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Maupintour Egypt and the Nile
16 Days
- Day 1 Tuesday - Depart USA
- Today you make your way from the USA to Cairo.
- Day 2 Wednesday - Arrive Cairo
- Upon arrival in Cairo, transfer to your hotel. For the next three
nights, your room overlooks the timeless Giza Pyramids at the world-famous
MENA HOUSE OBEROI HOTEL.
- Day 3 Thursday-Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx
- Today, gaze upon feats of architectural wonder from the back of a
camel, as you make your way to the Pyramids at Giza. Marvel at these
towering final resting places as you consider the Herculean effort
it took to transport the three million two-ton blocks and to lay them
so perfectly into place. Later, see the Solar Boat, found buried next
to the Great Pyramid and believed to provide passage for the Pharaoh
in the afterlife, and have a good look at the mysterious Sphinx to
ponder the puzzle of its origin. This afternoon, travel to Memphis,
the capital of Egypt in ancient times. Sightseeing includes the mastaba
(tomb) of Mereruka and Djoser's Step Pyramid, the oldest freestanding
stone structure in the world. Tonight at the get-acquainted reception,
a presentation will be given by an Egyptian archaeologist on old and
modern Egypt to prepare you for what you'll see in the next two weeks.
MENA HOUSE OBEROI HOTEL (BLD)
- Day 4 Friday -Dahshur Pyramids
- Today, enjoy some of the seldom seen pyramid treasures of Egypt.
The Red Pyramid is often overlooked, but is just as impressive as its
Giza counterparts. The Red Pyramid is also thought to be the "training
ground" for the Giza Pyramids, and therefore older in origin. Another
find is the Bent Pyramid, which is sometimes referred to as "the shining
pyramid" because it still possesses many of its smooth outer casing
stones. Both pyramids are a bit off the beaten path, and afford an
opportunity to study the evolution of pyramid design in a less crowded
atmosphere. MENA HOUSE OBEROI HOTEL (BD)
- Day 5 Saturday Alexandria
- Set out across northern Africa's desert to the ancient Mediterranean
seaport of Alexandria. "The Pearl of the Mediterranean" was founded
in 331 BC by Alexander the Great and has become a city of cosmopolitan
charm and bohemian culture. Visit the newly opened Alexandria National
Museum of Antiquities, which displays artifacts from across the ages
of the city, and view Montazah Palace, the former summer residence
of the royal family of Egypt. Your final stop of the day is at the
catacombs, dating from Roman times and filled with pharaonic art. Stay
the next two nights alongside the Mediterranean at the HELNAN PALESTINE
HOTEL. (BLD)
- Day 6 Sunday -Alexandria
- Continue your sightseeing with views of Sultan Bey's Fort and a visit
to the Roman Amphitheater, the only known Amphitheater from the Roman
Era in Egypt. Visit the Bibliotheca Alexandria, one of the most celebrated
centers of learning in human history. Over 2,000 years ago, Alexandria's
library drew the intellectual luminaries of the ancient world, and
the reborn Bibliotheca continues to do the same. Your afternoon is
free to relax seaside or do some shopping for Egyptian goods or souvenirs.
HELNAN PALESTINE HOTEL(BD)
- Day 7 Monday - Egyptian Museum/Cairo
- Return to Cairo this morning to visit the Egyptian Museum. With
the guidance of an Egyptologist, explore an enormous collection of
over 100,000 items including the treasures of Tutankhamon's tomb, mummies
ranging from the 18th to the 20th Dynasties, and artifacts from ancient
royal palaces. Gain an understanding of this timeless society through
the everyday trinkets and tools of Egypt's earliest citizens. CONRAD
CAIRO (BL)
- Day 8 Tuesday - Khan el Khalili Bazaar/Old Cairo
- As you walk the streets of Old Cairo this morning, notice a variety
of religious influences in the Mohammed Ali Mosque, the Ben Ezra Synagogue,
and one of the renowned Coptic churches. You'll enjoy a memorable shopping
experience this afternoon at the notorious bazaar of Khan el Khalili,
one of the largest bazaars in the Middle East. Sharpen your bargaining
skills as you wander this maze of streets filled with jewelry, carpets,
leather, and antiques. This evening, admire your new treasures and
relax as you watch the legendary waters roll past from your Nile-view
room at the CONRAD CAIRO. (BL)
- Day 9 Wednesday-Luxor/Embark Nile Cruise
- After a flight south up the Nile Valley to Luxor, known in ancient
times as Thebes, step aboard a luxurious cruiser for a journey along
the timeless Nile. Observe life on the banks of the river as you float
along, enjoying all the modern amenities for a pleasurable voyage on
board the OBEROI PHILAE. (BLD)
- Day 10 Thursday - Dendera
- Explore the Temple of Dendera this morning, dedicated to the Egyptian
god Hathor, to see the hieroglyphics dating from several pharaohs.
