Cairo at a Glance
Cairo - the modern capital of an ancient land-is magical, mystical, and mysterious. It is itself a juxtaposition of the anachronistic and the modern. This extraordinary city, the largest in Egypt, and indeed all of Africa, simply cannot be missed. Islamic Cairo is truly a cultural and historical highlight of the city. Its minarets and domes, bazaars, and cobblestone streets are straight from A Thousand and One Arabian Nights. But let Islamic Cairo be but a start to your explorations here. From Central Cairo with its fine 19th century architecture to the Citadel of Saleh el-Din and the astonishing dome of the Alabaster Mosque to the haunting echoes of the City of the Dead…Cairo beckons.
Giza and Heliopolis
Giza and Heliopolis are two Cairo suburbs that are not only geographically opposed, they also epitomize two extremes of Egypt's history. Giza, on the West Bank of Nile, is famed for its ancient monuments. The Sphinx, dating back to 2500 BC and the earliest-known monumental sculpture, stands guard over the Great Pyramids at Giza and their attendant Queens' pyramids, temples and tombs. The Pyramids are the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to survive. Even the accompanying circus of camel and horse rides, souvenir and soft drinks vendors and the nightly Sound and Light show do not diminish their splendor. In the diagonally opposite suburb of Heliopolis, history moves on to the late 19th century and Baron Edouard Empain, the entrepreneur whose vision inspired his garden city in the desert. Built in a mixture of European and Moorish styles, Heliopolis attracted wealthy Egyptians to its leafy grandeur. Although it is no longer separate from Cairo, visitors still come to enjoy its stylish architecture, restaurants and nightlife.
Aswan & Abu-Simbel
Some 320 km outside of Aswan in Nubia lies what can only be described as the truly remarkable Temple of Abu Simbel. It was carved directly out of the sandstone cliffs along the Nile and built by Ramses II. Built under the pretense of dedication to the gods Amon Ra, Harmakis, and Ptah… many would say it was built for Ramses’ own glorification. On the face of the temple are four huge statues of King Ramses II seated on his throne. Each individual statue is 20 meters high, four meters from ear-to-ear, and one meter across the mouth. Statues of Amon Ra, Harmakis, and Ptah once stood at the heart of the mountain from which this temple was carved.
Twice a year the sun would penetrate the entrance of the temple, into the mountain, and shine on Amon Ra and a statue of Ramses II. About 20 minutes later it would then move to shine on Harmakis but, interestingly enough, would fail to ever shine on Ptah, the God of Darkness. In the temple's yard, there is a group of monuments, the most important of which is the famous marital monument on which is registered the story of the marriage of the Pharaoh and the daughter of the Hethean King; after signing the first peace treaty in the world between Egypt and Khita.
In the hall of columns, there are eight huge pillars on which is sculpted the statue of Ramses taking the figure Osiris, the God of the Dead. This hall is also known for its northern wall on which is represented the Battle of Kadesh. The southern wall depicts a dazzling scene of the King and his sons attacking the Syrian citadel, and at the bottom we see a shepherd trying to escape the victorious King. Just beside this scene, the King is pictured again holding an enemy in one hand and stabbing him with the other. This scene is somewhat remarkable as the enemy appears to be of the same size as the King while in other scenes enemies were always humiliated by being smaller than the King. The Temple of Abu Simbel contains many other scenes of no less importance than the ones already described – indeed it is worthy of at least one full day’s exploration. Truly this is a temple not to be missed.
Kom-Ombu & Edfu
Edfu was an important city in Upper Egypt, lying on the left bank of the Nile, about 100km south from Luxor. During the reign of the Old State, Edfu (the capital of the second province in Upper Egypt ) enjoyed enormous prosperity. Nowadays, this city is known by its grand temple which was devoted to the worship of the great God of the Heavens falcon 'Horus', the God of Baholt town.
This temple is considered one of the most important religious monuments in Egypt. During the reign of King Ptolomy III (237 B.C. ), the construction of Edfu temple began, yet it was not finished until 57 B.C. because of some intrigues and plots hatched at Thebes at that time.
The length of the temple is 137m, while its width is 79m and its height 376m. Tourists are undoubtedly fascinated by the wonderful condition of the perfectly preserved temple, its buildings, ceilings, halls, etc... are all complete and intact so that one might imagine seeing the priests and their assistants in their snow-white robes wondering here and there.
Furthermore, the temple is surrounded by a number of secondary buildings attached o the temple, such as the 'Mammsi'. It is noteworthy that the temple is characterized by an enormous quantity of inscriptions covering the walls.
