The ultimate version of an Egyptian adventure. You'll journey in Egypt in the comfort of business class, enjoy the deluxe Nile Cruise Yacht and Dahabiya accommodation , on this upscale package. Weekly . Year Round

DAY 1 - CAIRO - Tuesday - Weekly - Year Round

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

Visa will be issued upon arrival.
As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two , down some stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes , until you pass the duty free shops, at the end of a wide corridor , you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding a sign with the name you prefer to use for the sign . Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs . After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel

DAY 2 - CAIRO - GIZA - PRIVATE TOURING - Wednesday (BL)
Private air condition car for your tour today . Private chauffeur .
Your exploration of ancient Egypt begins today! We'll start after breakfast with Giza.
We'll motor to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids on the edge of Cairo. Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice! After lunch at Mena House , we head for Memphis , Sakkara , the Step Pyramid and the Nobles Mastabas. We stop at Haraniya village on our way back to Cairo .

Please click here for the Dahabias Photo Gallery - All are available for private charter

DAY 3 - CAIRO- Private Touring: Thursday (BL)
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, including King Tut's Golden Treasure Hall and the : Mummies Hall , statuary, and precious stones and metals. Travelers have long come to Cairo just to gaze on these sights alone. But there's more, after lunch Egyptian-style, on we go to the medieval part of Cairo , Saladin's Citadel, the Rifai and Alabaster mosque . We'll break for lunch at Naguib Mahfouz restaurant, then take you on a leisurely tour , including a walking tour of the legendary Khan El Khalili ancient bazaar district, a shopper's dream , after which we bring you back to the hotel.

DAY 4 - Fayoum Oases - Friday (BL)
Private Desert Caravan Desert Safari to Fayoum Oases for the Day
The wilds of the desert begin right on the outskirts of Cairo, and continue for hundreds of miles to the east and west, through sands, rock, mountains, oases, and a surprising variety of scenery and inhabitants.
Join us for a day ranging across the desert like modern nomads. In place of camels, we’ll travel in comfortable, reliable four-by-four Toyota Land Cruisers. Your guide and drivers will meet you at your hotel, and soon you’ll leave bustling Cairo behind as you undertake the drive toward the Oasis of El Fayoum, 150 kilometers to the southwest. Hard as it is to believe, a great inland sea once covered these sands. It was a holy reserve of sacred crocodiles, symbolized by the god Sobek.
We’ll visit the temple of Kom Oshim, drive over ancient lake beds, and alongside the waters of today’s Fayoum Lake to reach the fishermen’s village of Chak Chouk. There we’ll stop for a lunch of fish caught fresh that morning. There will be time to wander the village lanes and discreetly watch the everyday activities of baking flatbread, irrigating crops from the lake’s waters, and bringing in the catch. We’ll also include the craft and pottery museum where the best works of local artisans are on display.
Then it’s into our four-by-fours again, for an off-road adventure! We’ll head alongside and across desert washes, between dunes, and over ancient lake beds for 35 kilometers to the Valley of the Whales. Incredibly, these great mammals once thrived in waters surrounded by sands. We’ll stop and gaze in amazement at their fossilized remains alongside smaller sea creatures that remain in stone. In the evening, you’ll return to your hotel in Cairo.
Private Land transportation in air-conditioned four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser
Services of a private guide and English-speaking driver . Lunch at a local restaurant including one large bottle of water and tea or coffle for each guest

Day 5 - Saturday - Cairo to Luxor and board your deluxe air conditioned Felucca
Very early morning breakfast and transfer to Cairo Airport. Flight is included in our rate, in business class , tax included . Morning arrival at Luxor . We'll meet you at the airport , and escort you to your deluxe air conditioned Nile cruise felucca or dahabbiya , Board Luxor ( or Aswan ) .

Embarkation in Luxor for a relaxing week sailing the Nile on a luxuriously appointed Dahabbiya.

After lunch, Private excursion to the West Bank for visits to the burial places of the Pharaohs - the Valley of the Kings - where Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922. Continue to the adjacent Valley of the Queens, including Queen Hatshepsut's Deir El-Bahari Temple , we tour as well the temple of Medinet Habu and the Colossi of Memnon. Private Egyptologist - Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle . Private Chauffeur

Overnight moored on the Nile banks of Luxor. Sample Deluxe Felucca / Dahabia : El Bey (His Lordship) .  El Hanem (The Lady)  ,  Zahra (Flower)   ,  Abeer, Nesma (Breeze) , Dongola and Zarafa

Day 6 - Sunday - Luxor - On board your Yacht Nile Cruise
You will enjoy a private visit to the magnificent temple complex of Amon-Ra at Karnak, with its vast hypostyle hall of 137 columns, followed by the imposing 28 th Dynasty Luxor Temple.
Private Egyptologist - Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle . Private Chauffeur

Overnight moored in Luxor.

Day 7 - Monday - Luxor to Esna - On board your Yacht Nile Cruise
Today will be a leisurely day. After breakfast, commence sailing to Esna where your Dahabbiya will moor

Day 8 - Tuesday - Edfu - On board your Yacht Nile Cruise
This morning you will sail to Edfu to visit the wonderfully preserved Temple of Edfu ( small size 10-14 total English speaking group tour ) . Overnight on board as we will look for an island in the middle of the Nile where we moor.

