North Africa Crossing
Nile Cruise Edition
A Grand 19- Day Egypt and Libya Tour

Here's the best way to see the best of North Africa : Egypt, Libya and Nile Cruise .

PRIVATE: Car /Driver and Egyptologist Guide
For all the shore excursions of the Nile cruise

Compare with the 14-day edition . Arrive from Tunisia by road or fly into Tripoli.
Weekly year round - Add Dendera and Abydos , add Ghadames , Tunisia , or Morocco

Libya far more than vast sweeps of desert. As you'll see on this tour, Libya is a country of extraordinary and unexpected variety, so rich that it was coveted and conquered in turn by Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, and Byzantines-all of whom left their mark. During six days with five overnights, we'll travel to the province known to the Greeks as Cyrenaica, and see the ruins of Cyrene, Apollonia, Ptolemais and Gasr. We'll ascend to Jabel Akhdar, where the precious moisture allows a unique flora and fauna flourish. And we'll follow the route of Rommel's famed Afrika Korps to where it met its match at Tobruk in World War II. And then it's onward, to continue your travels through Egypt. The connections are seamless, thanks to our inside knowledge and local contacts .

DAY 1 - Libya Fly Into Tripoli (L) Weekly on Monday year round
We'll meet you at Tripoli airport, or if you are already in Tunisia then we'll meet you at Ras Ajdir, our Libyan personnel will take over and see to your needs for the rest of the way. Our journey continues by road to Sabratha, site of a fine Roman city. We'll tour the ruins and visit the classical museum, and learn about Libya's key position on ancient trade routes. In the afternoon, we continue on into Tripoli, the busy capital of Libya, and settle into our lodgings for the next three nights. You can relax in the evening, or venture out to explore the modern quarters of the town, or the winding lanes of the old city.

DAY 2 - TRIPOLI (BL) Tuesday
After breakfast, we'll take you for a drive through town to the Tripoli Museum, housing treasures of Libyan history from Roman times and earlier. We'll venture into the Old Town, and along the winding lanes of the souks, where in age-old fashion, merchants and customers haggle over local handicrafts and produce, treasures from across the desert, and practical items from over the seas. We'll see the venerable arch of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, the Gurgi Mosque, and the Karamanly Museum. Afterwards, you'll be free to explore on your own, and possibly to return to the souks to try your hand at bargaining for some of the crafts and treasures that you spied earlier.

DAY 3 - LEPTIS MAGNA, SILIN (BL) Wednesday
We'll spend most of today at Leptis Magna, about 130 kilometers from Tripoli. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered the best-preserved Roman city in Africa. The enormous amphitheater and the remains of fine buildings testify to the city's former importance. After gaining insights into the old city at the ruins and in the museum, we'll continue to the delightful and largely intact Roman villa at Silin, with its remarkably lifelike mosaics and frescoes.

DAY 4 - BENGHAZI, PTOLEMAIS (BL) Thursday
We'll head off after breakfast to the airport, and board our plane. It's a flight of under an hour to Benghazi. From there, we'll set out immediately for the ancient port of Ptolemais, founded by the Hellenic dynasty of Egypt. We'll view the great cisterns and Mausoleum, and more artifacts in the museum, where we'll learn about the kingdoms that vied for Libya in ancient times. Then it's off to the surprisingly fertile highlands of Jabel Akhdar. In Gasr Libya, we'll see a Byzantine church with a mosaic floor, and view another mosaic with the only panels known to show ancient Alexandria. Our stop for the night is El Beyda, where we'll lodge in the modest and welcoming three-star Gasr El Beyda Hotel.

DAY 5 - CYRENE, APOLLONIA, TOBRUK (BL) Friday
We set out after breakfast for Cyrene, the Greek city that once rivaled Athens. Impressive temples to Zeus and Apollo remain Then it's off to Apollonia, Cyrene's ancient port, with a surviving Byzantine palace, theater, and baths. Late in the afternoon, we'll reach Tobruk, where we'll overnight at the comfortable Masira Hotel.

