Egypt in Depth
A Independent or Group program for Discerning travelers
27 DAYS FROM $3,999 US  
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Day 1: Cairo: Arrive in Cairo - meet and greet and transfer to hotel.

Day 2: Cairo:(B,L) Breakfast, then an introduction to the Egyptian museum, this unique collection holds some 140 thousand pieces. As you travel through these treasures, learn of the history and geography of Egypt. Traverse the Egyptian civilizations from old to middle to the new kingdoms. Learn of the Rosetta Stone, visit the Akhanaten room and see the precious artifacts of King Tut in the room of treasures. Wander around the world of Gold. (2 hours guided the rest of the time on your own to explore the museum)

The highlight is the included hall of mummies, 11 royal mummies including the mummy of Ramses the Great. We take a break between visits for lunch in the busy Liberation square. Return to the Hotel for overnight. 
Optional Evening Nile Dinner Cruise

Day 3: Cairo:(B,L)  Breakfast, Today we explore the great Pyramids. We stop in the Plateau in front of the great pyramid, built by Cheops and tell you of the legends and historical facts. Enter one of the smaller pyramids, the one of the queen mother and imagine how hard it was to enter the great one.

We continue with a visit to the solar boat museum, enough time to get round the spiral ramp around the wooden boat of Cheops. From here we proceed to see the panoramic view of the 3 pyramids all together, time for picture taking.Then onto the national crumbling image, the Sphinx, and the valley temple or the granite temple of Cheops. Here we discuss Chephren, his wonderful statue, and the well of fortunes in his temple.  

Day 4: Sakkara:(B,L,D) Breakfast, then we head for the Step Pyramid at Sakkara, the first ever built in Egypt. Learn about the genius of its architecture Imhoteb. Then to Memphis to see the ruins of the oldest capital of Egypt, or the city of white walls, there you will see a great Statue of Ramses one of the most beautiful pieces of sculpture in Egypt.

Onto Dahshur to visit the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid. The builder is thought to have been Sneferu the father of pyramid builders and builder of the Pyramid of Maidum. Finish the day with a late lunch in the Countryside and a stop at the Carpet School to see the kids weaving the delicate rugs. This evening fly to Aswan and transfer to Hotel for overnight. (Deduct $100 per person double if you choose the overnight sleeper train to Aswan approx 14 hours, dinner and breakfast on the train).

Day 5: Aswan:(B,L) Breakfast, Today we visit the Nubian Museum, the most modern in Egypt with its local Nubian design and special landscape. Here you will learn of Nubia and its relationship within Egyptian history, the life and monuments around the Nile are the main subjects, plus information on the Nile from its very origins in heart of Africa and models of a Nubian house and traditions, plus information on the great temple of Abu Simbul and the Philae Temple before we visit them later in the program. Visit the Philae Temple, the High Dam and the unfinished Obelisk. This evening take a walk around this quaint city with its market street where odors of peanuts and spices greet you. Overnight at a Hotel in Aswan.

Day 6: Abu Simbul:(B,L,D) An early departure by road with a boxed breakfast for the Abu Simbul, the Statue of Liberty of Egypt within its African borders. Visit the temples of Ramses and Nefertari before returning to Aswan around 1 p.m.Check in to your cruise ship for late lunch.Dinner and overnight onboard ship.

Day 7: Nile Cruise:(B,L,D) Breakfast, then the Cruise departs for Luxor with a stop visit the Ptolemic Temple ofr Kom-Ombo, which was decidated to two gods, the crocodile God Sobek and the falcon-headed God Horus, dinner and overnight onboard the Cruise.

Day 8: Nile Cruise:(B,L,D) Breakfast, then visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu via a carriage ride from the cruise ship. Visit the best preserved Egyptian Temple in existence. Lunch onboard. Continue your cruise to Luxor. Dinner and overnight onboard ship.

Day 9: Luxor:(B) Check out of the Nile Cruise after Breakfast, then we cross the Nile to the West Bank to visit the necropolis of Ancient Thebes. Explore the Valleys of the Kings where tombs of 64 Pharaohs were discovered. Visit to three tombs - the Tombs are rotated so you will be able to choose from those open.Onto the Temple of Queen Hatshipsuit and the Colossi of Memnon. Lunch. Then visit the very large Temple of Ramses III known as Medinet Habu which depicts the battle reliefs on the exterior of the temple. Overnight at a Hotel in Luxor.

Day 10: Luxor:(B) After breakfast today we visit the East bank, including the Temple of Luxor, which was started by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramses II and the Temple of Karnak, which took over 1500 years to build and is considered the world's largest religious complex. Tonight see the magnificent

Optional Sound and Light Show in Karnak.

