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Wonders of Egypt

10 Days

• Day 1 Wed: Depart USA
  Overnight flight to Cairo.
• Day 2 Thu: Arrive Cairo
  Welcome to Egypt! You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Hotel: Marriott.
• Day 3 Fri: Cairo Sightseeing
  After breakfast and a detailed pre-tour briefing with your Tour Director, commence your sightseeing in Memphis, capital of the Old Kingdom, where a colossal statue of Rameses II and a great alabaster sphinx awaits. 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! Later return for the magical Sound & Light Show which literally illuminates the ancient history of Giza! (BB)
• Day 4 Sat: Cairo – Luxor – Cruising
  Fly to Luxor, the former capital of the New Kingdom. In private moorings near the edge of town, your cruise boat awaits. Board in time for lunch and then enjoy a horse and carriage ride to Luxor Temple which provides an unforgettable introduction to ancient Egypt. Now tour the awe inspiring temple complex of Karnak with its vast Hypostyle Hall, and avenues of sphinxes. (BB,L,D)
• Day 5 Sun: Cruising Edfu
  After breakfast, cross 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. 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, before cruising south to Esna (see Esna Lock closure, right) and Edfu. (BB,L,D)
• Day 6 Mon: Cruising Kom Ombo
  This morning visit the beautifully preserved Temple of Horus, (the Falcon God) possibly the most complete in Egypt. Continue to Kom Ombo to visit the Temple of Sobek, the crocodile god, conveniently situated on the river bank. Celebrate in true Egyptian style at an Oriental Dinner and Galabea Party. (BB,L,HD)
• DAY 7 Tue: Cruising – Aswan
  Cruise to exotic Aswan in the cool of early morning. Visit the Aswan High Dam and also the ancient Granite Quarries to see the enormous unfinished obelisk. Take a motorboat to the Temple of Isis, rising from the waters of the Nile on the Island of Philae. Later, return to Aswan and sail in a traditional Nile felucca around Aswan’s Botanical Gardens. (BB,L,D)
• Day 8 Wed: Aswan
  This morning, why not join an optional excursion to the temples of Abu Simbel, carved out of the rock by Rameses II and later rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser (see right). Otherwise, spend the morning in Aswan as you wish, before your transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo. Hotel: Marriott. (BB)
• Day 9 Thu: Aswan – Cairo Sightseeing
  Visit the Citadel for a breathtaking view of the city of Cairo. Salah El Din started the Citadel in the 12th century, but it owes its present outline to Mohammed Ali, whose great Mosque you will visit next. Later, enjoy a highlight visit to the famous Egyptian Museum. Here, among the many thousands of artifacts on display, view Tutankhamun’s splendid treasures, including his splendid burial mask. Do you believe in the curse of the ‘boy king’? (BB)
• Day 10 Fri: Return flight
  Our tour comes to an end today with a transfer to Cairo airport.(B)

• 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 views over Cairo from the Citadel
• See the colossal statue of Ramese II and great alabaster sphinx in Memphis
• View the Step Pyramid of King Zoser in Sakkara, the oldest in the world
• See the Great Pyramids of Giza and their guardian Sphinx
• Camel ride by the Great Pyramid of Cheops
• Marvel at the 'Sound & Light' Show at the Temple of Karnak.
• Tour Luxor and Karnak temple complexes
• Photo opportunity at the towering Colossi of Memnon
• Visit Queen Hatshepsut's amazing reconstructed temple complexes
• Horse drawn carriage ride, Edfu.
• Visit the Temple of Sobek at Kom Ombo
• Cruise by motorboat to the Island of Philae to visit the Temple of Isis
• Sail by traditional 'felucca' around in Aswan
• Visit the unfinished obelisk in the granite quarries and see the Aswan High Dam
• See Tutankhamun's treasure in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
• High tea at sun set on the terrace of the Aswan hotel

Insight's Five Star Cruising

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

Quality Dining and Entertainment

• Egyptian dinner and Galabea Party with entertainment.
• 8 buffet breakfasts
• 3 lunches
• 3 special- menu dinners,or buffets, plus bottled water or tea or coffee

First Class Hotel

• Cairo: Cairo Marriott
• Aswan: New Catarat

Airport Transfer

• Cairo transfers are provided on Day 2 and Day 10 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 to arrange for transfers.