Egypt in a Week - Santorini Edition

Here's the best of Egypt & the Greek Isles in 14 - days
Includes air fare between Cairo , Athens & Santorini - Start in Athens or Cairo

Tour Starts DAILY in Cairo or Athens - March - Nov

This is a trip tailored to make the most of that special company and unique occasion, be it an anniversary, a honeymoon, or a singular chance to be alone and away. We have selected superior and deluxe hotels notable for their charm, atmosphere, and, of course, fine service

Interested only in Egypt ?

Compare with the Egypt only : 9 day edition or the 10 days with 2 nights stay in Luxor or Aswan
Add Petra A La Indiana Jones , or Indiana Jones ' Dendera & Abydos Temples

DAY 1 - CAIRO Tour Starts DAILY in Cairo or Athens - Arrive any day of the week .( March - Nov )
Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Visa fee is included and will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for : Australian, NZ, American, EU , Canadian & Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.

DAY 2 - CAIRO (BL)
On your first full day in Egypt we show you the Egyptian Museum, including the " Mummies Room" , the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Citadel of Saladin, and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, made of alabaster.

DAY 3 - ASWAN, Camel Caravan! (BLD)
We fly to Aswan ( or Luxor ) and board our Nile cruiser in time for a delicious lunch. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin. In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the Nile. Only for those who are interested: a short camel caravan & ride for almost half an hour to visit a local Nubian Village.

DAY 4 - ASWAN & KOM OMBO (BLD)
First we tour new Nubian Museum then 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.

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!

Re-embarking on our Nile cruiser, we sail downstream to Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples.

DAY 5 - EDFU & ESNA (BLD)
We moor in Edfu, climb aboard horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop through the town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt's best-preserved temple. Re-embarking, we cruise to Esna and its great temple dedicated to Khnum, the creator-god. Evening finds us in Luxor.

DAY 6 - LUXOR (BLD)
We tour today as well the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings , including Tutankaomn's tomb, and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to our cruise.

<< For most of 2004 Queen Nefertari's tomb will be closed for urgent repairs. , that's why we are visiting instead the Ancient Worker's village at Deir el Medinah

The Queen for whom the sun shines : ( Closed 2004)
Long before Cleopatra humbled the ruler of Rome, an Egyptian queen held power over the heart and soul of Ramses, Egypt's greatest pharaoh. In the 12th century BC, a brokenhearted Ramses built a grand funerary tomb for Queen Nefertari, "the Beautiful one," in the Valley of the Queens. It's been exquisitely restored with the aid of an American endowment, and is among the rarest sights in all Egypt: the only great tomb ever built by a pharaoh for his late queen. Artistically, it is the closest thing you could ever come to see the original Ancient Egyptian art in all of its glory and finesse.
Because of its fragile nature, only a limited number of visitors are allowed entry each day. We are the only company to include a visit to Nefertari's tomb in our daily program. Because of the limited access we must rise early for our visit, appropriate as Ramses named Nefertari "the one for whom the sun shines." >>

Afterward, we'll continue on Luxor's west bank to 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.

DAY 7 - LUXOR & CAIRO - Home Hosted Family Dinner (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. In the afternoon, wander through the city on your own, or do your last-minute shopping.

A 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 dinner in a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.

DAY 8 - CAIRO / Athens / Santorini (BD)
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your Athens bound flight. Air fare Cairo Athens is included in our rate.

Our Athens-based personnel meets you at the international airport, assists you with the formalities, and sees you to your charming and comfortable four-star hotel, Check in, relax, maybe then take a stroll through the lively streets. Browse for treasures and curios, savor a coffee or aperitif at a terrace café.
Tonight enjoy a complimentary fine Greek meal and Greek folk show with our compliments ( to take advantage of this complimentary dinner & show , your flights should arrive Athens in the morning or afternoon.

DAY 9 - ATHENS / Santorini (BD)
Enjoy the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Greek capital, today we have included a half day tour of Syntagma Square, and the towering Acropolis. After the tour : We'll call for you and see you to the airport for your flight over the blue Aegean to Santorini (Air fare included, Isle of Ancient " Atlantis ?!", where you'll find a room waiting in a four-star beach hotel. Or a cliff -side Villa .

DAY 10, DAY 11 , Day 12 , Day 13 - Santorini (B)
Enjoy breakfast at your lovely hotel (or Villa).
Or venture out,to explore ON YOUR OWN with your travel boon at hand. Some suggestion that you may wish to consider (on your own):Akrotiri,reputedly the site of fabled Atlantis. Then on to Athinios port to take a boat across to the dormant volcano, and ascend through a crater-pocked moonscape to the crater. Visit Thirassia Island and watch sunset in Oia. Return to your hotel/villa early evening, the decision is totally yours :).

DAY 14 - SANTORINI - Departure from Athens or Cairo (B)
We'll rendezvous in time to take you to your flight to Athens ( air fare is included in our rate).
If your flight out of Athens return to your home country is in the morning , then you 'll need to fly into Athens the night before.
For guests who are flying back to Cairo , please add $ 25 for the added sector Athens Cairo .
Bon Voyage.

RATES per person in US$

• Private touring on board the Nile cruise: Please add $150 per person for the full cruise/shore excursions.

RATES per person in US$

For the Ultra Deluxe : Moon Goddess ( all cabins with Balconies ) , Radamis & Amarco ( All Suites ) :

Please add 10 % to the listed deluxe rates On Radamis

Inclusions

• Rates includes
• All airfares and transfers within Egypt and Greece as per itinerary.
  
• Air fare Cairo Athens with tax included.
  
• Hotel accommodation with tax & service charges.
  
• A complimentary home hosted family dinner in Cairo.
  
• Bottled water ( one per person) delivered to your cabin daily while you are on board the cruise.
  
• Tea or coffee /bottled water with each meal while on board the cruise.
  
• Egyptian Visa fee , visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for : American,Australian, NZ, EU , Canadian & Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.
  
• Nile Cruise with all meals , one large bottle water ( per person ) daily while on board the cruise & a welcome fruit basket. For deluxe we use Monaco or Monte Carlo Nile Cruises
  
• All the shore excursions while on board the Nile Cruise.
  
• Preset menu meals including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast) L = Lunch, D = Dinner .
  
• All guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees. On board the Nile cruise you'll be part of an average 10-15 English speaking group.
  
  
• Transportation between airport and hotels in Egypt Greece
  
  
• Accommodations with breakfast (B) as indicated below, or at comparable properties, according to availability:
• Athens:
  For the deluxe - Divani Palace Acropolis : 5 Stars Moderate
  Stanley or Electra Palace (four stars).
  
  
• Sample Villas/ Apartments in Santorini:
• For Deluxe rates : Dana Villas with a view of the Caldera & the sea ( Firostefani) .
• First Class Superior accommodation:
  " Sun Rocks ", in Firostefani" , "Astra Apartments", " On The Rocks" or Chromata Apartments with a view of the caldera & the sea (Imerovigli.)
• For first class accommodation in the: "Grotto Villas" in Firostefani . Volcano's View.
  Or Rose Bay on Kamari Beach Hotel.
• Not included:
• International airfares to or from your home country
• Tips.
• Travel Insurance (we'll be glad to send you the flyer upon request).

Dining Room Reservations on board the Nile Cruise : 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.

Why book with us ?