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"Wonders
of Egypt - Family Tour"
Includes
Giza Pyramids, Cairo, Luxor and a 1-day Nile Cruise to Dendera
Open to people ages 7 years and above.
Those under 18 must be
accompanied by an adult.
Single travelers also welcome.
8-day Egypt Tour -
Sunday, Nov 21 - Sunday, Nov 28, 2010 (American Thanksgiving week)
(departures one day earlier if leaving from the
North America or Australia).
Day-by-Day Itinerary & Prices
--- Optional Extensions before or after
tour |
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"Wonders
of Egypt - Family Tour"
November
21-28, 2010
Land
Only Prices*
Adults & children ages
12+: $2,995* USD per person in double occupancy.
Single Supplement: $400 USD
Children (ages 7-11 years old at time of tour): $2,195* USD sharing a room with an adult.
* Prices above
are for those sharing a hotel room & include: Flights from
Cairo-Luxor and Luxor-Cairo, two 5-star
hotels, 2 meals per day (a large buffet breakfast & lunch), bottled water at all times, sightseeing with
entrance fees as described below.
Additional fees may be required
for activities listed as Optional.
Complete list of what is included.
*Early Bird
Special: Deduct $200 USD per traveler when you pay in full by July 17,
2010. |
Saturday,
Nov 20, 2009
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Departures
from home for people coming from North America or Australia:
For those departing from USA, Canada or Australia, you will take
overnight flights that arrive in Egypt the following day. Contact
Us for help with finding the best flight options for you.
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Day 1
Sunday
Nov 21, 2010
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Plan to arrive in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday, Nov 21, 2010.
An English-speaking
representative will meet you at Cairo airport and bring you to our hotel
near the pyramids.
Overnight:
5-star hotel near the pyramids. Le Meridien Pyramids or similar.
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Saqqara
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Imhotep
Museum
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Blue Lotus &
Local Farmers
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Memphis
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Day 2 -
Monday, Nov 22, 2010
Here in the Cairo area we
begin with a visit to the oldest pyramid of all, King Djoser's Step Pyramid.
It was built more than 4,500 years ago! This was the beginning, and
it is the beginning of our tour, too.
It is here at the Saqqara
complex that we get to see the early versions of the Book of the
Dead (Teti Pyramid) and some tombs with scenes of the
daily life in the Old Kingdom. See what life on the Nile looked
like more than 4,000 years ago - people, animals, food, farming, making
glass & jewelry, kids playing games and lots more.
Here at Saqqara we also have the pleasure of seeing the newly opened Imhotep Museum - a
beautifully laid out modern museum with a number of wooden statues from
the Old Kingdom that are particularly memorable. It is a small
museum, so will be a short visit. All the items on exhibit were
found here at Saqqara and have not been on public display before.
Ruth has some
friends in the Saqqara area who have a guesthouse in the Black Land, the
farming area. Hopefully they will be home and able to welcome us for
lunch. It's also a chance to see some the nearby farmers and their animals
up close. See Blue
Lotus of Saqqara Guesthouse.
On our way
back to Giza we stop at what was once the capital city of Ancient Egypt, Memphis.
See the huge statue of Ramesses II and the Alabaster Sphinx.
Optional:
- Sound & Light Show at the Giza pyramids in the
evening. Cost: $25 pp.
Overnight:
5-star hotel near the pyramids. Le Meridien Pyramids or similar.
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Giza
Plateau

Solar Boat
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Camel Rides
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Day 3 -
Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010
Today is Giza
Pyramids
day! The most famous pyramids of all. We visit and
go inside whichever pyramid is open. Of the three pyramids,
two will be open and one closed for renovations - dates are not announced
in advance. There is an additional ticket of 100 LE (about $17 USD)
for the Great Pyramid. On that day, you will decide if you want to
take this option and go inside. The ticket for the other pyramid that will
be open is included in your tour price.
In the Solar Boat Museum
we see a boat that is almost 5,000 years old and was found 50 years ago,
here beside the pyramid. The trees that were used to build it most
have been huge, because the boards run the whole length of the boat!
We will also see the Great Sphinx &
Valley Temple. The stones that make up the walls of the Valley
Temple are HUGE, too large for us to move and place so precisely
today. How did they do it? What do you think?
Camel rides for
the adventurous. Here's your chance to ride across the desert with
the pyramids there nearby (and, of course, have your picture taken as
well).
Back at our hotel it is time to pack your bags to get ready for leaving
Cairo tomorrow.
Optional:
- Go inside the Great Pyramid. Cost: 100 LE (about $18 USD). Optional:
- Gold Shop (jewelry).
Overnight: 5-star hotel
near the pyramids. Le Meridien Pyramids or similar.
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Papyrus Institute
Cairo Museum
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Day
4 -
Wednesday, Nov 24, 2010
In the morning we drive into Cairo,
the biggest center of culture and learning in the Middle East, and one of
the largest, most crowded cities in the entire world. On our way we
visit a papyrus
institute and see how the ancient papyrus was made. Includes a
shop where you can buy your own as well.
Right in the center of the city is
the famous Cairo Egyptian Museum. Your guides point out the
most famous pieces and then there is free time to look at whatever
interests you the most. The treasures of King Tut, the Mummy Room,
statues from all time periods.
Afternoon
flight to Luxor where our hotel is right on the Nile. Or if you
would like the adventure of taking an overnight train from Cairo to
Luxor you can substitute that flight and take the train.
