Day
1 - Saturday 18th April 2009 - Fly UK/Cairo
Depart from London Heathrow on an Egypt Air flight for Cairo. Met on arrival
by a representative of Sakkaka Travel, our agents in Egypt, who provides
assistance with Customs and Immigration and assist with arrival formalities,
including your Entry Visa. Transfer by private air conditioned coach to
Cairo Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel. Owing to the late arrival, arrangements
will be made for a light meal to be available in your room. Overnight
at Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel. D
Day
2 - Sunday 19th April 2009 - Cairo
Our Egyptologist escorts us on an unforgettable tour of the Great Pyramids
of Giza that represent the highest and best achieved level in pyramid
construction. They are among the world's greatest tourist attractions
and never lose their ability to inspire and overwhelm visitors. Enter
the temple of the mysterious Sphinx, an ancient figure shrouded in legend
and mystery. Your Egyptologist will enthrall you with the tales told of
this fascinating figure.
After lunch
in a local restaurant we go on a fascinating guided tour of 7,000 years
of Egyptian history with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities.
The Museum houses the world's greatest collection of Ancient Egyptian
artifacts, including 12 rooms filled with golden treasures from the world-famous
tomb of the boy-king Tutankhamen. Drive through central Cairo around the
bustling main squares then on to Gezira Island, Cairo Tower and New Opera
House and return to the hotel. Dinner in local restaurant. Overnight at
Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel. BLD
Day
3 - Monday 20th April 2009 - Wadi Rayan Adventure & Cairo
This morning we leave Cairo behind for a safari to Wadi Rayan. We pass
by Qaroun Lake and the adventure begins. Heading for the desert we pass
some amazing formations that were once under the great lake. When we arrive
at the depression of Rayan we walk to an area where we see whale fossils,
mangroves and shells, dating back 60 million years.
Later on
you we reach the Modawara Mountain where you can expect breathtaking views.
When we arrive at the lake at Rayan, time has been allowed to explore
the waterfalls while the staff prepare lunch. Head back to Cairo with
a stop at Lake Qaroun. Return to Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel for overnight.
Dinner in local restaurant. BLD
Day
4 - Tuesday 21st April 2009 - Fly Cairo/Aswan, Nile Cruise
Transfer by private air conditioned coach to Cairo Airport for the domestic
flight to Aswan. On arrival at Aswan our Sakkara representative will assist
with airport formalities and then transfer by private air conditioned
coach to our cruise ship, M/S Royal Lotus. BLD
OPTIONAL
EXCURSION TO ABEL SIMBEL
An optional excursion has been arranged to Abu Simbel, to visit its relocated
temples built by Rameses II in 1200BC. From the airport at Aswan, you
fly to Abu Simbel and join the rest of the group on the boat later. The
temples face east to receive the rays of the rising sun, and are perhaps
among the most magnificent monuments in the world. The Egyptian Government
secured the support of UNESCO in 1964 for the removal and reconstruction
of the two temples, when they were threatened by submersion in Lake Nasser
due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The temples were dismantled
and raised over 60 metres up the sandstone cliff where they had been built
more than 3,000 years before. This reconstruction represents one of the
most ambitious relocation projects in history. After lunch on board we
sail by felucca around Kitchener's Island. Return to the Royal Lotus for
dinner on board and overnight at Aswan.
Day
5 - Wednesday 22nd April 2009 - Nile Cruise
After breakfast on board we visit the High Dam, the Temple of Philae dedicated
to Isis, the goddess of love and beauty, the Unfinished Obelisk, which
was abandoned by ancient stone cutters. Return to the boat and sail to
Kom Ombo. Lunch on board. After lunch we visit the Temple shared by the
two gods Sobek & Haeroris in Kom Ombo Sail to Edfu. Afternoon tea
on board. Dinner on board and overnight in Edfu. BLD
Day
6 - Thursday 23rd April 2009 - Nile Cruise
After breakfast on board we visit Horus Temple. Sail to Esna. Lunch on
board followed by free time. Afternoon tea on board during sailing to
Luxor. Dinner on board and overnight in Luxor. BLD
Day
7 - Friday 24th April 2009 - Nile Cruise
After breakfast we visit the West Bank including the Valley of Kings,
Valley of Queens, temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari and Colossi
of Memnon; a vast City of the Dead where magnificent tombs were carved
into the desert rocks, decorated richly, and filled with treasures for
the afterlife by generations of Pharaohs. Lunch on board.
