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Great
Nile Cities Cruise
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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
5 - ALEXANDRIA & Wadi Natrun Monastery - Sunday (BL)
Morning
tour of the local souks and Zanket El Setat Bazaar district .
A brief stop at " El Selsela" the site of the Underwater reserve
where Cleopatra Place was discovered, as well as Caesar Kiosk. Lunch
at a local restaurant. Visit the new site for the Alexandria Library
before heading back south towards Cairo and Wadi
El Natroun monastery almost midway to Cairo , where early Coptic Christians
retreated here to escape the Roman persecution in the 4th century AD.
The Egyptian Pope of Alexandria is always chosen from the Monks of wadi
El Natroun. Reach Cairo early evening and your hotel.
DAY
6- CAIRO - Ottoman Cairo , Home Hosted Dinner - Monday
(BLD)
We continue our explorations with a half-day tour through medieval Khan
el-Khalili, the bazaar district, to admire the ancient streets, houses
and mosques. We tour as well the Carvanserai of Wekalet El Ghouri ,
Beit El Kritlya /Gayer Anderson old Ottoman Houses (Built 15th century).
The afternoon is devoted to: the former Royal palace of Abdeen &
Manial Palace, the Palace of Egypt's last Crown Prince.
Home
hosted dinner, 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
7 - LUXOR Tuesday (BLD)
After a short morning flight to Luxor, we check in on our Nile
cruiser . Welcome fruit basket.
Following lunch aboard, we tour Luxor Museum the stupendous Great Temple of Amon at Karnak and the smaller-but still immense-Temple of Luxor. In the evening we return to Karnak for an evening Sound & Light show, (a Jacket is a must).
DAY
8 - VALLEY OF THE KINGS Wednesday (BLD)
After breakfast we tour the Valley of the Kings,including King
Tut's Tomb, , the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari.
Followed by the Colossi of Memnon, returning to our ship for lunch. The afternoon is for Deir el Medina the Ancient Workers Village , where the first known "Sit-down" Strike against the Pharaoh took place, its said that the "Palace" did back down and made good on the back bay , in sesame oil ! 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.
You'll be back on board in time for tea and an excellent dinner. Complimentary galabya will be delivered to your cabin.
DAY
9 - ESNA & EDFU Thursday (BLD)
We cruise to Esna during the night. Go thru the locks, then cruise to
Edfu, where we board horse-drawn carriages for the short ride
through the town to the stupendous Temple of Horus, the best
preserved temple on the Nile. Returning to our ship, we set sail for
Kom Ombo. In the evening there's a galabia party. If you've tried
our flowing Egyptian garment ( the galabya), tonight's the night to
try it on!
DAY
10 - KOM OMBO & ASWAN Friday (BLD)
First thing in the morning we explore the twin temples of Haroeris,
the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, at Kom Ombo, then reboard
our ship for the voyage south to Aswan. After lunch we board
a graceful felucca and cruise among the islands. Followed by visit to
the Nubian Museum.
DAY
11 -Kalabsha , Camel Caravan Saturday (BD)
After breakfast we check out of our floating hotel , we tour Aswan Dams,
followed by a trip 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.
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! For those interested, please join us on a complimentary short camel ride to a nearby Nubian village for tea with the locals. Overnight at your hotel in Aswan.
DAY
12- Abu Simbel- Sunday (B)
We
take a short flight to Abu Simbel , where your private air-conditioned
vehicle awaits you and your private guide . 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 retire to a comfortable hotel
for refreshments. Just as planeloads of visitors arrive to throng the
temples we fly back to Aswan, remainder of the day
at leisure.
DAY 13- CAIRO / SHARM EL SHEIK - Monday (BD)
Returning
by plane to Cairo connecting to Sharm El Sheikh . Relax!
These are your days to absorb all that you've seen and experienced so
far, not to mention the bright Egyptian sun and sparkling Red Sea. Evening
Dinner with the Bedouins on the edge of the Sahara, with Bedouin Music
DAY
14 - SHARM EL SHEIK - Dinner with the Bedouins - Tuesday (BLD)
Relax! Today is set aside as a strategic mid-journey break.
Spend some time in the sun, but don't miss your chance to snorkel or
dive under Red Sea waters for an array of coral and glittering tropical
fish.
Lunch at the hotel. Meet the Bedouin and enjoy dinner in the Sinai.
DAY 15 - MOUNT SINAI - Wednesday (BLD)
Our knowledgeable guides arrange a pre-dawn departure into the still-cool
wilderness of Sinai, through which Moses led the Children of Israel
to the Promised Land. Our goal is the Monastery of St. Catherine, built
of rock at the base of Mount Sinai, at the site of the Burning Bush.
