Explore Egypt: Cair o & Nile River Cruise ( 8days ) Details

Explore Egypt: Cair o & Nile River Cruise ( 8days )

Overview

Highlights

Visit the Valley of the Kings in Luxor where Tutankhamun’ s tomb was unearthed!

Traverse through the Pyramids of Giza, the last remaining wonder of the ancient world.

Cruise the Nile on a 4-night adventure taking you to countless important sites nestled along the river.

Gaze up in wonder at the Temple of Edfu, considered to be one of the most beautiful and preserved temples in Egypt!

Breathe in the heady spices at Cairo's Khan El-Khalil bazaar

Short Description

Discover ancient monuments you've only seen in history books on this 7-night journey to Egypt! In Cairo, fall in

Love with the Great Pyramids of  Giza and the Sphinx, then experience the beauty of  the Nile River on a 4-night Cruise

Trip  Includes

Round-trip economy class airfare to Cairo (CAI)
Round-trip airport transfers for all ights
2 nights in Cairo at the Sheraton Cairo, or similar
Cairo Sightseeing Tour, including the Great Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum & Khan El-Khalili Bazaar (full-day, with lunch)

One-way, economy class ight from Cairo (CAI) to Luxor (LXR)
4-night Nile Cruise onboard the M/S Monaco, or similar (including all meals)
Guided tour of Karnak Temple and Temple of Luxor (half-day)
Guided tour of the West Bank, including Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon
Guided tour of The Temple of Horus (Edfu) and Kom Ombo Temple (Sobek)
Guided Tour of the Aswan High Dam & Philae Temple
Felucca ride in Aswan, around Agha Khan & The Elephantine Island
One-way, economy class flight from Aswan (ASW) to Cairo (CAI)
1 night in Cairo at the Sheraton Cairo, or similar
Sightseeing as indicated, with private, local English-speaking guides

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Cairo

Accommodation: Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino; Conrad Cairo; InterContinental Cairo Semiramis; Fairmont Nile City
Say hello to Egypt's capital, Cairo! Upon arrival, you will be welcomed and assisted through immigration and customs by a representative who will be holding a sign with your name. After transferring to your hotel, enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.
Transfer to Cairo hotel.

Day 2: Cairo

Enjoy a full-day tour taking you to a handful of Cairo's iconic sights including the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
Cairo Sightseeing Tour, including the Great Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum & Khan El-Khalili Bazaar (full-day, with lunch)
Begin your tour at the famous Great Pyramid of Giza! Giza is the main part of a complex that included two mortuary temples in honor of Khufu (one close to the pyramid and one near the Nile), three smaller pyramids for Khufu's wives, an even smaller "satellite" pyramid, a raised causeway connecting the two temples, and small Mastaba tombs surrounding the pyramid for nobles. One of the small pyramids contains the tomb of Queen Hetepheres (discovered in 1925), sister and wife of Snefru, and the mother of Khufu.
The next stop takes you to the Lord of the Sphinx. The word sphinx,  which means "strangler," was first given by the Greeks to a fabulous creature that had the head of a man and the body of a lion.

In Egypt, there are numerous sphinxes, usually with the head of a king wearing his headdress and the body of a lion. The head and face of the sphinx certainly reect a style that belongs to Egypt's old kingdom and to the 4th dynasty in particular.
After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Egyptian Museum. Your Egyptologist will escort you on a fascinating tour of 7,000 years of history, as this famous museum houses the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts (more than 145,000 items on display). Highlights include the famous Tutankhamen collection with its beautiful gold death mask and sarcophagus, and the Royal Mummy Room, which houses an additional eleven Pharaonic dignitaries.
Your final stop takes you to the fascinating Khan El-Khalili Bazaar. Reputed to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East, it was originally founded as a watering stop for Caravanserai in the 14th century. As you wander through the labyrinth of narrow streets, you will nd workshops and stalls selling all kinds of items from woodwork, glassware and leather goods to perfume, fabrics and Pharaonic curiosities.

