EGYPTIAN ODYSSEY
Cairo, Saqqara, Memphis, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan,
Dendera, Abydos, Abu Simbel – incudes luxury 4 night Nile Cruise
TUESDAY
Arrive Cairo International Airport early morning when you will be met by a representative of our excellent agent who will assist you with your luggage and arrange your transfer to the 5 star Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel (garden view room), or similar, situated close to the pyramids, where you are booked on a bed & breakfast basis.
You will have your room on early arrival and can take breakfast.
After time to relax and refresh, you will enjoy a half day tour visiting Old Cairo and the Citadel overlooking the city, Mohammed Aly Mosque, Coptic St Sergius Church and the Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue and the famous medieval Khan el Khalili Bazaar. Overnight Cairo.
Breakfast
WEDNESDAY
Today there is a full day tour to the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Valley Temple. You will see the Great Pyramid and associated pyramids with the opportunity of entering one or other of the pyramids depending on availability. You also see the extraordinary Sun or Solar Boat of Khufu.
Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you will be driven out of Cairo to the site of the ancient capital of Memphis where you will see the fallen colossus of Ramesses and other ancient sculptures. Afterwards you will visit the fascinating desert site of Saqqara where you can see the Step Pyramid, the first-ever pyramid and the vast funerary enclosure of pharaoh Djoser (c. 2600 BCE). You will also visit an Old Kingdom mastaba tomb Overnight Cairo. Breakfast, lunch
THURSDAY
This morning there is a visit to the wonderful Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, where you will see the fabulous gold treasures of the boy-king Tutankhamun and an antiquities collection spanning 5,000 years. The remainder of the day is at leisure - you might like to spend more time in the museum, visit the Cairo Tower or do some shopping and explore Cairo. Overnight Cairo.
Breakfast
FRIDAY
After breakfast you check out of the hotel and transfer to Cairo Airport for the short flight to Luxor (Flight not included) where you will be met by our local agent and transferred to the 5 star riverside Sonesta St George Hotel, or similar, where you are booked on a bed & breakfast basis. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Luxor or enjoy the facilities of the hotel and the Nile. Overnight Luxor. Breakfast
SATURDAY
After a leisurely breakfast you will cross the Nile by the road-bridge to the West Bank to visit the huge temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu – this temple is second only to Karnak. Also there is a visit the memorial or funerary temple of Ramesses II (the Great) called the Ramesseum – it was this temple that inspired Percy Bysshe Shelley to write his famous poem Ozymandias.
There will be a tour to the Valley of the Queens where you will see incredible tomb paintings with colours as fresh as the day they were painted thousands of years ago. Also you visit the famous village of the tomb-workers at Deir el Medina with more astonishing tombs.
The afternoon is at leisure when you could visit the excellent Luxor Museum, have a preliminary visit to the massive Karnak Temple complex, visit the bazaars, sail on a felucca, or just relax. Overnight Luxor. Breakfast.
SUNDAY
Today there is a full day tour when you take a box lunch from your hotel and drive along the Nile Valley passing through villages and towns along the Nile valley to Abydos to visit the almost complete temple built by Seti I and after his death completed by his son Ramesses II. This temple is magnificent with its seven sanctuaries, and the finest limestone reliefs to be seen anywhere in Egypt – and there is also the mystifying Osireion at the rear of the temple.
The tour continues to another superb temple at Dendera dedicated to the goddess Hathor, one of the most popular deities with her association with love, music and intoxication! This Graeco-Roman temple displays intriguing architectural features including a mysterious crypt. You return to your hotel for a relaxing evening and overnight in Luxor. Breakfast, lunch
MONDAY
After breakfast you check out of the hotel and will be transferred to you 5 star deluxe Nile cruiser M/S Nile Opera or similar, for a memorable 4 night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan on a full board basis commencing with lunch.
Today there will be a tour of Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex in the world with its forest of pillars, sacred lake, obelisks and massive reliefs and you will also visit the majestic riverside Luxor Temple. Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cruise itinerary may change in sequence due to navigational circumstances.
TUESDAY
Following breakfast you will travel by road to cross the Nile to the West Bank and visit the tombs of the great pharaohs in the famous Valley of the Kings, a World Heritage site. There will be the opportunity to visit 3 tombs and, if open, Tutankhamun’s tomb for which there is a separate charge at the site. You also visit the great terraced temple of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri and the Colossi of Memnon – giant statues of Amenhotep III.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
WEDNESDAY
The Nile cruiser will sail southwards to Esna, where it passes through the lock and continue sailing south to the dusty town of Edfu where you visit the colossal Temple of Horus by horse carriage from the ship - this is the most complete temple of the ancient world. Your cruise continues sailing to Kom Ombo, where it will moor, enabling you to visit the Ptolemaic temple with its dual dedication to the crocodile god Sobek and a falcon-headed god Re-Haroeris. The cruise continues southwards until you reach the picturesque town of Aswan.
During the cruise there is likely to be a traditional gallabiya party when everyone dresses Egyptian-style. Items can be obtained inexpensively in the markets or sometimes hired on the boat. Overnight Aswan.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
THURSDAY
After breakfast, you travel by road for a very short time to visit the famous Aswan High Dam which forms the 500km. long Lake Nasser and visit the ancient granite quarry with its 1,000 ton Unfinished Obelisk. Also, you cross the water by motor-boat to visit the elegant island Temple of Philae, dedicated to the supreme maternal goddess Isis. In the afternoon, sailing on a traditional felucca on the Nile, you will view Elephantine and Kitchener's Islands and the Aga Khan's Mausoleum from the river. Overnight Aswan. Breakfast, lunch, dinner
FRIDAY
This morning you say goodbye to your Nile cruiser after breakfast and transfer by road along the ancient caravan route across the desert to Abu Simbel on Lake Nasser.
On arrival at Abu Simbel you will be transferred to the Seti First Abu Simbel Hotel where you are booked on a full board basis starting with lunch.
The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the hotel on the banks of Lake Nasser.
In the early evening you will be taken to see the fascinating Sound & Light Show at the temples of Abu Simbel. After the show you will be returned to the hotel for dinner. Overnight Abu Simbel. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
SATURDAY
This morning you will visit the magnificent and iconic Sun Temple of Ramesses the Great with its four colossal figures of the seated pharaoh facing the rising sun. Also you visit the adjacent temple dedicated to Ramesses' Chief Wife, the beautiful and much-loved Nefertari. Following the visits to these two temples you will be transferred by road to Aswan Airport for your flight to Cairo. (Flight not included) On arrival in Cairo you will be transferred to the Le Passage Airport Hotel, or similar, where you are booked on a short day booking basis (no meals included) enabling you to freshen up, until your evening transfer to Cairo International Airport where you will be assisted through the airport formalities for your flight to home. Breakfast.
TOUR COST INCLUDES:
HOTELS, or similar
http://www.lemeridien-pyramids.com/en/gallery
http://www.msnileopera.com/
https://www.sonesta.com/eg/luxor/sonesta-st-george-hotel-luxor
http://www.touregypt.net/egypt-info/magazine-mag06012001-mag8c.htm
TOUR COST EXCLUDES:
