Day 1 Cairo
Arrival at Cairo airport, where our representative
will meet and assist you through visa formalities. Transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 Memphis/Sakkara/Pyramids
Drive through a picturesque rural area to Memphis,
the capital of the Old Kingdom. View the colossal reclining statue of Ramses,
the Alabaster Sphinx, and the ruins of the Temple of Ptah where the Apis Bulls
were worshipped. Proceed to the Necropolis of Sakkara to view the Step Pyramid
of Zoser, the Serapeum, the Tomb of Ty, the Tomb of Ptah-Hotep, and the burial
chamber of Ounas with its richly inscribed walls. In the afternoon, drive from
the center of Cairo to visit one of the seven wonders of the ancient world,
the Pyramids of Giza - the great Cheops, 479 feet high, Khefren, 470 feet high,
and Mycerinus, 217 feet high - all towering majestically over the silent wondrous
Sphinx. Return to your hotel.
Day 3 Museum/Citadel/Khan
el Khalilil
Visit the Egyptian Museum, with its thousands of Pharaonic
artifacts, including the fabulous treasures of Tut-ankh-amon. Drive through
central Cairo around the bustling squares: Opera, Talaat Harb, Mustafa Kamil,
Ramses and Tahrir. Cross Abu-el-Ela Bridge to Zamalek on Gezira Island, location
of the Sporting Club, Cairo Tower and the new Opera House. In the afternoon
tour the Citadel, the Medieval fortress of Salah El Din and location of the
beautiful Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali. Proceed to the Sultan Hassan Mosque,
built between 1356-60 - one of the largest mosques in the world. Directly opposite
is the Mosque of Rifai, where members of the Royal family are entombed, as well
as the Shah of Iran. Stroll through the ancient twisting passages of Khan El
Khalili Bazaar. Back to your hotel.
Day 4
Transfer to the Airport or -
Drive to the Sinai Desert. Cross the Suez Canal and drive to St. Catherine Village
for overnight.
Day 5 Sinai
Climb to the top of Mt. Sinai. After breakfast visit
St. Catherine Monastery, then drive to the border to cross into Israel (or to
Jordan). (Cruise can also be of 4 Days. Four - and five-star ships are available.)
Cruse on the Nile
Day 1
Luxor/Karnak/Esna Fly, or enjoy a sleeper night train, to Luxor. Visit the
Temple of Karnak, which took over 1,500 years to build, and is considered
to be the world's largest religious complex. Visit the Temple of Luxor, started
by Amenhotep III, and completed by Ramses II. Sail to Esna. Lunch, dinner
and overnight on board cruise ship.
Day
2 Thebes
- Valley of Kings and Queens
Cross the Nile to visit the necropolis of ancient Thebes. Explore the Valley
of the Kings and Queens, where tombs of 64 pharoahs and 75 queens have been
discovered. Enter some of the most important burial tombs. Visit the impressive
Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Breakfast, lunch, dinner
and overnight on board.
Day 3 Edfu/Kom-Ombo
Visit the Temple of God Khnum. Sail to Edfu. Visit the Temple of Horus, Sail
to Kom-Ombo. Lunch, dinner and overnight on board.
Day 4 Aswan/Abu Simbel
Visit the Temple of Sobek - the crocodile god. Sail to Aswan. Visit the Botanical
Gardens and the Agha Khan Mausoleum by felucca. Optional visit to Abu Simbel,
to visit the Great Temple, hewn in the rock. Get impressed by the four colossal
seated statues of the king in front of the entrance. Visit the Temple of the
King's wife, that was removed in pieces from its original site and was rebuilt
on a plateau above the former site. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight
on board.
Day 5
Visit the High Dam, the Granite Quarries and the unfinished Obelisk. Transfer
to the Airport or to your night train back to Cairo.