DAY 6 - TOBRUK, ON TO EGYPT and Mersa Matrouh (BL)
Saturday
We've followed in the path of Rommel to reach Tobruk. Today, we'll learn about the titanic and bloody clash of forces that marked the turning point of World War II, and pay a moving visit to the cemeteries where lie the dead from both sides. Rommel's push ended here, but not yours. You'll continue to the border of Egypt, where our Libyan personnel will bid you goodbye, and entrust you to your Egyptian hosts. On to Mersa Matrouh and overnight at a modest 4 stars hotel. ( Always with private facilities)

DAY 7 - EL ALAMEIN (BL) Sunday
We'll cross into another era of history today, as we motor westward through the dunes along the Mediterranean coast, following the route of Field Marshall Montgomery to El Alamein. Here we'll visit the fields of battle where Rommel's advance on Cairo was finally halted. We'll visit the museum. Lunch included at el Alamein, before we head back to Mersa Matrouh, remainder of the day at leisure

DAY 8 - SIWA, ORACLE OF AMON (BLD) Monday
It's back to ancient days as we follow the pilgrimage route of Alexander the Great to the Oracle of Amon. He marched westward along the Mediterranean coast, then inland (south) to the great oasis of Siwa. His aim was to visit the great temple of Amun which, tradition says, his legendary "ancestors" Heracles and Perseus had visited. He entered the temple and was hailed by the priests as pharaoh, the son of Amun. He then had a private audience with the High Priestess of the oracle, who proclaimed him to be a god, the son of Zeus. She predicted that he would conquer vast territories. He did. Leaving Egypt, he marched into Persia conquering all who came before him, all the way to what is now Lahore in Pakistan. On his return trip, however, he fell ill and died‹at the ripe age of 33 in Babylon.

Octavious visiting Alexander the Great's Tomb
In Alexandria just after he defeated Cleopatra & Marc Anthony ( 30 B.C) .
Octavious left his coat as a token of respect to Alexander the Great.
The search continues for Alexander the Great's Tomb.

According to ancient inscriptions, Alexander's body was returned to Egypt and buried but where?
Both Siwa and Alexandria are possibilities. His tomb has not yet been identified for sure. At Gebel Mawta, we'll see tombs of the Greco-Roman era, including one that's reputed to be Alexander's own tomb. At Siwa, we'll see an ancient fortress with winding alleyways, and the Temple of Amon, where Alexander's divinity and legitimacy were proclaimed. Within a short distance, we'll traverse centuries as we visit Cleopatra's Pool, a Roman outpost, and a Ptolemaic temple. Our lunch break will be at the springs of Ain Sharouf, where we might get to take a dip.

DAY 9 - SIWA, ALEXANDRIA (BL) Tuesday
We'll retrace the desert route to Alexandria this morning (the portion never completed by Rommel), As the gateway to Egypt, the Nile and Africa, Alexandria has been contested by armies and navies ever since. In 1798, Lord Nelson defeated Napoleonıs navy just east of Alexandria.

In 1807 the British occupied the city. In 1941, General Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps stormed across North Africa all the way to El Alamein, only 70 miles west of Alexandria. Rommel was driven back in desperate fighting by British forces under the command of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, yet another of the many generals to have struggled for control of this strategic land.

Today you 'll have the rest of the day free, to stroll the Corniche, acquire mementos of our trip, or look in on daily life in the ancient capital of Cleopatra. Lunch is served enroute .

DAY 10 - ALEXANDRIA (BL) Wednesday

Conqueror of the Mediterranean Coast - Alexander the Great
In 332 BC, Egypt was laboring under Persian military control when Alexander the Great arrived to drive out the invaders without the shedding of a drop of blood. The Persian governor surrendered and the conquering hero was hailed as a liberator and given Egypt's double crown symbolizing control of Upper and Lower Egypt. Alexander reinstated Egypt's traditional government and founded the city of

Alexandria at the countryıs most important crossroads: where the Nile meets the Mediterranean. . Today, we'll get to known Alexandria in depth, as we visit the Greco-Roman Museum, the Roman Amphitheater, the Koum El Shougafa Tombs, the fortress of Kayet Bey, and the Museum of the Crown Jewels. After lunch in an Alexandrine restaurant, on to : Qayet Bey Fortress

Qayet Bey Fort was built on the same site of the ancient wonder of the world : the famous Alexandria Light House. A brief stop at " El Selsela" the site of the Underwater reserve where Cleopatra Place was discovered, as well as Caesar Kiosk. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the local souks and Zanket El Setat , then its off to the new site for the Alexandria Library before heading back to your hotel, in the evening your guide will call on you for a tour of the downtown Raml district .

