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Great Egypt
Cairo , Luxor, cruise the Nile and Lake Nasser
( the Nubian Sea)
An Ultra Deluxe 20 -Day In-Depth Tour of Egypt with an extended stay
in Luxor
We have even included all the tips
If you prefer to add Alexandria
, please click here
Staying at the Four Seasons or the Mena House in Cairo
This
inclusive tour shows you the true grandeur of Egypt, from the Mediterranean
shores in the north to " Nubia" , " the land of gold
" in the south , with visits to the timeless monuments of cosmopolitan
Cairo and an extended stay in Luxor , a cruise to the temples along
the Nile, and a voyage to the ancient sites on the vast inland sea of
Lake Nasser in Nubia. It's all of Egypt in 20 Day. Compare with the
14-day version or the
17-Day Edition,
or extend your stay on the
Red Sea . Tour starts weekly in Cairo on Sun & Thursday ,
year round . Abu
Sir Pyramids Fields are closed for now . In some cases they may appear
- in error - on some of our web page
Day
1- CAIRO - Thursday and Sunday in Cairo - Weekly - Year Round
This tour starts weekly in Cairo, on Saturdays, and Wednesday, year
round. Complimentary visa will be issued upon arrival for citizens of
: Australia,NZ, USA, Canada , Japan, Singapore and EU . Your passport
must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of arrival. Upon
arrival, we escort you to your hotel. Welcome local pastries awaits
you in your room. ( More
cruise images)
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 : The Four Seasons or the Mena House ( please advise
us of your choice) .
DAY
2 - Giza - Friday (BL)
Today we drive to the edge of Cairo to see Giza Pyramids, the
Solar Boat Museum housing the oldest known Royal Barge that was found
next to the Great Pyramid of Cheops, and was supposed to be ready for
the Mighty Pharaoh in his "after Life" journey !. We tour
as well the enigmatic Sphinx. Lunch is included at the Mena House.
Entrance ticket is included to the Kings chamber .
Evening Sound & Light show at Giza.
DAY
3 - Giza , Memphis , Sakkara and Dahshour - Saturday (BL)
In the morning, we visit the Ancient Capital of Egypt Northern Kingdom
Memphis and the Royal Necropolis of Sakkara, including the Step Pyramid
of Zoser & Nobles tombs / Mastabas. After lunch at a local
restaurant , on to another half-day tour that takes us to Dahshour,
the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo: DAHSOUR - 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.
DAY
4 - Cairo - Sunday (BL)
Full day with your private guide at the Egyptian
Museum in Cairo . Lunch is included at the Nile Hilton.
DAY
5 - ASWAN/ NUBIAN CRUISE Monday
(cBLD) : M/S Eugenie or M/S Kasr
Ibrim
After an early breakfast, we drive to the airport for the flight to
Aswan, where we board our lake cruiser. Complimentary welcome
fruit basket in ear cabin. After lunch aboard, we visit the Temple
of Kalabsha, originally constructed in Pharaonic style, but later
remodeled in Greco-Roman style and dedicated to the god Mandoulis. Next
we visit Beit el Wali, a work of Pharaoh Ramses the Great, followed
by a stop at Kertassi Kiosk, dedicated to the goddess Isis. We
dine aboard our floating hotel.
DAY
6 - CRUISING - Tuesday (BLD)
Lake Nasser, Egypt's great man-made inland sea formed by the waters
held behind the Aswan High Dam. As we head south towards Wadi
el Seboua, you have time to relax on deck, take a dip in the pool,
read up on Egyptian history, and get to know your fellow travelers.
DAY
7 - WADI EL SEBOUA, DAKKA & AMADA Wednesday (BLD)
Our first port of call is at the Temple of Wadi el Seboua, dedicated
by the mighty Ramses the Great to two of ancient Egypt's most powerful
gods. Our next stop is Dakka Temple, followed by a visit to Amada
and the tomb of Penout, the powerful viceroy of Nubia, one of ancient
Egypt's richest regions. Known as the "Land of Gold," Nubia
was famous for the stream of gold, ivory, precious stones and minerals
which made their way from Africa to Egypt via the Nubian Nile. We dock
at Kasr Ibrim, where we dock for the night.
