In Search of Egypt’s Ancient Lands (12 days)

A Grand 12 Days Vacation
in Egypt with the Pyramids, Abu Simbel Temples
And an 8 day Nile Cruise – Boarding Aswan

See the Pyramids,the Sphinx, the timeless temples along the Nile in Luxury fit for a Pharaoh. Meet the locals: Enjoy a home hosted meal. Tour starts weekly in Cairo, year round. How would you like to cruise the Nile the way the Pharaoh and Cleopatra did? These graceful boats will allow you to cruise the great river in a stately Pharaonic style. You will visit Cairo, all of Upper Egypt’s top sights, and gives you the chance to see the timeless Nile as adventurers have seen it throughout the ages.

DAY 1 – CAIRO: Arrive weekly (year round) on a Wednesday or Thursday:
Upon arrival, our local rep. will escort you to your comfortable hotel. Hilton, Hyatt or Sheraton. All transfers in Egypt are on a private basis. Private air conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur. Visa may be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport.

Visa may be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport.
VIP Meet & Greet Upon arrival at Cairo Airport?Visa issued locally in Cairo (for a limited number of nationalities) no photos required. Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of citizens such as: American, Australian, NZ, EU, Canadian, EU Singaporean and Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo. Our local rep. will meet you with a sign that carries your name, and will be waiting for you with the prepaid visa stamps to proceed to the passports control to stamp your passports and then you claim your luggage. After you clear the passport and customs formalities and exit the terminal, our local representative will escort you by private vehicle to the hotel. Welcome fruit basket & Egyptian pastry awaits you in your room with our compliments.

Sample Deluxe Hotels: Ramses Hilton, Cairo Sheraton, Sonesta, Cairo Marriott, Cairo Conrad, Semiramis InterContinental Hotel or similar.

DAY 2 – CAIRO and GIZA – Home Hosted Dinner – Thursday (BLD)
Today we see Cairo’s major sights: the Egyptian Museum, including the Mummies Room. Lunch at the Mena House. In the afternoon we see Giza’s major sights: Giza Pyramids, and the mighty Sphinx. All tours in Cairo are on a private basis. Private air conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.

Complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals: This evening we’ll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread… right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo! You’ll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you’ll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they’re sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you’ll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, if you prefer, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions by letting us know your preferences. You may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (T shirt, small souvenirs of your home town).

DAY 3 -Aswan – Board Your Cruise (or Boarding in LUXOR) – Friday (BLD)
Morning flight to Aswan, we’ll escort you to your Nile cruises. Check- in is at noon, if/when the domestic flight confirmation dictates an early morning arrival, your cabin may not be ready before noon, yet all the public facilities on board are at your disposal. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin.

Get ready for the tour of Aswan Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, and Philae Temple, dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS.

The Mystery of Isis. Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled by the mystery of Isis: “I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled.”

Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.

Isis was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra!

Because of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey to the Underworld.

Isis is portrayed regally, as a queen seated on a throne (which may be the meaning of her name), often holding her son Horus as a baby. Other images show her with broad, magnificent gilded wings able to protect the world. Isis, the great Mother Goddess. Come explore her mystery in timeless Egypt when you Travel in Style!

We head back for our lunch aboard. Enjoy an afternoon on board as we sail north.

DAY 4 – EDFU -On Board Your Nile Cruise – Saturday (BLD)
In Edfu, we board horse-drawn carriages for the ride to the Temple of Horus. The best preserved temple in Egypt. Returning to our ship, we set sail for Aswan. A complimentary Galabya will be provided that you may wish to try on for the evening when there’s a jolly galabia party aboard.

DAY 5 – Full day on board your cruise – Sunday (cBLD)
Enjoy a relaxing full day on board your ship as we set sail for Luxor. Afternoon tea is always served on the sundeck.

