Day 1:Arrive in Cairo - meet and greet and transfer to hotel.
Day 2: Breakfast, then an introduction to the Egyptian museum, this unique collection holds some 140 thousand pieces. Learn of the Rosetta Stone, visit the Akhanaten room and see the precious artifacts of King Tut in the room of treasures. Wander around the world of Gold. (2-3 hours guided the rest of the time on your own to explore the museum)
We take a break between visits for lunch in the busy Liberation square. Return to the Hotel to freshen up before heading for a Nile Dinner Cruise with an Egyptian folkloric show. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Breakfast, Today we explore the great Pyramids. We stop in the Plateau in front of the great pyramid, built by Cheops and tell you of the legends and historical facts. From here we proceed to see the panoramic view of the 3 pyramids all together, time for picture taking.
Then onto the national crumbling image, the Sphinx, and the valley temple or the granite temple of Cheops. Time to wander on your own or take an optional camel ride.
Day 4: Breakfast, then we head for the Step Pyramid at Sakkara, the first ever built in Egypt. Learn about the genius of its architecture Imhoteb. Then to Memphis to see the ruins of the oldest capital of Egypt, or the city of white walls, there you will see a great Statue of Ramses one of the most beautiful pieces of sculpture in Egypt.
Onto Dahshur to visit the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid.(B,L,D) (Flight and Hotel upgrade $150 US per person)
Day 5: Breakfast, Arrive in Aswan.
Later we visit the Nubian Museum, the most modern in Egypt with its local Nubian design and special landscape.
This evening take a walk around this quaint city with its market street where odors of peanuts and spices greet you. Your guide will assist with information on places of interest.
Day 6: An early flight and boxed breakfast for the Abu Simbul Temple, the Statue of Liberty of Egypt within its African borders. Visit the temples of Ramses and Nefertari before returning to Aswan around 1 p.m.
Check in to your cruise ship for late lunch. Later sail by "felucca" (local sailing boat) to Elephantine Island, see the Mausoleum of Agha-Khan from the Nile and visit the Botanical Gardens. Dinner and overnight onboard ship. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Breakfast, then we visit the Unfinished Obelisk in the ancient granite quarries, and the High Dam, and the romantic temple of Philae before Lunch. Then the cruise departs for Luxor. Stop enroute to visit the Ptolemic Temple of Kom-Ombo, which was dedicated to two gods: the crocodile God Sobek and the falcon-headed God Horus. Dinner and overnight on board.(B,L,D)
Day 8: Breakfast, then visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu via a carriage ride from the cruise ship. Visit the best preserved Egyptian Temple in existence. Lunch onboard. Continue your cruise to Luxor. Dinner and overnight onboard ship.(B,L,D)
Day 9: Breakfast, then we cross the Nile to the West Bank to visit the necropolis of Ancient Thebes. Explore the Valleys of the Kings where tombs of 64 Pharaohs were discovered. Visit to three tombs - the Tombs are rotated so you will be able to choose from those open.