Day 3: Cairo - Nile River Cruise

Accommodation: MS Monaco; MS Zen Mojito; MS Monte Carlo
Today, transfer to Cairo airport for your ight to Luxor. Upon arrival in Luxor, meet a representative and transfer to your Nile Cruise. Settle into your room and enjoy lunch on board. After lunch, enjoy a half-day tour taking you to the Karnak and Luxor temples!
Transfer to Cairo airport (CAI)
Fly to Luxor!
Transfer to cruise ship
Guided tour of Karnak Temple and Temple of Luxor (half-day)
Discover Karnak, a great temple of Amon Ra known during the Middle Kingdom period as Ipt-Swt, which means the Selected Spot. It was also called Pr-Imn, which means the House of Amon. At the entrance, you will nd a ram-headed avenue of Sphinxes, which was built to protect the Temple. There are 20 rams on each side, and as you cross this pylon, it takes you into an Open court, whose dimensions are 325-feet long by 250-feet wide, built during the 22nd Dynasty, and containing rows of bud papyrus columns.
You'll then head to the Temple of Luxor, among the most beautiful temples in Egypt. It was known in the New Kingdom period as Ipt-Rsyt, which means the southern shrine (This was to differentiate between this Temple and Karnak Temple, which was the northern house of Amon Ra). The temple runs close and parallels the river Nile from north to south, and it was constructed on the site of a small temple of Amon, built by kings of the 12th dynasty.
Day 4. Nile River Cruise
Wake up to the glittering Nile River, enjoy breakfast on board, then take a tour of the Valley of the Kings, the temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Return to the ship for lunch as you sail towards Edfu.
Guided tour of the West Bank, including Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon
Enjoy a tour of the West Bank! Your rst stop is the Valley of the Kings. The rst king of the New Kingdom, Ahmose of the 18th Dynasty, built a pyramid-like structure at Abydos, which may or may not have been his original tomb. The Valley, known as Biban el-Muluk, "doorway or gateway of the kings," or, the Wadyein, meaning "the two valleys," is actually composed of two separate branches. The main eastern branch, called TA set aat, or "The Great Place," is where most of the royal tombs are located, and in the larger, The Valley is hidden from sight, behind the cliffs, which form the backdrop to the temple complex of Deir el-Bahari.
Next stop: the Temple of Hatshepsut! The mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the Queen’s architect, Senenmut, designed it and set it at the head of a valley overshadowed by the Peak of the Thebes, the "Lover of Silence," where lived the goddess who presided over the necropolis. His daughter became pharaoh, her father Tutmose I circulated the legend that the God Amon became the father of Hatshepsut and therefore she is half a God. She was married twice unfortunately and her second husband and stepbrother Tutmose III hated her so much that he had all pictures and inscriptions of her destroyed after she died.
Your nal stop brings you to the Colossi of Memnon. These two, gigantic gures of Amenhotep III were originally situated in front of his Mortuary temple which was destroyed for unknown reasons. The two colossi are made of sandstone, which during ancient times was brought from Gabal El Silselah. Each colossus, including the pedestal and the crown, is about 70-feet tall and represents King Amenhotep III seated on his throne, wearing the Nimes, or royal headdress, with the divine cobra protecting his forehead.

Day 5: Nile River Cruise

Today, visit the Temple of Edfu, the most well-preserved temple of Ancient Egypt, renowned for its gigantic pylons. You'll also visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god, and Horus the falcon-headed god. After your tour, have lunch on board and sail to Aswan.
Guided tour of The Temple of Horus (Edfu) and Kom Ombo Temple (Sobek)
On this tour, visit the Temple of Edfu and Kom Ombo Temple. Edfu was the 2nd Nome of Upper Egypt and the center of the cult of a triad of Gods, which consisted of Horus of Behdet, Hathor, and their son, Hor-Sama-Tawy. Edfu was known as “Apollo polis Magna” because the Greeks identied Horus with their God Apollo. Construction began during the reign of Ptolemy III (about 237 BC) and was nished during the reign of Ptolemy IV .
You'll then sail to Kom Ombo and visit Kom Ombo Temple. The temple is unique in one respect: it is dedicated to two gods, and the entire temple holds two perfectly symmetrical sections. The sanctuary to the left is dedicated to the falcon-headed sky god Harwer (also written Haroeris), or Horus the elder and his family.

Day 6: Nile River Cruise

In Aswan, explore the High Dam, constructed in the 1960s to tame the mighty waters of the Nile, and Philae Temple, one of Nubia's most important monument sites. You'll also get to experience sailing on a felucca, a traditional sailboat used on the Nile.
Guided Tour of the Aswan High Dam & Philae Temple
Located near Aswan, the world famous High Dam was an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960s. It contains 18 times the material used in the Great Pyramid of Cheops. The Dam is 11,811 feet long, 3215 feet thick at the base and 364 feet tall.
You'll then visit Philae Temple, dedicated to Goddess Isis and constructed on the beautiful island of Philae. Philae the modern day name is Greek but the ancient Egyptians called the island P-aaleq which amongst other denitions has the dual meaning of "end" and "creation."
Felucca ride in Aswan, around Agha Khan & The Elephantine Island
Enjoy a relaxing ride on a felucca, a traditional sailboat found on Egypt's Nile. Feel the river breeze as you sail around Elephantine, an island forming part of the city of Aswan, and the Mausoleum of Aga Khan.

Day 7: Nile River Cruise – Cairo

Your Egypt vacation ends today. At the appropriate time, you'll be transferred to Cairo airport for your ight home.
Transfer to Cairo airport (CAI)
Fly home.

Details

Flights & Transport
Only ground transport
Group Size:
Intimate Group - 12 max

Meals Included:

8 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 4 Dinners