Our deluxe tour of Cairo and the Nile gives and a short stay in the Sahara with camping- if you wish - in the desert , give you an in-depth look at the wonders of Egypt . Meet the local, enjoy a home hosted meal. Tour departs weekly on Sundays. Add Abu Simbel . Extend to Alexandria or to Petra & Jordan

DAY 1 - USA/CAIRO - Sunday
Your wide-body jet departs the USA bound for Cairo. Overnight across the Atlantic.
Sample carriers : British Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss, KLM etc. Egyptair is the only one that's nonstop and get's you to Cairo in the afternoon ( Day 2 ). Egyptair is the only non-stop flight JFK Cairo . With an afternoon arrival. Upgrade to business class :$2500. OR $ 3500 for first class Roundtrip with tax on Egyptair. ( Subject to change without notice) . ( Subject to change without notice)

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 9 - 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 10 - 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 11 - ASWAN - Abu Simbel - Cairo- Wednesday (cB)
The mighty Aswan dams and the Nubian Museum are our first goal this morning, followed by a trip by motor launch to the Philae temples.

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 , join the local group tour ( Private guide /tour is available for an additional $ 75 per person ) .
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 12 - Giza , Memphis , Sakkara - Thursday (cBL)
In the morning, we visit the majestic pyramids of Giza and the timeless Sphinx. The afternoon is for Memphis and Sakkara, including the Step Pyramid of Zoser & Nobles tombs/Mastabas. In the evening, we return to the Pyramids for an awe-inspiring sound-and-light show.

DAY 13 - CAIRO - Friday (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 El Bahariya Oases - Saturday (aBLD)
Early morning departure before sunrise to be able to watch the sunrise over the Sahara.
We board a private four wheel vehicle and proceed west on the Sahara Highway, ( 180 Kilometers from Cairo to El Bahariya), visiting Qaser Sleim , Alexander's Tomb & Museum of Golden Mummies . Lunch & Dinner at the hotel Beshimo Lodge Evening Bedouin folk show

DAY 15 - El Farafra Oases ( White Desert ) - Sunday (BLD)
After a morning tour of El Bahariya we head for the White Desert ( 180 Kilometers) , on the way we'll stop ay Crystal Mountain to marvel at the different Shapes of Lime Stones , arrive Farafra Oasis , where we will camp for the night. ( In a tent) , dinner will be camp style. This tour may not be suitable for families with children who may not be used to camping, and the lack of hotel amenities. Guests must show proof of insurance before embarking on any camping trip with us regardless of the destination be it Moroccan Sahara, Tunisian Oases or the Egyptian Western Desert or in Sinai. BBQ dinner at the White Desert.
If you prefer to stay at a hotel then we 'll move back to El Farafra Oases and : Badawiya Hotel

DAY 16 - CAIRO - Monday (B)
Early morning camp style breakfast before sunrise, drive back to Cairo ( 380 Kilometers).
Remainder of the day at leisure.

DAY 17 - DEPARTURE - Tuesday (cB)
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home.  Bon Voyage.

RATES per person in US$

DEPARTURE NOTES
Egyptian Wonders departsweekly year round
For departures during Easter ( 2 weeks) , or : Dec 20 - Jan 2: Christmas, New Year's , please add 15% to the rates .

DINING NOTES
The set-menu meals included in your tour are indicated in the itinerary: B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast), L = Lunch, D = Dinner. On our luxury Nile cruise vessels, our spacious dining rooms accommodate all passengers at one seating, so there is no need to worry about making reservations.

Air Fare High Season:
In addition, for any departures from May 1 through Sep 30 , Dec 20 - Jan 2 , please add $300 high-season airfare surcharge to the rates shown above. This doesn't apply when you handle your own air fare.

If you choose to make your own arrangements for international airfare, please deduct $500 per person from the rates.

Land Arrangements High Season and Departure Notes:

For departures during Easter ( 2 weeks season ) , or : Dec 20 - Jan 2: Christmas, New Year's , please add 15% to the rates .

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:

• International airfare from New York, US departure tax. ( When you handle ear own air fare, please deduct $500)

• Egyptian domestic airfares as described in the itinerary in economy class, please ad $ 150 to upgrade to business class ( limited to Egypt's domestic flights between Cairo and the Cruise ) .
  
• All airport transfers and taxes in Egypt.
• Hotel accommodations (including taxes).
• Set-menu (table d'hote) meals as indicated in the itinerary above.
• A Nile cruise with all shore excursions and meals.
• Guided sightseeing by air-conditioned motor coach, including all admissions fees.
• Visa fee is included & will be issued upon arrival for : American, Canadian, Australian, NZ, Mexican , EU , South Africa, Brazilian & Japanese citizens.
• 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.

Click here for this same program with an extension to Alexandria. Or Jordan

Sample deluxe cruises: M/S Adonis , M/S Monaco , M/S Mojito / M/S Monte Carlo, Lady Diana ( subject to availability).

Upgrade : 20 % Supplement applies:
M/S Queen TI-YI , Radamis II ( Movenpick ), Nile Vision , Moon Goddess , Amarco . ( subject to availability).

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.

Not included:

• Expenses of personal nature, such as phone calls, laundry , beverages, etc
• Tips.
• Travel Insurance (we'll be glad to send you the flyer upon request).

• The 14 Day version without International air fare

• Add Abu Simbel Temples in Nubia .
  
• Add Alexandria
  
• Add Jordan
  
• Add a Foray into the Egyptian desert and visit one of the Oases
  
• Mediterranean Fantasies
  Luxury Nile Cruise & The Greek Isle of Santorini. This 12 -day itinerary combines a Nile Cruise of Ancient Egypt with Classical Athens & the romance of the honeymoon Greek Isle of Santorini
  Arrive any day (subject to cruise availability: Mar-Oct)

Egypt's Last Royal Family :
Photo Album: King Farouk, Queen Farida and Princess Feryal

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 .

Dine with the Pharaohs - Your special wedding or company party :

We will arrange a Dinner with the Pharaohs in Luxor for your party of from 25 to 150 guests. A sector of the splendid Hatshepsut Temple , or Luxor Temple will be set aside for your exclusive use. Karnak Temples in Luxor and Philae Temple in Aswan are available but at four times the cost of doing it at Hatshepsut or Luxor Amon Temple, as the Sound & Light shows will be canceled to allow for your dinner party.