Day 9 - Wednesday - Kom Ombo - On board your Yacht Nile Cruise
Today you will sail to Kom Ombo visit ( small size 10-14 total English speaking group tour ) see the Ptolemaic temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon-headed Horus, god of the morning sun. Overnight moored beside a Nile island.

Day 10 - Thursday - Aswan - On board your Yacht Nile Cruise
A leisurely day sailing to Aswan where the dahabiya moors overnight.

Day 11 - Friday - Aswan Abu Simbel - (BLD)
Private Egyptologist - Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle . Private Chauffeur
Today you will enjoy a private visit the Aswan High Dam (completed in 1971); the Old Dam (completed in 1902) and the ' unfinished obelisk', lying in situ since the days of the pharaohs. You will also visit the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, a structure rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser at the time of the High Dam's construction.

Abu Simbel :
This afternoon we take a short flight to Abu Simbel , where your private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur and private guide will be waiting for you at the airport :
In Ramses the Great 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 , admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which we fly back to Aswan and your Nile cruise . Air fare is always included ( business class ) .

Day 12 - Saturday - Aswan - Fly back to Cairo
Breakfast aboard the dahabiyya and check-out. We bid farewell to the crew, we switch transportation modes and head for Aswan Airport and your flight back to Cairo . Air fare is always included within Egypt, business class , tax included .

The Four Seasons Hotel in Cairo over looking the Nile

DAY 13 - CAIRO (cBL)
The Culture of Cairo : Today we’ll explore deep into the heart of Cairo, and get to know its daily rhythms, its spirituality, its history, and its modern diversions. We’ll start early, with a visit to a local market, with an immense variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables on offer, both familiar and exotic.

You’ll see that shopping in Cairo goes far beyond a supermarket experience. Be prepared for whispers, gestures, shouting, and controlled chaos. It’s all part of the bargaining process, engaged in by women in traditional modest garb as well as others in Western dress.

Then it’s on to the Blue Mosque, Wekalet El Ghouri Caravan-serai. We’ll continue to the Gayer-Anderson House, a serene and classic domestic oasis, right down to its central fountain and exquisite furnishings. Our visit is also a journey into a vanished way of life—the residence is actually two traditional medieval Cairo houses restored by an English physician to a former king. We’ll stop for lunch at a restaurant where Cairenes go, then visit the Bab an-Nasr, the Gate of Victory in Cairo’s old walls. You’ll even see graffiti that survives from soldiers of Napoleon and of the British Empire, among the many who passed this way.

DAY 14 - 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 15 - El Minya - Cairo (cBL)
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 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 : The Four Seasons , Hyatt, Royal Savoy , The Ritz Hotel or similar.

DAY 17 - Sharm El Sheikh (B)
Full day at leisure . Hit the water , or explore Sharm El Sheikh on your own . The Choice is yours.

DAY 18 - Sharm / Aqaba(B)
Private car /driver from you hotel in Sharm or Dahab to Nuweiba to board the Speed boat heading for Aqaba.
Our staff will meet you upon arrival in Aqaba.(about :3 PM, drive time Aqaba/Petra: 1 1/2 hour)
There is no visa requirement for arrival into Aqaba : for American, EU , Australian, NZ, Mexican & Japanese passport holders. Passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival.

For May-Sep Month :
Proceed on a complimentary Visit the Wadi Rum Desert and its awesome moonlike landscape.
We board four-wheel-drive vehicles for our expedition to Wadi Rum, the "Valley of the Moon" where T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") organized Arab resistance to Ottoman rule during World War I.

For rest of the year,we'll offer a complimentary panoramic tour of Aqaba.
After our visit ( if the ferry time table changes or when there is a delay, then you may not be able to visit Wadi Rum. On to your hotel in Petra .

DAY 19 - PETRA (B)
Today the fabulous Nabatean City of Petra awaits us. Made famous in the Indiana Jones movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark," its ancient temples, tombs and striking Khazneh (Treasury) were hewn right from the pink and violet sandstone. We spend a full day here to visit the many sites of Petra, the city that was caved into the rose-red Sharah Mountains by the Nabateans and lost to civilization until it was rediscovered by the Swiss Burkhardt. Walk through the Siq, a narrow and winding fissure between the cliffs, to reach the treasury, the Roman Theater, the Courts, Qasr Bint Pharaoun, Temple of the Winged Lion and other monuments. A break for optional lunch, or you may wish to climb up to the Monastery. Overnight in Petra.

DAY 20 - Sharm El Sheikh (B)
We drive to Aqaba in time to board the 10 AM Speed Boat back to Nuweiba & Sinai. Your private air conditioned coach/car will await you . Our local rep will assist with a new visa to re-enter Egypt ( Fee is included on a complimentary basis).

DAY 21 - 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 22 -CAIRO - HOME HOSTED FAMILY DINNER (BD)
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 23- ALEXANDRIA - Very Intense touring day ( Early departure at 7 AM) (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. After which we continue with our tour, on to 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. Reach Cairo early evening and your hotel.

The New Alexandria Library

DAY 24 - DEPARTURE (B)
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!

Petra , Jordan

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

For travel during Easter, Christmas or New Year's ( Dec 20-Jan 3 ) , a 15 percent supplement applies.

Rate includes: