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Egypt's Highlights
A 12
Day Egyptian Tour Adventure. This exceptional package includes Egypt's
highlights ,in all its variety, from the wonders of the Great Pyramids
to the Great temple of Karnak.
You'll explore the kingdom of Ancient Egypt on this locally escorted
tour.
Cairo, Gize, Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor, by air & train.
Compare with the Six
or Eight
Day version. Add
Alexandria
Starts
weekly in Cairo on Saturdays year round
Click here for a Private Nile Cruise
DAY
1- CAIRO -Saturday - Weekly - Year Round
Our Cairo-based personnel will meet you at the airport and see you to
your hotel near the fabled Nile.
Visa Fee is included , and issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport ,
(Only for holders of U.S. Australian, NZ, Canadian , EU , Korean , Singaporean
,and Japanese passports with six months of validity beyond the date of
arrival).
Fascinating Cairo awaits you! The spice shops, cafés, peddlers from bygone
days, modern-day professionals, and an unforgettable array of sights,
sounds, and aromas.
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 - Sun (BL)
Today, we'll explore the wonders of the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures
of the ancient pharaohs: statuary, precious stones and metals. Travellers
have long come to Cairo just to gaze on these sights, but our day has
just started. We'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious Sphinx
and the Pyramids of Giza. Then it's onward to the Citadel of Saladin and
the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali. Lunch will be served at a local
restaurant. Followed by a walking tour of the legendary 12th century Khan
El Khalili district.
Complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals,
you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T
shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This
evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right
into the homes of some of the people of Cairo l! 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 a quiet
evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.
DAY
3 - CAIRO- DAHSOUR- Mon (BLD)
DAHSOUR - After breakfast, we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to
Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit
the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:
The "Discovery" of Dahshour:
For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the desert
village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the
public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids,
including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops.
Senfru's pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza's Great
Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper
half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most
have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru's--miraculously--is
still in place.
Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In
the evening, it's all aboard! We'll settle you into your private sleeping
compartment on the train bound along the banks of the Nile ( modest 3
stars rating for the train, if you prefer to fly please add $150 ) . You'll
enjoy dinner on board , as the lights of villages reflect in the river.
DAY 4 - ASWAN -Tue (B)
After breakfast on board, the train arrives in Aswan, where we'll settle
you into your hotel.
Tour
of Kalabsha Temple dedicated to the ancient god Mandulis, and the
goddess Isis . Built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus
, the small rock-cut temple of Beit El Wali, built by Ramses
the Great , and the small yet charming Kiosk of Qertassi.
During
the train ride, you will have seen feluccas sailing the Nile. Now we'll
experience Egypt at its most authentic, as we sail in one of these graceful
craft. Then its siesta time by the pool.
Evening Sound & Light show at Philae
DAY 5 - ASWAN - Wed (B)
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 on Lake Nasser to
visit the Temples of Philae, rescued from rising waters. In the afternoon
we tour the Nubian Museum then join a mini camel caravan to a nearby Nubian
Village for tea with the locals.
DAY
6 - ABU SIMBEL- Thu (BL)
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.
Just as planeloads of visitors arrive to throng the temples we begin our
leisurely drive back along the shore to Aswan, arriving in time for a
late lunch. Remainder of the day at leisure.
DAY 7 - EDFU / KOM OMBO / LUXOR - Fri (BL)
Proceed to Luxor by an air - conditioned car/coach ,driver & guide
. Visiting en route the temples of Edfu & Kom Ombo. Lunch box included
. Late afternoon arrival at Luxor.
DAY
8 - LUXOR , The Ancient Workers Village - Sat (B)
Cross the Nile to the West Bank: Tour Deir
El Medinah, 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.
then
view an array of ancient splendors: the tomb chambers of the Valley of
the Kings; the imposing -temple of Queen Hatshepsut ; and the the Colossi
of Memnon. In the afternoon we visit the great Temple of Luxor, and the
gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak.
DAY 9 - LUXOR, Cairo - Sun (BL)
Check out from our hotel, today we tour The Ramesseum, Medinet Habu &
Deir El Medina ( The Ancient Workers Village ) Before we fly
back to Cairo and your hotel
DAY
10 - CAIRO - Mon (B)
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. You'll make your own program for
your last full day in Cairo. Perhaps you'll do some shopping at the fabulous
Khan El-Khalili bazaar, or return to the fabulous Pyramids, or take an
optional tour, or spend the day with new friends. Don't miss your chance
to mingle with the crowds, the peddlers, and the street entertainers who
give life to Cairo!
