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This captivating vacation offers an exciting voyage through the Kingdom of the Pharaohs. In Cairo, marvel at King Tutankhamen's treasures, visit the enigmatic Sphinx, and see the Great Pyramids of Giza. Then, fly to Aswan for a 4-night Nile River cruise to Luxor. Along the way, visit the Aswan Dam, the Temple of Isis, the Valley of Kings and Valley of Queens, and Luxor Temple. You'll also ride through Edfu to the Temple of Horus, visiting colorful local bazaars and exploring the stunning monuments of Karnak.
Day 1
(Fri.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
Day 2 Arrival in Cairo, Egypt
(Sat.) A welcome drink awaits you at your hotel; settle in and start soaking up
the atmosphere of this exciting city.
Day 3 Cairo. The Pyramids
(Sun.) Meet your Egyptologist and traveling companions at 8 am. Sightseeing in
and around Africa's largest metropolis starts at the EGYPTIAN MUSEUM with
Tutankhamun's fabulous treasures, an exciting first encounter with the splendor
of three millennia of Egyptian civilization. Then, leave for ancient MEMPHIS to
admire the 40-foot statue of Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. On to SAKKARA'S
"stairway to the sky," the oldest of all pyramids. At GIZA, take a close-up look
at the enigmatic SPHINX and the daunting Great Pyramids. Cheops, with an
original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built. A
suggestion for tonight: enjoy an optional dinner cruise on the Nile River.
(B)
Day 4 Cairo-Aswan
(Mon.) Enjoy time this morning for independent activities or join an optional
excursion to walled Old Cairo. Saladin's 12th-century Citadel, the Alabaster
Mosque, and the labyrinthine bazaar are well worth a visit. In the afternoon,
fly 500 miles up the Nile Valley to the lovely resort town of Aswan. (B,D)
Day 5 Aswan (Embarkation)
(Tue.) Morning at leisure in Aswan. You may want to join an optional flight
(weather permitting) to the huge sandstone temples of Abu Simbel. Then, check
into your elegant river cruise vessel in time for lunch. In the afternoon, a
special treat: board a felucca and sail right across the blue waters of the
river. En route, see the ancient "nilometer" on Elephantine Island, Kitchener
Island's lush BOTANICAL GARDENS, and the splendid Aga Khan Mausoleum on the left
bank. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Aswan-Kom Ombo
(Wed.) Take a morning excursion to the turn-of-the-century OLD DAM - to this day
the widest dam in the world - and to the gigantic Aswan HIGH DAM, completed in
1970. Board a motor launch to the island of Agilika between the two dams and
visit the TEMPLE OF ISIS, transplanted from the submerged island of Philae. Also
stop at the ancient GRANITE QUARRIES to see the famous unfinished obelisk.
Before lunch, start your leisurely cruise down Egypt's river of destiny. Dock at
KOM OMBO for a short walk to its bluff-top temple dedicated to the crocodile and
falcon gods. Haggle for bargains in the local market before returning to the
boat. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Edfu
(Thu.) Board a horse-drawn carriage for the drive through Edfu to the TEMPLE OF
HORUS with its menacing black stone statue of the falcon god. Built in the time
of Cleopatra about 2,000 years ago, it is recent by Egyptian standards and
beautifully preserved. During the hottest part of the day, sip a drink on the
sun deck of your cruise boat and savor the panorama. See white-clad farmers with
their donkeys, camels, and water buffaloes work lush, green fields; and ever
present on the horizon beyond the palm trees is the desert. Tonight, dock at
Luxor and take advantage of the optional sound and light show at Karnak. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Luxor
(Fri.) Focus on the VALLEY OF KINGS and VALLEY OF QUEENS on the west bank of the
Nile, where generations of pharaohs and nobles were buried in great splendor in
crypts cut into the cliffs. Sixty-two royal tombs have been uncovered so far, of
which only the tomb of Tutankhamun was nearly inviolate when discovered in 1922.
Visit DEIR EL-BAHARI, Queen Hatshepsut's monumental rock temple. Stop for
pictures at the two COLOSSI OF MEMNON guarding the valleys. The afternoon is
dedicated to LUXOR TEMPLE. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Luxor (Disembarkation)-Cairo
(Sat.) Experience a grand finale to your sightseeing in the Nile Valley with the
stunning monuments of KARNAK, the greatest city of ancient Egypt. To walk among
the pillars of the colossal TEMPLE OF AMON RA and along the AVENUE OF THE
SPHINXES is an experience you will treasure the rest of your life. Afterward, a
late-morning flight takes you from Luxor back to Cairo. An afternoon at leisure
lets you catch up on your postcard writing and souvenir shopping. Tonight's
optional sound and light show at Giza might be just the way to top off an
exciting touring adventure. (B)
Day 10
(Sun.) Homebound flight. (B) |
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