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Indiana Jones himself couldn't squeeze more adventure into this journey:
Cairo , Memphis, Sakkara and the Pyramids, a cruise on the Nile, the
fabled temples and tombs of Luxor and Thebes, diving in the Red Sea,
the mountains of Sinai, and a trek to the mysterious ruins of Petra
in Jordan.
DAY
1 - DEPARTURE - Wednesday - Weekly - Year Round
We take off aboard Lufthansa, British Airways or Olympic Airways jet
from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. For West Coast
Passengers , you need not to fly via JFK, you will fly non-stop SFO
/ LAX / SEA/ SAN etc. on to Europe ( London, Frankfurt , Paris etc.
) then non-stop to Cairo . Air fare add-on available from major cities.
Overnight across the Atlantic. Handling
your own air fare : Please click here .
DAY
2- CAIRO - Thursday
Our Egypt-based local rep. greets you in bustling Cairo airport
and escorts you to your hotel . Egyptian visa may be secured by our
guests upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of nationalities
such as American, Canadian, Australian, NZ, EU and Japanese citizens,
please pay the $ 15 in cash upon arrival . Passports must be valid for
at least 6 month upon arrival).
After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you
to the hotel
.
DAY
3 - Alexandria Friday (BLD)
We leave Cairo before sunrise - if you are able
to extend your stay in Egypt by one day, then we can overnight in Alexandria
tonight to allow for a more relaxed itinerary - ( private air conditioned
car/driver/guide). We drive across northern Egypt and the Nile Delta
heading northwest for Alexandria: Full day tour of the Museum, the Catacombs,
the Roman Amphitheater, Qayet Bey Fortress, which 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. Visit the Crown Jewels Museum of the former
Egyptian Royal family , then its off to the new site for the Alexandria
Library, a brief walk through the local souks and Zanket el-Setat before
heading back south to
Wadi El Natroun monastery almost midway to Cairo , where early Coptic
Christians retreated here to escape the Roman persecution in the 4th
century AD.
Reach Cairo early evening and your hotel, where dinner awaits you .
DAY
4 - CAIRO- Dahshour, Memphis, Sakkara - Saturday (BLD)
A
morning tour takes us to the time capsule treasure of Dahshour,
the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo: DAHSOUR - 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.
After
lunch at Mena House : The afternoon is for Memphis and Sakkara,
including the Step Pyramid of Zoser , Nobles tombs and Mastabas and
the small yet charming Imhotep Museum .
In the evening we head back to Giza for the Pyramids Sound
and Light show.
Tonight dinner is included at Zeituni restaurant at the Four Seasons
Hotel in Cairo .
All tours in Cairo are on a private basis: private air-conditioned vehicle,
private chauffeur and private guide .
DAY
5 - Giza - Home Hosted Dinner - Sunday (BLD)
After breakfast we are off to tour Giza Pyramids
, the Sphinx, and Cheops Royal Barge Museum ( Solar boat) the oldest
known wooden royal barge . With a brief camel ride ( included ) for
the famous photo opportunity with the Pyramids in the background. WE
stop at Harania village before heading back to Cairo .
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-metre (140-foot)
cedar boat is a rare window on the Royal boats used by the kings of
Ancient Egypt.
We
are glad to include the entrance fee to get inside the Great Pyramid
, if interested , please read this first : 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 .
Lunch
is included at Abu El -Sid restaurant.
The afternoon is
devoted to : tour of Coptic Cairo : The Coptic Museum, the "hanging
- El-Moalaka Church, Beni Ezra Synagogue and the spot where Baby Moses
is believed to have been found by the Egyptian Queen and her entourage.
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 a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know
your preferences.
All
tours in Cairo are on a private basis: private air-conditioned vehicle,
private chauffeur and private guide .
DAY
6 - CAIRO -Monday (BLD)
After breakfast our first stop is the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures
of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, King Tut's Gold Treasure Hall , statuary,
precious stones and metals. We'll also stop at the Citadel of Saladin
and the Alabaster Mosque. Lunch
is included at Hadaik Al-Azhar and a walking tour of El -Darb El Ahmar
( Al-Azhar Park) , after
lunch we head for a walking tour of Khan El-Khalili and the Muizz LedeenAllah
newly restored medieval Islamic district, Wekalt El Ghouri and Gayer
Anderson Museum . Dinner at La Bodega restaurant.
DAY
7 - ASWAN - ABU SIMBEL - Aswan Tuesday (BLD)
After a very early breakfast , we head for Cairo Airport for your flight
to Aswan, and connect by air to Abu Simbel , where your Private car
/Driver guide await you in
Abu Simbel: In the larger 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 , after which retire to a comfortable hotel for refreshments.
Fly back to Aswan, arriving in time for a late lunch at your hotel.