We tour the monastery, rich in history, icons and sacred paintings,
then return to Sharm El Sheik and dinner at the hotel.
DAY
16 - AQABA, PETRA - Thursday (BLD)
We'll drive to the port of Nuweiba, where we'll board the Red Sea ferry.
Across the water in Aqaba, with Israel and Saudi Arabia in sight, our
Jordan-based representative waits to greet you. You'll drive north under
a towering ridge of mountains, and arrive at your hotel in Petra for
the night. Complimentary Jordanian visa fee (valid only for American
, Australian , Canadian, Dutch, German & Japanese citizens. Passports
must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival).
Complimentary welcome dinner at the hotel. Deluxe :
Movenpick or similar . First class Golden Tulip or
similar
DAY
17 - PETRA- Friday (BLD)
We'll spend the entire day at Petra, the stunning desert city hewn by
the Nabateans from solid cliffs of pink and violet sandstone. Petra
was known in the bible as Sela, and rediscovered only in 1812. You'll
feel like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark as you penetrate
into the city through a narrow sandstone gorge, the Siq, and wander
among the Temple of the Winged Lion, tombs, Roman theater, and the imposing
Treasury. Lunch & Dinner are included today
DAY
18 - WADI RUM DESERT / AMMAN - Saturday (BLD)
Visit the Wadi Rum Desert (with a short ride in a 4 Wheel Drive vehicle)
and its awesome moonlike landscape, where the film “Lawrence of Arabia”
was shot. On to Amman on the Desert Highway. Lunch is served enroute
at a local restaurant. Overnight in Amman. Dinner is included at the
hotel : Deluxe : Sheraton , SAS Radisson or similar
. First Class : Regency Palace
DAY
19 - JERASH Sunday (B)
We drive to Jerash, among the best-preserved
Roman cities in the world, to tour its temples, theaters, churches and
colonnaded streets. From Jerash, we will escort you back to Amman and
your hotel
DAY
20 - AMMAN / USA- Monday (B)
After breakfast,
our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home . Departure
tax is included
RATES per person in USD
| RATES per person in USD | Deluxe |
First
Class |
| Triple | US$
3930 |
US$
3595 |
| Double | US$
4070 |
US$
3645 |
| Single | US$
4880 |
US$
4540 |
Rates include
Hotel
Choices
Cairo
Deluxe Hotels : City Stars Inter.continental. Nile Hilton ,Sonesta
, J. W. Marriott Cairo Conrad or Grand Hyatt . Sofitel ,Meridien
Pyramids ,
Mena Garden ( for the Palace Wing of Mena House , please add $ 70 USD
per person in double per night) or similar
Sample Deluxe hotels in Sharm : Rotana, Savoy , Hyatt / Marriott
, Sonesta
Cairo First Class Hotels Four Stars : Shepherds' Hotel. Oases, or similar
Dining Room Reservations: Meet other passengers :
YOU will not require any, our dining rooms do accommodate all our guests
in one seating, one less thing to worry about while you are on the Nile.
Enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere with several different languages being
heard at dinner.
DRESS CODE :
All of our Nile cruise vessels are fully air conditioned. Onboard dress is casual except at dinner, when smart casual is the rule. Lightweight cotton and other natural fiber clothing is best, with swimsuits and sun hats for the sundeck and 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.
Not
included:
In a message dated 7/23/2005 6:56:29 AM Pacific Standard Time, gmccall@twcny..........com writes:
Dear Omar the Great,
At the beginning of the trip we were the queen and princess of Egypt, but after a few days we became the goddesses of the Nile. Everyone treated us so wonderfully and the two weeks flew by too fast. We loved Egypt and the Egyptians so much that we tried to extend our time in Egypt, however we were not able to get all the plane reservations that we had hoped for.
Mayada and Mageud in Cairo were so caring and wonderful and what can I say about the wonderful dinner at Mayada’s family’s apartment? Her mother is a delight and I hope to see her again in the future. The cruise was absolutely superb. T
One of our favorite people of ancient Egypt is Queen Hatshepsut and we would have loved to see her temple. We did not go and when we returned home we found that it was supposed to have been on our itinerary. That was one of the places we really wanted to see.
The two guides we had were very different, very knowledgeable and we learned so much from both of them. We both learned several phrase in Arabic (such as: “fell mish mish”) and Michelynn was learning how to write in Arabic. If you ever need someone to make a recommendation to anyone thinking of going with your company I hope you would think of us. It was a dream come true from the very first day! The staff in Egypt was very attentive to our every wish and you were always so prompt in responding to any of my questions before the trip.
With many, many thanks to all the people who made this so special,
The two goddesses of the Nile
Gale and Michelynn McCall
