Escape to the Sun
Abu Simbel Edition - Board Aswan

Our special 9-day locally escorted tour shows you the top sights in Cairo, with four days (three nights) cruising on the Nile, and a foray into Nubia and another "Ancient Wonders of the World : Abu Simbel Temples . Including domestic air fare within Egypt . Add :   Red Sea, or Alexandria ?

Private Touring, Private Nile Cruising . Compare with the 10 -Day Version

DAY 1 - CAIRO
Our staff meets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Cairo as you like for the rest of the day, complimentary visa for American, Australian , NZ , Western European , Canadian, & Japanese citizens, passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of arrival.

Weekly on Sunday , Monday & Tuesday & Wednesdays, year round
Click here for the 7 day edition

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 (aBL)
Today we get to know the great Egyptian capital on a full-day tour. We start at the Egyptian Museum, including the Mummy room & Tutankhamoun Treasures, then go on to visit the majestic pyramids of Giza and the timeless Sphinx, and conclude with the 12th century district of Khan El Khalili.

DAY 3 - Aswan / Abu Simbel / Aswan (aB)
An early flight takes us to Aswan , ( Cruise embarkation may also be from Luxor).
In Aswan we connect by air to Abu Simbel , group tour of these two mighty temples:

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 , admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which you had back ( group transfer to Abu Simbel Airport. Connect in Aswan for your flight back to Aswan ( All domestic flights are included)
At Aswan Airport: Our representative escorts you to your hotel in Aswan : The Oberoi or Old Cataract for the Deluxe or Basma for First class .

DAY 4 - Board your Nile Cruise - Aswan /Edfu (aBLD)
After breakfast at the hotel .It is on to a complimentary short camel ride to a nearby Nubian Village for tea with the locals. Followed by a tour of the Nubian Museum .

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.

Check in on board the cruise around noon , settle on board your Nile cruises, then visit the Aswan High Dam, the red granite quarries of the ancient pharaohs , and the temples of Philae, reconstructed on an island in the middle of the Nile, , rescued from rising waters , 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.

Isis is portrayed regally, as a queen seated on a throne (which may be the meaning of her name), often holding her son Horus as a baby. Other images show her with broad, magnificent gilded wings able to protect
the world.

Isis, the great Mother Goddess. Come explore her mystery in timeless Egypt when you Travel in Style!

After a shipboard lunch, we set sail for Kom Ombo, where we explore the twin Temples of Haroeris and Sobek. We continue our cruise to Edfu, where we dock for the night.
Welcome complimentary fruit basket.

DAY 5 - EDFU & Luxor (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. Complimentary Galabya, maybe to wear it for tonight's costume party .

DAY 6 - Luxor (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,we tour the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak , the "mother" of all temples, and the smaller yet charming Temple of Luxor, Afternoon tea is served on deck. Dinner & folk dance show on board. Complimentary Egyptian sweets/pastry tonight.

DAY 7-Disembarkation / CAIRO (B)
Check-out after breakfast. We return by plane to Cairo and our hotel. Experience Cairo as you like. Now's a good time to do your souvenir and gift shopping in the city's fabled bazaars.

DAY 8- MEMPHIS / SAKKARA / DAHSOUR
And a special treat tonight : Home Hosted Dinner (aBLD)
Enjoy American or Buffet breakfast before we explore the great Egyptian capital in this full-day tour of Memphis , the Step Pyramid of Sakkara and DAHSOUR . We'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid, depending ). Continue 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 we'll treat you to a home hosted dinner with an authentic Egyptian family.

Dinner is included at a local home , few visitors do enjoy such opportunity & experience, come and 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 dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.  Add an extra day in Cairo ?

DAY 9- DEPARTURE (aB)
After breakfast, our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home . Bon Voyage

Weekly year round . Click here for the 7 day edition

Rates include:

• Domestic airfare within Egypt, tickets issued & delivered in Cairo.
  
  
• All transfers within Egypt.
  
• Bottled water ( one large bottled per person) delivered to your cabin daily while you are on board.
• Tea or coffee and small bottled water with each & every meal while you are on board the Nile Cruise.
• Complimentary welcome drink upon arrival on board the Nile Cruise.
• Complimentary welcome fruit basket in your cabin upon arrival on board the Nile Cruise.
  
• Pre set menu meals including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast) L = Lunch, D = Dinner.
  
  
• Complimentarily visa, included & issued upon arrival for American,Australian, NZ, EU , Canadian & Japanese citizens, passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of arrival.
• Hotel accommodation ,including tax & service charges.
• Guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees
  

• Nile cruise including all meals & shore excursions. For a private Egyptology while on board the cruise , please add $100 per person , this will include as well private air conditioned car /driver for the duration of the Nile Cruise.

Rates do not include:

• Any international airfare.
• Tips.
• Travel Insurance ( Please ask us for the flyer)

Please add a supplement of 10% to these rates for departures from December 23 to January 3, or during Easter Week.

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Dining Room Reservations :
NOT REQUIRED ! our dinning rooms are large enough to accommodate all passengers in one seating, so no hassle of reserving your dinner seating.

Clothing on board :
Lightweight comfortable & casual clothing, swimsuits, sun hat. Dinning room dress code : Casual for breakfast & lunch, smart casual for dinner. All ships are fully air conditioned.