The Marvels of
• International air New York/Cairo/New York including
taxes and fuel surcharges
• Domestic air: Cairo/Luxor-Aswan/Cairo
• 2 nights accommodation in Cairo at the Le Meridian
Pyramids Hotel or similar
• 5 day/4 night Nile cruise on board the Amarco Nile
Cruise Ship or similar 5-star deluxe ship
• 1 night accommodation in Cairo at the Radisson
Blu Hotel or similar
• English speaking Egyptologist guide throughout
• 7 breakfast, 5 lunches and 4 dinners
• All sightseeing and transfers by deluxe air
conditioned motor coach
• All entrance fees
• Hotel taxes and service charges
• Porterage of 1 piece of luggage
Not Included
• Egypt Visa
• Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, inter-net services, soft drinks, coffee, tea (except at breakfast), mineral water, alcoholic beverages, passport fees, tips to drivers, guides, transfer people, travel insurance, etc……
Tour Highlights
Important Forms
Please remember to "print out all forms"
fill-out, sign and fax back, E-MAIL or send
by standard mail.
9 Days/7 Nights
Ancient Egypt
Cairo and The Nile
Day 1 - Friday - Departure
Depart New York this evening for Egypt.
Day 2 – Saturday – Cairo
Welcome to Egypt, Land of the Pharaohs! On arrival at Cairo International Airport, you are greeted by your host, assisted through customs formalities and escorted to the hotel. After check-in and time to freshen up, meet with the Egyptologist guide and discuss the exciting days ahead.
ACCOMMODATIONS: LE MERIDIAN PYRAMIDS HOTEL OR SIMILAR
Day 3 – Sunday – Cairo
After a buffet breakfast your exploration of ancient Egypt begins as you visit the Giza Plateau where there are three Pyramids, the greatest being that of Cheops. It took 100,000 workers more than 20 years to construct. 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. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities where you will see many treasures including the exquisite artifacts of King Tutankhamen’s tomb and other important pieces of Egypt's history. The day ends with a visit to the Khan El Khalili Bazaar, known for its narrow alleys and hundreds of shops are selling all types of Egyptian handicrafts, silver and gold jewelry, cottons, copperware and perfumes. This evening you may choose to re-visit the Pyramids for a Sound and Light Show presentation.
ACCOMMODATIONS: LE MERIDIAN PYRAMIDS HOTEL OR SIMILAR (B, L)
Day 4 – Monday – Cairo/Luxor
A morning flight brings you to Luxor ancient Thebes. Embark on your Nile Cruise Ship your home for the next four nights. This afternoon 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 will have an option to re-visit Karnak Temple where a magnificent Sound and Light Show presentation will take you back to the days of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari.
ACCOMMODATIONS: AMARCO NILE CRUISE SHIP OR SIMILAR (B, L, D)
Day 5 – Tuesday – Luxor/ Esna/Edfu
This morning explore the Valley of the Kings, housing 63 tombs belonging to the Pharaohs of the New Kingdom, including the famous tomb of King Tutankhamen excavated in 1922 (optional entrance ticket available). 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 Ba to the afterlife. 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.
Return to the ship for lunch and sail to Edfu crossing the Esna Lock. Your ship will arrive in the port at Edfu where you will overnight.
ACCOMMODATIONS: AMARCO NILE CRUISE SHIP OR SIMILAR (B, L, D)
Day 6 – Wednesday – Edfu/Kom Ombo/Aswan
Begin the day with a horse and carriage ride to 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, 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. Sail onto 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 and 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. Arrive later today in Aswan where the ship will dock for the next two days.
ACCOMMODATIONS: AMARCO NILE CRUISE SHIP OR SIMILAR (B, L, D)
Day 7 – Thursday - Aswan
By motor boat you will be taken to visit Philae Temple, situated on the island of Agilika. 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. On the walls of the temple, look for the first recorded representation of medical instruments. This afternoon visit Aswan's High Dam, Granite Quarries, and Unfinished Obelisk. Then continue by felucca to view Kitchener’s Island with its beautiful gardens and to view the mausoleum of the Agha Khan. Return to the ship for dinner and a Nubian Dance Party.
ACCOMMODATIONS: AMARCO NILE CRUISE SHIP OR SIMILAR (B, L, D)
Day 8 – Friday - Aswan/Cairo – Optional Abu Simbel
This morning you will disembark your ship and take a flight back to Cairo. Or you may take the optional post- 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 return to Aswan you will continue onto Cairo for your final evening in Egypt.
ACCOMMODATIONS: RADISSON BLU HOTEL OR SIMILAR (B)
Day 9 – Saturday - Departure
Your “Marvels of Ancient Egypt” ends this morning as you are transferred to the airport for your return flight to New York. Arrive home your hearts and minds filled with many happy memories of ancient and modern Egypt. (B)
Please note: Itinerary sequence hotels, cruise ship names are subject to change.
