Egypt by River and Rail
A 10 - Day Tour of Egypt and the Nile
Cruise Shore Excursiones are Included

This ten-day Friends Abroad ^tm itinerary includes Abu Simbel Excursions , a four-day (three-night) Nile cruise, an additional time in Cairo to allow you to squeeze in more sightseeing , one way flying and Nile-side return journeys aboard a sleeper train. Extend to Hurgada/Red Sea

Honeymoon on Board one of Sonesta's Deluxe Nile Cruises
Compare with the 14-Day Ultra Deluxe version

DAY 1 - CAIRO Sunday (weekly ,year round)
Our local rep. meets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel.
Visa fee is not included and maybe issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for $15 USD in cash or in Euros for a limited number of nationalities such as American , Australian, NZ, Canadian, EU & Japanese citizens with valid passports that are valid for at least 6 month beyond the date of arrival, our local rep. will meet you after you exit the terminal

DAY 2 - CAIRO - Monday (BLD)
Full day tour of the Egyptian Museum is in the city center, the Pyramids, Cheops Royal Barge Museum and Sphinx . Lunch is included at the Mena House . Afternoon walking tour of Khan El Khalili and Muizz Ledeen Allah medievla districts
In the evening we'll escort you back to the Pyramids Plateau for the sound and light show at Giza . Breakfast & Dinner are included at the hotel

DAY 3 - ASWAN - ABU SIMBEL Tuesday (BD)
Morning Arrival at Aswan , connect by air on to Abu Simbel for touring this Ancient Egyptian sacred site. 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 temples , admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which, we drive back to Aswan & your hotel. Deluxe : Movenpick Aswan , or Isis Island ( Cataract is closed for upgrades) First Class : Basma or similar . Remainder of the day at leisure . Breakfast & Dinner are included at the hotels

DAY 4 - ASWAN Wednesday (BLD)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure , then around noon time we escort you to your Nile cruise vessel. After a delicious lunch, we tour the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the Island temple of Philae , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS :

The Mystery of Isis

Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled by the mystery of Isis:

"I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled."

Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.

Isis was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was
also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra!

Because of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey to the Underworld.

Re-embarking on our Nile cruiser. We enjoy afternoon tea on board . In the evening, we cast off and cruise down the Nile. Shore excursions on board the cruise are all included in our rate .

DAY 5 - KOM OMBO - EDFU Thursday (BLD)
We board horse-drawn carriages (or motor vans) for the ride to Edfu's Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved Ancient Egyptian temples on the Nile. After lunch , we continue our cruise down the Nile to Luxor. Afternoon tea is served on the sun -deck. Dinner & entertainment on board.

DAY 6 - LUXOR - Friday (BLD)
Today we tour the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut's Temple of El Deir El Bahari , and the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch, the afternoon is free for shopping. Afternoon tea is served on deck. Dinner & folk dance show on board.

DAY 7 - LUXOR - Saturday (BLD)
We check out of our cabins after breakfast, but the facilities of the vessel are available to us until the evening. We tour the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak , the "mother" of all temples, and the smaller yet charming Temple of Luxor. Lunch is included on board .In the evening, we escort you to the train station for our first-class sleeper train journey back to Cairo. Add an extra night in Luxor ?

DAY 8 - CAIRO Sunday (BD)
We escort you to your hotel. (Your room may not be ready until noon, but all other hotel facilities are available.) Why not go shopping in Khan el-Khalili bazaar? Breakfast on board the train & Dinner are included at the hotel

DAY 9 - CAIRO Monday (BD)
Breakfast is included at the hotel. Full day at leisure in Cairo , own activities.
Complimentary Dinner 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 prefer to enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.

DAY 10 - DEPARTURE Tuesday (cB)
After breakfast, we escort you to the airport. Bon Voyage.

This tour starts every Sunday in Cairo , weekly , year round

The tour rates include :

• All transfers within Egypt.
• Abu Simbel excursion, including round-trip air fare "Y" class : Aswan / Abu Simbel / Aswan , transfers, entrance fees, & local guide.
• Sound & Light show at Giza Pyramids in Cairo .
• Hotel accommodations including tax and service charges.
• Complimentary welcome fruit basket upon arrival at your cabin on board the Nile Cruise.
• Complimentary Welcome drink served as you arrive on board the Nile Cruise.
• Pre set menu meals as shown including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast), L = Lunch, D = Dinner aboard the train.
• Bottled water ( one large bottle per person delivered to your cabin daily while you are on board the cruise).
• Tea or coffee and bottled water with every & each meal while on board the cruise
• Cairo-Aswan air fare " Y" class , one way .
• And one way Luxor-Cairo sleeper train ticket ( train is rated 3 stars modest).
• Four-day (three-night) Nile cruise, including, all shore excursions, onboard accommodations, and all meals.
• Guided tour in Cairo as listed with all entrance fees included .

Rate does not include:

• International airfares not included.
• Tips
• Travel Insurance

• Visa fee is not included and maybe issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for$15 USD in cash or in Euros for a limited number of nationalities such as American , Australian, NZ, Canadian, EU & Japanese citizens with valid passports that are valid for at least 6 month beyond the date of arrival.