GLORY OF EGYPT – 6 nights (optional Abu Simbel extension)
Cairo, Saqqara, Memphis, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan,
incudes 4 night luxury Nile Cruise
Abu Simbel – optional extension.
SATURDAY
On arrival at Cairo International Airport, you will be met by our Cairo agent and transferred to your 5 star hotel Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel, situated close to the pyramids, on a bed & breakfast basis. You have your room and breakfast on early morning arrival instead of the usual 14:00. In the early afternoon you will visit Old Cairo where you will visit the Citadel overlooking the city of Cairo, Mohammed Aly Alabaster Mosque, Coptic Hanging Church, St Sergius Church and the famous medieval Khan El Khalili Bazaar. Overnight Cairo. Breakfast
SUNDAY
This morning, after breakfast, there will be a full day guided tour visiting the incredible Pyramids at Giza, the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple. Optional lunch at your expense. This afternoon there will be a visit to the famous Egyptian Museum which houses the fabulous gold treasures of the boy-king Tutankhamun and an antiquities collection spanning 5000 years. Overnight Cairo. Breakfast
MONDAY
After breakfast you check-out from your hotel and will be transferred to Cairo Airport for the short flight south to the bustling town of Luxor. On arrival in Luxor, you will be met by our local agent and transferred to your 5-star deluxe Opera Nile cruiser for a memorable 4 night Nile cruise to Aswan, on a full board basis starting with lunch and including all sightseeing during the cruise. There will be a tour of the fantastic 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. Overnight Luxor. Breakfast, lunch, dinner
TUESDAY
This morning you will cross the Nile by road to the West Bank to visit the tombs of the pharaohs in the atmospheric Valley of the Kings which is a World Heritage 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.
Today your Nile cruiser will sail on the magical Nile to Esna, where it will pass through the lock and continue sailing south to the dusty town of Edfu where you visit the colossal and awe-inspiring Temple of Horus at Edfu by horse carriage from the ship - this is the most complete temple of the ancient world. Overnight Edfu. Breakfast, lunch, dinner
WEDNESDAY
Today 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.. Overnight Aswan. Breakfast, lunch, dinner
THURSDAY
After breakfast, you travel by road 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 will disembark from your Nile cruiser and will be transferred to Aswan Airport for your flight to Cairo connecting with your flight to home Breakfas
OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO ABU SIMBEL
FRIDAY This morning you will disembark from your Nile cruiser and will be transferred by private vehicle to Abu Simbel, travelling through the desert on the ancient caravan route to Abu Simbel where you will be checked in to the 4 star Seti Abu Simbel Hotel on the banks of Lake Nasser – you are booked on a full board basis starting with lunch. The remainder of the day is at leisure until the early evening transfer to the temple site at Abu Simbel to see the fabulous Sound & Light Show. You will be transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight. Breakfast, lunch, dinner
SATURDAY
Either this morning or yesterday afternoon (depending on your return flights home) you will visit the iconic Sun Temple of Ramesses the Great fronted by the four colossal seated statues of Ramesses and the adjacent Hathor temple dedicated to his Chief Wife Nefertari.
You will return to Aswan by road where you will have lunch (included) at a local restaurant. Later you will take the flight from Aswan to Cairo, connecting with your flight Cairo to home. Breakfast, lunch.
TOUR COST INCLUDES:
TOUR COST EXCLUDES:
Hotels used, or similar
http://www.lemeridien-pyramids.com/en/gallery
http://www.msnileoperacom