Remainder of the day at leisure. , in the evening your guide will call
on you for a private horse-drawn carriage ride throughout Aswan. Dinner
is included at a local restaurant.
DAY
8 - ASWAN - Wednesday- Board Your Nile Cruise (BLD)
After breakfast at your hotel , we check-out and head for the Nubian
Museum , after which we head to the pier and check-in on board your
Nile cruise , and settle you into your cabin on your Nile steamer. Welcome
fruit basket awaits you in your cabin , in the afternoon : We'll visit
the enormous dams at Aswan and the Unfinished Obelisk , then board a
launch on to visit the Temples island of Philae, dedicated to the Ancient
Egyptian Goddess of Isis, that was later worshiped in Rome as well as
Ancient Greece, the temple was rescued from rising waters and reassembled
on this island.
DAY
9 - KOM OMBO- Thursday- On Board Your Nile Cruise (BLD)
We cruise northward down the Nile today, at a stately pace, disembarking
for a visit to Kom Ombo, the twin temple dedicated to the crocodile
river god, Sobek. We'll also see Haroeris, the solar disk.
DAY
10 - EDFU and LUXOR- Friday- On Board your Nile Cruise (BLD)
Horse-drawn carriages meet us at riverside to take us through Edfu to
the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt. Then we'll continue
beside the Nile to take in an array of ancient splendors: the Valley
of the Kings; the imposing tomb-temple of Queen Hatshepsut ; and, back
in Luxor, the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak. In the evening your guide
will call on you for a private horse-drawn carriage ride throughout
Luxor and the waterfront.
DAY
11- SHARM EL SHEIK - RED SEA - Saturday (B)
Now that you've seen the best of the Egypt of the Pharaohs, our guides
escort you to the airport. You'll fly over the Sinai Peninsula and land
at historic Sharm El Sheik on the Red Sea. You're at the beach and free
to swim, or explore under the waters.
DAY 12 -Ras Muhamed - Sunday (BL)
After
breakfast we head for the Ras Muhamed Nature Reserve , a true wonder
of free snorkeling equipment , entrance fees to the National Park is
included in our rate. Lunch is included at a local cafe / restaurant
in Sharm then return to your hotel. Sunset camel ride on the beach or
horse-back riding if you prefer .
DAY
13 - Sharm El-Sheikh - Petra - Monday (BLD)
We'll fly to Amman : non-stop from Sharm El-Sheikh or via Cairo ,air
fare is included in our rate in economy class, tax included , between
Egypt and Jordan . In Amman : our Jordan-based representative waits
to greet you. You'll drive south , and arrive at your hotel in Petra
for the night. Complimentary Jordanian visa fee (valid only for a limited
number of nationalities such as American, Australians, NZ, Canadians,
EU and Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid for at least 6 month
upon arrival). Lunch is included enroute, dinner is included at the
hotel in Petra .
DAY
14- PETRA- Tuesday
(BD)
We'll spend the entire day at Petra, the stunning desert city hewn by
the Nabateans from solid cliffs of pink and violet sandstone. Petra
was known in the bible as Sela, and rediscovered only in 1812. You'll
feel like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark as you penetrate
into the city through a narrow sandstone gorge, the Siq, and wander
among the Temple of the Winged Lion, tombs, Roman theater, and the imposing
Treasury.
In
the evening we will call on you for a unique experience :
Dine as a local : The Petra Kitchen is a delightful way to round out
your Jordan travel experiences. Like any home kitchen, The Petra Kitchen
is a relaxed, informal atmosphere where you’ll gather to prepare
an evening meal, working alongside local women under the supervision
of our chef.
Each
evening meal includes soup, cold and hot mezza ( appetizers ) and salads,
and a main course—all typical Jordanian dishes. You will have
get an inside glimpse of the secrets behind the famous regional cuisine
of the Levant.
The
Petra Kitchen offers an evening of learning, fun and a very special
dining experience, with each dish gaining the special flavor of a reward
well-earned. Great care has been taken to make The Petra Kitchen a truly
Jordanian experience—right down to the furnishings, all crafted
in Jordan, the tableware, all produced by the Iraq al Amir Women’s
Co-operative, and the aprons and table linens, all hand-embroidered
by the Jordan River Foundation.
Tour
experience tonight includes the cuisine course, meal and all non-alcoholic
beverages as well as take-home recipes for all dishes prepared that
evening.
DAY
15 - PETRA - WADI RUM / Mount Nebo - Madaba - Amman - Wednesday (BL)
After
breakfast at the hotel, 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 enjoy lunch at a local restaurant then we head
north an on to the King's Highway, an ancient caravan route, this afternoon
our goals are :Kerak Castle , we tour the ruins of its romantic Crusaders'
castle of Renaud de Chatillon, one of a line which stretched from Aqaba
to Turkey, then on to Madaba to visit the church containing the oldest
known map of 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, later
, we will escort you to Amman
and your hotel.
