16 Days/14 Nights - Including a 7 Day Live Aboard Gulf of Aqaba
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1 - Sunday – Departure
Depart New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport this evening for your overnight flight to Egypt. Dinner and a light breakfast will be served on board.
Day 2 - Monday – Cairo
Ahlan Wa Sahlan! Welcome to Egypt, Land of the Pharaohs! Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, your tour representative will greet you, and assist with custom and visa formalities. After check-in at the hotel and time to freshen up, you will meet with the Learning Through Travel representative to discuss the exciting days ahead. A welcome dinner this evening will introduce you to Egyptian cuisine.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5 – STAR DELUXE HOTEL (D)
Day 3 – Tuesday – Cairo
This morning you will view the masterpieces of ancient art in the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, including the Mummies Room. The museum is home to the vast findings of King Tutankahmun’s tomb and other important pieces of Egypt’s history. After lunch visit Old Cairo including the citadel of Salah El Din built by the famous Arab Sultan, Salah El Din (Saladin), in the 12th century and the Mohammed Ali Mosque situated inside the citadel known for its alabaster wall. You will have sometime to shop at the Khan El Khalili Bazaar, known for its narrow alleys and hundreds of shops selling all types of Egyptian handicrafts, silver and gold jewelry, cottons, copperware and perfumes.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5 – STAR DELUXE HOTEL (B, L)
Day 4 - Wednesday – Cairo
Today visit the Giza Plateau where you see the three Pyramids, the greatest being that of Cheops. It took 100,000 workers more than 20 years to construct. Entrance into one of the pyramids will be included. Southeast of the Great Pyramids is the Sphinx, carved out of solid natural rock in about 2650 BC, a magnificent monument with the head of the Pharaoh and the body of a lion. Entrance into one (1) pyramid will be included. Continue to visit the first Pyramid ever built, the Step Pyramid of Zoser, in the Sakkara Complex. When Memphis was the capital of Egypt, during the Old Kingdom period, Sakkara was its necropolis. Spread over seven kilometers of desert, Sakkara is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Before returning to the hotel, you will make a stop at the remains in Memphis, the first capital of united Upper and Lower Egypt.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5 – STAR DELUXE HOTEL (B, L)
Day 5 – Thursday – Cairo/Luxor
Early this morning transfer to the airport for a flight to Luxor. Welcome to Luxor, the land of Ancient Thebes. This afternoon you will explore the East Bank of the Nile including the Temple of Luxor. Here, the Avenue of Sphinxes, famous for its artistic degree of uniformity, leads to the entrance of the temple where a seated colossus of Ramses II and a towering Obelisk sit. Continue to the Karnak Temple, one of the most impressive monuments of ancient art and architecture in the world. The carvings, which adorn all of the walls, depict the history and conquests of many of Egypt’s Pharaohs. This evening you may join an optional excursion to the Karnak Temple for a spectacular Sound and Light Show.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5–STAR DELUXE HOTEL (B, D)
Day 6 – Friday – Luxor
Cross the West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings which houses 63 tombs belonging to the Pharaohs of the New Kingdom, including the famous tomb of King Tutankhamen. Many of the tombs, carved out of the bedrock, retain their original bright colors and fine relief’s and scenes, thought to guarantee the safe passage of the Ka to the after life. Continue to Deir El Bahri to visit the mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, considered one of the finest buildings in Egypt.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5 – STAR DELUXE HOTEL (B, D)
Day 7 – 13 - Saturday – Friday - Sharm El Sheik
A short flight will take you to Sharm El Sheikh, the “Land of Turquoise” where rock meets coral reefs and the desert stops at the sea. Sharm El Sheikh offers rich and elegant seaside resorts and is often called the “Egyptian Riviera.” Later this afternoon you will board your live aboard boat for a one week cruise through areas of the Sinai that are untouched by divers or snorkellers. Travel far north of the Red Sea to Taba where you will explore Coral Island, Fjord Pool, Marsa El Muqabila, Ras Burka, Big Ruta, and The Stars. Continue to Nuweiba where you will experience the beauty of Abou Lou Lou, M.F.O. Pipeline, Sinkers, Outside Hilton, Mazeriq, Ras El Shetan, The Valley, El Magana, Eid’s Place (Abu Gallum National Park), Ras Mamlach, Ras Abu Gallum. Your final dives will be in Dahab at the Bells, Blue Hole, Canyon, Eel Garden, Islands,
ACCOMMODATIONS: LUXURY LIVE ABOARD (B, L, D)
Day 14 – Saturday – Sharm El Sheikh
Disembark the boat today. You may choose to take the optional tour to St. Catherine’s Monastery. For those interested in climbing Mount Moses you will have the opportunity to do so. For those choosing not to climb, enjoy breakfast and a rest at the St. Catherine Hotel, and then visit the Monastery. Return to Sharm El Sheikh for the afternoon. I you do not take the optional St. Catherine’s tour the day is at your leisure at you hotel. This evening as the sun sets, take a camel ride out into the desert for tea and pastry at a Bedouin camp. Afterwards return to the hotel for dinner.
ACCOMOMDATIONS: 5-STAR DELUXE HOTEL (B, D)
Day 15 – Sunday – Sharm El Sheikh/Cairo
Today you will leave Sharm El Sheikh for Cairo where you will have the day at leisure. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5 – STAR DELUXE HOTEL (B, D)
Day 16 – Monday – Departure
Farewell to Egypt as you transfer to the airport for your return flight to New York. (B)
• International Air New York/Cairo/New York
on board EgyptAir
• Domestic Air: Cairo/Luxor-Luxor/Sharm El Sheikh/Cairo
• 4 nights accommodation in Cairo at a 5–star deluxe hotel
• 2 nights accommodation in Luxor at a 5-star deluxe hotel
• 7 day live aboard private charter boat
“Sinai and The Gulf of Aqaba” route
• 1 night accommodation in Sharm El Sheikh at a 5-star
deluxe hotel
• Full day sightseeing: Pyramids (including entrance
into 1 pyramid)/Sphinx-Memphis/Sakkara
• Full day sightseeing: Egyptian Museum of Antiquities
and Old Cairo
• Visits to the East and West Bank of Luxor including
Entrance into the Tomb of Tutankhamen
• 14 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 12 dinners
• Transfers Cairo, Luxor, Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab
• Transfer of dive equipment from Cairo/Dahab/Cairo
• Camel and Bedouin excursion with tea and pastry
• Sightseeing and transfers by deluxe car or motor coach
• Hotel taxes and service charges
• Porterage
• Luggage Tags, Travel Bag, Passport Wallet and First Aid Kit
NOT INCLUDED
• U.S. Departure Taxes & Airport Security ($285.00 subject to change)
• Domestic air within the U.S.
• Visa fee
• Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, inter-net services, dive equipment, National Park fees, soft drinks, coffee, tea (except at breakfast), mineral water, alcoholic beverages, passport fees, gratuities for drivers, guides, transfer personnel, travel insurance, etc……
Please Note: This itinerary sequence is subject to change due to hotel availability, weather conditions, and government restrictions
