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Great
Egypt: The Ultra Deluxe Edition
The Nile & the Nubian Sea
14 - day tour - Boarding Abu Simbel
This
inclusive tour shows you the true grandeur of Egypt, with visits to
the timeless monuments of cosmopolitan Cairo, 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 14 days, at
the best rates possible. Compare with the Alexandria
Edition , Add Denderah
or the 20 Day edition
. Add a Red Sea Extension
.
Add
Syria and Jordan in a grand tour of the Near East . 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 Saturday
This tour starts weekly in Cairo, on Saturdays, year round. Complimentary
visa will be issued upon arrival for citizens of : Australia, USA, Canada
, Japan & Western
Europe.
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)
DAY
2 - CAIRO Sunday (cBL)
Today we see Cairo's major sights: the Egyptian Museum, including the
Mummies room, 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.
Evening Sound & Light show at Giza.
DAY
3- ABU SIMBEL / NUBIAN CRUISE
Monday (cBLD)
After an early breakfast, we drive to the airport for the flight to
Abu Simbel or Aswan,
where we board our lake cruiser. Complimentary welcome fruit basket
in ear cabin. After lunch aboard, we head for Abu Simbel. Arriving at
the great temple, we have time to explore its colossal facade and surroundings
before enjoying a welcome cocktail on board followed by dinner and spectacular
sound-and light show with the temple as our backdrop.
Lake Nasser, Egypt's great man-made inland sea formed by the
waters held behind the Aswan High Dam. On board the cruise you'll
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
4 - LAKE NASSER CRUISING
/ Kasr Ibrim - Tuesday (BLD)
For guests that may enjoy the sunrises over the mighty temples of
Ramses the Great may wish to 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.
As
the sun brightens the lake shore we enjoy lunch as we sail to Kasr Ibrim
. One of the very few Nubian sites that are yet in their original location.
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,
from the comfort of the sun-deck, to protect the site, we are not allowed
to enter, yet you 'll have a fantastic view, we dock at Kasr Ibrim for
the night.
DAY
5 - WADI EL SEBOUA, DAKKA & AMADA Wednesday (BLD)
Our first port of call is at Amada Temple 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.
After lunch we proceed to 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 dedicated to God Thot of divine
wisdom, lord of time and science, on to Aswan
DAY
6 - Aswan -Tropic of Cancer - Thursday (BLD)
Celebrate
the crossing of of the Tropic of Cancer .
Morning visit to 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
7 - ABU SIMBEL & ASWAN Friday (BD)
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
8- NILE CRUISE Saturday (cBLD)
Morning visit to Aswan dam, the unfinished Obelisk, and
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!
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
9: 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
10: 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
11: 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, and the great
temple of Queen Hatshepsut , and the Colossi of Memnon 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.
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
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
12: LUXOR, Disembarkation - Fly to CAIRO Wednesday (B)
The gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple
of Luxor are our goals in the morning, followed by a return flight
to Cairo. Transfer to hotel.
DAY
13: OLD CAIRO- Ottoman Cairo Home Hosted Dinner Thursday
(BLD)
Coptic Cairo :The treasure filled Coptic Museum, churches & Synagogue
are our goal this morning. After which we tour the former Royal palace
of Abdeen, where Sadat welcomed Nixon in the 70's , Nixon was the first
American president to visit Egypt since Roosevelt made a brief visit
during W.W.II
We
enjoy lunch at the famous El Khan restaurant then embark on a walking
tour of the legendary 12th century district of Khan El Khalili including
the Caravanserai: Wekalet el Ghouri & the 15th century Ottoman style
house of Beit El Kritlya ( Gayer Anderson Museum).
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 dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel companions, by letting
us know your preferences.
Add an extra day in Cairo ? With Memphis and
Sakkara ?
DAY
14 - DEPARTURE Friday (B)
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home.
RATES
are per person
|
|
| Triple |
US$
3160.00 |
| Double |
US$
3235.00 |
| Single |
US$
4330.00 |
Rates
include:
- All
transfers in Egypt and Cairo touring on private basis.
- Guided
sightseeing as listed including all entrance fees.
- Hotel
and cruise accommodations.
- 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 "C" business 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:
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.
Do
we get sea sickness while sailing the Nile ?
This is river sailing, so do not expect any waves , no rough seas
! Your Nile cruises is actually a floating hotel that moves from place
to place along the Nile. Actual cruising times are short and pleasant.
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 .
Add
a Spa Package to your stay in Cairo when you stay at the Hyatt or the
Four Seasons
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 deck
chairs 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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