will travel, with the oldest ruins dating back over 3,000 years. Walking through the Great Court into the Great Hypostyle Hall, it is hard not to be overwhelmed by the 134 columns towering above you like an ancient forest. At the rear of the complex, you will find the sacred lake where centuries ago pharaohs and their offerings to the gods were purified, then to Luxor Temple. Which was once joined to the Temples of Karnak by a two-kilometer long Avenue of Sphinx, a portion of which marks the entrance to the temple. Dominated by statues of the great warrior pharaoh Ramses II, Luxor Temple has survived Nile floods, foreign invasion and thousands of years exposed to the elements. A pure Egyptian temple, the inner walls and columns are decorated with intricate hieroglyphics which your guide will help you decipher. Find out how Alexander the Great wrote himself into Luxor Temple's history, and see one of the original pair of obelisk, the second of which now stands on the Place de la Concorde in Paris. This is a private tour allowing you to determine the amount of time spent at each of the temples during the tour.

Tea at club lounge.

cocktail reception.

Dinner.                                                                     Overnight in Luxor.                          (B/L/D)
 

Day 6| Valley of Kings & Queens / Hatshepsut Temple.

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Meals Included B/L/D.

Buffet breakfast on board.

Visit the West Bank: Valley of the Kings & Queens, Hatshepsut (El-Deir El-Bahari), this is the vast Necropolis of Thebes, the city of dead. Begin with the Valley of the Kings, lying protected by the high Gurna Hills surrounding it. Here you will visit the tombs of Egypt’s splended Pharaohs. Deep-cut into the rocky mountainsides are the magnificent tombs of spellbinding construction and decoration. Then to the valley of Queens and Hatshepsut Temple Cross the Nile to visit the Necropolis of Ancient Thebes, the city of the dead. Your visit starts at the Valley of the Queens, gorge in the hills along the western bank of the Nile River in Upper Egypt. It was part of ancient Thebes and served as the burial site of the queens and some royal children of the 19th and 20th dynasties (1292–1075 bc). The queens’ necropolis is located about 1.5 miles west of the mortuary temple of Ramses III. There are more than 90 known tombs, usually consisting of an entrance passage, a few short halls, and a sarcophagus chamber.

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Continue to visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the most significant of Egypt's female rulers. She came to power early in Dynasty 18, at the beginning of the New Kingdom. The Temple is not only a memorial temple that honors Queen Hatshepsut; it is also one of the greatest Egyptian architectural achievements. Designed by Senenmut (Hatshepsut’s steward and architect), this mortuary temple closely resembles the classical Greek architecture of 1,000 years later.

Sail to Edfu via Esna

Lunch on board

Captain’s Welcome Cocktail Party

Dinner on board                                                            Overnight in Edfu.                            (B/L/D)

 

Day 7| Temple of Edfu / Temples of Kom ombo.

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Meals Included: B/L/D.

Buffet breakfast on board.

Visit the Temple of Edfu. Temple of falcon-headed, Horus “One of the finest examples of Ptolemaic art in Egypt. You will be transferred to the temple by Caleche. The city of Edfu lies half way between Luxor and Aswan on the site of the ancient city of Djeba. Located 100 km south of Luxor, and 53 km south of Esna, it is home to the best preserved, and largest Greco-Roman temple in Egypt, the Temple of Horus.

Sail to Kom Ombo.

Lunch on board.

Visit the twin temple of Kom ombo. It is dedicated to the hawk-headed god, Harwar and the crocodile god, Sobek. 40 km north of Aswan and 70 km south of Edfu is the Temple of Kom Ombo, also known as the duel temple of Sobek and Haroeris. "Duel" because everything is doubled in this perfectly symmetrical temple. Twin entrances, twin halls, twin colonnades, etc. The Greco-Roman temple is directly on the banks of the Nile, and can be seen from the boat if you are on a Nile cruiser. Like the Temple of Esna, and Horus it was built by the Ptolemies during the 2nd century BC. Many vendors have set up souvenir stands right outside the temple, and the entire setting is quite unique.

Sail to Aswan.

Dinner on board.

Galabeya Party                                               Overnight in Aswan                                           (B/L/D)
 

Day 8| Philae Temple / High Dam / Unfinished Obelisk.

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Meals Included: B/L/D.

Buffet breakfast on board.

Visit of Philae Temple and High Dam. Leave the Cruise and drive over the Old Aswan Barrage, constructed in the 1920’s over the Nile’s 1st cataract. You will arrive at the site of the Aswan High Dam; one of the largest rock-filled dams in the world and considered as a great achievement of modern construction. From the top of the dam, you will look out at Lake Nasser, the largest artificial Lake in the world. Proceed to the docks on Lake Nasser for a short boat ride to the island of Philae where you will visit the beautiful Temple of Isis. Dedicated for the world’s most Famous Goddess Isis and also represents three great civilizations – Egyptian, Greek and Roman. Continue to the Unfinished Obelisk, which is the largest known ancient obelisk and is located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt in Aswan.

Lunch on board

Sail on the Nile by Felucca around Kitchener’s Island & Agha Khan

Dinner on board

Nubian Folkloric show                               Overnight in Aswan                                       (B/L/D)

 

Day 9| Abu Simbel Excursion.

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Meals Included: B.

Buffet breakfast on board.

Checkout after breakfast.

Transfer to Aswan airport for your short flight to Abu Simbel.

Arrive Abu Simbel airport, meet and direct transfer to visit Abu Simbel temples.

Upon arrival at Abu Simbel airport, you will be transferred to visit the great Temple hewn in rock with the four colossal seated status of the King in front of the entrance. It was dedicated to Amun-Ra, the Horakkhti, and Ramses II. Then visit the king’s wife, Nefertari. This temple was threatened by the waters upon the completion of the Aswan High Dam and has been preserved by international action organized by UNESCO. All parts of the temple (status, inscribed slabs, etc.) have been rebuilt on a plateau above the former site. Return to Abu Simbel airport for your schedule flight back to Aswan.

its old site to protect from the rising water of the Nile.

Transfer back for your flight back to Aswan.

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Our representative and your driver will meet you at Aswan Airport for your private transfer to Hotel to check-in.

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This night you will have the opportunity to enjoy The Nubian Village which is a fun way to relax and soak up some of the region’s fascinating past. Then to Nubian Museum, which is the newest museum in Egypt. It was opened just last year and is the first museum exposing the rich Nubian culture. The museum features Nubian artifacts, weapons, pottery, utensils, paintings, and sculptures.

Back to Hotel                                                                                                              (B)

 

Day 10| Fly to Cairo.

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Meals Included: B.

Breakfast buffet on board and check out.

Transfer to Aswan airport for your schedule flight back to Cairo. Upon arrive Cairo airport. You will aboard your vehicle for your private transfer to your hotel.

 

Day 11|Final Departure.

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Meals Included: B.

Breakfast buffet on board and check out.

Check out and meet our representative in the lobby for your private transfer to Cairo Airport to board you Flight Back to Home.