DAY 6 – Luxor – On Board Your Nile Cruise -Monday (BLD)
Today we tour the Valley of the Kings, including King Tut’s tomb, Valley of the Queens, Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch on to the Gigantic Temple of Karnak & the great temple of Luxor, then we see the most recent discoveries housed in the relatively new & charming Luxor Museum. Return to our Nile cruiser in time for afternoon tea. Evening Sound & Light show at Karnak Temple.

DAY 7 – Full Day Cruising – On Board Your Nile Cruise -Tuesday (BLD)
Enjoy scenery that changed little since Biblical time as we cruise and pass through Esna Locks, in our way to Kom Ombo where we dock for the night.

DAY 8- KOM OMBO -On Board Your Nile Cruise – Wednesday (BLD)
We explore the twin Temples of Haroeris, the Sun God, and Sobek, the Crocodile God, at Kom Ombo,. Returning to our ship in time for tea. We set sail for Aswan.

DAY 9 -Abu Simbel- ASWAN & CAMEL CARAVAN – Nile Cruise Thursday (BLD)
Morning flight to Abu Simbel. Air fare is included in economy class, tax included. All transfers are on a private basis. In Abu Simbel: your private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and private guide will be waiting for you at the airport.
The larger temple is dedicated to Ramses the Great, colossal figures of Ramses are seated with the gods and attended by his queen and daughters. The smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari, who appears as Hathor, the goddess of love, joy and fertility, symbolized by the benevolent cow. We explore these fine temple, admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which we fly back to Aswan Airport and on to tour of Aswan Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk,, and Philae Temple,dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS. We head back for our lunch aboard.

In the afternoon we board a graceful felucca and cruise among the islands of the Nile. Be our guest if you wish on a complimentary short camel caravan to a near by Nubian Village for tea with the locals. Return to the ship in time for your afternoon tea. In the evening, your guide will call on you for a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout Aswan souks and waterfront.

DAY 10 – Cairo – Friday (BD)
After breakfast, check-out. If you, fly back to Cairo and your hotel. Dinner is included at La Bodega restaurant, or Abu El-Sid.

DAY 11 – CAIRO – The Newly restored Al-Muizz Street – Saturday (BL)
Today we enjoy a walking tour of the newly restored Al-Muezz street, feel free to discuss with your guide your preference as you explore this true Medieval Cairo gem: All entrance fees are included for all the monuments that would fit in before sunset. Lunch is included and served at a charming local restaurant.

Partial list of the historical monuments that may be visited:

• Bab al-Futuh (AD 1087). Bab Zuwayla (AD 1092).
• Al-Hakim Mosque (AD 990 and later).
• Zawyat Abul-Kheir al-Kelibati.
• Al-Silihdar Complex (mosque, caravansary and school) (AD 1837).
• The Mustafa Jaafar Mansion.
• Al-Aqmar Mosque.
• The Katkhuda Sabeel/Kuttab (caravansary and school).
• Amir Bashtak Palace.
• Al-Kamileya School.
• Sultan al-Zahir Barquq Funerary Complex.
• The Sabeel/Kuttab of Khassru Pasha.
• The Madrasa of Baybars al Bunduqdari.
• Al-Ashrafiya School.
• The Sabeel/Wekala of Naffissa al-Baydha.
• Sultan al-Mu’aid Mosque.
• The Hammam (bath) of Sultan al-Ashraf Inal.
• Complex of Salih Najm al Din Ayyub.
• The Sabeel of Mohammad Ali – Aqqadeen.
• The Sabeel of Mohammad Ali – Nahasseen.
• Al-Fakahani Mosque.
• Madrassa of al-Nassir ibn Qalawun.
• Al-Ghuri Complex.
• The Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun Complex
• Photo Gallery.

DAY 12 – Departure – Sunday (B)
Our local rep. escorts you to the airport for your flight home. Bon Voyage!

Deluxe rate per person in USD $:
	Category I	Category II	Category III
Triple	$ 3060	$ 4400	$ 7200
Double	$ 3100	$ 4715	$ 7340
Single	$ 4610	$ 5880	$ 9450

Dec 20 – Jan 5 and Easter Week: Please add 15% holiday supplement. (This supplement includes the New Year’s Gala, no credit/refund if you do not attend.)

Children discount: 25 % discount on the double rate. Child must be 10 years or younger at the time of travel. Children discount applies when sharing with 2 adults. No children discount applies for Category III.

Deluxe Nile Cruise:

• M/S Nile Vision
• M/S Adonis
• M/S Mojito
• M/S Monaco
• M/S Monte Carlo

Deluxe Hotels:

• Hilton
• Sheraton
• Sonesta, or similar

Sample Deluxe Hotels:

• Grand Hyatt
• Cairo Marriott
• J. W. Marriott Cairo
• Cairo Conrad, or Similar

Sample of the The Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise:

• The Ultra deluxe M/S Tuya, M/S TiYi
• The all suites M/S Amarco
• The Movenpick Royal Lotus or the Movenpick MS Radamis II
• All the rooms with private balconieson the Sonesta Moon Goddess

Sample Deluxe Hotels:

• Four Seasons Nile Plaza
• Four Seasons First Residence
• or the Mena House (mix & match if you wish)

Sample of the The Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise:

• Oberoi Zahra Deluxe Nile Cruiser
• Sonesta Star Goddess (Beethoven Suite)
• Private guide / egyptologist in Cairo and on board the Nile cruise.

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YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:

• Egyptian domestic airfares as described in the itinerary in ” Y ” class. Complimentary upgrade to business class when available, with the purchase of the category II and III.
• All airport transfers are on a private basis in Egypt.
• Hotel accommodations in the category you select, including taxes.
• Pre set-menu (table d’hôte) meals as indicated in the itinerary above.
• Nile cruise based on your category selection, with all shore excursions and meals.
• Complimentary welcome drink upon arrival on board the Nile Cruise.
• Complimentary welcome fruit basket on board the Nile Cruise.
• Large bottle of water (per person) delivered to you cabin daily while you are on board the Nile Cruise.
• Tea or coffee and bottled water with each / every meal while you are on board the Nile Cruise.
• Guided sightseeing by air-conditioned motorcoach, including all admissions fees. All tours in Cairo are on a private basis. Private air conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
• VIP Arrival Hall At Cairo Airport
  Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport (photos are not required) Visa will be issued for a limited number of citizens such as: American, Australian, NZ, EU, Canadian, EU Singaporean and Japanese citizens,You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo. Our local rep. meets with a sign that carries your name, and will be waiting for you with the prepaid visa stamps to proceed to the passports control to stamp your passports, then you claim your luggage, after you clear the passport and customs formalities and exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel. Welcome fruit basket & Egyptian pastry awaits you in your room in Cairo upon arrival with our compliments

Not included:

• Insurance
• Any charges of personal nature such as phone calls, dry clean etc.
• International air fare from / to your home country.
• Tips

Lightweight comfortable & casual clothing. Swimsuits, sun hat. Dining room dress code is casual for breakfast & lunch, but smart casual for dinner. All ships are fully air conditioned.

The Oberoi Zahra is the only luxury cruiser on the Nile with four therapy rooms. Each therapy room features a private shower and steam room. Uninterrupted views of the Nile, rejuvenating treatments and the finest natural products create the perfect experience. Rates do not include spa treatments.

He was the fourth Fatimid Caliph in Tunisia, the first in Egypt and the 14th Imam of the Ismaili branch of Shi’ism. He ruled from AD 953 to AD 975 during which he sent his Commander Jawhar al-Siqqily to conquer Egypt.

After having wrenched the country out of Abbasid hands, Al-Siqqily built a new capital, al-Qahira (Cairo), in which he established the Eastern Palace and asked al-Muizz to preside at the opening ceremony.

Al-Muizz was well-read in numerous languages, and well-informed in science and literature. He knew how to administer the affairs of the state and was able to build a strong army, which united Morocco and extended Fatimid influence as far as southern Italy.