GLORY OF EGYPT – 8 nights including Abu Simbel
Cairo, Saqqara, Memphis, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Abu Simbel
includes 4 night luxury Nile Cruise
SATURDAY
Arrive Cairo International Airport
After Passport Control you should proceed to the Luggage Hall where a representative of our agent will meet you, assist you with your luggage and escort you through Customs to your transport. You will be transferred to 5 star Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel, 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. (Instead of the usual 14:00 check in)
The representative will advise you the time you will be collected from the hotel lobby today for the tour when 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
SUNDAY
Today there is a full day tour visiting the Giza Pyramids to see the Great Pyramid, Sphinx and Valley Temple. There will be an opportunity, at your own expense, for you to enter one or other of the pyramids depending on which of them is available for visiting. You will be returned to your hotel for an optional lunch. In the afternoon you have a guided tour of the Egyptian Museum where you will see 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 cruise 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. NB. Cruise itinerary may change in sequence due to navigational circumstances. 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
After an early breakfast on the Nile cruiser you will be transferred by road to Abu Simbel. You will be driven along the ancient caravan route southwards across the desert to Abu Simbel on the banks of Lake Nasser. You will be checked in to the 4 star Seti Abu Simbel Hotel on a full board basis, starting with lunch. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. In the evening you will be driven to the temple area to see the excellent Sound & Light Show at the 2 temples. You will be returned to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
SATURDAY
After breakfast you will visit the great Sun Temple of Ramesses II with the four colossal seated figures of the pharaoh, fronting the temple. You also visit the adjacent Hathor temple of Nefertari, the Chief Wife of Ramesses the Great. Following the visit you will be transferred to Aswan by road and check in at Aswan Airport for the short flight to Cairo. On arrival you will be met by our agent and transferred to Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel, on a bed & breakfast basis. Remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight Cairo. Breakfast
SUNDAY
After breakfast in the hotel there will be a visit to Old Cairo where you will visit the Citadel overlooking Cairo, the Mohammed Aly Alabaster Mosque, the Coptic Hanging Church and the nearby St Sergius Church, followed by a visit to the famous medieval Khan el Khalili Bazaar. You will be returned to your hotel, the remainder of the day is at leisure. You will have your room until the late evening transfer to Cairo International Airport where you will be assisted through the airport formalities for your flight to home. Breakfast.
Costs includes:
http://www.lemeridien-pyramids.com/en/gallery
http://www.touregypt.net/egypt-info/magazine-mag06012001-mag8c.htm
Costs excludes:
