Egypt: Land of the Pharaohs!

October 10 to 27, 2010

Price TBD

This fun, nicely paced trip allows you plenty of time to see the highlights of Egypt. Includes sightseeing in Cairo (and the El Khalili Bazaar), a visit to the Luxor Temple, a chance to explore Abydoss (main site: Temple of Seti I, House of Million Years), cruise on the Nile River, and see the Valley of the Kings, visit the Aswan High Dam, tour the temples in Abu Simbel, and experience the Great Pyramids of Giza.

• Land only, per person, double occupancy
• Small group
• Nile River cruise
• Free time in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan
• 34 meals

 
Itinerary

Day 1: Depart the USA.

Day 2:Arrive Cairo You will arrive, be met by representatives of our local partner company, who will help you obtain the entry visa in a matter of minutes and then whisk you off to the five-star Grand Hyatt Hotel situated on the Nile. Our guide, Salma, will hold a meeting at the hotel later this afternoon. You will be oriented as to where exchange money, where to best buy bottled water, etc.

Day 3:Cairo A full day of sightseeing. Visit the Great Pyramids and take a camel ride. You will also visit the Sphinx and the Solar Boat Museum. Lunch will be a buffet type at the Mövenpick Hotel not far from the Pyramids.

Day 4:Cairo > Luxor  Our one-hour flight takes us to the ancient city of Luxor, where we’ll stay for the next three nights at the very nice Sonesta St. George Hotel situated right on the Nile. In the afternoon, you’ll visit Luxor Temple, located not far from the hotel. Or, we might visit the temple at night, so you can experience the beauty of the illuminated carvings and columns.

Day 5:Luxor Today we visit the famous Karnak Temple, which will dazzle your eyes and boggle your mind. Afternoon is free time.

Day 6: Luxor > Abydoss > Luxor After breakfast, you will be driven a few hours to Abydoss. The main site is the Temple of Seti I, called the House of Million Years. It also contains a list of the 120 gods of Ancient Egypt. Lunch will be a box lunch provided by the hotel. You will be back in Luxor late afternoon.

Day 7: Luxor > Board Nile Cruise boat This morning we cross the Nile to the west and visit the famous sites of the Valley of the Kings and Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari. In the Valley of the Kings you will have the opportunity to visit at least two of the tombs. You will also see the Colossi of Memnon.  After the tour, we transfer to the Sonesta Nile Goddess, where we will enjoy lunch and then have an afternoon free to enjoy the sun deck, the little pool, or head into town for more shopping.

Day 8: Nile Cruise. Be up on the sun deck at whatever time the ship leaves Luxor and heads down the Nile. We sail to Esna and pass through the lock and on to Edfu where we tie up for the night. You will enjoy drifting through history along with the sights and sounds around you. If you are like the others who have done this, you will spend some naptime in a lounge chair on the sun deck. Sunsets are wonderful!

Day 9:Nile Cruise. After breakfast we leave the boat and take a horse-drawn buggy ride to the Temple of Horus. Lunch will be on the ship and we then sail for Kom Ombo, where we visit the Temple shared by the two Gods, Sobek and Haroeris. We then set sail for Aswan. We sail on to Aswan during the night.

Day 10:Nile Cruise > Arrive Aswan. This morning you wake up in Aswan. You will enjoy a visit to the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, and a short boat ride to the Temple of Philae. This afternoon, you will enjoy a felucca (a small sailboat) ride sail on the Nile. We will walk through the Botanical Gardens on Kitcheners Island. Tonight there is a music show put on by Nubians (a darker skinned Egyptian with roots in the Sudan). One night while you are in Aswan you need to plan to go into the little town after sunset and walk through the market place.

Day 11: Aswan. Transfer to the Elephantine Mövenpick Hotel, which sits on Elephantine Island, for a two-night stay. There’s a terrific pool area for you to relax while you’re not exploring. The afternoon is free time. There’s a terrific bar at the top of the hotel from which to enjoy the sunset – don’t miss it!

Day 12: Aswan. Free day to explore. Maybe you rent your own felucca boat and captain for a few hours of private time on the Nile? Maybe make a visit to one of the local Nubian villages? Before sunset tonight, we will enjoy a camel ride into the desert to watch the sunset.

Day 13: Aswan > Abu Simbel. Abu Simbel is one of the major wonders of the world. We’ll have a short 45-minute flight, and then head to the Temples. You’ll marvel at their sheer size – amazing to think the hill was moved several hundred meters to escape the rising water level! Then, we’ll check into the very nice Seti Hotel. We’ll go see the Sound & Light Show this evening.

Day 14: Abu Simbel > Cairo. Today we fly from Abu Simbel to Aswan and then Aswan to Cairo. We are met and taken to the Grand Hyatt. The rest of the afternoon is free time.

Day 15: Abu Simbel > Cairo. A full day of sightseeing: Visit the world-famous Egyptian Museum (home of King Tut relics), Old Cairo, Ben Ezra Synagogue, the Church of Abu Sirga, Al Mo’alaqa Church, Citadel of Saladin, and the Mohammed Ali Alabaster Mosque.

Day 16: Cairo > Memphis-Sakkara >Cairo. Today we head south to Memphis, the original capital of Egypt. On this day your eyes will grow wide as you will be at the famous pyramids at Sakkara and Dahshour. This evening you will enjoy the famous Sound & Light Show at the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Day 17: Cairo. This morning we will visit the famous El Khalili Bazaar. It is like walking through a movie set. Shopping opportunities, of course. This afternoon is free time.

Day 18: Cairo > USA. Unless you are extending your visit, this is the day you fly from Cairo to the USA.

Want a copy of the detailed itinerary? Contact: travel@patandmikestravel.com