Egypt & The Red Sea Riviera

12 - days LUXOR Edition - Hurgada or El-Gouna

Here's the best of Egypt in a week: a good look at Cairo, The Mighty Temples of Abu Simbel and a 5-day cruise along the Nile,and even includes a unique beach resort at Hurgada or El Gouna, on the Red Sea.

Click here for a 10 day edition with 2 nights hotel stay in Luxor or Aswan
Emabrk on a true Grand African Tour and add Zambia

Honeymoon Egypt : with an extended stay in Sharm El Sheikh - 13 Day Version

DAY 1 - CAIRO Tour Starts DAILY in Cairo - Arrive any day of the week .
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, Singaporean & 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 Citadel of Saladin, Mohammed Ali Mosque, made of alabaster and the medieval Khan El Khalili bazaar district. Lunch is included at a local restaurant.

DAY 3 - Giza Pyramids & Cheops Royal Barge and DAHSOUR - HOME HOSTED MEAL (cBLD)
After breakfast, we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. The museum of the Royal Barge of Cheops The museum is built over the rectangular pit that housed the Royal Barge for thousands of years , the wooden boat was readied for the king's daily journey with the sun god, Ra . Discovered in 1954, in a completely dismantled state, the 43-meter (140-foot) cedar boat is a rare window on the Royal boats used by the kings of Ancient Egypt.

Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!

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 or at your hotel.

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.

DAY 4 - LUXOR ! (BLD)
We fly : Add $ 150 for upgrade to business class ( subject to availability), to LUXOR ( or Aswan) and board our Nile cruiser in time for a delicious lunch. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin .The gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor are our goals in the afternoon. We'll return in time for the afternoon tea served on deck. You'll have a chance to explore your ship before dinner.

DAY 5 - LUXOR , EDFU (BLD)
We tour today as well the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings including Tut-Ank-Amon's tomb and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to our cruise.

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.

We sail in the afternoon we cruise to Esna to go through the locks , and on to Edfu where we dock for the night. In the evening , we'll celebrate in Egyptian style, dressed in galabias, the flowing national costume, a galabya will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments)

DAY 6 - EDFU, KOM OMBO (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 on our Nile cruiser, we enjoy lunch as we sail further south upriver .
We disembark downstream at Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, the continue our voyage to Aswan, while we party after dinner with music& dance.

DAY 7 - CAMEL CARAVAN, NUBIAN VILLAGE , ASWAN (BLD)
First we tour Aswan dams, then on to the 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.

In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the Nile.
For those who are interested : a short camel caravan & ride is included( almost a half hour ride) to visit a local Nubian Village.

Our farewell dinner this evening is a buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed by a show featuring oriental performers, including of course a belly dancer.

DAY 8 - ASWAN , Abu Simbel , CAIRO, Hurgada (BD)
Board a short flight to Abu Simbel:
Ramses the Great's huge desert temple at Abu Simbel marked the southern border of the pharaoh's dominions. Rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser by an international effort, it is a marvel of sacred engineering. Twice a year ,and only then the sun penetrates to the Holy of Holies, illuminating the stone figures of Ramses and Nefertari. Group tour exploring the two huge temple, admire their ancient aura and artistry.

Fly back to Aswan and connect with your our return flight to Cairo and on to Hurgada , accommodation on one of the red sea resort areas in Hurgada or El Gouna, domestic flights are all included in our rate.
Transfers are always included of course as well to your hotel.
Dinner is included at your hotel in Hurgada or El-Gouna.

DAY 9 Hurgada or El Gouna Red Sea - (BD)
Enjoy the beach or take one of the local optional tours. Breakfast & dinner are included daily

For families with children , this is a children friendly hotels/resorts/destinations !

Day 10 - Hurgada or El Gouna Red Sea - (cB D)
Enjoy the beach or take one of the local optional tours. Breakfast & dinner are included daily . Extend your stay in Hurgada.

Day 11 -Cairo (cB)
Fly back to Cairo , transfer is included to your hotel.
With your travel guide book in hand, explore Cairo as you wish or go on a shopping spree, the choice is all yours.

DAY 12 - CAIRO- Departure (B)
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your homeward flight. Bon Voyage

RATES per person in USD

• For Dec 15 -Jan 5 , Easter , please add %15 supplement to any of the above listed rates.
• For the Ultra Deluxe Moon Goddess , Radamis & Amarco :Please add 15 % to the listed deluxe rates

Upgrade to the Ultra Deluxe : M/S Amarco Nile Cruise
(supplement 15 % to be added to the deluxe rate)

Private touring on board the cruise: At no additional charge with a minimum of 4 paying adult guests, otherwise : Please add $150 per person for the full cruise/shore excursions.

Inclusions

• All domestic airfares and transfers within Egypt . Add $ 150 for upgrade to business class ( subject to availability)
• 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.
• Hotel accommodation with tax & service charges.
• Visa fee , visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for : 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.
• Nile Cruise with all meals & shore excursions.
• Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin.
• Complimentary galabya on board the cruise for the costume party.
• 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 cruise you'll be part of an average 10-15 English speaking group.
  
  
  

Not included:
International airfares to or from Cairo. Tips. Travel Insurance (we'll be glad to send you the flyer upon request).

Click here for the 14 -day edition with one week in Hurgada or El Gouna on the Red Sea:
A "Dream Come True" tour. 14 days , Cairo and the Pyramids. A Nile Cruise of course, and a beach resort at Hurgada or El Gouna, on the Red Sea. Including the welcome Zaffa (procession that will resemble an Arabian/Egyptian wedding party) with a troupe of dancers and musicians dressed with the Egyptian typical clothes, welcoming guests by singing and dancing Egyptian Folklore).

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.

Why book with us ?