15 Days/13 Nights - Including a 5 Day/4 Night
Nile Cruise and a 7-Day Simply The Best Live Aboard
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1 – Saturday – Departure
Depart New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport this evening for Egypt. Dinner and a light breakfast will be served on board.

Day 2 – Sunday – 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 you with Custom formalities. After check-in at the hotel and time to freshen up, 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 – Monday – Cairo
Today visit the Giza Plateau where you see 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 is 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. This afternoon you will be introduced to the masterpieces of ancient art in the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, including the Mummy Room. The museum is home to the vast findings of King Tutankhamen’s tomb and other important pieces of Egypt's history.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5-STAR DELUXE HOTEL (B, L)

Day 4 – Tuesday – Cairo/Aswan-Optional Abu Simbel/Nile Cruise
This morning a short flight will bring you to Aswan to board your Nile Cruise or you may select the optional pre cruise three-hour Abu Simbel excursion to visit the great Temples of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. The colossal statues were originally carved into the side of a natural cliff that had to be rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. After your excursion and upon your return to Aswan you will embark your Nile cruise. After check in and lunch, visit Aswan’s High Dam, Granite Quarries, and Unfinished Obelisk. Then continue by felucca to enjoy Kitcheners Island with its beautiful gardens and to view the mausoleum of the Agha Khan.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5-STAR DELUXE NILE CRUISE SHIP (B, L, D)

Day 5 – Wednesday- Nile Cruise Aswan/Kom Ombo/Edfu
After breakfast sail in a small boat to the Philae Temple, situated on the island of Agilika. Like Abu Simbel, the temple was relocated in order to protect it from the rising water of the High Dam, built in 1960. The main sanctuary on the island is dedicated to the Goddess Isis and her son Horus. Ancient Egyptians believed that Isis was the Goddess of Magic, and when she wept, the Nile flooded. This afternoon set sail for the city of Kom Ombo, known as “Ombos” in ancient times. Its location on the Nile, gave it strategic importance to control the routes from Nubia to the Nile Valley. The city became prosperous when the temple in the Ptolemaic era was built, divided into two symmetrical halves. The left side is dedicated to the falcon-headed god, “Heroeris,” and the right side to the crocodile god, “Sobek”. Reliefs of Ptolemaic Pharaohs are found in the porch area. The remainder of the temple consists of a crypt, chapels, Roman wells where sacred crocodiles may have been kept, and the remains of a birth house. On the walls of the temple, you will see the first recorded representation of medical instruments. Sail onto Edfu, midway between Aswan and Luxor.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5-STAR DELUXE NILE CRUISE SHIP (B, L, D)

Day 6 – Thursday – Nile Cruise Edfu/Luxor
Begin the day by visiting the magnificently preserved temple of Edfu. The sandstone temple of Horus the Sun God was built under the Ptolemies and completed by the mid first century, BC. In the colonnaded court, we will see the surviving statue of a pair of falcons representing Horus. A series of smaller chambers leads to the Sanctuary of the God, which is lit by three openings in the ceiling. Ceremonies, celebrations, and war scenes are shown on the walls of the temple. Later today, we sail to Esna, pass the lock, and arrive in Luxor, ancient Thebes. This afternoon we 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 NILE CRUISE SHIP (B, L, D)

Day 7 – 13 - Friday – Thursday - Luxor/Safaga
This morning cross the West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings housing 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, fine reliefs, and scenes, thought to guarantee the safe passage of the Ka to the after life. Afterwards, continue on to Deir El Bahri to visit the mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, considered being one of the finest buildings in Egypt. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt as King for 20 years. Afterwards disembark the cruise ship and transfer to Safaga where you will board your live aboard boat to sail the Southern Red Sea on the Simply the Best itinerary.
ACCOMMODATIONS: LUXURY LIVE ABOARD BOAT (B, L, D)

SIMPLY THE BEST
Dives this next week includes the best 3 sites in the area: Big and Little Brothers,
Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone.

Big Brother
The northern side of the two islands has a small lighthouse and two wrecks resting on its walls, a large freighter named the Namibia and the Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel. There is excellent wall diving all along the southern side of the reef with strong currents promoting the growth of a spectacular forest of soft corals. Enjoy the frequent sightings of big pelagic and an astonishing variety of marine life.

Little Brother
This island is the smaller of the two as the name implies. At the northern end is a long tongue of reef that extends seaward and in good weather it is possible to drop in here and drift. The current runs from east to west and sharks may be seen cruising. On the south east side is a superb fan coral forest however it is deep and starts at 115 feet, there are also plenty of caves, overhangs, black coral, and lots of pelagic including Sharks, Tuna, Barracuda, Turtles and schools of Reef Fish. As you round the southern corner the slope gives way to a vertical wall where you can catch a glimpse of a Silver Tip Shark. In the summer Thresher Sharks are seen here, in October Grey Reef Sharks gather to mate and divers have also reported schooling Hammerheads and groups of Sailfish in this area.

Elphinstone Reef
Offers sheer walls of this great reef which plunge steeply into the blue, richly decorated with soft corals, sponges, gorgonians and fans. Sharks often swim by the spot to feed on the abundant Reef Fish population. The northern plateau is home to schooling Hammerheads with frequent sightings of Oceanic White Tip Sharks.

Daedalus Reef
A huge round reef with a lighthouse more than 40 miles off the coast, features an excellent opportunity for spotting big pelagic including Manta Rays. All around its steep walls you can see an extreme variety of fish and coral and you have a good chance to see schooling Hammerheads on the northern point. Strong currents are possible.

Elphinstone
A cigar-shaped reef running north-south and over 1000 feet in length, located in the southern Red Sea, close to Marsa Alam. It was named after Admiral George Elphinstone, a British naval commander who served in Egypt in the Napoleonic wars at the beginning of the 19th century. It's healthy marine life and underwater landscapes make it one of Egypt's best diving sites. The northern and southern tips of Elphinstone have 300 foot wide plateaus between 60-120 feet deep, covered with soft corals, huge gorgonians, sponges and sea whips. Diving at the Northern Plateau, it's best to drop in further to the north and drift onto the plateau. Here you'll find crowds of redtooth triggerfish, fluttering in the current. Giant trevally and great barracuda often hunt here and reef sharks are common.

Day 14 – Friday – Safaga/Cairo
Today leave Safaga for Cairo where you have the day at your leisure. Enjoy a farewell dinner this evening.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5-STAR DELUXE HOTEL (B, D)

Day 15 – Saturday – 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
• Domestic Air Cairo/Aswan-Hurghada/Cairo
• 3 nights accommodation in a 5-star deluxe hotel
• 7 nights Live Aboard – Simply the Best: (The Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone)
• 4 day/3 nights Nile Cruise on board a 5-star deluxe boat
• English speaking Egyptologist-guide in Cairo and on board the Nile Cruise Ship
• Full day sightseeing Pyramids (entrance into 1 pyramid)/Sphinx –Egyptian Museum of Antiquities including entrance into the Mummy Room
• Half day visit to the Khan El Khalili Bazaar
• All shore excursions and entrance fees on board the Nile Cruise Ship
• 13 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 12 dinners
• Transfers Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Safaga, Hurghada
• Transfer of dive equipment from Cairo/Safaga/Cairo
• 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 INLCUDED
• 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, Egypt visa, passport fees, gratuities for drivers, guides, transfer personnel, travel insurance, etc…

Please Note: Itinerary sequence subject to change without prior notice due to government regulations and hotel/cruise confirmations.