Pre-Departure Itinerary Egyptian Treasures Cairo, Antiquities, the Pyramids & three-night Nile Cruise 10 DAYS: Sunday, November 3-Tuesday, November 12, 2019 FOR MILLENNIA, TRAVELERS HAVE BEEN FASCINATED BY EGYPT and its tapestry of cultural and archaeological treasures unmatched anywhere in the world. With its temples, mummies, pyramids, exotic bazaars, and the Nile, Egypt is an open-air museum full of must-see places. We begin in Cairo and nearby Giza where we ll see the phenomenal Pyramids of Giza one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World and the Great Sphinx. At Saqqara we ll explore the site of ancient Memphis and the oldest of all pyramids, the Step Pyramid. Visit Cairo s Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, home to the treasures of the Tomb of Tutankhamen, the Khan al-khalili bazaar and travel to Abu Simbel to see the Great Temples built by Rameses II. On our cruise we ll tour the temples of Komombo and Edfu, visit the Valleys of the Queens and Kings in Luxor and the Temples of Karnak. The mysteries and treasures of Egypt await! Includes Round-trip regularly scheduled flights Boston to JFK and JFK to Cairo Flight from Cairo to Abu Simbel, flight from Luxor to Cairo Five nights' five-star hotel accommodations Three nights' five-star Nile Cruise aboard Sonesta St. George 1 (or similar) Sixteen meals: eight breakfasts, two lunches, six dinners Escorted, private round-trip, airport/ hotel transfers Services of professional local guides and assistants Rates $3,899 per person double occupancy Single supplement is $710 Includes round-trip airfare, fuel surcharge and all air taxes and fees. Fuel surcharge, air taxes and fees subject to change. Passport and visa required. Per person deposit is $600. Additional deposit may be required at time of air ticket purchase. Features Pyramids of Cairo guided tour: Sakkara, Step Pyramid of Imhotep; Giza pyramids of Cheops, Mykerinos and Chephren, the Sphinx. Egyptian Museum, the Citadel, Kha al-khalili bazaar. Abu Simbel: Great Temple of Abu Simbel and Temple of Hathor. Guided visit of Philae, felucca sail boat ride. Komombo: Temple of Horus and Sobek. Edfu: Temple of Horus. Luxor: The Valley of the Queens and The Valley of the Kings. The Temples of Karnak. Accommodations DAY 1 Overnight flight from Boston DAYS 2 4 Conrad Cairo Hotel, Cairo DAY 5 Hotel Movenpick Resort, Aswan DAYS 6 8 Sonesta St. George 1, Nile Cruise DAY 9 Conrad Cairo Hotel, Cairo DAY 10 Return flight to Boston or similar accommodations
DAILY ITINERARY Day 1: Flight from Boston to JFK Egyptair flight from JFK to Cairo Day 2: Arrive Cairo transfer to hotel Upon arrival at Cairo airport, we ll proceed through immigration and passport control. We ll meet our travel assistant who will lead us to our transfer with our luggage to the hotel. Hotel Conrad Cairo or similar. Enjoy a welcome dinner with our fellow travelers at the hotel. (D) Day 3: Full-day excursion: the Pyramids After breakfast we ll set off on our full-day excursion to discover the Great Pyramids & Sphinx. We ll travel to Saqqara a vast, ancient burial ground serving as the necropolis for the Ancient Egyptian capital, Memphis. Saqqara features numerous pyramids, including the world-famous Step Pyramid of Djoser, sometimes referred to as the Step Tomb due to its rectangular base. Saqqara's necropolis is where pyramid building in Egypt first began.