DAY
11 - CAIRO - Tue (BLD)
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 Museum of Islamic Art, with its tapestries, textiles, swords
and other objects exemplifying one of the world’s great decorative
traditions. 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. We’ll top off our day with one of Cairo’s
more characteristic and pleasurable art forms: a folk and belly dance
show, to be enjoyed aboard ship over dinner as we cruise the Nile.
DAY 12 - DEPARTURE FOR HOME - Tue (B)
After breakfast, our staff will see you to the airport and assist
you with all the formalities before you board your flight for home. For
extending to Jordan and camping in Wadi Rum, please
click here. Bon Voyage!
This
tour departs starts weekly in Cairo on Saturdays , year round.
For Christmas, Easter, New Year's , please add : 15 % supplement to the
rate.
RATES per
person in USD
| |
Deluxe |
First
Class |
Tourist
Class |
| Triple |
US$
2140.00 |
US$
1950.00 |
US$
1770.00 |
| Double |
US$
2250.00 |
US$
2080.00 |
US$
1870.00 |
| Single |
US$
3489.00 |
US$
3189.00 |
US$
2990.00 |
Click
her for Private Touring, Private Nile Cruising
YOUR
TOUR INCLUDES:
-
Domestic airfare
from Aswan to Luxor including tax, in economy class .
-
Egyptian domestic sleeper train fares as described in the itinerary.
-
All airport transfers and taxes in Egypt.
-
Hotel accommodations including taxes.
-
Set-menu (table d'hôte) meals as indicated in the itinerary above.(B
= Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
- Guided
sightseeing as per itinerary, by air-conditioned motor coach,including
all admissions fees.
-
Lonely Planet travel guidebook .
- Visa
Fee is included , and issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport , (Only
for holders of Canada , Australia, NZ , U.S.,and Japanese passports
with six months of validity beyond the date of arrival).
Children's
Discount : 10 years of age or younger, sharing
room with parent, receive a discount of 10 percent.
DRESS
CODE Lightweight cotton and other natural fiber clothing is best,
with swimsuits and sun hats for the pool. Bring a light sweater or light
jacket for cool mornings and evenings, but most days are warm to hot,
with very little rain. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for shore
excursions.
Hotel
Choices
Cairo Deluxe Hotels : City Stars Inter.continental. Nile Hilton
,Sonesta , J. W. Marriott Cairo Conrad or Grand Hyatt . Mena Garden (
for the Palace Wing of Mena House , please add $ 70 USD per person in
double per night) or similar
Cairo
First Class Hotels Four Stars : Shepherds' Hotel. Oases, or
similar
Cairo
Tourist Class Hotels modest Three Stars : Cosmopolitan , Victoria
, or similar
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Airport
taxes
- Trip
interruption and cancellation insurance
- Personal
expenses, including excess baggage or shipping charges, beverages,
and personal charges in hotels for laundry, telephone, or other
services
- Gratuities
- Optional
Excursion
- Air
fare from/to your home country
Make
Your Egyptian Adventure Unforgettable
Private Sailing Boat Nile Cruise
Or compare with the air conditioned
Six Cabins Yachts / Dahabiya
Cruise the Nile in Your Own Boat!
Perfect for a couple on a honeymoon. Or sailors, experienced or
not, who want to navigate the Nile in their own craft, sharing tiller
duty (as you like) with the professional captain
The
King's Chamber in the Great Pyramid was not meant to be visited:
Getting to it is challenging, and once you enter, it is very difficult
to turn back. The stone passage is only wide enough for one person. You
must be in good physical condition, able to climb several flights of stairs,
bend double, crouch and duck-walk for short distances. The King's Chamber
itself is the world's most claustrophobic place, with dim light and heavy,
hot, oxygen-poor air. There is no ventilation. If you are at all sensitive
to claustrophobia or confinement, or if you have any sort of respiratory
condition, for your own safety and the safety of others, you must not
enter the pyramid because it is impossible to remove a person or to bring
aid to them quickly
The
Gems of the Near East
Tour Egypt, Palestine , Israel and Greece
The
Ultimate Private Adventure Tour of the Near East
Triangle of Ancient Lands . Come with us on a grand 10-day
(or 14-day) triangle tour of these three awe-inspiring lands of antiquity
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