DAY 1 - CAIRO
Arrive any day in Cairo (Subject to cruise and hotel availability)
Compare with the 14 Day edition.
Our Cairo staff greets you and escorts you through the excitement and hubbub of the terminal, and onward to your hotel. Traditional sweets await you, with our compliments. You'll have time to relax and unwind. Visa fee is included & issued upon arrival. Available only to American, Japanese , Canadian, Singaporean & EU citizens, your passport must be valid for at least 6 month beyond the date of arrival.

Private air condition car for your transfer. Private chauffeur
For Hotel upgrade in Cairo : Four Seasons or the Mena House Palace wing / Pyramid's view ( you may mix & match Cairo stay first stay at Four Seasons and return stay Mena House Palace Wing: please add: $393 for your Cairo first stay , rate is per person in double

DAY 2 - CAIRO (aBL)
Private air condition car for your tour today . Private chauffeur .

Your exploration of ancient Egypt begins today! We'll start after breakfast with the Egyptian Museum. Here you'll see the treasures of the ancient pharaohs: Mummies Hall is included , statuary, and precious stones and metals. Travelers have long come to Cairo just to gaze on these sights alone. But there's more, on we go to the Coptic & Jewish ancient quarter.

After lunch Egyptian-style, we'll take you on a leisurely walking tour of the legendary Khan El Khalili old bazaar district, a shopper's dream. We'll go on a treasure hunt ,

DAY 3 - LUXOR - Hotel (B)
Early morning flight to Luxor, ( or Aswan) all transfers are on a private basis, always with an air conditioned car. On to your hotel. You'll tour the charming Luxor Museum . Remainder of the day at leisure. Evening Karnak Sound & Light Show. Hotel : Old Winter Palace Nile view or the Al-Moudira hotel on the West Bank. Please advise us of your preference ( always subject to availability)

DAY 4 - LUXOR / DENDERAH and ABYDOS (BLD)
Breakfast at the hotel . Lunch box provided today from the hotel.
We drive inland to tour Denderah & Abydos Temples. Among the best preserved in Egypt. This temple as a sight to hold. Indiana Jones would have felt at home, with the massive stones & underground passages :

DENDERAH IN A DAY

We'll travel to Denderah to visit the Temple of Hathor, one of the best-preserved in all of Egypt, and also one of the most important. In the ancient beliefs, Hathor was the consort of the god of daylight, ruler of the west, and protector or the underworld. In the manner of wise desert wayfarers, we'll leave before dawn to take advantage of cool temperatures. Our air-conditioned van will take us through timeless Nile-side villages, where life revolves around the irrigation and harvest of crops. Finally, we'll reach the temple precincts. We'll take note of the unusually deep tombs, and pass under the celebrated Zodiac, in a chapel dedicated to Osiris. (Denderah is the traditional site of his rebirth.) Our full day will also include a visit to Abydos, traditional home of Osiris, god of the underworld, and a stopping point on the journey of wayfaring souls. We'll enjoy a box lunch, and return to Luxor late in the afternoon, and your hotel .

DAY 5 - LUXOR - Nile Cruise (BLD)
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, our local rep will assist with your transfer to the Nile Cruise.
A welcome fruit basket awaits you on board your Nile Cruise. Relax, unpack, and settle into your accommodations on board for the next four nights. Then we'll set out overland to visit the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, followed by the mighty Temple of Luxor. We'll return in time for afternoon tea. You'll have a chance to explore your ship before dinner, which tonight features an international buffet.

For guests booking Presidential Suites on board the cruise :
Our guests , receive special consideration . When you reserve your Suite , we will provide you with a private valet to take care of your personal and touring needs, and a private guide / Egyptologist to answer any questions you may have about the wonders around you.

Just for fun, we'll even engage a local fortune - teller , knowledgeable in the mystic secrets of ancient Egypt, to read the future in your palm or your coffee grounds!

DAY 6 - LUXOR/ EDFU (BLD)
We'll cross the Nile to view an array of ancient splendors: the tomb chambers of the Valley of the Kings; the imposing tomb-temple of Queen Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Queens, the Clossi of Memnon .
The Ancient Workers Village at Deir El Medineh, the first known "Workers Village" these were the true creative heroes who built the temples & tombs for the mighty Pharaohs of the Nile Kingdom.

Deir El Medinah is on Luxor's west bank you get a totally different perspective on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers' settlement of Deir el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed and decorated the tombs.

Here we'll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt might not have been a workers' paradise, we'll see that artisans and builders were highly regarded in their community. We are proud to be the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient settlement in its tour and cruise programs.

On to Edfu. Horse-drawn carriages meet us at riverside to take us through Edfu to the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt. Later, we'll cruise to Esna. Relax on deck or on your private terrace, and gaze at timeless Egypt. In the evening, we'll celebrate in Egyptian style, dressed in galabias ( A Galabia will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments), the galabia is the flowing national costume.
While you are on board the cruise, afternoon tea will be served daily on deck.