We ll continue to Giza The Giza pyramid complex is an archaeological site on the Giza Plateau, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. This necropolis for the royalty of the Old Kingdom includes the three Great Pyramids: Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinus and the Great Sphinx. (B)
Day 4: Full-day tour Egyptian Museum, Citadel & Bazaar After an early breakfast at the hotel we ll begin our day with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities which houses the world s largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts (more than 120,000 items on display) featuring the famous Tutankhamun collection with its beautiful gold death mask and sarcophagus and the royal Mummy room, which houses an additional eleven Pharaonic dignitaries. Following our visit we ll head to The Citadel to see The Alabaster Mosque Of Mohamed Ali Pasha. After lunch on our own we ll continue to the Khan El Khalili Bazaar. Although some traditionally crafted objects (brass and leather) are on sale, products aimed at tourists now fill the shelves. Nonetheless, the atmosphere is authentically Eastern, and rich in colors and fragrances, in particular in the spice market. (B)
Day 5: Flight to Abu Simbel After breakfast we ll check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport with our assistant for a short flight to Abu Simbel. The Abu Simbel Temple is an enormous rock temple complex located on Egypt s border with Sudan. The two temples of this complex were built in the 13th century BC, during the reign of the great and powerful Ramesses II. During the 1960s, the Aswan High Dam reservoir was built, which resulted in the creation of Lake Nasser. This threatened the existence of the Abu Simbel Temple, and it was completely relocated in 1968. These two sun temples were carved from the limestone mountains. The great temple, dedicated to Amon-Re and Ra-Harakhte, has four colossal statues of Ramses II over 20 meters high staring out across the desert. The smaller temple is dedicated to the cow-headed goddess Hathor and was built in honor of Ramses II s favorite wife Queen Nefertari. Here there are six massive standing statues at the front the temple, each 10 meters high. After our exploration we ll transfer to our hotel in Aswan for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
Day 6: Embarkation of Nile Cruise Philae After breakfast at the hotel we ll transfer to the port to embark on our cruise. This afternoon we ll have a guided visit of Philae. The site, according to legend, is where the goddess Isis chose to build her home. The tour continues with a ride on a felucca, the traditional sailing boat that epitomizes the Nile River. Return to our cruise ship an afternoon tea. This evening we ll enjoy the Captain's welcome cocktail, dinner and a Nubian show. Overnight on board in Aswan. (B,L,D) Philae is an island in the reservoir of the Aswan Low Dam, downstream of the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser. Philae was originally located near the expansive First Cataract of the Nile in Upper Egypt and was the site of an Egyptian temple complex. These rapids and the surrounding area have been variously flooded since the initial construction of the Aswan Low Dam in 1902. The temple complex was dismantled and moved to its current position. Your cruise ship: Sonesta St George 1 (or similar) Sonesta St. George Nile Cruise is a 5-star luxury Nile cruise decorated in a distinguished "turn of the century" French style. Elegantly designed, this all-suite Nile Cruise Ship offers all the excellent services you would expect.
Guest Cabins & Suites The Sonesta St. George I offers luxurious accommodations that provide the ultimate in comfort, elegance and design. With 47 Deluxe Cabins, 9 Presidential Suites and one Royal Suite, St. George I features the highest quality furnishings and most upscale amenities. All accommodations feature: Plasma screen TV, equipped with the latest technology and featuring a live sailing channel Double-glass panoramic french windows that open to bring in fresh breezes from the Nile Internet access Direct-dial telephone Individual climate control Electronic door locks Mini-bar Safe Hair dryer Bathrooms equipped with spa unit; including steam bath, Jacuzzi and water massage Dining & Entertainment Main Dining Room Located on the lower deck, our Main Dining Room, designed with sophistication and style, serves breakfast and lunch buffets as well as à la carte dinners. Dress code for dinner is smart casual. Sun Deck Bar Surrounded by breathtaking views of the Nile, the Sun Deck serves refreshing cocktails and beverages. Lounge Unique classical motifs decorate the walls and ceiling of the Lounge, which features a dance floor and stages nightly entertainment. A full-service bar serves a wide range of cocktails and beverages. Panoramic Lounge Adorned with elegant décor, the Panoramic Lounge, located on Deck 4, offers panoramic views of the Nile and is available for special functions and meetings. Piano Bar Elegant and sophisticated, the Piano Bar is lit by a dramatic, handmade chandelier and serves a variety of cocktails and beverages. Features & Services Main dining room, sun deck bar, lounge, panoramic lounge, piano bar Nightly entertainment Oversize pool with shallow water extension and Jacuzzi Spa & wellness center with gym, massage services, sauna and steam bath Daily guided sightseeing excursions Double-glass panoramic French windows that you open Cabins are fully air conditioned Wireless internet access Bathrooms equipped with spa unit, including steam bath, Jacuzzi, and massage Satellite color TV Protection and smoke detector in each cabin Safe box in each cabin Telephone system with international calls Doctor on calls on board Laundry service & housekeeping In-room Dining available until midnight Fully-purified Water, filtered and softened before distribution Electronic Door Locks All major credit cards accepted
Day 7: Nile Cruise Kom Ombo Edfu Our amazing Nile cruise starts this morning as we sail to Kom Ombo and visit the Temple. The temple is unique because it is, in fact, a double temple, dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falconheaded god. The layout combines two temples in one with each side having its own gateways and chapels.
We return to the ship and enjoy lunch on board as we sail to Edfu for a visit to the Temple of Horus. The Temple of Edfu is the second largest temple in Egypt. It is also known as the Temple of Horus (the falcon-headed God) and it is the most beautiful and well-preserved of all the Egyptian temples. Located between the Egyptian cities Luxor and Aswan, a French archaeologist by the name of Auguste Mariette uncovered it from its sand burial in the 1860s. Our cruise continues to Esna. We ll enjoy dinner and an oriental Galabaya party aboard ship tonight. (B,L,D) Day 8: Nile Cruise Luxor Valley of the Kings and Queens Breakfast on board. Early this morning we ll sail to Luxor. Luxor is often called the world s greatest open-air museum, but that comes nowhere near describing this extraordinary place. Nothing in the world compares to the scale and grandeur of the monuments that have survived from ancient Thebes. The setting is breathtakingly beautiful, the Nile flowing between the modern city and west-bank necropolis, backed by the enigmatic Theban escarpment. Scattered across the landscape is an embarrassment of riches, from the temples of Karnak and Luxor in the east to the many tombs and temples on the west bank. Thebes wealth and power, legendary in antiquity, began to lure Western travellers from the end of the 18th century. Our visit to the West Bank includes: The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, located at Deir el-bahri. This impressive temple hewn out of the rock is the work of Senenmut, Queen Hatshepsut's architect. The Valley of the Queens; Called Ta set Neferu (Place of Perfection) During Pharaonic times this deep valley housed more than 60 tombs of queens, princes, princesses and court dignitaries. The Valley of the Kings:. There are officially 63 such tombs, numbered in order of discovery, but the site has not yet revealed all its secrets!