DAY 11 - ALEXANDRIA/ Wadi El Natroun / Cairo (BL) Thursday
After breakfast we 'll visit the new museum in Alexandria , the building was originally built in 1926 for the US consulate in Alexandria and is a masterpiece in 1920's architecture & Mediterranean style buildings on to Wadi El Natroun monastery almost midway to Cairo in the middle of the Sahara , where early Coptic Christians retreated here to escape the Roman persecution in the 4th century AD. The Egyptian Pope of Alexandria is always chosen from the Monks of wadi El Natroun. Reach Cairo late afternoon and your hotel.

DAY 12 - Pharaonic Giza (BL) Friday
Today we tour Memphis and Sakkara, including the Step Pyramid of Zoser & Nobles tombs/Mastabas, The Serapeum, Unas, Pyramid of Teti and key Mastabas.
In the afternoon the tour takes us to Dahshour, the pyramid field south of Cairo:only-opened few years back after Sadat signed the peace treaty with Israel, and the Army did let go of this strategically "important" area.

DAHSOUR - we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:

The "Discovery" of Dahshour:
For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru's pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza's Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru's--miraculously--is still in place. We'll tour as well the famous "Bent" Pyramid.

DAY 13 - CAIRO LUXOR- Nile Cruise - Saturday (BLD)
A very early breakfast ( around 4 AM ) and flight to Luxor or Aswan.
Transfer is always included ( private car/driver) from your hotel to the airport.
Domestic air fare between Cairo & the cruise is included, tickets are issued in Cairo . Free upgrade to business class ( subject to availability at the time we receive your booking ).

Transfer is included from Luxor Airport to the Cruise.
Check in on your luxury cruiser at noon. After lunch, we visit the great temples of Luxor and Karnak, then return to our Nile cruiser in time for afternoon tea.
PRIVATE: Car /Driver and Egyptologist Guide for all the shore excursions on board the Nile cruise

DAY 14 - VALLEY OF THE KINGS - Sunday (cBLD)
We tour today as well the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings, including Tut-Ankh-Amon's tomb, and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to our cruise. Then it's on to Queen Hatshepsut's Temple and the Colossi of Memnon.

Afterward, we'll continue on Luxor's west bank to get a totally different perspective on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers' settlement of Deir el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed and decorated the tombs.

Here we'll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt might not have been a workers' paradise, we'll see that artisans and builders were highly regarded in their community. We are proud to be the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient settlement in its tour and cruise programs.

PRIVATE: Car /Driver and Egyptologist Guide for all the shore excursions on board the Nile cruise

DAY 15 - EDFU & KOM OMBO- Monday (cBLD)
We cruise by Esna to Edfu, where we board horse-drawn carriages for the ride to the Temple of Horus. Returning to our ship, we set sail for Kom Ombo. In the evening, there's a jolly galabia party aboard.

PRIVATE: Car /Driver and Egyptologist Guide for all the shore excursions on board the Nile cruise

DAY 16 - KOM OMBO & ASWAN - Tuesday (cBLD)
We explore the twin Temples of Haroeris and Sobek at Kom Ombo, then sail south to Aswan. After lunch we board a graceful felucca and cruise among the islands, returning to our ship in time for tea.

PRIVATE: Car /Driver and Egyptologist Guide for all the shore excursions on board the Nile cruise

DAY 17 - ASWAN / Cairo - Wednesday :
Nubian Museum, Camel Caravan, Nubian Village, Wednesday (cB)
After breakfast we check out, visit the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk, the Nubian Museum ,then board a motor launch to visit the the Island temple of Philae , 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!

