Welcome to the land of the pharaohs – we’ll get you to your hotel and you’ll spend the night in enchanting Cairo.
Today you’ll leave bustling Cairo and head into the desert… You’ll stand at the foot of the Great Pyramids and marvel at the Sphinx – just as visitors have for 5000 years. We’ll travel to Memphis and view the remains of the first capital of united upper and lower Egypt. Saqqara is our next destination, site of the earliest pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser. It’s architect, Imhotep, was considered a god…. We’ll return to Cairo for the night.
Dinner
A short flight from Cairo will bring you to Luxor for a 5 day /4 night luxury cruise down the Nile. You’ll marvel at the stunning Temples of Karnak and Luxor; our expert guide will bring to life the lives of the ancient pharaohs as you walk through their resting places in the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. In a land of “big” architecture, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the most celebrated female pharaoh, never fails to fill one with awe. We’ll finish the day viewing the Colossi of Memnon, all that remains of the massive temple complex of Amenhotep III. Tonight we’ll stay in Luxor.
Lunch
Dinner
Today we’ll sail to Edfu. You’ll pass Esna, with its massive Temple of Khnum, and upon arrival you’ll have time to yourselves – explore or just relax -- We’ll spend the night in Edfu.
Lunch
Dinner
A different mode of travel this morning -- horsedrawn carriages take us to the Temple of Horus, considered the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt. You’ll sail on to Kom Ombo and explore the Temple of Sobek, the crocodile – headed god. The scale of these complexes, built without the equipment of today, boggles the mind. We’ll continue down the river to Aswan and stay the night.
Lunch
Dinner
This morning you’ll visit the Aswan Dam, a modern engineering marvel in the land that set the standard…this is the source of the granite used in monuments throughout Egypt –an unfinished obelisk serves as poignant reminder of toll these projects took. You’ll stand in the exquisite Temple of Philae and board a felucca to view the tranquil gardens of Kitchner’s Island and the Agha Khan Mausoleum. You’ll spend the night in Aswan.
Lunch
Dinner
After breakfast, we‘ll leave our boat and board a flight to Abu Simbel, site of the colossal Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Nefertari, his beloved queen. Moved as part of the Aswan Dam project, these temples stand as a marvel of both ancient and modern engineering. We’ll leave from the Aswan airport for Cairo and our hotel for the night.
Today, let our experts show you Cairo. The Egyptian Museum will not only dazzle you with ancient treasures, but bring you face-to-face with pharaohs – Rameses II, Seti I, Amenhotep III – An incredible opportunity to look upon the actual people behind the history…. You’ll explore the medieval Citadel of Saladin and the beautiful Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque. A true highlight of the day is a walking tour of the 13th century covered market, Khan El Khalili Bazaar – there is nothing that can’t be bought here! We stay in Cairo tonight.
After breakfast, you’ll say farewell to newfound friends – we’ll get you to the airport for your flight.