In the inner temple is a plaster copy of the famous Dendera Zodiac (the
original is now in the Louvre Museum in Paris). Return to the Oberoi
Philae and cruise back to Luxor this afternoon. OBEROI PHILAE (BLD)
- Day 11 Friday - Karnak and Luxor Temples
- This morning, tour the massive Karnak Temple complex at Luxor. Pass
through a series of three small temples and step into the architectural
masterpiece of the Hypostyle Hall. Originally a roofed building supported
by 135 decorated columns, the complex was once considered the ultimate
house of worship. Then pay a visit to the smaller Temple of Luxor,
built by Amenhotep III and Rameses II, which was buried under desert
sand for centuries and therefore is now well preserved. This evening,
the captain normally has a welcome reception on the OBEROI PHILAE. (BLD)
- Day 12 Saturday Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens
- Enter the secluded Valleys of the Kings and Queens, located on the
West Bank of Luxor. Facing the setting sun, the valley is home to 64
pharaohs' tombs plus those of queens and nobles. The tomb of King Tutankhamon
was discovered early last century, the only pharaonic tomb to remain
unlooted over the millennia. These tombs were once filled with treasures
and everyday articles needed for the afterlife and the walls were covered
with hieroglyphics. (Centuries of decay from both natural elements
and curious visitors have caused some tombs to be opened on a rotating
basis to minimize further destruction.) See the colonnaded temple of
Egypt's only female pharaoh, Queen Hatshepsut, and the famed Colossi
of Memnon. OBEROI PHILAE (BLD)
- Day 13 Sunday - Edfu/Kom Ombo
- Visit Edfu to see the Temple of Horus, the falcon god. Later, travel
to the magnificent Temple of Kom Ombo. This temple is a beautiful sight,
particularly at sunset, when the light makes the stone especially colorful.
The temple itself is actually made up of two shrines--one for Sobek,
the crocodile god, and the other as a place of worship for Horus the
Elder, the god of war. OBEROI PHILAE (BLD)
- Day 14 Monday -Aswan
- Arrive in Aswan this morning and see one of the world's greatest
engineering feats, the Aswan High Dam--364 feet high and 11,000 feet
wide. It created Lake Nasser, over 500 miles long and one of the world's
largest artificial lakes. Later in the day, see the relocated Philae
Temple. Upon construction of the Aswan High Dam, this temple was moved
to its current island to rescue it from rising waters. Philae is an
important shrine, and is filled with a variety of sanctuaries, including
the Vestibule of Nectanebos and a temple of Hathor. Philae also features
two skillfully-decorated pylons displaying all the deities of the myth
of Isis and Osiris. See the granite quarry, source of the rock for
ancient statues and monuments. There is an unfinished obelisk, left
because of a crack in the granite. OBEROI PHILAE (BLD)
- Day 15 Tuesday - Abu Simbel/Cairo
- Your Nile cruise comes to an end today as you fly over Lake Nasser
to Abu Simbel, a stunning Nubian site and temple built to honor Rameses
II and his wife, Nefertari. Originally carved into the surrounding
sandstone cliffs in 1250 BC, this masterpiece also faced relocation
due to the High Dam construction. It was moved nearly 200 feet up a
cliff to avoid the rising water level, but not without some precise
work. Both in its original and current positions, the temple is situated
for proper alignment with the sun. Twice a year the sun is able to
penetrate to the innermost sanctuary and shine on the statues of Rameses
II and Amon Ra, the sun god. Your return flight to Cairo arrives late
in the afternoon. This evening, recount your favorite moments of your
journey with fellow travelers at your farewell dinner. SHERATON HELIOPOLIS
HOTEL (BD)
- Day 16 Wednesday - Departure day
- After breakfast, make your departures for the airport and your return
flights home. Saida, as-salam alaikoom! (B)
Tour inclusion
- On-tour flights Cairo/Luxor, Aswan/Abu Simbel/Cairo
- 3 nights in pyramid-view rooms at Cairo's Mena House Oberoi Hotel
- 2 nights at the Helnan Palestine Hotel in Alexandria
- 2 nights at the Conrad Cairo
- 1 night at the Cairo Airport Sheraton Heliopolis Hotel
- 6 night Nile River cruise aboard the deluxe Oberoi Philae cruiser
- 14 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners
Highlights:
- Sightsee at the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and Solar Boat Museum
- Visit seldom-seem Dahshur's Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid
- Explore the Egyptian Museum, including the Mummy Room
- Visit magnificent Karnak and Luxor temples
- Experience amazing Abu Simbel
- Visit the Mediterranean seaport of Alexandria
- Explore Dendera, Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples
- See Aswan and the Aswan High Dam
- Cruise up the Nile from Luxor to Aswan
- Enjoy having an experienced Egyptologist tour manager accompany you
Special Features:
- Have lunch in the Khan el Khalili Bazaar.
- Enjoy a presentation by an Egyptian archaeologist to prepare you for
what you'll see in the next two weeks.
- Explore King Tutankhamon's tomb in the Valley of the Kings.