DAY 7 - EDFU, KOM OMBO, ASWAN (BLD)
At EDFU: Horse-drawn carriages meet us at riverside to take us to the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt. After our visit, we'll re-embark, and enjoy lunch while we proceed upriver. We'll disembark at Kom Ombo to explore the twin temples of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, then continue our voyage to Aswan, while we party after dinner.
Complimentary "Egyptian sweets" platter will be delivered to your cabin today with our compliments.

DAY 8 - ASWAN (BLD)
After breakfast, we'll visit the dams at Aswan, including the High Dam, a modern wonder in this ancient land. At the ancient granite quarry, we'll see an obelisk left unfinished, then board a launch to visit the Temples of Philae, rescued from rising waters , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS .

Our farewell dinner is a buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed by a show featuring oriental performers, including, of course, a belly dancer.

DAY 9 -CAMEL CARAVAN/SAILING BOATS (BLD)
After breakfast on board, we'll have the opportunity to experience Egypt at its most authentic, as we sail the Nile in a graceful Felucca, the age-old sailing vessel of the river. If you wish, try your hand at camel riding! We'll take a traditional caravan to enjoy tea with Nubian villagers. Check-out from the suite is after breakfast. Luggage will be sent to the Old Cataract (subject to availability ), After the tour you return to check-in at the legendary OLD Cataract Hotel , Nile View room .
If the Old Cataract is not available, then we'll use the Mövenpick Elephantine Island.

Afternoon High Tea included on the famous terrace over looking the Nile, where Agatha Christi wrote "Death On the Nile " Remainder of the day at leisure. Make sure you retire to bed early tonight, you leave tomorrow for Abu Simbel before sunrise

DAY 10 - ABU SIMBEL - Ramses the Great - Master Builder of all Times (BL)
Very early breakfast. Abu Simbel We've planned our visit to Abu Simbel to be a highlight of your Egyptian adventure. Rising before dawn, we drive along the shore of Lake Nasser, watching the sky lighten and the sacred sun rise above the horizon. We reach the great temples while the air is clean, clear and cool, and the sun's light still golden;just right for photographs.
In the larger temple, colossal figures of Ramses are seated with the gods and attended by his queen and daughters.
The smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari, who appears as Hathor, the goddess of love, joy and fertility, symbolized by the benevolent cow. We explore these fine temple by ourselves in the quiet of the morning, admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which retire to a comfortable hotel for refreshments, soft drinks , tea and light lunch.
Just as planeloads of visitors arrive to throng the temples we drive back to Abu Simbel Airport to fly back to Aswan and your hotel.

DAY 11 - Aswan / Cairo (B)
After breakfast , we flay back to Cairo , and your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure.

DAY 12 - CAIRO (aBLD)
Private air condition sedan/vehicle and a private guide , today we'll motor to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids on the edge of Cairo.

Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!

Conclude a memorable day as we host you on a Nile dinner cruise complete with exotic Egyptian entertainment.

DAY 13 - CAIRO - El Minya (cBLD)
After breakfast we head to Cairo railway station to board the train for El-Minya about 245 kilometers south of Cairo ( 3-4 hours ride ), yet depending on the season , we may use an air conditioned vehicle.
For Egyptians this provincial capital marks the divide between Upper and Lower Egypt.
This is a special tour to the capital of Nefertiti and Akhenaton kingdom . When they had their bloodless religious revolution , to escape from the ever growing power of the church - then of the might Amon-Ra.

Lunch box will be included from Cairo , with bottled water.
Upon arrival we proceed to tour Beni Hassan ( 20 Kilometers south of Minya ) to tour the ancient tombs necropolis , with an commanding view, a superb location overlooking the Nile Valley and the Nile River.

The tombs are cut into the cliffs , the tombs mostly date from the 11th and 12th dynasties about 2000 years BC. Most of the tombs are unfinished.
When Akhenaton died, the whole capital moved back again to Luxor, and the old powerful grip of Amon-Ra Chief god priests, declared Akhenaton a heretic. And all the work on the tombs in Beni Hassan was abandoned.

We cant guarantee which tomb will be open on any given day , but samples include tombs of Kheti and Amenemhat, then wonder among the desolate ruins of Tel El Amarana the Ancient Capital of the self exiled Pharaoh Akhenaton and his queen : Nefertiti.
Dinner and overnight at 3 stars modest hotel ( there is no 4 or 5 stars accommodation in El Minya). Private touring as usual.

Depending on your comfort level , driving condition , traffic etc, we may have to tour Tuna El Gabal Necropolis tomorrow

Nefertiti Turns Egypt Upside Down!!
The first bloodless religious revolution against the established church in Ancient Egypt
And the seat of power that rested with the priests in Karnak

DAY 14 - El Minya - Cairo (cBLD)
Depending on your comfort level , driving condition , traffic etc, we may tour Tuna El Gabal Necropolis yesterday or today. Before we head back to Cairo by train or private air conditioned vehicle.

DAY 15 - Fayoum Oases (cBL)
We leave Cairo by sunrise ( private air conditioned car/driver/guide): Full day to the Biblical Fayoum Oases including: Hawara Pyramid, El Lahoun Pyramid, Ruins of Karanis, drive by Lake Qarun, lunch is included at a local restaurant. Fayoum irrigation system and the Oasis was said to be designed by Joseph after the Pharaoh entrusted Egypt's fate to him in facing the 7 years of abundance that are followed by 7 years of drought. Return to Cairo late afternoon.

Day 16 - Cairo / Sharm El Sheikh (B)
Breakfast at the hotel before we fly to Sharm El Sheikh . Private air condition car always for your transfers. We'll settle you into your Luxury hotel in Sharm :Renaissance Hotel , Sonesta , Hyatt, The Ritz Hotel or similar.

DAY 17 - MOUNT SINAI - St. CATHERINE ( Santa Katarina / Catarina ) Monastery (BL)
Relax! This is one more day in "Paradise", enjoy the beach the Egyptian sun and maybe fishing , snorkeling or diving in the Red Sea. Or join us on a complimentary tour to Mount Sinai then in the cool before sunrise, we drive into the wilderness of Sinai, through which Moses led his people to the Promised Land. Our goal is the Monastery of St. Catherine, built on the site of the  burning bush  at the base of Mount Sinai. We tour the monastery, rich in history,icons and sacred paintings, returning to Sharm late in the evening. You must be in good physical condition if you wish to consider climbing Mt. Sinai. The climb is not recommended for those affected by heights.

DAY 18 -CAIRO - HOME HOSTED FAMILY DINNER (aBD)
Fly to Cairo remainder of the day in Cairo, at leisure.
You'll have one more opportunity to experience the excitement of this great city and, of course, do some last-minute shopping.
This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo ! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may enjoy dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences. You may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town).

DAY 19 - ALEXANDRIA - (BL)
Conqueror of the Mediterranean Coast - Alexander the Great
In 332 BC, Egypt was laboring under Persian military control when Alexander the Great arrived to drive out the invaders without the shedding of a drop of blood. The Persian governor surrendered and the conquering hero was hailed as a liberator and given Egypt's double crown symbolizing control of Upper and Lower Egypt. Alexander reinstated Egypt's traditional government and founded the city of Alexandria at the country's most important crossroads: where the Nile meets the Mediterranean.

Today, we'll get to known Alexandria in depth, as we visit the Roman Amphitheater, the Koum El Shougafa Tombs,lunch is included in an Alexandrine restaurant.
Helnan Palestine Hotel or El Salamlek Hotel

Octavious visiting Alexander the Great's Tomb in Alexandria just after the Roman Emperor defeated Cleopatra & Marc Anthony.  He left his coat as a token of respect to Alexander the Great.
The search continues for Alexander the Great's Tomb.

DAY 20 - ALEXANDRIA - (BL)
Today our tour includes Qayet Bey Fortress , built on the same site of the ancient wonder of the world : the famous Alexandria Light House.

A brief stop at " El Selsela" the site of the Underwater reserve where Cleopatra Place was discovered, as well as Caesar Kiosk , then its off to the new site for the Alexandria Library before heading back to south. Time permitting we 'll visit the new museum in Alexandria , the building was originally built in 1926 for the US consulate in Alexandria and is a masterpiece in 1920's architecture & Mediterranean style buildings.

The New Alexandria Library

DAY 21 - ALEXANDRIA / Cairo - (BL)
Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch box is included with 2 bottles of water for each guest.
Private car / driver and Egyptologist to Wadi El Natroun, tour the major Coptic Monasteries and churches before we continue on to Cairo . Reach Cairo Late Afternoon and your hotel . Hyatt or the Four Seasons

DAY 22 - DEPARTURE (aB)
Private air condition car for your transfer. Private chauffeur .Our Cairo-based staff escorts you to the airport, where you'll begin your journey home . Salaam and Bon Voyage!
Add and extra day in Cairo ?

This tour starts daily in Cairo , throughout the year. Subject to the availability of the Nile Cruise.

Please note that the Nile vessels and cruise itineraries are subject to change.
Click here for more info on these luxurious cruises: M/S Mojito , Queen TiYi , Royal Lotus or the Radamis II ( Swiss Management) , Moon Goddess all suites with private balconies ,

Moon Goddess ( all state   rooms do offer private balconies)

RATES per person, in deluxe accommodations, in US$:

For travel at Easter, Christmas or New Year's, a 15 percent supplement applies.

Rate includes:

• Compare with the 10 day version  
• Go fishing on Lake Nasser
• extend your stay in Upper Egypt
• Compare with the 24 -Day Edition .
• Add a short stay in an Oases .
• Add Jerusalem .
• Add Petra Jordan
• Add a visit to El Djarrah Cave that was discovered in 1873, and then forgotten for more than 100 years. Even today, few visitors are privileged to penetrate its depths to admire its stalactites and ancient rock art