CLASSICAL EGYPT IN-DEPTH

Welcome to Egypt. Our representative will get you through airport formalities and customs and transfer you to your hotel. The evening will be yours to enjoy at leisure. Overnight at Cairo hotel. (No meals)

Your classical tour will begin today with a taste of greatness, a dream that comes into fulfillment as you encounter the Great Pyramids of Giza. Our guide will lead you through the plateau and enlighten you with his own in-depth knowledge and experience of his beloved country. Afterwards, you will wonder though another Pyramid-strewn landscape on the Saqqara plateau, where you will set your sights on Djoser’s Step Pyramid. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)

The road trip to Alexandria will take us about 3 hours. Alexandria is Egypt’s second largest city. Founded by Alexander the Great, it offers the visitor many unique attractions. It has relics of bygone eras, such as Pompey’s Pillar, a roman triumphal column which is among the world’s largest monolithic columns. Then there is the only Roman Amphitheatre to ever have been built in Egypt and the modern newly erected Bibliotheca Alexandrina with its six specialized libraries housing millions of books, 4 museums, an internet archive, a planetarium, 13 research centers and 15 permanent exhibitions. There is also the extremely well-preserved 15th century Citadel of Qaidbay, built on the exact same spot of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. After this marvelous day-long tour, we will drive you back to Cairo. Overnight in Cairo hotel. (Breakfast and lunch)

After breakfast you will visit the Egyptian Museum, a treasure trove of ancient artifacts. Then it’s off to the Citadel of Saladin, built in 1176-1183, standing tall on the Moqattam Hills and fortified later to protect from the invading Crusaders. Within its walls, the ottoman alabaster Mosque of Mohammad Ali was built in1828-1848. Our next stop will be Coptic Cairo with its Al Muallaqa, Hanging Church, which was built on top of the gate of the roman fortress of Babylon, a unique sight to behold. Following that, we will visit St Sergius Church, believed to have been the last resting place of the Holy Family before its return to Jerusalem after having fled Israel and trekked through Egypt for 4 years. Your day will end on a colorful note with a stroll through one of the oldest oriental bazaars, Khan el Khalili. Early in the evening, we will take you to the train station to board the sleeper train for Aswan. Dinner will be served on board. (Breakfast and dinner)

After breakfast on board the train, we will pick you up at the station and drop you off to board your 5* cruise ship.  A short sail will bring you to the Agilkia Island, home to the Temple of Philae dedicated to the goddess Isis. We will then proceed to the Old Dam, the original one, built in 1899-1902 and then visit the masterpiece of modern engineering embodied in the new High Dam, which was constructed 1960-1970. Come evening, we will leave you to explore Aswan at leisure, the souks being a highlight for visitors, with their multitude of shops, displays and multi-colored wares. Overnight aboard cruise ship. (All meals included)
 

The day is yours to enjoy in the city of Aswan. On offer is the optional tour of the stupendous temple of Abu Simbel.Overnight on-board cruise ship. (All meals included)

Optional: Tour of Abu Simbel. Some 300 kms out of the city, the 3 temples of Abu Simbel stand tall and proud. Constructed in commemoration of Ramses II’s tactical victory at the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BC, they are a marvel of engineering and mathematics. Twice a year, on October 22 and February 22, the sunbeams reach the inner sanctums and light up three out of the four sculptures. The only one to remain unlit is that of the God of the Underworld, Ptah. The small temple, dedicated to the Goddesses Hathor and Nefertari is also unique, whereby, for the first time in Egyptian architecture, the statues of the Pharaoh and his wife are equal in stature.

Optional: Evening tour for the Sound and Light show at the temple of Philae.

Early morning we will set sail and visit the unusual double Temple of Kom Ombo from the Ptolomaic Dynasty, dedicated to the gods Sobek and Horus. Lunch will be on board while sailing toward Esna and Edfu where we will visit the remarkably well preserved Temple of Edfu dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Late in the evening we will reach Luxor, city steeped in ancient history and rich in monuments. Overnight on board. (All meals included)

Starting the day in Luxor is a must in order to avoid the midday heat of the West Bank. We will disembark and head to the Valley of the Kings, home to a plethora of Pharaonic tombs.Only 15 out of 69 tombs are open to the public. Amongst them are those of Tutankhamun, Thutmose III, Ramses I and Seti II. We will pass by the village of ancient workers at Deir el Madina, as well as the temple of Medinat Habu dedicated to Ramses III. We will also see the massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III known as the Colossi of Memnon. We will move on to the Temple of Hatshepsut and hear the tale of the divine birth of the first female Pharaoh. Upon our return to Luxor on the East Bank, we will explore the Luxor temple built by Amenhotep III and completed by Tutankhamun. Overnight at hotel in Luxor. (Breakfast)

After breakfast at the hotel, we will push off to the Karnak Temple complex, the largest open-air museum in the world, with its conglomeration of temples, chapels and pillars. It was once named “Ipet-Isut”, meaning “the most select of places”. It houses the Great Hypostyle Hall with its 134 giant columns. Early afternoon you will leave Luxor and fly Sharm el Sheikh and transfer to Dahab, one of the most beautiful Red Sea resorts on the Sinai Peninsula. Overnight in Dahab. (Breakfast)

Sabah el kheir. This is your day to just relax! Enjoy the peace of the beach, the watersports or maybe some snorkeling in the delightfully warm blue waters of the Red sea. Maybe just take a stroll into town and take in the sunshine. Overnight in hotel. (Breakfast)

Today we snorkel! We offer you a dive into the azure waters of the Blue Hole, the most famous snorkeling spot in Egypt. After we return you to your hotel, the rest of the day is yours. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)

Tour day to St Catherine’s monastery. We shall set off early this morning in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle to the small town of St Catherine. Marvel at the view from the top of the perch of the monastery looking upon Mount Sinai, widely known as Moses’s mountain, where Moses received the Ten Commandments. We will then visit St Catherine’s monastery, which dates back to 548 AD, named after Catherine of Alexandria. It is said that the angels brought her remains to Mount Sinai. The monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  After we return you to Dahab, you may spend the rest of the day as you please. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast and lunch)

On the road again; destination Cairo. Upon leaving Dahab, we will drive to Sharm el Sheikh airport and fly back to Cairo. Arrive to Cairo and transfer to your hotel after checking in you will have the choice to fill in the rest of the day as you wish. Overnight in hotel. (Breakfast)

We sure do hope you had all your dreams fulfilled on this epic journey with us. Ma al Salama. Our Lady Egypt agent will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off at the airport for your flight home. (Breakfast)