Day 1 (Fri.) Departure for Cairo, Egypt

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 a.m. Sightseeing in and around Africa’s largest metropolis starts at the EGYPTIAN MUSEUM with Tutankhamon’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. Finally, at GIZA, 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 ever built. A suggestion for tonight: enjoy an optional dinner cruise on the Nile River. (BB)

Day 4 Cairo-Aswan. (Mon.)

Time this morning for independent activities or to 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. (BB,D)

Day 5 In Aswan (Embarkation) (Tue.)

Morning at leisure in Aswan. You may want to join an optional flight (weather permitting; approximately US$200) 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. (BB,L,D)

Day 6 Aswan–Kom Ombo (Wed.)

Morning excursion to the turn-of-the-century OLD DAM, to this day the widest dam in the world, and 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. Time to haggle for bargains in the local market before returning to the boat. (FB,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, the desert. Tonight, you dock at Luxor with a chance to take in the optional sound and light show at Karnak. (FB,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 one, the tomb of Tutankhamon, was nearly inviolate when discovered in 1922. Visit DEIR EL-BAHARI, Queen Hatshepsut’s monumental rock temple. Also stop for pictures at the two COLOSSI OF MEMNON guarding the valleys. The afternoon is dedicated to LUXOR TEMPLE. (FB,L,D)

Day 9 Luxor (Disembarkation)–Cairo (Sat.)

Experience a grand finale to your sightseeing in the Nile Valley. See 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 which you will treasure for the rest of your life. Late morning flight from Luxor back to Cairo. Afternoon at leisure to 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. (FB)

Day 10 Depart From Cairo, Egypt.

(Sun.) Homebound flight. (BB)

Globus vacations feature all the essential sightseeing plus many highlights that either are unavailable or cost extra with other operators. Of course, we also take care to leave enough free time to soak up your destination and for the independently minded to explore on their own. The ideal balance between included sightseeing and leisure time!

• 10 days from $1,961
• Departure Dates & Prices

Included Features

• CAIRO Guided sightseeing, visit Tutankhamon's Tomb in the Egyptian Museum, Ramses II & Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis, the "stairway to the sky" at Sakkara, the Great Pyramids & Sphinx of Giza
• CAIRO-ASWAN By air including airport transfers
• ASWAN Sail by felucca to Kitchener Island & visit the Botanical Gardens, excursion to Old Dam & High Dam, motor launch cruise to Agilka, visit Temple of Isis & ancient Granite Quarries.
• 4-NIGHT NILE CRUISE in luxury two-berth outside cabins with private facilities on one of the great Oberoi hotel boats
• ALL DAY-TIME SHORE EXCURSIONS
• LUXOR-CAIRO By air including airport transfers

Scenic Highlights:

• Nile River Valley, Aswan Dam

Meals

• Welcome drink; 4 buffet breakfasts (BB); 4 full breakfasts (FB); 5 dinners (D); 4 lunches (L)

Airport Transfers

• Airport transfers may be included when you make your flight arrangements with Globus.

Inside Visits

• are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges when applicable

Standard Included Features

We include all the main features of a destination without extra cost:

• Free airport transfers : book your scheduled transatlantic flight with Globus and benefit from our free transfers
• Low air-fares: compare our competitive air-inclusive prices - business class available! And with many tours take advantage of our favorable add-on rates from your home city
• Make the most of your money : Various reductions are possible: group reduction, child reduction, triple room reduction, multiple tour reduction
• Professional Tour Director while touring, Cruise Director on river cruises, host services on independent vacations, and hosts to assist you at airports and hotels
• Hotels listed for each tour: twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling
• A variety of modes of transportation including private deluxe motorcoach with air-conditioning, extra leg room, and emergency washroom while touring
• Globus travel bag and travel documents
• $11 million consumer protection plan

Quality Hotels

• CAIRO Oberoi Mena House Garden (SF)
• ASWAN Elephantine Island Resort (SF)
• CAIRO Sheraton Heliopolis (D)

Note

• We recommend that you plan to spend about US$25 per person for gratuities to the service personnel of the Nile cruise ship.
• All arrangements in Egypt are under the management of the official government tourist organization Misr Travel. As traffic conditions and the water level of the Nile are not always predictable, slight changes to the day-by-day itinerary cannot be excluded.
• Join an optional flight (weather permitting; approximately US$165) to the huge sandstone temples of Abu Simbel.