Next we ll visit The Colossi of Memnon: two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who reigned in Egypt during the Dynasty XVIII. For the past 3,400 years (since 1350 BC), they have stood in the Theban Necropolis, located west of the River Nile from the modern city of Luxor.
After we return to the ship we ll enjoy lunch and afternoon tea. Dinner this evening will be accompanied by disco and music. (B,L,D) Day 9: Nile Cruise disembarkation Temples of Karnak return flight to Cairo After breakfast this morning we ll visit the Temples of Karnak. A sacred city devoted to the cult of Amun- Re, Karnak is a gigantic sanctuary dedicated to the Theban Triad. Karnak is the modern-day name for the ancient site of the Temple of Amun at Thebes, Egypt. The Temple of Amun is the largest religious building in the world (though some claim Angkor Wat in Cambodia is larger) and honors not only Amun but other gods such as Osiris, Montu, Isis, Ptah and the Egyptian rulers who wished to be remembered for their contributions to the site. The central sector of the site, which takes up the largest amount of space, is dedicated to Amun-Ra, a male god associated with Thebes. To the south of the central area is a smaller precinct dedicated to his wife, the goddess Mut. In the north, there is another precinct dedicated to Montu, the falcon-headed god of war.
Afterwards we ll have time to enjoy the town of Luxor and do some last minute shopping before we transfer to the airport and our short flight back to Cairo. We ll be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. Enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel this evening. (B,D) Day 10: Return flights to Boston After breakfast we ll depart for Cairo airport and our return flights to JFK and Boston. (B) CONRAD CAIRO HOTEL, CAIRO 5-STAR Conrad Cairo is located in the heart of bustling downtown overlooking the magnificent River Nile. Nearby the Egyptian Museum and 5 minutes walk from Nile City shopping mall. This 5-star luxury hotel offers premium rooms with a private balcony featuring views of the Nile River, comfortable sitting area and a work desk. All rooms have a flat-screen TV with movie channels, a DVD player, marble bathroom comes with a separate bath tub, walk-in shower, fragrance amenities and a fluffy bathrobe, slippers and a hair dryer. Guests can enjoy the free WiFi in all rooms, public areas and meeting rooms. Facilities include a heated outdoor pool, Room Service is available around the clock, a glamorous international casino and bar is available 24/7, and a health club with modern fitness equipment, 24-hour gym, sauna, steam, massage rooms, and on-site shops. The hotel offers 6 restaurants and bars round the clock dining and entertainment; Savor the modern Lebanese cuisine at Oak Grill. Experience Asian flavors at Kamala, sample the extensive breakfast buffet or choose from the delectable à la carte menu for lunch at Solana or enjoy the Egyptian sunshine at Jayda Nile Terrace, serving Oriental cuisine in a stunning outdoor setting. Unwind in the glitz and glamor of Stage One Lounge & Bar and soak up the multicultural vibes of Cairo. HOTEL MOVENPICK RESORT, ASWAN 5-STAR Located on Elephantine Island in the middle of the River Nile, Mövenpick Resort Aswan offers luxurious accommodations with countless services including a swimming pool, tennis court, and gymnasium. Guests can enjoy free WiFi in the whole property including the rooms. The well-appointed rooms are spacious and stylish. All of them offer private balconies or terraces, and many enjoy panoramic views across the river. Guests at Mövenpick Resort Aswan have a range of dining options with 3 restaurants, 2 bars. Some are located by the picturesque pool, while others boast romantic views across the water. For more casual dining, guests can also make use of the barbecue facilities.
Proof of Citizenship is required for all trips outside the United States. U.S. citizens require a valid passport to travel; with at least 6 months' validity. All non-us citizens should check with the appropriate foreign consulate for additional entry requirements. Passports are the responsibility of each traveler. PLEASE NOTE: This pre-departure itinerary is designed to give you an idea of how this itinerary is structured. We reserve the right to make any changes to your final itinerary if deemed necessary, at any time prior to departure. PLEASE NOTE: This is not your final itinerary. You will receive final documents (itinerary, tickets (if applicable), etc.) approximately 2 3 weeks prior to departure. Although we try our best to ensure that information is accurate at the time of publication, we are not responsible for any error, omission, misprint or liability that results from the use (or misuse) of this information.