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"Reflexologists'
Nile Cruise & Pyramids"
January
11-19, 2009 or January 10-19, 2009
with air from New York
This tour is designed for a group of Reflexologists,
but is open to
others
who would like to join in. Bring your feet!
* Please note that this tour is limited to 25 participants.*
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Tour
Itinerary - Day-by-Day
Saturday
January 10
2009 |
For those departing from NY, USA: Saturday,
January 10, 2009
Your plane leaves NY City, at 6:30 PM.
You fly direct non-stop from New York city to Cairo, Egypt. Arrival
in Cairo the next day.
Other
departure cities in the USA are available as add-on's. Contact
Us for pricing. Plan to arrive at JFK airport by 3:30 PM. |
Egypt
Tour
Begins
Day 1
Sunday
January 11
2009.

Luxor Temple
|
For those arriving from New
York, you arrive about midday in Cairo (7 hours ahead of New York time, 2
hours ahead of Greenwich) and continue on to Luxor, arriving in the
evening.
Land Only Travelers:
Those traveling to Egypt on their own should plan to arrive in Luxor on
Sunday, January 11. We will arrange to have someone greet you at the
airport and bring you to a hotel in Luxor.
If it works out better for your flights,
you can overnight in Cairo near the airport on Saturday night and continue
on to Luxor with the people arriving from New York on Sunday, January 11.
We are happy to arrange the extra hotel night in Cairo for you.
Overnight at a 5 star
hotel in Luxor, Sofitel Karnak or similar. |
Day 2

Karnak

Sekhmet

Luxor Museum |
We begin our tour with sights here on
the East Bank of Luxor. Our first visit is to the Luxor Temple.
Both gently beautiful and full of awesome grandness, this temple was the
"Bride of Karnak" during the annual Apet festival.
Next we see the largest temple complex
in Egypt. Karnak was the center of government
during the New Kingdom and each Pharaoh wanted to leave something
impressive at Karnak. Here we see multiple temples, obelisks, great gates
and the famous hypostyle hall - unequalled to this day.
The chance to experience the Goddess Sekhmet
in a small chapel at Karnak is often powerful for people. Her name
means "She of Power," or "The Powerful One."
A
visit to a gold shop for those who would like to get a cartouche
with their name in hieroglyphs, one of the most popular souvenirs from
Egypt. Embarkation
and dinner on our Nile Cruise boat, the Movenpick's Radamis I.
For those who would like, we
make a visit to the modern Luxor
Museum in the evening. There is a special exhibit room for a cache of
statues found in near-perfect condition. They were buried under a
courtyard at the Luxor Temple and found only recently during renovations.
There is also a new wing, just opened recently, with an excellent mummy
exhibit and a number of splendid artifacts. Our friend, Rachid, has
painstakingly put together a wall from Tel el-Amarna which is displayed here.
Shopping opportunities:
-Gold Shop (jewelry). Get a cartouche with your name in
hieroglyphs.
Overnight: Nile Cruise Boat: Movenpick Radamis I, 5 star or similar.
BB, L, D. |
Day
3
Tuesday,
January 13

Hatshepsut's Temple

Valley of the Kings
---
"Colossi of Memnon"

Nile
Cruising
|
Sightseeing on Luxor's West Bank this
morning. 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 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.
Here on the West Bank of
Luxor we also visit what is probably the most famous archeological site
in the world, 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
opening of the Ramesses I tomb and 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). An
additional ticket is required for the Ramesses VI tomb and for King Tut's
tomb. King Tut's tomb is scheduled to close in May of 2008, so may
no longer be open at the time of this tour.
We will also see the
"Colossi of Memnon," the two large statues of Amenhotep III that
still stand, even though their temple was long ago destroyed. The
Greeks believed they were statues of Memnon, the son of Eros.
Enjoy an afternoon of cruising on our Nile Cruise boat. The world
we see drifting slowly by appears timeless - farmers with their animals,
people washing in the river, water buffalos, pastoral scenes that look much the same as they did
2,000 and 3,000 years ago. And then
there is a mobile phone tower!
Excitement as we pass through the lock at Esna when the locals come out
in boats to hawk their wares.
Overnight: Nile Cruise Boat: Movenpick Radamis I, 5 star or similar.
BB, L, D. |
Day
4
Wed,
January 14
Edfu Temple |
This afternoon we visit the Temple
of Horus at Edfu. Here we see the story of the triumph of Horus
over Set, representing the power of good over evil. Later the
Egyptian Coptic Churches (Christians) continued this story as St. George
and the dragon.
Entertainment with live
music and dancing
on board tonight.
Overnight: Nile Cruise Boat: Movenpick Radamis I, 5 star or similar.
BB, L, D. |
Day
5
Thurs,
January 15

