Day 1 - Depart

Overnight flight to Cairo.

Day 2 - Arrive Cairo

Welcome to Egypt! You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Relax and settle in, the rest of the day is at leisure. Hotel: Marriott.

Day 3 - Cairo Sightseeing

After breakfast there is a detailed pre-tour briefing with your Tour Director. Then commence your exploration of Cairo with a visit to the Citadel for breathtaking views over the city. Salah El Din started the Citadel in the 12th century, but it owes its present outline to Mohammed Ali, whose great Mosque you visit next. Then time to visit the famous Khan El Khalili bazaars to test your bargaining skills. This afternoon visit the Egyptian Museum, an unrivaled warehouse of Pharaonic treasure. Among the many exhibits are the fabulous artifacts recovered by archeologist Howard Carter from the tomb of King Tutankhamun. (BB)

Day 4 - Cruising Abu Simbel

Transfer to the airport for your flight to the ancient Nubian lands near Egypt's southern border where you board your cruise boat on Lake Nasser. Now prepare yourself for a spectacular tour highlight as you visit the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Built by Rameses II, this temple was designed to impress, and it still serves that purpose today. You are confronted by the four towering statues of the Pharaoh himself, carved out of a single slab of rock. The smaller Temple of Hathor was built for Rameses' wife Nefertari, and is guarded by six 10 metre statues. Spend some time exploring inside the 3,200 year old walls, depicting scenes of Rameses and the Gods. Tonight experience the monuments lit in all their glory at the sound and light show. Cruise: MS Prince Abbas. (BB,L,D)

Day 5 - Cruising Wadi El Sebou

Enjoy the ever changing scenery as you cruise to Kasr Ibrim, the only construction still occupying it's original strategic high ground. A fortress was constructed here during the times of the Pharaohs, and later a stone church which was subsequently converted into a mosque. Cruise on to Amada to visit the temple dedicated to Amun-Re and Re-Harrakte. Also explore the Tomb of Penniut, deputy of Nubia. (BB,L,D)

Day 6 - Cruising Aswan

This morning visit Wadi El Sebou, - the 'Valley of the Lions', named after the great Avenue of Sphinxes which led to the Temple of Rameses II. The temple today is situated four kilometres west of its original ancient site. Now time to relax and enjoy your superb cruise facilities as you continue on to Aswan - where the Middle East overlaps with Africa! (BB,L,D)

DAY 7 - Cruising Aswan

Visit the Temple of Kalabsha this morning. Dedicated to the local god Mandulis, the temple is Roman with all the elements of Egyptian architecture. Disembark now and cross over the Aswan High Dam to your second cruise ship which will transport you up the Nile. This afternoon sail on a traditional Nile felucca around Aswan's Botanical Gardens. Cruise: MS Medea. (BB,L,D)

Day 8 - Cruising Edfu

Take a motorboat to the Temples of Philae, rising from the waters of the Nile. Aswan granite was used by many of the pharaohs to build their temples and tombs and you pass by one of the quarries on your way back to the ship. Your cruise continues to Kom Ombo to visit the only temple in Egypt dedicated to two gods - Horus the Elder and the crocodile headed Sobek. Set sail again for Edfu. Tonight celebrate in true Egyptian style at an Oriental Dinner and Galabea Party. (BB,L,HD)

Day 9 - Cruising Luxor

In Edfu this morning, two black granite falcons guard the entrance to the Temple of Horus, the Falcon God. After exploring the beautifully preserved wall reliefs, possibly the most complete in Egypt, continue your Nile cruise to Luxor. On arrival visit Luxor Temple. The obelisk now standing in Paris' Place de la Concorde originally came from this temple. (BB,L,D)

Day 10 - Luxor, Cairo

After breakfast, drive over to the west bank of the Nile and stop for a photo of the towering Colossi of Memnon. These two giant seated figures are all that is left of Amon-Ofis III mortuary temple. Next, visit the amazing Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, blending into the cliff face above. Continue to the Valley of the Kings, the burial place of many of the New Kingdom Pharaohs. Return to Luxor to the enormous Temple complex of Karnak. Among its many splendours is the Hypostle Hall, the largest of any temple in the world, with its roof blocks supported by colossal columns 70 feet high. Later, board your flight back to Cairo. Hotel: Marriott. (BB)

Day 11 - Cairo Sightseeing

Drive out to Memphis, capital of the Old Kingdom, to admire the colossal statue of Rameses II and great alabaster sphinx. Nearby at Sakkara, view the Step Pyramid of Zoser I; dating from 2686BC, it's the oldest in the world. Now enjoy a guided tour of Giza where you will see the enigmatic Sphinx and the magnificent Pyramids with a highlight visit inside one of these extraordinary creations! (BB)

Day 12 - Return Home

Your memorable tour ends this morning with a transfer to the airport. (BB)

• Departure Dates & Prices

Tour inclusion

• Indepth sightseeing tour in Cairo. Orientation tour in Luxor & Aswan

Excursions & Sights

• Visit Mohammed Ali Mosque and enjoy views over Cairo from the Citadel
• Visit the famous Khan El Khalili bazaars
• Overview Kasr Ibrim and visit the temples at Amada, Wadi El Sebou & Kalabsha
• Sail by traditional 'felucca' around the Botanical Gardens in Aswan
• Visit the Temples at Kom Ombo & Edfu
• Tour the Luxor and Karnak temple complexes
• Photo opportunity at the towering Colossi of Memnon
• See the colossal statue of Rameses II & great alabaster sphinx in Memphis
• View the Step Pyramid of King Zoser in Sakkara, the oldest in the world

Five Star Cruising

• 3 night Lake Nasser cruise on M.S. Prince Abbas (or similar vessel) and
  3 night Nile cruise on M.S. Medea (or similar vessel) including all cruise boat gratuities
• Deluxe Cairo hotel with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Scheduled air travel Cairo/Aswan/Abu Simbel and Luxor/Cairo
• Sightseeing by air-conditioned coach
• Insight’s professional multi-lingual Egyptologist/Tour Director accompanies you
• Services of Insight’s Representative in Egypt
• Travel bag, document wallet, information pack and map book journal

First Class Hotels

• Cairo: Deluxe Cairo Marriott
• Ship: MS Medea
• Ship: MS Prince Abbas

Airport Transfer

• Complimentary arrival and departure transfers between
  Cairo airport and your Insight tour hotel