Overnight:
Luxor 5- star
Hotel - Sofitel Karnak Resort , Sonesta St George or similar,
or the overnight train (your choice).
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Hatshepsut's Temple
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Valley of the Kings
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"Colossi of Memnon"
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Villager
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Felucca
Sailboat
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Shopping at
Luxor Street
Bazaar
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Day
5 -
Thursday, Nov 25, 2010
Early
morning is the perfect time to visit the West Bank, one
the
most famous archeological sites in the world. The first site that we
visit is also one of the earliest New Kingdom temples. Called
"The Most Splendid of All" by the ancient Egyptians, Queen
Hatshepsut’s Temple, the famous Deir El Bahari has inspired
many, including the founders of modern architecture. One of the
outstanding features is the picturesque Hathor columns in the Hathor
Chapel on the second Level. We are also privileged to be admitted to the
third level which was only recently opened to the public.
More photos of Hatshepsut's Temple.
In the
late morning we visit the Valley of
the Kings, where King Tut's tomb was found. There
are many tombs here, and excavations are still going on, as well as
renovations to tombs that have been uncovered a long time. One never knows
which tombs will be open that day, but there will be a variety to choose
from.
Recent highlights
are the
openings of the Ramesses I tomb & Ramesses VI tomb, both restored with modern techniques pioneered
during the restoration of the tomb of Nefertari (Nefertari's tomb is no
longer open to the public). See optional extra tickets listed
below.
Just nearby are some villagers that
are long-time friends of Ruth. One of the highlights for many of our
travelers is to meet some of the local people and see their lifestyle.
Hopefully we will be invited to their house for lunch. The food is
delicious!
We will also see the "Colossi of Memnon," the two large
statues of Amenhotep III that still stand, even though their temple is
long ago destroyed. The Greeks believed
they were statues of Memnon, the son of Eros.
To get back across the river from the West Bank to the East Bank we
can take a Felucca Sailboat ride. Pretend you are one of the
Ancient Egyptians traveling from one side of the river to the other the
way they would have.
In the later afternoon we visit the many shops that form the Luxor
street bazaar. It's time to see what your bargaining skills are
and have fun looking at all the souvenirs they offer.
Optionals:
-
Extra tickets for:
1) King Tut's tomb
(about $15 USD) if it is still open. It is scheduled to close to the
public shortly (for renovations).
2) The newly opened and renovated tomb of Ramses VI
(about $13 USD).
Overnight:
Luxor 5- star
Hotel - Sofitel Karnak Resort , Sonesta St George or similar.
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Goddess Hathor
at Dendera
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1-day Nile Cruise
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Day
6 -
Friday, Nov 26, 2010
Today we take a 1-day Nile
Cruise! We sail DOWN the Nile (which is north, so looks like UP on
the map) to see the Temple for the Goddess Hathor at Dendera.
The Goddess Hathor was worshipped throughout all of Ancient Egypt.
Her temple at Dendera has lots of astronomical imagery. There are
the signs of the Zodiac on the ceiling, and representations of
constellations and stars.
During the cruising time, see the country life on the banks of the Nile --
farmers in the fields with their kids helping them and their animals,
too. Lunch and afternoon tea served on board.
Overnight:
Luxor 5- star
Hotel - Sofitel Karnak Resort , Sonesta St George or similar.
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Balloon Ride
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Karnak
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Open Air Museum
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Day
7 -
Saturday, Nov 27, 2010
Morning option: Early morning Balloon Ride
over the West Bank of Luxor. See the temples from a very different
perspective!
Today we visit the largest temple in
Ancient Egypt, Karnak. Karnak was the
center of government during the New Kingdom and each Pharaoh wanted to
leave something impressive at Karnak. The largest temple complex in Egypt,
we see multiple temples, obelisks, great gates and the famous hypostyle
hall - unequalled to this day. We also see the Sacred Lake, the
Festival Hall and Botanical Garden of Tutmosis III (a precursor of
Napoleon's later record of the fauna and flora found in Egypt).
Also at Karnak, we visit
the fascinating Open Air Museum where we view the Red Chapel
of Hatshepsut and Tutmosis III (Karnak's original Holy of Holies) and Senwosret's
White Chapel with its finely-carved Middle Kingdom hieroglyphs.
These are in raised relief - some of the best to be found anywhere.
There is something new each time we visit, as reconstruction of new pieces
is ongoing.
Return flight
from Luxor to Cairo in the late afternoon. Or you might want to begin a Nile
Cruise, a Petra & Jordan trip or one of our other Extensions.
Optionals:
- Sunrise Balloon Ride, cost: about $140 USD pp.
Overnight:
4 or 5-star hotel near the Cairo Airport,
Sonesta Heliopolis, Novotel Cairo Airport or similar.
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Day
8
Sunday
Nov 28, 2010
Your Egypt
Tour is finished.
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Return flights home.
For those leaving for the USA, your flight leaves at 10 AM and arrives in
New York at 3:15 PM - the same day but with an increase of 7 hours for the
time difference between Cairo and New York. For those traveling to
the UK the time difference is 2 hours.
Or you can extend your stay
in Egypt with extra tours or hotel nights. Contact Us
for rates.
There may be changes to
this itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control.
Register
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Photo credits this page: all
photos by Ruth Shilling. Please contact us to use
them in your project. |