Day 11: Dendera:(B,L) Breakfast, then we take off for the day to visit the Temple of Dendera whose construction was initiated by the Ptolemies. Dendara is dedicated to Hathor, the Cow Goddess, known as "The Golden One". (150 km North of Luxor) Then proceed further north to the Abydos Temple before returning to Luxor. (3-4 hours each way by road)

Day 12: Luxor:(B,L) Today visit the Ramseum and the tombs of the Nobles many of which are vividly painted with naturalistic scenes of agriculture, fishing, fowling, feasting and junketing. Visit the Alabaster craftspeople and take lunch in a local village restaurant before returning to the east bank,  Rest of day at leisure.

Day 13: Luxor to Hurghada:(B) Luxor Museum and Mummification Museum - travel to Hurghada a resort city on the Red Sea. Rest of day at leisure.(3 hours drive)

Day 14: Hurghada:(B,L)  A visit to Gifton Island by boat - snorkeling, diving, swimming or just view from the boat  - see the Dolphins, the birds and nature of the Red Sea. A stop on the Island and see the white sand with its famous healing qualities, light lunch aboard the boat.  Later visit an Arabian Folkloric show with costumes and music through the ages. Alf Leila Wa Leila (one thousand and one nights)

Day 15: Hurghada:(B,D) A daytrip by 4x4 to a Safari Camp to meet with the Bedouins in the desert and see the sunset and enjoy local food and entertainment. 

Day 16: Hurghada:(B) Day at leisure.

Day 17: Hurghada-Sharm El Sheik:(B) Breakfast, then a morning Flight to Sharm El Sheik via Cairo. Rest of day leisure.

Day 18: Sharm-St. Catherine's:(B,D) After Breakfast we drive to St. Catherine's (approx 3 hours) and take an early dinner and rest in preparation for a 1am night hike up Mount Sinai for those who wish to climb to the top of the mountain to see the famous sunrise. St.Catherines is Closed on fridays and Sundays plus the Religiuos Holidays like Xmas and so on..The climb at St Catherines takes about 3-4 hours to climb the 7,498-foot peak following the Path of Moses, a stairway of nearly 4,000 steps.You need to be energetic and strong enough to hike in the middle of the night or you can Just taste the experience by hiking for an hour and still enjoy the sun set from this point and then walk back. It is a good idea to bring a Flashlight with you. You can rent a camel St. Catherines instead of walking up the mountain - approx $60 US - price of camel ride not included.

Day 19: St. Catherine's - Cairo: (B) A visit to the Monastery and then breakfast before returning to Sharm for a flight to Cairo - Upon arrival transfer to Hotel.

Day 20: Cairo: (B) After Breakfast today we visit Islamic Cairo - the Citadel, Mohammed Ali Mosque, the Green Mosque, visit the palace, see the old gates, old Cairo and visit to Coptic Cairo to see some of the oldest churches in the world, and retrace the steps of Mary and Joseph when they fled with baby Jesus from the wrath of Herod. Visit the world famous Kan El Khalili Bazaar, where you will find a large variety of local souvenirs. A visit to the Geyer Anderson Museum is included.

Day 21: Fayyoum:(B,L) After Breakfast depart for Fayyoum one of Egypt's biggest and most beautiful oases. See green in middle of the desert, water mills, the natural lakes and Water falls and the white crystal desert.

Day 22: Alexandria:(B) Breakfast - Today we leave for Alexandria - drive from Cairo to St. Bishoi Monastery. (Approx 3-4 hours) This monastery has existed from the end of the 6th century built to be a fortress from the attack of the Bedouins and converted by monks into a monastery. This area is important in the History of Christianity in Egypt and the origin of Monasticism. We continue on to El Alamein. The site of the famous battle between the axis and allies during Second World War, visit the military museum and several war monuments. Overnight in Alexandria.

Day 23: Alexandria - Cairo:(B,L) After Breakfast we start our tour of Alexandria - visit the Roman Amphitheater which is the only known amphitheater from the Roman era in Egypt. Then a visit to the catacombs of Kom-el-Shouqafa. These tombs are remarkable for their unusual mixture of art styles, sculpture, and reliefs are of Egyptian Gods. Onto the National Museum, then visit the Citadel where what is believed to be the remains of the lighthouse and Cleopatra's Palace have been found beneath the Sea. Finally visit the Bibliotheca (new library) built to replace the famous library from Cleopatra's time said to hold every manuscript in the world.(return to Cairo 3 hours drive)

Day 24: Cairo:(B,L)Today we continue our visit of Cairo. We visit the Cairo tower with option to ride to the top to see a panaromic view of the city, and a visit to modern Opera House. Visit to Al Azhar Park is included.

Day 25: Cairo:(B,L) Visit the Pharoanic Village which will help you pull allyour tour together - let them show you how the pyramids were built and how mummies are prepared, and see the replcia of King Tut's Tomb.

Day 26:Cairo:(B) Breakfast - today is a day of leisure to revisit sites or do some last minute shopping.
Optional Evening Light and sound show at Giza.