Luxor
Luxor is by far the richest area of ancient Egyptian history. It is the modern day city on the ancient site of Thebes, the capital of the New Kingdom. Here, on the East Bank of the Nile, you will find the city of Luxor. The most notable sites are the glorious Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak, The Temple of Luxor is lit at night and is an unforgettable sight. In the evening at the Temple of Karnak there is a Sound & Light show - and it is quite the experience to walk through its columned halls in near darkness and hear the almost haunting sounds of its past.
On the West Bank of the Nile is the famed Valley of the Kings where the tombs of many pharaohs were discovered including King Tut’s. However, there are many other historically significant and magnificent sites on the West Bank. These include the Valley of the Queens, the Colossi of Memnon, and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut – the only woman pharaoh.
Until Napoleon Bonaparte’s expedition in the late 18th century, Luxor was an unknown little village in the province of Qena. Later however, the expedition revealed the importance of the sites in and around Luxor. Since then, the number of tourists visiting the sites has increased enormously.
Although there are daily flights and trains to Luxor most visitors prefer to visit Luxor as part of a cruise down the Nile. Seeing the sites of Upper Egypt while cruising down the Nile has often been described as a journey of a lifetime.
Our tour schedule:
Day 1: Arrive Cairo
Welcome to Egypt! Our representative will meet you to ensure a smooth path through immigration and customs. You have time to explore at your leisure before meeting your Pack2Egypt tour escort and fellow travelers for a welcome drink at the hotel.
Day 2: Cairo/Desert Tour
Full-day outing to Sakkara and Memphis, followed by a visit to the most famous wonderland in the whole world – the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. At 10 pm we catch the overnight train to Aswan.
Day 3: Aswan
Arrive in Aswan, meet and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Full-day excursion around the city visiting the Temple of Philae, the Aswan High Dam, and the Unfinished Obelisk. Overnight in Aswan Hotel.
Day 4: Aswan/Felucca
Join an orientation cruise around Kitchener and Elephantine Islands. Overnight on felucca, sailing to Kom Ombo.
Day 5: Kom Ombo/Felucca
Visit the dual temple of Sobek and Haroeris. Overnight on felucca, sailing to Edfu.
Day 6: Edfu/Luxor (East Bank)
Morning visit to one of the most well-preserved temples in all of Egypt -- dedicated to Horus, the Falcon God. Transfer by local transportation to Luxor, and check-in at the hotel. This afternoon, enjoy a visit to the East Bank of Luxor:
- Luxor Temple;
- Karnak Temple;
Overnight in Luxor hotel.
Day 7: Luxor (West Bank)
Visit the West Bank of Luxor:
- Valley of the Kings;
- Valley of the Queens;
- Temple of Queen Hatshepsut;
- Colossi of Memnon;
Overnight, we travel by train back to Cairo.
Day 8: Cairo/City Tour
Arrive Cairo and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Then we’re off to the Egyptian Museum where most of the fabulous treasures of the Pharaohs are kept. Then we drive to the Citadel - home to Egyptian rulers for nearly 700 years. Later, we explore many attractions in the old Coptic area including the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue (the Jewish Temple). Overnight in Cairo hotel.
Day 9: Depart Cairo
Farewell to Egypt today. Our tour ends after breakfast. Transfer to Cairo International Airport.
Notes:
- All of our tours start everyday, however confirmation in advance is still highly recommended;
- All of our tours can be customized to fit your time, budget, and interests;
- Optional day trips and activities (Add-Ons) are available upon request and include the Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids, shopping at the Khan El-Khalily Market, an excursion to the Fayoum Oasis, and much more;
- All day trips leave in small groups and are accompanied by a professional tour guide;
- There are no time constraints for any of the day trips. The time spent depends only upon our guests’ desires and the official opening/closing times of the sites;
- Additional accommodation nights can be arranged upon request.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
The Tour Includes:
- Transfers from/to the airport;
- All fully-guided tours in Cairo, Giza, Aswan, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Luxor (as per the itinerary) in air-conditioned buses;
- Fluent, English-speaking tour guides throughout your program;
- Two nights on a felucca (oriental sailboat) with all meals included;
- First-class train tickets from Cairo/Aswan and Luxor/Cairo on an air-conditioned Spanish train with reclining seats;
- All accommodations in 3-star hotels in Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor. All rooms have a private bath, air-conditioning, TV, and include breakfast;
- All transfer and pick-up services;
- All service charges and taxes.
The Tour Excludes:
- All the entry fees of the mentioned sites. We do not charge in advance for site entrance fees to add flexibility to your program as you may choose to skip one or more sites depending upon your interests;
- Any items of personal nature such as drinks, phone calls, laundry … etc.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Egypt
Boating and Sailing
Archeology/History
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