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Splendours of Egypt

10 Days

• Day 1 : Depart USA
  Overnight flight to Cairo.
• Day 2 : Arrive Cairo
  Welcome to the timeless land of the Pharoahs, a treasure trove of history and antiquities. On arrival in Cairo, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Hotel: Marriott.
• Day 3 : Cairo Sightseeing
  Visit the Citadel of Salah El Din, with its panoramic view of the city and then visit Mohammed Ali’s great alabaster mosque. Continue to the famous Egyptian Museum to see the amazing treasure recovered from the tomb of Tutankhamun. Later, drive to the Pyramids for the magical Sound & Light Show which literally illuminates the ancient history of Giza! (BB)
• Day 4 : Cairo – Luxor – Cruising
  Fly to Luxor, on the banks of the Nile, to tour the Temple complex of Karnak with its avenues of sphinxes and halls of gigantic columns. After boarding your cruise boat set sail for Dendara. (BB,L,D)
• Day 5 : Cruising Edfu
  Visit the Temple of Hathor in Dendara, one of the best preserved temples in Egypt and containing a rare depiction of Cleopatra and her son Caesarian, whose father was Julius Caesar. The cruise returns to Luxor around midday. Afternoon at leisure. In the cool of early evening enjoy a horse & carriage ride to visit the ancient Temple of Luxor. (BB,L,D)
• Day 6 : Cruising Kom Ombo
  Travel by air-conditioned coach to the West Bank of the Nile to see the Colossi of Memnon, and visit both the Temple of Hatshepsut and Valley of the Kings, where many illustrious Pharoahs were buried. Return to your cruise boat where you sail via the Esna Lock to Edfu, where there is free time on arrival. Don your galabeas (traditional Egyptian attire), for a fun-filled Egyptian Dinner and Galabea Party. (BB,L,HD)
• DAY 7 : Cruising – Aswan
  Visit the well-preserved Temple of Horus at Edfu, dedicated to the Falcon God. After exploring this fascinating site, your cruise continues to Aswan. (BB,L,D)
• Day 8 : Cruising – Aswan
  A full day of sightseeing includes a visit to the Aswan High Dam and Granite Quarries to see the enormous unfinished obelisk. Travel by motorboat to the Temple of Isis, rising from the waters of the Nile on the Island of Philae. Later, return to Aswan to sail in a traditional Nile felucca around Aswan’s Botanical Gardens. (BB,L,D)
• Day 9 : Cruising Edfu
  Spend the morning at leisure in Aswan. Join the optional excursion by air to the temples of Abu Simbel, carved out of the rock by Rameses II (see page 22). In the afternoon, sail to Kom Ombo to visit the Temple dedicated to the Crocodile God, Sobek. (BB,L,D)
• Day 10 : Cruising Luxor
  In the evening arrive back in Luxor where there is time for last minute shopping and sightseeing. (BB,L,D).
• Day 11 : Luxor - Cairo
  Disembark and transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo. The evening is at leisure. Perhaps enjoy an optional dinner and entertainment. Hotel: Marriott. (BB)
• Day 12 : Cairo Sightseeing
  Drive to Memphis, the famous capital of the ancient world. Admire the colossal statue of Rameses II and the great alabaster sphinx. Continue to Sakkara to see the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the oldest pyramid in the world, dating back from 2700 BC. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of Giza where you see the enigmatic Sphinx and the magnificent Pyramids with a highlight visit inside one of these extraordinary creations! (BB)
• Day 13 : Return to USA
  The tour ends with transfers to Cairo airport. (BB)

• Itinerary Variations: Certain Nile cruises operate in reverse, from Aswan to Luxor. Due to the unreliability of domestic air scheduling, religious festivals and other unforeseen circumstances, the order of this itinerary may need to change at short notice. On occasions an alternative cruise boat of equal standard may be used.
• Esna Lock Closure: The Esna Lock will be closed from 01-30 Jun & 01-16 Dec 2005, and cruise boats will not be permitted to travel between Luxor and Esna at this time. On tours spanning these dates, Luxor sightseeing as featured in the itinerary will be operated by coach from Esna instead of by boat.

Tour inclusion

• Guided City Tours In depth sightseeing tour, in Cairo. Orientation tours in Luxor and Aswan.

Excursions & Sights

• Visit Mohammed Ali Mosque and enjoy stunning view over Cairo from the Citadel
• Tour the Egyptian Museum to see treasure from the tomb of Tutankhamun
• Tour the awesome Karnak Temple, returning in the evening for a Sound and Light Show
• Visit the Valleys of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and see the Colossi of Memnon
• Take a horse drawn Carriage ride to the Temple of Horus at Edfu
• Mororboat cruise to visit the Temple of Isis on Philae Island
• Visit the unfinished obelisk in the granite quarries and see Aswan High Dam
• Sail on a "felucca" around Aswan's Botanical gardens
• Tour the Temple of Sobek at Kom Ombo
• Tour Luxor Temple
• Visit the Rameses II statue and alabaster Sphinx in Memphis
• See the Sakkara Step Pyramid
• Camel ride by the Great Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx

Five Star Cruising

• Insight's professional multi - lingual Egyptologist/Tour Director accompanies you
• Tour by luxury air-conditioned coach
• First Class hotel with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• 4 night 5 Star Nile cruise on M.S. Miriam or M.S. Sapphire with cruise boat gratuites included
• Scheduled air travel between Cairo and Luxor
• Services of Insight's Resident Manager in Egypt

Quality Dining and Entertainment

• Egyptian dinner and Galabea Party with entertainment while cruising.
• 11 Buffet breakfasts
• 7 lunches
• 7 special- menu dinners , or buffets,plus bottled water or tea or coffee.

First Class Hotel

• Cairo: Cairo Marriott

Airport Transfer

• Cairo transfers are provided on Day 2 and Day 13 for passengers who have booked their flights directly with Insight.
• For those passengers who choose to make their own flight arrangements, flight details must be provided to Insight by the Travel agent at least 21 days to the departure date and a fee of US$25 per person round trip must be paid at the time of booking for entitlement to the scheduled transfers.
• Once transfers are booked they may not be changed.