Day
1:Cairo Your trip starts today in Cairo.
No activities are planned so you may arrive at any time.
Rooms are generally available after 1.00 pm. If you have
not pre-booked an arrival transfer you will find taxis
available on arrival at Cairo Airport. Make sure you agree
the price before you set off into town! Your tour leader
may make contact tonight, otherwise you will see him tomorrow
morning at the tour briefing, which usually takes place
after breakfast.
Day 2:Cairo-Aswan Cairo is the Mother of all cities,
a massive, sprawling metropolis of some 16 million people.
Our first stop today is the celebrated Egyptian Museum,
where our local guide explains the history and mysteries
of Ancient Egypt. We see the golden mask of King Tutankhamun,
and numerous other treasures and later we drive out to
the edge of the desert to explore the pyramids and the
nearby Sphinx. We also visit the beautiful Valley Temple
of King Chephren, a superb example of Old Kingdom engineering.
In the evening we are transferred to the station for the
night train to Aswan. Our air-conditioned carriage has
large, comfortable seats (similar to business class seats
on a plane) that recline to about 45?, and a simple dinner
and breakfast are served on board. There is a toilet located
at the end of the carriage.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner.
Day
3:Aswan On arrival
in Aswan we head to our hotel where we can relax for a
while before heading out to explore the Nubian bazaar
- a long and colourful street that snakes through the
centre of town. Another option is a visit to the stunning
Temple of Isis at Philae Island. After a break for lunch
we might decide to head out on a felucca sailboat and
then take a camel ride towards the Monastery of St. Simeon
- a great way to spend the afternoon!
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day
4:Abu Simbel-Nile Cruise Rising
early we travel by road to Abu Simbel, one of the most
impressive temples ever built and one of the highlights
of our visit to Egypt. We follow the shores of Lake Nasser
and generally arrive at the temple just after sunrise,
a perfect time for photographs. We enjoy a tour of the
site and later return to Aswan, arriving around midday,
where we board our Nile Cruise boat. After lunch the rest
of the day is free to sleep or relax on the sundeck.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Days 5-6:Nile Cruise Cruising along the Nile is a magical
experience, sitting on the sundeck, watching timeless
scenes as we glide over the dark waters. We stop at Komombo
to visit the Temple of Sobek, a Greco-Roman temple that
overlooks the river, and at Edfu we explore the well-preserved
Temple of Horus, considered one of the finest examples
of temple construction. All meals are served in the comfortable
dining room, and on one evening we enjoy an impromptu
fancy-dress party, which is always great fun. On arrival
in Luxor we take horse-drawn carriages to the massive
complex at Karnak, built over a period of some 2000 years,
and one of the greatest temples ever constructed.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Day 7:Luxor-Cairo We rise early to cross the Nile,
where our donkeys are waiting to take us into the Valley
of the Kings. After matching up the donkeys to our riders
we head off, just as the sun begins to rise in the eastern
skies. Its a great experience and one of the highlights
of our visit to Egypt. We return to the east bank where
the afternoon is free to explore the bazaar. In the evening
we take the overnight recliner train back to Cairo, with
dinner served on board.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
Day
8:Cairo Arriving
back in Cairo we are transferred to our hotel and the
rest of the day is free to explore. In the older part
of the city there is a lot to see, including some beautiful
old mosques and, of course, the fantastic Khan El Khalili
bazaar an amazing mix of shops and stalls that have traded
goods and gossip since the Middle Ages. Theres time for
everything and our tour leader can help organise taxis:
but be prepared to bargain! This evening we can enjoy
a final night out together.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day
9:Cairo Our trip ends today, after breakfast.
Check-out time is usually around 12.00 noon and you are
free to leave at any time.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Included :
An experienced English-speaking local leader, local guides
at some sites, all transportation, accommodation, meals
and sightseeing as indicated.
