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Egyptian
Wonders
With a Foray into Petra Jordan
A
17-Day Egypt and Jordan Tour . Our deluxe tour of these two gems of the
Near East , gives you an in-depth look at the wonders of Egypt and Petra
Cruising
the Nile in Luxury
Add a foray into the Western Sahara
and camping in the White Desert
DAY
1 - CAIRO - Monday - Start Weekly - Year Round
Upon arrival, we escort you to your comfortable hotel.
Visa fee is included & will be issued upon arrival for : American,Australian,
NZ, Canadian, EU Citizens & Japanese citizens. Passport must be valid
for at least 6 month beyond your date of arrival.
Air
port / hotels/ Cruise Transfers
in Egypt are always provided to our guests on a private basis , private
air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur
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
DAY
2 - CAIRO - Tuesday (cBL)
Today we see Cairo's major sights: the Egyptian Museum including the
" Mummies Room " , the Royal Palace of Manial , Saladin's Citadel,
the Alabaster Mosque ( Mohamed Ali Mosque ) ,and the 12th Century Khan
El Khalili Bazaar district . Lunch is included at a charming local
restaurant.
DAY
3 - GIZA & OLD CAIRO - Wednesday (cBL)
In
the morning, we visit the majestic pyramids of Giza and the timeless
Sphinx,
including that famous shot on the camel with the Pyramids in the background,
this is a PHOTO OP. Not a camel ride, as time is very limited.
in the afternoon we tour Old Cairo: the Coptic museum, Church of Abu Sarga,
and Ben Ezra Synagogue, where we will visit the spot at which, tradition
says, Moses was found by the banks of the Nile. Lunch at a local restaurant.
DAY
4 - CAIRO- Home Hosted Dinner - Thursday (cB)
Today Cairo is yours to explore (or to shop!) as you like, guidebook in
hand; or ask about our optional tours.
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
5 - DAHSHOUR - Friday (cBL)
Early morning tour of Imbaba Camel market , and watch caravans that came
all the way from the Sudan, Nubia and the edge of the Sahara.
Followed by a half-day tour takes us to Dahshour, the newly-opened
pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father
of Cheops, and other structures, 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, lunch at a local restaurant.
DAY
6 - LUXOR & KARNAK - Saturday (cBLD)
An early flight takes us to Luxor, all domestic flights within Egypt are
always included , in economy class , tax included , in Luxor we we proceed
to our Nile cruise, enjoy a welcome drink before we head for the small,
yet charming Luxor Museum, followed by a horse drawn carriage ride through
the local town and souks.
Back to the pier ..... settle in aboard our Nile cruiser. Following lunch
aboard, we visit the great Temple of Luxor, and the gigantic Great
Temple of Amon at Karnak, returning to our vessel in time for tea.
Air
port / hotels/ Cruise Transfers
in Egypt are always provided to our guests on a private basis , private
air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur
DAY
7- VALLEY OF THE KINGS- Sunday (cBLD)
We tour the Valley of the Kings including Tut-Ankh-Amon's tomb ,
temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari,
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.
We
stop by Colossi of Memnon before returning to our Nile cruiser
for lunch. In the afternoon, do as you like: Luxor's folksy bazaar awaits
you.
DAY
8 - ESNA & EDFU- Monday (cBLD) We cruise
to Esna during the night and pass through the locks. After breakfast
we cruise to Edfu and board horse-drawn carriages to get to the
fine Temple of Horus. In the evening, we have a jolly galabia party.
DAY
9 - KOM OMBO & ASWAN - Tuesday (cBLD)
We explore Kom Ombo's twin Temples of Haroeris, the sun god, and
Sobek, the crocodile god, before cruising south to Aswan. After
lunch aboard, we board a graceful felucca for a cruise among the Nile
islands .
DAY
10 - ASWAN / Abu Simbel / CAIRO - Wednesday (cBD)
This morning we start with a trip by motor launch to the
Island temple of Philae , dedicated to the Ancient
Goddess ISIS .
Back
on land, we head for the airport ,
and fly to Abu Simbel . This
is a very full day , expect possible last minute changes and / or cancellation
by Egyptair . This is very common in Egypt.
Abu Simbel maybe the highlight of your Egyptian adventure. Upon arrival
in Abu Simbel , our Private guide will be waiting for you with your group
private air-conditioned vehicle .
In the larger Ramses the Great 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,
then we begin our leisurely drive back to Abu Simbel Airport , fly back
to Aswan
and connect to your flight back to Cairo and overnight .
DAY
11 - CAIRO - Thursday (cB)
Full day at leisure. Enjoy Cairo on your own or ask us for information
on locally available optional tours.
The
New Alexandria Library
DAY
12 - Alexandria - Friday (cBL)
We rise early before dawn , leave the hotel around 6 AM .
For a more leisure itinerary, you may wish to extend one more night stay
in Egypt to allow us to extend one night in Alexandria.
Drive to Alexandria for a : Full day tour of the Catacombs, the Roman
Amphitheater, Qayet Bey Fortress
Qayet
Bey Fort was built on the same site of the ancient wonder of the world
: the famous Alexandria Light House. 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 , then its off to
the new site for the Alexandria Library before heading back to Cairo .
We stop at Wadi El Natroun monastery , 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
13 - CAIRO - Saturday (cBL)
The Culture of Cairo
Today
we’ll explore deep into the heart of Cairo, and get to know its
daily rhythms, its spirituality, its history, and its modern diversions.
We’ll start early, with a visit to a local market, with an immense
variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables on offer, both familiar and
exotic.