DAY
16 - JERASH - Dead Sea - Amman - Thursday (BLD)
After
breakfast at the hotel, we head for Jerash, among the best-preserved
Roman cities in the world, to tour its temples, theaters, churches and
colonnaded streets. From Jerash, we will escort you to a local restaurant
for lunch then we head for the Dead Sea , the lowest point on earth
, before we head back to Amman and time permitting we will try to stop
and tour the Citadel in Amman, dinner is included tonight at your hotel
in Amman. .
Quote
from our guests- Comments on the stop : Dead Sea :
" It was a relaxing and enjoyable stop, and the experience of just
trying to walk into the sea -- unsuccessfully as it lifts you onto your
back -- is extraordinary. Enjoying dinner at the outdoor Italian restaurant
(it's the grill during the day) at the Kempinski with the view over
the pool and the sea across to Israel resorts, to Jericho and to Jerusalem
in the distance was delightful. So it's a good stop and break from being
on the road.
-
Arne "
DAY
17 - DEPARTURE FOR HOME - Friday (B)
Our staff escorts you to the airport of Amman for your flight home.
Or, you may choose to add one of our extensions, and return later from
Jordan at no additional cost for your air fare.
Rates
per person in USD
| |
Deluxe
Hotels
|
First
Class
|
Modest
Tourist Class Hotels |
| Triple |
US
$ 6010. |
US
$ 5715. |
US
$ 5445. |
| Double |
US
$ 6160. |
US
$ 5865. |
US
$ 5525. |
| Single |
US
$ 7210. |
US
$ 6980. |
US
$ 6490. |
Easter,
Christmas, New Year's ( Dec 20 - Jan 3 ) : 10 % supplement will apply.
Add
Palestine , Israel and Jerusalem
Air
fare notes:
-
For
departures from most west coast cities, as well as Houston , Phoenix,
Dallas-Fort Worth or Atlanta in , please add $ 450 to the above
rates. This doesn't apply when you handle your own air fare.
-
For
travel in May thru end of Sep , please note that a $ 450 air-fare
supplement is added to the above rates. This doesn't apply when
you handle your own airfare .
-
When
you handle your own air fare, please deduct $500 from the listed
rate.
Inclusions:
- All
transfers in Egypt and Jordan, always on a private basis.
- International
air fares from New York to Cairo with return from Amman , as well
as flight within Egypt, all in economy class and between Egypt and
Jordan , tax included .
-
Air-conditioned hotel accommodations with tax and service charges
.
- Sightseeing
with professional guide and entrance fees as indicated .
- Meals
as indicated, with pre-set menu (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
.
- Lonely
Planet guidebook to Jordan and Egypt .
- Large
bottle of water ( per person), delivered daily to your cabin on
board the Nile cruise.
- Small
bottle of water ( per person ) with each meal, while you are on
board the Nile Cruise.
- Tea
or coffee with each meal while you are on board the Nile cruise.
- Jordanian
visa and Egyptian visa fee (valid only for EU , Australian, NZ,
American, Canadian , Korean, Singaporean & Japanese citizens. Passports
must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival).
- Jordanian
departure tax.
Not
included:
-
Personal
expenses and beverages
-
Gratuities
-
Additional
meals and services
-
Trip
interruption and cancellation insurance
-
Egyptian
visa may be secured by our guests upon arrival at Cairo Airport
for a limited number of nationalities , such as American,Canadian,
Australian, NZ, EU and Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid
for at least 6 month upon arrival).
Please pay the $15 USD in cash upon arrival . After exiting the
terminal, our local representative will escort you to the hotel
Sample
Hotels or similar
| |
Deluxe |
First
Class |
| Cairo
|
Hilton
. Sheraton . Sonesta
or similar |
Oases,
Holiday Inn
or similar |
| Aswan
|
Aswan
Movenpick, or Isis Island |
Basma
hotel or similar |
| Sharm
El Sheikh |
Hilton.
Sheraton. Sonesta. Marriott . Renaissance , or similar |
Novotel
or similar |
| Petra |
Marriott
Petra , Movenpick Petra , Taybet Zaman , or similar |
Golden
Tulip or similar |
| Dead
Sea |
Kempinski
Dead Sea Ishtar Hotel
Movenpick Dead Sea , or similar |
Dead
Sea Spa Hotel |
| Nile
Cruise |
M/S
Monaco, M/S Mojito,
M/S Lady Diana, or similar |
M/S
Nile Dream. M/S Ruby
or similar |
Egypt
& Jordan A La Carte- More
Choices :
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Compare
with the 22 days Wonders
of Egypt & Arabia
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