7-Day Egypt Tour

Saturday Oct 10, 2009 Arrivals in Cairo	Arrivals in Cairo. Plan to arrive at Cairo airport sometime during the day or evening, Saturday, October 10th. For those traveling from North American, you will need to leave on Friday, October 9th, with an overnight flight. We will have an English-speaking representative meet you inside Cairo Airport. He will help with visas, customs and getting your bags. You will then be brought to our hotel in Giza, near the pyramids. If you arrive in the afternoon you might like to see the Sound & Light Show at the pyramids tonight (optional). Hotel: Giza, near the pyramids, Le Meridien Pyramids, 5 Meals: none*
Sunday Oct 11, 2009 Giza Pyramids & Sphinx Camel Rides Cairo Museum	We begin our tour with the most famous sights in Egypt, the pyramids and Sphinx on the Giza Plateau. Go inside whichever pyramids are open (extra ticket of 100 LE for the Great Pyramid). Camel rides, if you would like, or just have your picture taken. Visit the Solar Boat museum to see a boat that is more than 4,000 years old! See the legendary Great Sphinx and hear the stories about it throughout the ages. In the afternoon we visit the Cairo Egyptian Museum with the largest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts of anywhere in the world. Of special interest is the King Tut collection and the Royal Mummy Room. We have a guided tour to see the most important objects and then there is free time to look at whatever you would like to. Optional shopping in the evening: papyrus institute. See how the papyrus is made, and have one made with your own name or someone you love. Hotel: Giza, near the pyramids, Le Meridien Pyramids, 5 Meals: BB, L.*
Monday Oct 12, 2009 Saqqara Step Pyramid & Tombs --- Imhotep Museum --- Fly to Luxor	Today at Saqqara we see the oldest pyramid of all - King Djoser's Step Pyramid, the one that started it all! Also here at Saqqara we see the Old Kingdom tombs that have scenes of the daily life of Ancient Egypt. The scenes show many activities by the people, as well as the animals, plants & birds. We also visit inside the Teti Pyramid which has the oldest Pyramid Texts ("Egyptian Book of the Dead") now available for viewing. Here in the Saqqara area we also visit the Imhotep Museum, a well-laid out modern museum displaying artifacts found at Saqqara. Saqqara's Step Pyramid was built early in Ancient Egyptian history and is surrounded by later constructions from all the following eras. Here at the museum there are artifacts from all periods. Especially memorable are the life-size wooden statues from the Old Kingdom. It feels as if you can look directly into the eyes of the Ancient Egyptians! Evening flight to Luxor. Our 5* hotel is right on the east bank of the Nile. Hotel: Sofitel Karnak, Sofitel Karnak Hotel 5 Meals: BB, D.*
Tuesday Oct 13, 2009 --- Valley of the Kings King Tut's Tomb Ramesses VI Tomb Ramesseum Hatshepsut's Temple --- Colossi of Memnon --- Felucca Ride	Here in Luxor we see the temples and tombs from the New Kingdom era. We begin our sightseeing on the West Bank of Luxor with the most famous site of all, the Valley of the Kings. This is where Howard Carter found King Tut's tomb and amazed the world with the many marvelous things found therein. The tomb of Ramesses VI was recently restored and is truly spectacular (extra ticket is included in your tour). You will also get to choose another 3 tombs to visit. One of our favorite temples is not on the normal tourist route, so it is particularly nice to visit. The mortuary temple of the famous Ramesses II is called the Ramesseum. It is also a good temple to start with because it is not too big and gives us a chance to learn the basic elements of the temples. This is also the temple with the fallen colossus that inspired a poem by Shelley. No trip to Egypt would be complete without a visit to Hatshepsut's Deir El Bahari Temple. Called "The Most Splendid of All," it was built at the very beginning of the New Kingdom and served as an inspiration for the generations to come. The Colossi of Memnon are actually huge statues of Amenhotep III, but the Greeks thought they were their god Memnon, so it became a pilgrimage spot for them. We finish our day with a Felucca sailboat ride on the legendary River Nile. Late in the day as the sun is setting is the most picturesque time, and it is also a fun way to get back to our hotel on the East Bank. You can also ride in our private bus back to the hotel, if you don't want to do the boat ride. Optional shopping opportunity: Wish you could have a necklace just like King Tut? The Egyptian craftsmen specialize in gold and silver jewelry with Egyptian themes. Visit a local Gold Shop, if you would like. Hotel: Sofitel Karnak, Sofitel Karnak Hotel, 5 Meals: BB, D.*
