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DAY 1: ARRIVE CAIRO Arrive today on your international flight into Cairo airport where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. DAY 2: CAIRO Depart this morning by private car with a guide to Giza, home of the 4,000 year old Great Pyramids. Tour around these wonders of the world and learn the history and intrigue behind their creation. Lunch is included today at the Mena House Hotel, conveniently located at the foot of the Great Pyramids. Next drive to the Pyramids of Saqqara. Here you will see Zoser's famous Step Pyramid whose facade sharply contrasts the Giza Pyramids. After wandering around the funerary complexes make a final stop at Dahshur. Here you will have the opportunity to see the Red Pyramid, the world's oldest true pyramid and the Bent Pyramid. At the end of the day return to your hotel for a night at leisure. (B,L) DAY 3: CAIRO Today you will begin with a tour of the National Egyptian Museum which houses Ancient Egypt's most precious artifacts and remains. After a few hours here head for a monument that beckons Egypt's Islamic past in the modern streets of this cosmopolitan city. The Citadel, located near the Moqattam Hills contains the Mosque of Mohammed Ali, dedicated to the ruler who chased Napoleon and his troops out of Egypt in 1801. Stroll around the area and visit the Mosque of Al-Nasir Mohammed, the Citadel's sole surviving Mameluk mosque. Later walk along Sharia Mohammed Ali Street and visit two more mosques which represent the artistic and architectural grandeur of Medieval Egypt. First enter the Mosque of Sultan Hassan, a fine piece of early Mameluk architecture and also visit the Mosque of Al-Refai. The latter houses the tombs of the Shah of Iran as well as Farouk, Egypt's last King. Lunch is included today at Arabesque restaurant. Return to your hotel this evening. (B,L) *Tonight you will have the option of attending the Sound & Light Show at the Great Pyramids. In an enchanting atmosphere, with sound, light, and music, the show captivates audiences and re-lives the history of the Pyramids and the glory of the Pharaohs. DAY 4: ALEXANDRIA DAY TRIP This morning depart by private car about two hours north to the ancient Mediterranean city of Alexandria. Once the capital of the Hellenistic world, this port city is a legend of the past. Start your sightseeing by visiting the Greco-Roman Museum, which contains status, bas reliefs, pottery, jewelry, marble pieces and other artifacts, all of which give you a picture of the grandeur of Alexandria in its Greek and Roman days. Then journey on to Fort of Qaitbay, erected on the northern tip of the Eastern Port on the site of the ancient Pharos of Alexandria. The fort design is influenced by both medieval architecture and by the lighthouse original layout. The fort also houses the Naval Museum. Continue your tour to the Catacombs of Kom-El-Shouqafa. These tombs are remarkable for their unusual mixture of art styles, sculpture, and reliefs which are images of Egyptian gods. Continue your tour to visit Pompey's Pillar which is a column 98 feet high and 7 feet thick, made of Aswan rose granite erected in 297 A.D. Our last stop will explore old and gracious Montazah Palace, built on a low plateau east of Alexandria and overlooking a beautiful beach, set amongst gardens and woods. The palace comprises a number of buildings, the most important of which are Al-Haramlek and Al-Salamlek, the summer residence of the former royal family. Lunch is included today at a local Alexandrian seafood restaurant. Drive back later tonight to Cairo and enjoy the rest of your evening at leisure. (B,L) DAY 5: CAIRO Today you will drive to the area of Coptic Cairo, the heartland of Cairo's Christian community. Linked by narrow cobbled streets and amazingly shielded from the noise of Cairo's streets, this area has changed very little over the centuries. The end of Ancient Egyptian culture and practices was succeeded with the advent of Christianity. Spreading throughout the Nile River Valley and beyond, the religion had become dominant in the early part of this millennium. Today there are many Christian churches all over Egypt, but the most impressive area of collective old Coptic churches is the area known as Mare Guirgis in Old Cairo. Visit the 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. Visit the 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. Continue to the Coptic Museum: its exhibits cover Egypt's Christian era between 300 and 1000 AD. This stunning collection includes religious and secular stonework, manuscripts, woodwork, metalwork, paintings and pottery. Also visit the Ben Ezra Synagogue, Egypt's oldest remaining synagogue dating back to the 9th Century.After lunch, shop around the grand bazaar of Khan El Khalili where you may purchase endless varieties of spices, clothing, souvenirs and jewelry. In this area you will also visit Al-Azhar Mosque and University, the Islamic world's oldest surviving university and still a central institute of learning for the Islamic world. Lunch is included today at the legendary Mahfouz Restaurant at Khan El Khalili. (B,L) DAY 6: CAIRO - ABU SIMBEL - ASWAN This morning you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Abu Simbel via Aswan. Upon arrival transfer to the Abu Simbel Temples, one of the most striking legacies of Ancient Egypt. This site, a series of temples and monuments dedicated to the great Pharaoh Ramses II was relocated after the creation of the Aswan Dam in the 1960's. The entire complex of temples was moved to its present location ninety feet above its old site to protect it from the rising waters of the Nile. After touring here, transfer to the airport for your short flight to Aswan. Upon arrival in Aswan you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. (B) DAY 7: ASWAN Begin your day early by visiting the Nubian Museum, the newest museum in Egypt. It was opened in 1998 and is the first museum to commemorate the rich Nubian culture. The museum features Nubian artifacts, weapons, pottery, utensils, paintings, and sculptures. Furthermore, it offers a show of Nubian dance and music. From there, journey on to the Monastery of St. Simeon, also known as Deir Saaman. This monastery was founded in the 7th century, but was destroyed; the present-day Monastery dates from the 10th century. The building consists of two levels and a surrounding six-meter-high wall, giving it the look of a military fortress. A flight of steps from inside the church leads to the upper floor, which holds the sleeping quarters. It is one of the best-preserved monasteries in Egypt and is worth a visit. This evening is at leisure to enjoy the local market in Aswan. (B) DAY 8: ASWAN After breakfast you will be transferred to your Nile Cruiser. You will enjoy lunch on board before sailing by felucca around Kitchener's Island and the Agha Khan Mausoleum. This evening you will enjoy dinner on board with a Nubian folkloric show. Overnight in Aswan on your cruise. (B,L,D). *All meals are included for the duration of you cruise. DAY 9: ASWAN - KOM OMBO - EDFU Enjoy breakfast on board and visit the Old Dam of Aswan, now dwarfed by the New High Dam completed in 1971 to control the flooding of the Nile. Then visit the Granite Quarries where an immense, unfinished Obelisk illustrates the magnitude of the ancient Egyptian skill. Also visit the Temple of Philae dedicated to the world's most Famous Goddess, Isis, and also represents three great civilizations - Egyptian, Greek and Roman. The first stop on your Nile cruise will be to Kom Ombo where you will have lunch on board. Visit the Kom Ombo Temple which is dedicated to the hawk-headed god, Harwar and the crocodile god, Sobek. The second stop on the river will be to Edfu. Here you will have dinner on board and enjoy the serene night by the water. (B,L,D) DAY 10: EDFU - ESNA - LUXOR After breakfast on board, visit the Temple of falcon-headed God, Horus - one of the finest examples of Ptolemaic art in Egypt. Next you will sail to Esna and visit the Temple of Khnum. Work on this Ptolemaic temple started about 180 B.C., but it appears that an earlier temple was constructed by Thutmos III in 1500 B.C. on the same site. At the end of the day sail to Luxor. In the evening you will enjoy dinner on board and a traditional "Galabaya" party. (B,L,D) DAY 11: LUXOR After breakfast on board, visit the famed Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens and Temple of Queen Hatshepsut where her Divine Birth Novels can be Seen on the Walls of Her Temple and the two Singing Statues of King Aminophis III known as the Colossi of Memnon facing the Nile. Lunch on board. Enjoy dinner on board and a belly dance show. (B/L/D) Tonight you will have the option of attending the Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple or you may visit the Luxor souq or marketplace. DAY 12: LUXOR - CAIRO Disembark after breakfast and transfer to your hotel. Visit the Temple of Karnak whose gate was built by Ptolemy III and is still in almost perfect condition. Also view the Temple of the Avenue Sphinxes. Then explore the famous Luxor Temple in the heart of the city rediscovered less than a century ago. In the afternoon transfer to Luxor airport for your flight to back to Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (B) DAY 13: CAIRO Spend this day at leisure to see some last minute sights or shopping before departing from Egypt. (B) DAY 14: DEPART CAIRO Today you will be met by our representative and transferred to Cairo airport where you will be helped with your check-in and immigration formalities for your flight back home. (B) |