Join Us in Egypt This August 8 – 15, 2012

chrisdavis — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:58:47 +0000

Day 1 – Wednesday, August 8

Today, we arrive in Egypt, gem of the Nile! At the Cairo Airport we are met and assisted through the immigration & customs formalities and are then transferred to our hotel where we check in. Evening at leisure after a long flight. Dinner and overnight at the Grand Pyramids Hotel (or similar) in Cairo

Day 2 – Thursday, August 9

After breakfast, we visit Memphis, first capital of United Egypt. Here are the Temples of Ptah and the statue of Ramses II. Nearby we visit one of the most exciting archaeological sites, the Step Pyramid of King Zoser which predates the Pyramids of Giza by centuries and which contains exquisite paintings depicting the life and customs of the Early Dynastic Period. We then drive to the Giza Plateau to view the Great Pyramid. No photograph or movie image can prepare one for the sheer scale that is this ancient monument. Our tour ends with a visit to the majestic Sphinx, world’s largest single block sculpture. Dinner and overnight at the Grand Pyramids Hotel (or similar) in Cairo

Day 3 – Friday, August 10

After breakfast and check out we transfer to the Cairo Airport for our flight to Aswan. Upon arrival in Aswan, we are met and taken to visit the High Dam, the Granite Quarries and the Philae Temple. We then board our cruise ship, the M/S Neftis (or similar), for lunch. The afternoon and evening are spent beginning our journey sailing the Nile. Dinner & overnight on board

Day 4 – Saturday, August 11

Breakfast on board our ship; morning at leisure watching life on the Nile River. We sail to Komombo and have lunch on board ship before visiting the temple shared by the two gods, Sobek and Harories. We then sail on to Edfu. Dinner & overnight on board

Day 5 – Sunday, August 12

After breakfast on board, we visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu. Then we sail on to Luxor via Esna, crossing the Esna lock. We lunch on board as we continue our trip up the Nile, observing Egyptian life along this amazing waterway. Dinner & overnight on board

Day 6 – Monday, August 13

Our boat has now docked. After breakfast on board ship and then visit the West Bank of the Nile: the Valleys of the Kings & Queens. Here are the burial sites of many of the great leaders of Egyptian history along with their amazingly colorful tombs. We then visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, at Al Deir El Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon. On the East Bank we will visit the Temples at Karnak and Luxor. We then transfer to Luxor Airport for our departure to Cairo. Arriving at the Cairo Domestic Airport, we will be met and transferred to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at the Grand Pyramids Hotel (or similar) in Cairo

Day 7 – Tuesday, August 14

Our final day in Egypt begins by visiting Cairo’s world famous Egyptian Museum of Antiquities for a private, guided tour. Among other fascinating exhibits, we will see the treasures of the Tomb of the boy king, Tutankhamen, and the extraordinary Mummies’ Room which houses over 10 mummies, including King Ramses II. We then transfer to the Cairo International airport for our departure flight home. Option to spend the night in Cairo and fly out the next day, depending on individual’s flight arrangements. (For those continuing on to Mt. Sinai, Eilat and Tel Aviv, see information below the following pricing information)

Land package pricing for above itinerary: $990.00 per person double occupancy

Single Supplement: $110.00 (reduction for 3^rd person in a room: $7.00)

Price includes:

Hotels:

3 nights at the Grand Pyramids hotel (or similar) in Cairo
3 nights on board the M/S Neftis ship (or similar)

Meals:

6 Dinners
2 Lunches
6 Breakfasts

Additional:

All tours and transfer as indicated in the itinerary by private and luxury air-conditioned mini coach.
Full day tour in Cairo to visit Memphis, Pyramids and Sphinx
Half day tour of National Egyptian Museum including guide
All Upper Egypt visits as mentioned above in itinerary
Air tickets: Cairo-Aswan—Luxor-Cairo
All entrance fees.

Price does not include:

Entry visa to Egypt (this is a stamp which is purchased upon arrival at the Cairo airport and costs approx. $15.00)
Souvenirs and other personal items
Trip insurance (if desired)
Extra sightseeing
Extra Meals
Tips while in Egypt. Tips are a part of any international tour and are expected as many who provide services receive their pay only through tips. Expect to spend approx. $15.00/day per person

For those continuing on to Mt. Sinai, Eilat, and Tel Aviv:

Alternate Day 7 – Tuesday, August 14

We begin our day with a visit to Cairo’s world famous Egyptian Museum of Antiquities for a private, guided tour. Among other fascinating exhibits, we will see the treasures of the Tomb of the boy king, Tutankhamen and the extraordinary Mummies’ Room which houses over 10 mummies, including King Ramses II. We leave the Museum and board a bus for our drive north to St. Catherine’s Monastery where we will check into our hotel for a much-needed rest before arising early in the morning.

Dinner and overnight at the New Morgenland Hotel, Sinai

Day 8 – Wednesday, August 15

We rise early for a morning ascent of Mount Sinai to view the sunrise and a panoramic view as seen by Moses when he received God’s commandments. After this incredible experience we return to the mountain’s base for breakfast. Following breakfast, we depart by private coach to Israel’s southern border (Eilat) where we will walk the short distance across the border into Israel. There a bus will be waiting to take us to the Eilat Airport for our flight to Tel Aviv and our return home (or to begin our 3-week Israel Experience).

Land package pricing for Egypt itinerary including extension to Tel Aviv:

$1,269.00 per person double occupancy (reduction for 3^rd person in a room: $17.00)