Wednesday Oct 14, 2009 Luxor Temple Karnak Temple Karnak Open Air Museum --- Luxor Museum --- Shopping at the street bazaar	Today we see the sights on the East Bank of Luxor. We begin with Temple of Luxor before the crowds arrive. The Avenue of the Sphinxes leads to us to this picturesque temple with its obelisk and colossi statues of Ramesses II guarding the entrance. Built mostly by Amenhotep III, there is a wide open court that portends the open-roofed temples of his successor, Akhenaten, worshipper of the sun-god Aten. Next we visit the largest temple complex of all, Karnak. Not just a temple, but a whole series of temples with the magnificent Hypostyle Hall in the middle of the central axis. We also visit the Open Air Museum, where we seen the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut and Thutmosis III, the Middle Kingdom White Chapel and a number of other exquisite artifacts. A visit to the life-size statue of the lioness Goddess Sekhmet can also be a memorable event, so we will visit it, too, even though it is outside the main temple. In the early evening we visit the Luxor Museum. There is a special room here for a group of statues that were found recently buried under Luxor Temple. A modern museum, like the Imhotep Museum, the artifacts are well displayed and arranged, making it a very pleasant museum to visit. Optional shopping opportunity: Luxor is a relaxing town with many delightful shops and a street bazaar that is perfect for buying all those inexpensive souvenirs. You can enjoy the bazaar or head back to the hotel, whichever you would like. Hotel: Sofitel Karnak, Sofitel Karnak Hotel, 5 Meals: BB, D.*
Thursday Oct 15, 2009 Edfu Temple --- Kom Ombo	Departing from Luxor we travel by road in a private A/C bus from Luxor to Aswan. Sightseeing at Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple. Traveling by road enables us to visit these temples when the large crowds from the cruise boats are not there. Overnight at a 4 or 5 star hotel in Aswan upon arrival. Edfu Temple was built during the Ptolemaic (Greek) era and is dedicated to the god Horus, the falcon. Here the original hero, Heru (Ancient Egyptian name) or Horus (Greek name), fights the evil Seth, represented as a crocodile, hippopotamus, etc. The walls of this temple show this drama and it is easy to see how this story later evolved into St George vs. the dragon - a common theme in the Egyptian Coptic Christian Church. Kom Ombo Temple is actually for two triads of gods, instead of one - a form of the falcon god, Horus, and the crocodile god, Sobek. This Ptolemaic Temple is particularly known for the wall reliefs that show the various medical instruments that were used. Evening: You can visit the Nubian Museum or shop at the street bazaar this evening on your own. Hotel Basma Hotel, 4 or Elephantine Island, 5. Meals: BB, D.
Friday Oct 16, 2009 Philae Isis Temple --- Unfinished Obelisk --- Flight from Aswan to Cairo Options: Abu Simbel by air Lake Nasser Cruise from Aswan to Abu Simbel	Visit the Philae Isis Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk (granite quarry of Hatshepsut) this morning. The Philae Isis Temple is located on an island in the Nile south of Aswan. Visits are made by motor boat to this beautiful temple complex dedicated to the Goddess Isis and to the Goddess Hathor. This was the last place the Ancient Egyptian religion was practiced. It was closed by the Emperor Justinian and later used as a Christian church. The Unfinished Obelisk still lies in the granite quarry in Aswan. It cracked before if was fully removed from the bedrock. This gives us an opportunity to see how the obelisks were cut. Afternoon flight back to Cairo for those who are completing their tour here. Hotel: Novotel Cairo Airport, 4. Meal: BB only.* ___________________________________________________________________ Option: Abu Simbel by air with afternoon sightseeing in Aswan. Early morning departure from Aswan to visit the Abu Simbel Temples by air. The visit in Abu Simbel is about 2 hours. Return flight to Aswan. Private tour to visit the Philae Isis Temple and Unfinished Obelisk in the afternoon (others from the tour will visit in the morning while you are at Abu Simbel). Late evening flight from Aswan back to Cairo. Overnight with others from the tour at a hotel near Cairo airport. Price: $285 USD per person. Hotel: Novotel Cairo Airport, 4 or Sonesta Heliopolis, 5. Meal: BB only. Option: Abu Simbel by air without sightseeing in Aswan. Early morning departure from Aswan to visit the Abu Simbel Temples by air. The visit in Abu Simbel is about 2 hours. Return flight to Aswan. Continue with the afternoon flight from Aswan back to Cairo with others from the tour at a hotel near Cairo airport. Price: $240 USD per person. Hotel: Novotel Cairo Airport, 4 or Sonesta Heliopolis, 5. Meal: BB only. ___________________________________________________________________ Option: MS Eugenie Lake Nasser Cruise. Begin your cruise in Aswan after visiting The Philae Isis Temple and Unfinished Obelisk with the tour group. Overnight in Aswan. For a more detailed cruise itinerary see: Luxor-Aswan with Lake Nasser Cruise itinerary. The cruise schedule is the same, although this cruise begins on Friday. Cruise finishes in Abu Simbel on Monday, October 19th. Return Abu Simbel-Aswan by road, flight Aswan-Cairo with overnight. Depart Egypt on Tuesday, October 20th. Cruise boat: MS Eugenie, 5 Deluxe. Meals: BB, L, D.* Prices: 4 day/3 night Lake Nasser Cruise, 1 hotel night near Cairo Airport $995 USD per person in Double Occupancy --- $1,295 USD per person in Single Occupancy
Saturday Oct 17, 2009 Departure	Departures for home. There is a free shuttle from the hotel to the airport terminals. Hotel check out is by noon. You can add additional days in Cairo: sightseeing in Old Cairo (Coptic churches and Coptic museum), a 2nd visit to the Cairo museum, Islamic sights and museum. Contact Us. Or begin a tour of Petra & Jordan, a Sinai desert tour or other Extensions. Meal: BB only. There may be changes to this itinerary which are beyond our control. Prices --- Top of the Page