DAY
8 - KASR IBRIM & ABU SIMBEL Thursday (BLD)
As the sun brightens the lake shore we gaze at the citadel of Kasr Ibrim,
a once-mighty fortress which time and weather have rendered fragile,
the only structure of its kind still extant in Nubia. We learn about
the history of Nubia and this fortress, then, after lunch, set sail
for Abu Simbel. Arriving at the great temple, we have time to explore
its colossal facade and surroundings before enjoying dinner and spectacular
sound-and light show with the temple as our backdrop.
DAY
9 - ABU SIMBEL & ASWAN Friday (B)
Get up early today to enjoy the extraordinary vision of the temple of
Abu Simbel at dawn, when the sacred sunlight penetrates deep
into its holy of holies as its architect intended. The morning sun bathes
the ruddy stone in golden light, providing perfect conditions for photography.
We fly to Aswan, transfer to your hotel, enjoy the local
souks or the water front.
DAY
10 - NILE CRUISE : Saturday (cBLD)
Morning visit to Aswan dam, the unfinished Obelisk, and
the Island temple of Philae , dedicated to the
Ancient Goddess ISIS . 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!
before heading for our Nile Cruiser in time for lunch, complimentary
fruit basket & bottle of mineral water (awaits you in your cabin),
afternoon sailing on the Nile by felucca. A mini Camel Caravan short
ride to a Nubian Village for a visit with the locals!!. Evening Nubian
Folklore show on board.
DAY
11: KOM OMBO - Sunday (BLD)
Morning sailing and departure for Kom Ombo, visit its twin temple
then continue to Edfu. Afternoon tea served on deck. Complimentary
galabya will be delivered to your cabin, you may wish to try it on for
the costume party on board.
DAY
12 : EDFU & ESNA /LUXOR - Monday (cBLD)
We dock in Edfu, climb aboard horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop
through the town to the temple of Horus, Egypt's best preserved.
Re-embarking, we cruise to Esna. Evening finds us in Luxor.
Complimentary Egyptian sweets & pastry.
DAY
13 : LUXOR , Tuesday (BLD)
Crossing the Nile, to the West Bank we tour the magnificent tombs in
the Valley of the Kings including King Tut's Tomb, as well as
the hidden ancient "Workers village " or 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.
Then
on to visit the new & old "Qurna" or Gurnah" : In
Ancient times as well as in a more recent history, the locals populated
the West Bank and lived in series of villages near the tombs they built
for their kings & queens. The largest of these villages is Gurnah
or Qurna , these villages continue to grow in population in spite of
the damage caused to the nearby tombs, the house are an example of the
traditional Egyptian rural homes, the houses are usually built of mud
break mixed with straw, the New Gurnah was designed by the famous Hassan
Fathy , author of " Architecture for the Poor", we conclude
the afternoon by a visit to the nearby Nobles Tombs , can not guarantee
which ones will be open as they are rotated , but you may visit : tomb
of Rekhmire , Senoufer , or Ramose .
Evening Sound & Light show at Karnak.
DAY
14 : LUXOR -Check-out from the Nile Cruise : Wednesday (B)
The gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple
of Luxor are our goals in the morning, after which we check in at
your hotel. Deluxe : the Old Winter Palace. Afternoon guided tour of
the Luxor Museum, then a horse drawn carriage ride through Luxor narrow
streets and bazaars.
DAY
15 : Denderah Abydos - Full Day - Thursday (BL)
We drive inland to tour Denderah & Abydos Temples. Among the best
preserved in Egypt. This temple as a sight to hold. Indiana Jones would
have felt at home, with the massive stones & underground passages
:
DENDERAH
IN A DAY
We'll
travel to Denderah to visit the Temple of Hathor, one of the best-preserved
in all of Egypt, and also one of the most important. In the ancient
beliefs, Hathor was the consort of the god of daylight, ruler of the
west, and protector or the underworld. In the manner of wise desert
wayfarers, we'll leave before dawn to take advantage of cool temperatures.
Our air-conditioned van will take us through timeless Nile-side villages,
where life revolves around the irrigation and harvest of crops. Finally,
we'll reach the temple precincts. We'll take note of the unusually deep
tombs, and pass under the celebrated Zodiac, in a chapel dedicated to
Osiris. (Denderah is the traditional site of his rebirth.) Our full
day will also include a visit to Abydos, traditional home of Osiris,
god of the underworld, and a stopping point on the journey of wayfaring
souls. We'll enjoy a box lunch, and return to Luxor late in the afternoon
.
DAY
16 - Luxor - Friday (BL)
Full day on the West Bank touring : Valley of the Queens , El Deir El
Bahari ( Queen Hatshepsut), Colossi of Memnon , on to The Ramesseum,
Madinet Habu and 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. Lunch is included
at the hotel.
DAY
17 - Karnak and Amon-Ra Temples ( 2nd Visit) - Saturday (BL)
We return to the Karnak Temple complex for another visit , we return
as well to Amon -Ra Luxor Temple .
Full day tour divided between between the two temples. Lunch is included
at the hotel .
DAY
18 -Cairo Sunday (B)
After breakfast , we head back to the airport for the flight
back to Cairo and the Four Seasons Hotel or the Mena House based on
your preference and availability.
DAY 19 -Cairo - Fayoum Oases - Monday (BL)
On Desert Safari for the Day - Fayoum Oases
- And you thought the Pyramids were old
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
( In Arabic : Wadi-El-Hitan) . Incredibly, these great mammals once
thrived - almost forty million years ago- in waters surrounded by sands.
We’ll stop and gaze in amazement at their fossilized remains alongside
smaller sea creatures that remain in stone.
This valley was discovered in 1936 , by the German geologist George
Schweinfurth in the northwestern corner of Wadi El-Rayan.
The valley provides evidence of one of the major changes in this mammal
evolution has been declared by the UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site.
It is believed that these land based whales once had feet that may have
helped them somewhat while ashore . A team from the University of Michigan
discovered in the late 80's that these Zeuglodon whales did have rudimentary
feet , this was a startling discovery , suggesting that whales of Wadi
-El-Hitan had recently started living in water as well , these whales
were not related to any of the whales we have today , rather a more
slender body and may grow up to 75 feet long. Several skeletons of whales
are exposed in the sand. George Schweinfurth named this extinct specie
the Zeuglodon Isis Whales .
In
the evening, you’ll return to your hotel in Cairo. Land
transportation in air-conditioned four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser
with the services of driver and English-speaking driver. Lunch is included
DAY
20 - DEPARTURE - Tuesday (B)
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home.
Rates
are per person
|
Ultra
Deluxe |
| Triple |
US$
5250.00 |
| Double |
US$
5350.00 |
| Single |
US$
6450.00 |
For
Christmas, New Year, Easter, please add:10% supplement.
For Private Guide (s) on board the CRUISE : Supplement $250 per
person per cruise
( Lake Nasser & Nile Cruise ) $ 500 total per person .
Rates
include:
- All
transfers in Egypt, always on a private basis.
- All
the tips to drivers, guides, porters, and the crew on board your cruises.
- Guided
sightseeing as listed including all entrance fees.
- Hotel
and cruise accommodations as per itinerary including al taxes .
- All
shore excursions on board the cruise as listed, including all entrance
fees.
- Complimentary
welcome drink upon arrival on board the Nile Cruise.
- Complimentary
welcome fruit basket on board the Nile Cruise.
- Large
bottle of water ( per person ) delivered to you cabin daily while
you are on board the Lake Nasser & the Nile
Cruise.
- Tea
or coffee an bottled water with each / every meal while you are on
board the Lake Nasser & the Nile
Cruise.
-
Meals as listed including cB = Continental Breakfast, L = Lunch, D
= Dinner.
- Domestic
airfare within Egypt "Y" economy class.
- Complimentary
visa will be issued upon arrival for citizens of Australia, USA, Canada
, Japan, Singaporean & EU . Your passport must be valid at least
for 6 month beyond the date of arrival.
Not
included:
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
More
Choices:
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.
Compare
with the 10 Day version . Add Alexandria
, check out the 18-day edition.