Be our guest if you wish on a complimentary short camel caravan to a near by Nubian Village for tea with the locals, returning to Aswan Airport .Transfer is included ( private car/driver) back to Aswan airport

Domestic air fare is included as well back to Cairo, free upgrade to business class subject to availability at the the time we receive your booking . In Cairo , we meet you at the airport & escort you back to your hotel .

PRIVATE: Car /Driver and Egyptologist Guide for all the shore excursions on board the Nile cruise

DAY 18- CAIRO -Home Hosted Family Dinner (BLD) Thursday
The Culture of Cairo

Today we’ll explore deep into the heart of Cairo, and get to know its daily rhythms, its spirituality, its history, and its modern diversions. We’ll start early, with a visit to a local market, with an immense variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables on offer, both familiar and exotic.

You’ll see that shopping in Cairo goes far beyond a supermarket experience. Be prepared for whispers, gestures, shouting, and controlled chaos. It’s all part of the bargaining process, engaged in by women in traditional modest garb as well as others in Western dress.

Then it’s on to the Museum of Islamic Art, with its tapestries, textiles, swords and other objects exemplifying one of the world’s great decorative traditions. We’ll continue to the Gayer-Anderson House, a serene and classic domestic oasis, right down to its central fountain and exquisite furnishings. Our visit is also a journey into a vanished way of life—the residence is actually two traditional medieval Cairo houses restored by an English physician to a former king. We’ll stop for lunch at a restaurant where Cairenes go, then visit the Bab an-Nasr, the Gate of Victory in Cairo’s old walls. You’ll even see graffiti that survives from soldiers of Napoleon and of the British Empire, among the many who passed this way.

Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals, you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
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, you may enjoy dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.

DAY 19 - RETURN HOME (B) Friday
After breakfast, our Cairo staff will accompany you to the airport, where you'll board your flight to start your journey home. This tour departs weekly .

The Ancient Egyptian God of Fertility
Photo Credit Osama Abdel A'al - Click here for more images from the Oases

RATES per person in USD

International airfare is not included from / to your home country
Christmas / New Year / Easter : please add 20 % to any of the rates

Please add 20 % supplement to the deluxe rates for the ultra deluxe :
Queen Ti-Yi , Nile Vision , the all suites M/S Amarco , or the all suites with private balconies Nile Cruise : M/S Liberty , or Moon Goddess ( all state   rooms do offer private balconies)

The Ultra Deluxe M/S Amarco

Category A class hotels :
Five-star Hyatt . Conrad . Semiramis Inter.Continental in Cairo
Five-star Corinthia Bab Africa in Tripoli (www.corinthiahotels.com)
Alexandria : Sheraton, Hilton, Palestine Montazah Hotel
Siwa Oases Egypt:Hilton Borg El Arab or Safari Paradise Siwa

Category B class hotels :
Novotel / Maadi / Oases in Cairo
Yosser Hotel in Tripoli (newly renovated, near old town and Tripoli Museum)
Alexandria : Sheraton, Hilton, Palestine Montazah Hotel
Siwa Oases Egypt:Hilton Borg El Arab or Safari Paradise Siwa

In Libya, surprises are the order of the day! An invitation to a refreshing glass of mint tea while you browse in a shop . . . an encounter with a humble desert dweller . . . a gust of wind and a swirl of sand, followed by perfect stillness, and vistas under an endless blue sky.

You'll find sometimes that your tour schedule will be switched to accommodate changes in conditions. You might even start with your last day and proceed resolutely to the first! Your hotels will have facilities that match their ratings, and idiosyncrasies in service on the upside and downside, but always with a warm welcome.

It's all part of the experience and privilege of going where few have gone. Be flexible and ready for surprises. If that's not you, don't worry, we offer myriad options elsewhere tailored to your requirements and expectations.