Onto the Temple of Queen Hatshipsuit and the Colossi of Memnon. Lunch. Then visit the very large Temple of Ramses III known as Medinet Habu which depicts the battle reliefs on the exterior of the temple. Dinner on board ship. (B,L,D)
Day 10: After breakfast we check out of the Cruise ship and transfer to your Hotel. Today we visit the East bank, including the Temple of Luxor, which was started by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramses II and the Temple of Karnak, which took over 1500 years to build and is considered the world's largest religious complex. Tonight see the magnificent Sound and Light Show in Karnak. (B)
Day 11: Breakfast, then we take off for the day to visit the Temple of Dendera whose construction was initiated by the Ptolemies. Dendara is dedicated to Hathor, the Cow Goddess, known as "The Golden One". (150 km North of Luxor) Then proceed further north to the Abydos Temple before returning to Luxor. (B). (3-4 hours each way by road)
Day 12: Today we take an early morning extended Horse or Camel ride through old Gourna to see the very special way of living in a typical Egyptian village. Lunch in a local village restaurant before continuing your tour visiting the Tombs of the Nobles, many of which are vividly painted with naturalistic scenes of agriculture, fishing, fowling, feasting and junketing. Rest of day at leisure.(B,L)
Day 13: Luxor to Hurghada - Luxor Museum and Mummification Museum - travel by air-conditioned vechicle to Hurghada a resort city on the Red Sea. Rest of day at leisure. (B) (3-4hours drive)
Day 14: Hurghada - A visit to an Island by boat - snorkeling, diving, swimming or just view from the boat - see the Dolphins, the birds and nature of the Red Sea. A stop on the Island and see the white sand with its famous healing qualities, light lunch aboard the boat. Later visit an Arabian Folkloric show with costumes and music through the ages. Alf Leila Wa Leila (one thousand and one nights)(B,L)
Day 15: Hurghada – A daytrip by 4x4 to a Safari Camp to meet with the Bedouins in the desert and see the sunset and enjoy local food and entertainment. (B,L,D)
Day 16: Hurghada - Day at leisure. (B)
Day 17: Breakfast, then transfer to Cairo for overnight. (B) (6-7 hours drive - flight upgrade $120 US per person)
Day 18: After Breakfast – Today we visit Islamic Cairo - the Citadel, Mohammed Ali mosque, the green Mosque, visit the palace, see the Old Gates, old Cairo and visit to Coptic Cairo to see some of the oldest churches in the world, and retrace the steps of Mary and Joseph when they fled with baby Jesus from the wrath of Herod. Visit the world famous Khan El Khalili Bazaar, where you will find a large variety of local souvenirs, (B,L)
Day 19: After Breakfast we drive to St. Catherine's (approx 7 hours) and take an early dinner and rest in preparation for a night hike up Mount Sinai for those who wish to climb to the top of the mountain to see the famous sunrise) (B,D)
Day 20: A visit to the Monastery and then breakfast before returning to Cairo with stops at Moses Springs and a Military museum in the desert.
Some of your highlights will be the actual bush, a shrub that grows nowhere else in the world; the Chapel of the Burning Bush; and the well where Moses is said to have seen the daughters of Jethro tending sheep.
The monastery owns more than 2,000 Byzantine icons, the world's largest and finest collection of these paintings, many of which are displayed in the main Church of the Transfiguration. The monastery also has a priceless collection of more than 4,500 manuscripts, including the world's second oldest Bible. (B)
Day 21: After Breakfast depart for Fayyoum one of Egypt’s biggest and most beautiful oases. See green in middle of the desert, water mills, the natural lakes and Water falls and the white crystal desert. (B,L)
Day 22: Breakfast – Today we leave for Alexandria - drive from Cairo to St. Bishoi Monastery. (Approx 3-4 hours) We continue on to El Alamein. The site of the famous battle between the axis and allies during Second World War, visit the military museum and several war monuments. Overnight in Alexandria. (B)
Day 23: After Breakfast we start our tour of Alexandria - visit the Roman Amphitheater which is the only known amphitheater from the Roman era in Egypt. Then a visit to the catacombs of Kom-el-Shouqafa. Onto the National Museum, then visit the Citadel where what is believed to be the remains of the lighthouse and Cleopatra’s Palace have been found beneath the Sea. Finally visit the Bibliotheca (new library) (B,L) (return to Cairo 3 hours drive)
Day 24: Today we continue our visit of Cairo. We visit the Cairo tower with option to ride to the top to see a panaromic view of the city, and a visit to modern Opera House,
this afternoon visit the Geyer Anderson House Museum. (B)
Day 25: Visit the Pharoanic Village which will help you pull all your tour together - let them show you how the pyramids were built and how mummies are prepared, and see the replcia of King Tut's Tomb. (B,L)
Day 26: Breakfast - today is a day of leisure to revisit sites or do some last minute shopping - Evening Light and sound show at Giza.(B)
Day 27: Airport Transfer.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Egypt
Museum Tours
Archeology/History
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