After lunch
we visit the ancient city of Thebes where an avenue of sphinxes once connected
the glorious temples of Luxor and Karnak. Luxor Temple, built during the
reign of Amenhotp III, was expanded by Ramses II who also erected two
obelisks; one of which is still onsite while the other is situated in
the Place de la Concorde in Paris The awesome Temple of Karnak, with its
huge hypostyle hall covering 50,000 square feet has 134 enormous columns,
richly carved, with some thrusting skyward to 23m. The great temple at
the heart of Karnak is so big that St. Peter and Notre Dame Cathedrals
could be lost within its walls. Dinner on board and overnight in Luxor.
BLD
Day
8 - Saturday 25th April 2009 - Luxor
Disembark after breakfast and transfer by air conditioned coach to the
Luxor Nile Palace Hotel where we stay for two nights. Free time to explore
this fascinating city of Luxor or to relax at the hotel. Disembark after
breakfast.
The day can
be spent at leisure enjoying the facilities of the Nile Palace Hotel or
exploring the fascinating city of Luxor. Depending on personal choice,
the following optional tours are suggested and, for anyone who may be
interested, these can be arranged with our agents when we are in Egypt.
Dinner in local restaurant. Overnight at Luxor Nile Palace Hotel. BD
Spectacular
Light and Sound Performance at Karnak Temple
At nightfall experience an enthralling Sound and Light performance
against the backdrop of one of the most fascinating monuments. The Sound
and Light Show in the Temple of Karnak begins with a historical introduction
covering the birth of the great city of Thebes and the construction of
the Temple. Depicting the glorious achievement of the Pharaohs, spectators
listen to the lyrical and poetic descriptions of artistic treasures, grand
festivals, heroic deeds and literature of the times.
Duration: the performance itself takes 1 hour and 15 minutes
Luxor
Museum and Luxor Market
The museum is hosting masterpieces of the Egyptian sculptures
and statues discovered recently in the open court of Luxor Temple. The
Luxor Museum, opened in 1975, has one of the best displays of antiquities
in Egypt. Housed within a modern building, the collection is limited in
the number of items, but they are beautifully displayed. These displays
of pottery, jewellery, furniture, statues and stelea were created by the
Brooklyn Museum of New York. Drive to the famous Luxor market filled with
small shops and factories for all manner of crafts and goods in addition
to Egyptian spices shops.
Duration: almost three hours
Dendera
Temple
Departure by a/c vehicle from Luxor to visit the temple of Dendera
with lovely Hathor's headed-columns, the goddess of love and beauty; wall
depictions of Cleopatra, and a reproduction of the zodiac on the roof
of one of the chapels (the original is in the Louvre Museum).
Duration: from 08:00 till 13:00
Dendera
& Abydos
Drive almost 65km to Dendara to visit its temple and then proceed
(120km) from Dendera to Abydos to the site of Seti First's temple with
its magnificent wall paintings and bas-reliefs, including a group of seventy
cartouches of the pharaohs arranged in chronological order.
Duration: from 08:00 am till 18:00 pm
Day
9 - Sunday 26th April 2009 - Luxor
Breakfast in the hotel followed by free time to enjoy the facilities of
the hotel, relax or explore the fascinating city of Luxor. Dinner in the
hotel. Overnight at Luxor Nile Palace Hotel. BD
Day
10 - Monday 27th April 2009 -
Fly Luxor/Cairo/UK
Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer by private air conditioned coach to Luxor
International. Airport for the return flight to the UK via Cairo. B
B
= Breakfast L = Lunch D
= Dinner |