Rate Includes:

• Hotel accommodation with tax as listed , and continental breakfast daily
• All transfers in Egypt & Libya .
• Guided sightseeing including all entrance fees as per itinerary , always by air conditioned sedan/van or mini bus ( 15 - 24 seater) .
• Pre set meals as listed including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast), L = Lunch, D = Dinner
• Cairo & Libya and travel guide books.
• Egyptian Visa:
  Will be issued on a complimentary basis for American, Australian, NZ, Western European, Canadian , Singaporean & Japanese citizens, your passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of arrival.
• All Nile Cruise shore excursions, entrance fees, the service of a private English Speaking guide.
  
• Private air conditioned vehicle, of course with your own chauffeur, for all the Nile cruise shore excursions, on private basis.
  
• Welcome fruit basket upon check-in on board the Nile Cruise . One large bottle of water per person daily while on board the cruise. Tea or coffee with each meal on board the cruise
• All outside cabins, including all tax & service charges.
• All meals: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner. Afternoon tea daily onboard.
• All transfers as listed, all by air conditioned car/van .
• Domestic air fare between Cairo & the Nile cruise, tax included. Add $ 150 for upgrade to business class ( subject to availability)
• One small bottle of water per person with each meal on board the Nile Cruise

• Visa for Libya , issued upon arrival in Libya , American, Canadian, EU, Japanese nationalities, your passport must be valid for 6 month beyond the date of arrival. No Israeli visa stamps.
  We must receive 60 days at least in advance prior to your trip : a legible scanned copies of your passport ( information page )

Not Included :

• Any International Airfare from/to your home country
• Tips.
• Beverages with meals
• Travel Insurance
  

Sample Tripoli hotels ( Five Stars ) :

Corinthia ( Bab Africa ) ( Five star Superior)
Tel: +218 21 3351990 Fax: +218 21 3351992 Email: tripoli@corinthia.com

Al Mahari. Al Kabir . Bab Al Bahr .

More Choices :

• North Africa Grand Crossing 18- Day : Tunisia, Libya and Egypt
  
• Libya Home Page
  
• Compare with the 14 day Edition.
  
• Add Tunisia , or Morocco
  
• Add Spain and Andalusia
  
• Add a Nile Cruise in Egypt
  
• Combine with Turkey .
  
• Combine with Egypt : in a 14-day or 19-Day
  
• Turkey | Mediterranean Cruise | Spain & Portugal
  
  
• The Latest news from Ancient Egypt : Queen Nefertiti turns Egypt upside down
  
• Cleopatra 's love affair with Marc Anthony Threatens Egypt's relation with Rome
  
• Around the Mediterranean : From Andalusia to Anatolia : Spain, Turkey and North Africa Grand Crossing : 34 - Day :Turkey , Morocco , Tunisia, Spain and Egypt
  
• The Gems of the Near East: Tour Egypt, Palestine , Israel and Greece
  The Ultimate Private Adventure Tour of the Near East : Triangle of Ancient Lands . Come with us on a grand 10-day

DRESS CODE :

All of our Nile cruise vessels are fully air conditioned. Onboard dress is casual except at dinner, when smart casual is the rule. Lightweight cotton and other natural fiber clothing is best, with swimsuits and sun hats for the sundeck and pool. Bring a light sweater or light jacket for cool mornings and evenings, but most days are warm to hot, with very little rain. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for shore excursions.

What to Pack:
Most of the year look forward to warm, even hot weather in Cairo , Luxor & Aswan, morning & evenings are cooler. During Winter ... very rare do we get rain, if so , very brief showers. No need for real rain wear/gear.
Before sunrise , after sun-set , you'll need a light jacket , or light sweater .

For Nile cruise shore excursions, we suggest comfortable cotton & natural fabric lightweight clothing.

Comfortable walking shoes are essential for all tours in Cairo or Upper Egypt.

Clothing on Board the Nile Cruise :
Lightweight comfortable & casual clothing. Swimsuits, sun hat.
Dining room dress code is casual for breakfast & lunch, but smart casual for dinner. Please do not wear swimsuits into the dining room.
All ships are fully air conditioned