| 10 Days ~ Egypt
Tour Pace
Relaxed and leisurely as you
would expect with our most upmarket Nile cruise. With four nights in Cairo,
and overnight stops in Aswan and Luxor, you have the opportunity to take in
and fully appreciate all the ancient tombs, museums, temples and monuments
on this well paced tour.
DAY 1 – TUE – ARRIVE
CAIRO
Welcome to Egypt - part of the
Holyland, furnished with ancient temples and tombs, and lavish backdrop for
many of history’s most enthralling tales. On arrival in Cairo, you will be
met and transferred to one of the best hotels in Cairo, where your room will
overlook the River Nile. Hotel: Conrad.
DAY 2 – WED – CAIRO
SIGHTSEEING
After breakfast and a detailed
pre-tour briefing with your Tour Director, there is no better introduction
to Egypt than a visit to the Egyptian Museum! There are mind boggling
exhibits from all periods of Egyptian history, but it’s the treasures
recovered from Tutankhamun’s tomb that will take your breath away. Then time
to visit the famous Khan El Khalili bazaars to try your bargaining skills.
This evening attend a magical Sound & Light Show at the world famous
Pyramids, which literally illuminates the ancient history of Giza!
(Buffet breakfast)
DAY 3 – THU – CAIRO –
ASWAN
A morning flight across the
Egyptian desert takes you to the exotic city of Aswan. There is the option
of joining an excursion by air to Abu Simbel to view the fabulous temples
carved out of the cliff side by Rameses II and later transported, in an
amazing feat of modern engineering, out of the rising waters of Lake Nasser
(see page 142 for details). Later, take a ride in a local sailing boat, a
felucca, around Kitchener Island, to see Aswan’s Botanical Gardens. Stay on
the banks of the Nile in one of Egypt’s most elegant hotels, built in the
19th century by Thomas Cook. As night falls, you are treated to high tea on
the terrace of your hotel while enjoying the glowing sunset. Hotel: Old
Cataract. (Buffet
breakfast)
DAY 4 – FRI – ASWAN –
CRUISING
Visit the Aswan High Dam and
the granite quarries where many of Ancient Egypt’s obelisks were made. See
the unfinished obelisk still attached to the granite bedrock, commissioned
by Hatshepsut but abandoned due to a large fault line. Take a motorboat
across the Nile to the extraordinarily preserved temple complex of Isis on
the island of Philae before boarding one of the most stylish and spacious
boats in Egypt for your all-inclusive cruise. Set sail for Kom Ombo to see
the riverside temple, uniquely dedicated to both the crocodile god, Sobek,
and the falcon-headed Horus. Continue cruising and dock overnight at Edfu.
Ship: MS Tower Prestige/MS La Boheme.
(Buffet breakfast
, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 5 – SAT – CRUISING
This morning you visit the well
preserved temple of Horus at Edfu, dedicated to the Falcon God. Sit back and
relax with a cold soft drink, local beer, glass of wine or bottle of water –
all included on the cruise. Enjoy the ever-changing scenery as you float
downstream to Luxor. On arrival, take a horse & carriage ride to visit the
beautiful temple of Luxor.
(Buffet breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 6 – SUN – CRUISING
Cross the Nile by
air-conditioned coach to the West Bank to see the huge Colossi of Memnon,
and visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, blending into the cliff face above.
Visit the Valley of the Kings, where the archeologist Carter unearthed
Tutankhamen’s secret tomb. Return to Luxor to visit the immense Karnak
temple, dedicated to the sun god Amom. Wander amid the avenues of sphinxes
and halls of gigantic columns – an unforgettable journey into the world of
Ancient Egypt. For your last night on board, don traditional attire for a
fun-filled Egyptian Dinner and Galabea Party.
(Buffet breakfast
, Lunch, Specialty Highlight
Dinner)
DAY 7 – MON – LUXOR AT
LEISURE
Disembark your cruise boat this
morning and check into your famous hotel. Originally built in 1886 to
attract the nobility of Europe, it has been home to Howard Carter, Jane
Fonda, King Farouk as well as many other crown princes and princesses. Spend
the afternoon at leisure. A visit to the Luxor Museum is just one
suggestion. Hotel: Old Winter Palace.
(Buffet breakfast)
DAY 8 – TUE – LUXOR –
CAIRO
After breakfast, transfer to
the airport for your flight back to Cairo where you are at leisure. Perhaps
take an optional excursion to visit the Coptic Museums and hanging church?
Hotel: Conrad.
(Buffet breakfast)
DAY 9 – WED – CAIRO
SIGHTSEEING
Your tour comes to an exciting
climax today with a tour of the riches of Giza. First drive to Sakkara to
see the Step Pyramid of King Zoser; the oldest pyramid in the world, it
dates from 2700 BC. Now enjoy a guided tour of Giza where you see the
enigmatic Sphinx and the magnificent Pyramids with a highlight visit inside
one of these extraordinary creations!
(Buffet breakfast)
DAY 10 – THU – DEPART
CAIRO
The tour ends with transfers to
Cairo Airport.
(Buffet breakfast)
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