You’ll
see that shopping in Cairo goes far beyond a supermarket experience. Be
prepared for whispers, gestures, shouting, and controlled chaos. It’s
all part of the bargaining process, engaged in by women in traditional
modest garb as well as others in Western dress.
Then
it’s on to the Museum of Islamic Art, with its tapestries, textiles,
swords and other objects exemplifying one of the world’s great decorative
traditions. We’ll continue to the Gayer-Anderson House, a serene
and classic domestic oasis, right down to its central fountain and exquisite
furnishings. Our visit is also a journey into a vanished way of life—the
residence is actually two traditional medieval Cairo houses restored by
an English physician to a former king. We’ll stop for lunch at a
restaurant where Cairenes go, then visit the Bab an-Nasr, the Gate of
Victory in Cairo’s old walls. You’ll even see graffiti that
survives from soldiers of Napoleon and of the British Empire, among the
many who passed this way.
DAY
14 - Cairo / Amman - Sunday (cB)
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight to Amman .
Air fare is included in our rate, one way in economy class , tax included.
Air
port / hotels/ Cruise Transfers
in Egypt and Jordan are always provided to our guests on a private basis
, private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur .
Complimentary
visa is issued upon arrival for American , Australian, NZ, Canadian, EU
, Mexican & Japanese passport holders. Passport must be valid at least
for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival.
DAY
15 - MADABA, KERAK & PETRA- Monday (BLD)
Breakfast is included at the hotel. Your private guide will always escort
you throughout the trip.
We drive south along the King's Highway, an ancient caravan route, to
Madaba to visit the church containing the oldest known map of Palestine
and the Holy Land. Continuing to Mount Nebo, we enjoy the panoramic view
of the Promised Land the way Moses saw it for the first time. Further
on, at Kerak, we tour the ruins of its romantic Crusaders' castle of Renaud
de Chatillon, one of a line which stretched from Aqaba to Turkey. Lunch
is included enroute in a local restaurant. Finally, we arrive to PETRA
. Dinner is included at the hotel .
Transfers
and tours are always on a private basis , with a private chauffeur, private
air-conditioned vehicle, and private guide
DAY 16 - PETRA - WADI RUM - Tuesday (BLD)
Today the fabulous Nabatean City of Petra awaits us. Made famous in the
Indiana Jones movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark," its ancient temples, tombs
and striking Khazneh (Treasury) were hewn right from the pink and violet
sandstone. After lunch at a local restaurant , we board four-wheel-drive
vehicles for an expedition to Wadi Rum, the "Valley of the Moon" where
T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") organized Arab resistance to Ottoman
rule during World War I. After our visit We spend a full day here, and
another night. Dinner is included at the hotel
Transfers
and tours are always on a private basis , with a private chauffeur, private
air-conditioned vehicle, and private guide
DAY
17 - AMMAN - Wednesday - Departure (B)
After breakfast , we return to Amman Airport . assistance with luggage
and formalities. Bon Voyage.
Transfers
and tours are always on a private basis , with a private chauffeur, private
air-conditioned vehicle, and private guide
For
guests that are going on to Syria
with us. You will continue on
to The Syrian border, visit Bosra before continuing to Damascus. Or if
you are touring Syria on your own, we'll be glad to arrange for the transfer
to Bosra in Syria ( Supplement $65 per person,
minimum 2 guests, private car/driver to Bosra), Do you Speak THE
LANGUAGE OF THE JESUS IN THE LAND OF THE BOOK ?
Visit Maaloula in Syria
RATES per
person in USD for the full program
Start
in Cairo
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Deluxe
Hotels
Nile Cruise |
First
Class Hotels
Nile Cruise |
Tourist
Class Hotels
Nile Cruise |
| Triple |
US$
4670.00 |
US$
4230.00 |
US$
4000.00 |
| Double |
US$
4785.00 |
US$
4312.00 |
US$
4110.00 |
| Single |
US$
6150.00 |
US$
5820.00 |
US$
5490.00 |
DEPARTURE
NOTES
Egyptian Wonders operates weekly
For departures during Christmas, New Year's , please add 20% to the rates
.
For Easter ( 2 weeks and only for the DELUXE rate category please add
20% supplement.
YOUR
TOUR INCLUDES:
-
Egyptian domestic airfares as described in the itinerary in economy
class.
- One
way air fare Cairo / Amman , in economy class , tax included.
- All
airport transfers and taxes in Egypt and Jordan , always on a private
basis, with a private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur .
- Hotel
accommodations (including taxes, service charges, and continental or
buffet breakfast daily ).
- Set-menu
(table d'hote) meals as indicated in the itinerary above.
- Guided
sightseeing by air-conditioned motorcoach, including all admissions
fees.
- Visa
fee is included & will be issued upon arrival in Cairo and Amman
l for : American, Canadian, Australian, NZ, Mexican , EU , South Africa,
Brazilian & Japanese citizens.
- A
Nile cruise with all shore excursions and meals.
- 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 Nile Cruise.
- Tea
or coffee and bottled water with each / every meal while you are on
board the Nile Cruise.
Not
included:
- Expenses
of personal nature, such as phone calls, laundry , beverages, etc
- Tips.
- Travel
Insurance
- International
air fare from/to your home country
DRESS
CODE
All of our luxury Nile cruise vessels are fully air conditioned. Onboard
dress is casual except at dinner, when smart casual is the rule, please
no shorts , T shirts for dinner . Lightweight cotton and other natural
fiber clothing is best, with swimsuits and sun hats for the sun-deck 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.
More
Choices :
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 .
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