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11 Days Egypt - Jewels Alone The Nile Luxury River Cruise Vacation Package
Duration: 11 Days/ 10 Nights
Priced From: $4,500 pp Dbl. Occ.
Dates: Jan - May, Sep - Dec /08
Delve into a fascinating civilization where architectural feats and antiquities still amaze thousands of years after their creation. Egypt is an intriguing land of pyramids, temples, colossal statues, mummies, golden treasures, and hieroglyphic symbols. Our Egypt tour includes a cruise on the Nile aboard a traditional felucca, a ride on a camel among pyramids, and exploration of antiquities with an Egyptologist. See the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza, the Temple of Karnak at Luxor, King Tut's Tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Old Cairo, and more. A special Exclusive - views of the Pyramids from your hotel room in Cairo; your hotel is a former royal hunting lodge. And of course, no Egypt tour is complete without a cruise along the River Nile; spend three days aboard Nile Adventurer, one of the nicest cruisers.
Itinerary
• Indicates day of cruising
Day 1: Welcome to Cairo
Your Egypt tour begins at the Oberoi Mena House. A transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to your hotel, a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge. Your room looks out on to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Meals: A snack in your hotel room upon late arrival
Lodging: Oberoi Mena House, Cairo, Egypt
Day 2: The Sphinx, Great Pyramid, and a camel rideEnjoy a camel ride on Day 2
A visit to the Pyramids is on every world-traveler's must-see list, and is an iconic image of an Egypt tour. Visit the Solar Boat Museum, whose main attraction is an ancient Egyptian cedarwood boat dating back 4,500 years. At Giza, see the Sphinx guarding the plateau, as it has for the same 4,500 years. Marvel at the Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), a crowning architectural achievement. Cap the day with a camel ride among the Pyramids. Attend a welcome reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Oberoi Mena House, Cairo, Egypt
Day 3: Exploring and bargaining in Cairo
A walking tour visits the Church of St. Sergius, a 5th-century Coptic Christian Church; Ben Ezra Synagogue, built in 882; and the Amr ibn al-As Mosque, the first mosque on the continent of Africa. There are Roman fortress ruins, as well as modern buildings like the Parliament House. Check out the spices and silks in the medieval bazaar of Khan el-Khalili, one of the biggest bazaars in the Middle East.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Oberoi Mena House, Cairo, Egypt
• Day 4: Temples for Ramesses, Nefertari and Isis
Take a private charter flight to Abu Simbel to see the Great Temple honoring Ramesses II with four 67-foot-high seated statues of him at the entrance. The adjacent Temple of Hathor is dedicated to his wife, Queen Nefertari. Cross part of the famous Sahara Desert to Aswan to visit the Aswan High Dam, completed in 1971. Embark the Nile Adventurer to start your cruise, then take a boat to the relocated island temple complex of Philae dating from the 4th century BC, and dedicated to the goddess Isis. Enjoy welcome cocktails with ship officers aboard the Nile Adventurer.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard Nile Adventurer
• Day 5: Nile cruising and temples
Glimpse river life while cruising the Nile. Stop to tour the Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual double temple, and the Temple of the Falcon God Horus in Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Enjoy the special shipboard Egyptian Night event.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard Nile Adventurer
• Day 6: Temples of Karnak & Luxor
Your Egypt tour continues at the vast Temple of Karnak, built over a span of 1,300 years, and one of the world’s largest temple complexes. Examine the Temple of Luxor, noted for the avenue of sphinxes, grand colonnades, and colossal statues of Ramesses II. Then visit the Luxor Museum, displaying rich archeological finds from the region’s temples and tombs, and ride a horse-drawn carriage through the Luxor bazaar. Enjoy the Nile Adventurer farewell dinner with local entertainment.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard Nile Adventurer
Day 7: Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens
Led by an Egyptologist, travel to the Valley of the Queens revealing 80 tombs of royal family members. See the 15th-century BC Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, designed in terraces at the base of a sheer limestone cliff. Then explore the Valley of the Kings, where at least 62 ornately decorated tombs for the pharaohs were hidden. Visit the fabled tomb of King Tutankhamun, discovered in 1922 with its glorious treasures intact, an Egypt tour highlight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Nile Palace Hotel, Luxor, Egypt
Day 8: King Tut’s treasures at the Egyptian Museum
Fly to Cairo after a morning sail on a felucca, a traditional sailboat. Explore the Egyptian Museum’s world-renowned collection of antiquities, many 5,000 years old. Behold treasures found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb, including his golden funeral mask, solid gold coffin, carved throne, and jewelry. Meet ancient rulers face-to-face in the Royal Mummy Room.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence, Cairo, Egypt
Day 9: Discover Ancient Memphis & Sakkara
Travel to the site of Ancient Egypt's first capital, Memphis. In Sakkara, visit the Teti Pyramid, and the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world's first monumental structure built of stone. After some time at leisure, the elaborate light and sound show at the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza is a spectacular way to end the day.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence, Cairo, Egypt
Day 10: Cairo’s Citadel
Take a walking tour of the Citadel, an impressive mountaintop complex fortified against the Crusaders in 1176. View Cairo’s minarets and domes from the ramparts, and visit the Turkish-style Mohammed Ali Mosque. Enjoy some free time in Cairo in the afternoon, followed by a special farewell reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence, Cairo, Egypt
Day 11: Bound for home
Tour ends at Cairo. A transfer is included from the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo to Cairo International Airport; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
Meals: Breakfast
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Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252
12/08
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