Add Denderah
or the 20 Day edition
. Add
a Red Sea Extension
Sample
Deluxe ships on Lake Nasser :
The
Ships
The
M.S. Kasr Ibrim was named after the ancient citadel on Lake
Nasser, the only Nubian monument that still exists in its original location.
The Kasr Ibrim citadel, standing on a high bluff overlooking the river
valley, was adapted to suit the needs of its diverse occupants throughout
the ages. Likewise, the M.S. Kasr Ibrim provides an epic setting for
international travelers, while commemorating the citadel as an enduring
link with Egypt's distant past.
Relax in the ship's spacious lounge areas, its restaurant or bars. On
deck you will find a shaded area, a mosaic-lined swimming pool and deckchairs
to make the most of idle luxury. Kasr Ibrim's facilities also include
a sauna, steam bath, exercise equipment, state-of-the-art water filtration
systems, and is fully air-conditioned.
Service is thoughtful and friendly; the cuisine is superb. Each day
we anchor beside one of Lake Nasser's historic sites, where a launch
will take you ashore to explore.
Cabins
M.S.
Kasr Ibrim was launched in September 1997. The ship is 79 meters long,
with just 55 cabins for maximal comfort, and 10 luxurious suites. The
interior décor reflects the Art Deco style of the 1920's.
The ship fifty-five spacious cabins measure 22.75 m2, each with an ensuite
bathroom (bath, shower, washbasin, w.c. and hairdryer). There are seven
29 m2 junior suites; two 59 m2 Royal suites and one 140 m2 Imperial
suite (all ten suites have bathrooms with jacuzzi, shower, washbasin,
w.c. and hairdryer).
The
Executive Deck has 12 twin-bedded cabins, each with a private balcony
(total space 22.75 m2). The Executive Deck cabins (400 numbers) are
available at an additional surcharge per cabin and per night.
The
Upper Deck has 18 twin-bedded cabins each with a private balcony (total
space 22.75 m2). A guaranteed allocation to one of the Upper Deck cabins
(300 numbers) is available at an additional surcharge per cabin and
per night.
The
Main Deck has 18 twin-bedded cabins each with a private balcony (total
space 22.75 m).
The
Lower Deck has 7 twin bedded cabins without balconies (22.75 m); these
can also be used for triple occupancy.
M.S.
Eugenie
The
Eugenie was proudly named to evoke an historic event in Egypt's recent
past: the grand opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, attended by the crown
heads of Europe including the Empress Eugenie of France. The completion
of the Suez Canal marked Egypt’s passage into modernity, and a
new era of international trade and interaction.
Likewise the Eugenie, the first ship to sail Lake Nasser, launched a
new era of tourism, offering travelers fresh vistas of Egypt’s
natural beauty and archeological treasures. Lake Nasser extended the
boundaries of Egypt’s touristic possibilities, while the Eugenie
reminds us of this ancient country’s endless capacity for renewal.
The
M.S. Eugenie was constructed in 1993 in the style of a turn-of-the-century
Nile steamship. It is 74 meters long, with just 52 cabins for maximal
comfort, and two luxurious suites. Each cabin has an ensuite bathroom
with shower, washbasin, w.c. and hairdryer.
The Eugenie’s facilities include a sauna, steam bath, exercise
equipment, sun decks, a swimming pool, air-conditioning and state-of-the-art
water filtration systems.
The
Upper Deck has 22 twin-bedded cabins each with a private balcony (total
space: 21m2). Cabins 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310,
311 and 315 are ‘executive cabins’ available at an additional
surcharge per cabin and per night.
The Main Deck has 20 twin bedded cabins, also with private balcony (21m2)
and two single bedded cabins, also with private balconies (cabins 201,
202).
The Lower Deck has 8 twin bedded cabins without balconies (21m2); these
can also be used for triple occupancy.
Sailing
( Subject to change )
Aswan
/ Kalabsha to Wadi El Seboua 11 hours
Wadi El Seboua to Amada 4 hours
Amada to Kasr Ibrim 2.5 hours
Kasr Ibrim to Abu Simbel 4 hours
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