Tour Itinerary |
| Day 1. Cairo At
Leisure : When you arrive in Cairo you are entering a land that abounds in
wonders and mysteries, many of which will be revealed to you on this tour. After your
scheduled flight you are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for your three
night stay. Hotel: Cairo Sheraton. |
|
| Day 2. Cairo - Citadel & Egyptian Museum Excursion :
This
morning our Tour Director welcomes us to coffee and a detailed pre-tour briefing. Later we
visit the Citadel, from which we get a breathtaking view of the whole city. Salah El Din,
arch-adversary of the Crusaders, started the Citadel in the 12th century, but it owes its
present outline to Mohammed Ali, whose great alabaster Mosque we visit next. We then
continue to the famous Egyptian Museum, where among the many thousands of artifacts, we
will view Tutankhamun's splendid treasures. (BB) |
|
| Day 3. Cairo - Memphis, Sakkara, Pyramids & Phinx
Excursion : We start our day by visiting Memphis, the capital of the Old
Kingdom, where a colossal statue of Rameses II and a great alabaster sphinx await us.
Nearby at Sakkara we view the Step Pyramid of Zoser I, dating from 2686BC and the oldest
in the world. This afternoon we visit Giza, where a camel ride takes us to the Great
Pyramid of Cheops, for our guided tour of these magnificent monuments. Then we come face
to face with the inscrutable Sphinx. (BB) |
|
| Day 4. Cairo - Luxor : This morning we fly to
Luxor the former capital of the New Kingdom. In private moorings, near the edge of town,
our 5 star cruise boat awaits! We board in time for lunch and later visit Luxor Temple. We
also tour the awe inspiring temple complex of Karnak, returning this evening for a Sound
and Light show. There, among the avenues of sphinxes and halls of colossal columns, we
hear tales of ancient Thebes. (BB,L,D) |
|
| Day 5. Luxor - Valley Of The Kings - Cruising - Esna :
After
breakfast this morning we cross to the west bank of the Nile past the Colossi of Memnon.
We visit the amazing Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which blends dramatically into the cliff
face above before going on to the Valley of the Kings. This afternoon we cruise southwards
to Esna. (BB,L,D) |
|
| Day
6. Cruising - Edfu - Kom Ombo : This morning we sail to Edfu and visit the
beautifully preserved Temple of Horus, the Falcon God, and then continue to Kom Ombo to
visit the Temple of Sobek the crocodile god, conveniently situated on the river bank.
Tonight we enjoy a Oriental Dinner and Egyptian Galabea Party. (BB,L,HD) |
|
| Day
7. Cruising - Aswan : We arrive in Aswan in the early morning and our
sightseeing, shows us the Aswan High Dam and then, in contrast to its modernity, the
ancient Granite Quarries and the enormous Unfinished Obelisk. We go by boat to the
beautiful Temple of Isis, rising from the waters of the Nile on the Island of Philae. This
afternoon we sail in a traditional Nile felucca around Aswan's Botanical Gardens. (BB,L,D) |
|
| Day
8. Aswan - Cairo : Today there is an opportunity to visit Abu Simbel.
See opposite for details. We disembark today before transferring to the airport for our
return flight to Cairo. Hotel: Cairo Sheraton. (BB) |
|
| Day
9. Cairo : A short drive North from Sorrento lies Pompeii, preserved by
layers of ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. With a local guide, a tour of
the excavations here brings this ancient city to life. Then through the fields of Campania
and Latium to Rome. Hotel: Massimo D'Azeglio. (BB) |
|
| Day
10.Rome : Our tour ends this morning after breakfast with a transfer to the
airport. (BB) |
|
Important Information |
| Certain Nile cruises operate in reverse.
Due to the unreliability of domestic air scheduling, religious festivals and other
unforeseen circumstances, the order of this itinerary may need to change at short notice.
On some departures an alternative cruise boat of equal standard may be used. |
|
Please
Note |
| Please note that the Esna Lock will be
closed from 1st-30th June and 1st-16th December 2001, and cruise boats will not be
permitted to travel between Luxor and Esna at this time. On tours spanning these dates,
Luxor sightseeing as featured in the itinerary will be operated by coach from Esna instead
of by boat. |
|
Departure
Dates & Prices Tour Highlights Tour Itinerary |
|
|