Kom Ombo
|
Today we visit the
beautiful Kom Ombo Temple. Particularly interesting are the
wall carvings showing the medical instruments used at that time, a birthing chair and a
calendar showing the various holidays.
Sailing on to Aswan where
we dock to overnight.
Overnight: Nile Cruise Boat: Movenpick Radamis I, 5 star or similar.
BB, L, D. |
Day
6
Friday,
January 16

Temple of Isis
|
This morning we disembark from our Nile Cruise
boat before beginning our sightseeing in Aswan. The beautiful Temple
of the Goddess Isis on Philae Island is a highlight. Also
included is the Unfinished Obelisk of Hatshepsut and the High
Dam.
Next we fly to Cairo and check into our hotel, right near the pyramids!
Visit a perfumery near the Sphinx to get some of the perfume oils
that are one of Egypt's specialties, followed by the Sound & Light
Show at the Giza pyramids for those who would like.
Optionals:
Shopping opportunity: Perfumery. Egypt is famous for its
perfume oils.
Sound & Light Show at the Giza pyramids.
Overnight:
5-star hotel near the pyramids. Le Meridien Pyramids or similar. BB, L. |
Day
7

Giza
Pyramids

Solar Boat
|
Today we spend a full day
on the Giza Plateau. We visit and go inside whichever pyramids
are open. Of the three pyramids, two will be open and one closed for
renovations - dates are not announced in advance.
We are applying for a special government
issued permit that will grant us a private entrance to the Great
Pyramid (for just our group and with all 3 chambers open to us).
We have every reason to believe that we will receive this permission, as
we have on our previous tours. However, we cannot guarantee this
because government policies can change unexpectedly.
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.
We will also see the Great Sphinx &
Valley Temple. There are legends of the Sphinx speaking.
Does the Sphinx have a message for you?
Camel rides for the
adventurous.
Overnight:
5-star hotel near the pyramids. Le Meridien Pyramids or similar. BB, L. |
Day
8

Saqqara

Imhotep
Museum

Cairo
Museum

Khan el Khalili Bazaar
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On our last day in Egypt we visit the oldest
pyramid. At the Saqqara complex
we see the Step Pyramid, the early versions of the Book of
the Dead (Teti Pyramid) and some tombs with scenes of the
daily life in the Old Kingdom.
Also here at Saqqara we
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. All the items on
exhibit were found here at Saqqara and have not been on public display
before.
Afterwards, we travel into downtown Cairo where we
visit
the incomparable 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,
Middle Kingdom papyruses, statues from all time periods.
Our final stop is for shopping at the famous Khan
el Khalili bazaar. The narrow cobble stone alleys, the profusion
of colorful goods, belly dance costumes, scarves, leather goods, the medieval architecture,
outdoor cafes and shisha
bars... You can shop with Ruth or sit and watch it all with Ehab.
It's your choice.
Overnight:
5-star hotel near the pyramids. Le Meridien Pyramids or similar. BB, D. |
Day
9
Monday,
January 19
Tour is finished.
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7:00 AM departure for the airport. Your plane leaves
for New York 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.
Or you may choose to add a tour
of Petra or to add additional days to stay
longer in Egypt for more shopping or Alexandria.
There may be changes to
this itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control.
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Photo credits this
page:
All photos by Ruth Shilling. |