Day 1, Thursday 22nd of March 2012 – USA/Egypt
Overnight flight on Lufthansa from Philadelphia to Cairo via Frankfurt, Germany
Day 2, Friday 23rd of March 2012 – Cairo
Our Grand Holidays representative will meet and assist the group through immigration and customs formalities including our entry visa, and transfer to five-star Mena House Oberoi Hotel. Welcome Dinner provided at local restaurant serving traditional Egyptian cuisine. Overnight at hotel. (D)
Day 3, Saturday 24th of March 2012 – Cairo/Luxor
Morning transfer from the hotel to the airport for a short flight to Luxor. We are met and taken to our five-star cruise river cruise boat, the M.S. Hansa, our home base for the next seven nights. After lunch onboard, we visit the incredible Karnak Temple and the elegant Luxor Temple, which sit along the banks of the Nile in the center of town. We will witness the dramatic Egyptian sunset from within Luxor Temple before returning to dinner and your first night onboard. (B/L/D)
Day 4, Sunday 25th of March 2012 – Luxor
Today we have an early morning visit to the West Bank. We visit the stunning Temple of Hatshepsut. The temple sits at the base of a mountain and was the mortuary temple for Queen Hatshepsut from the 18th dynasty. We tour the Valley of the Kings, with over 60 tombs including the tomb of Tutankhamun. Built into the Theban Hills, the pharaohs hoped that robbers would not discover their hidden tombs and that all their possessions would go with them to the afterworld. We will see the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous statues that are monuments that once protected the vast funerary temple of Amenhotep III (mid 1300’s BC). We will stop at Deir el Medina, the village that once housed the workers who built the tombs in the Valley of the Kings for the pharaohs, and if time permits, we will visit an alabaster factory for local handicrafts made the same way for thousands of years. After lunch we tour the Luxor Museum, a small museum with some of ancient Egypt’s finest artwork, statuary, and funerary pieces. All meals onboard. Overnight. (B/L/D)
Day 5, Monday 26th of March 2012 – Luxor/Edfu
This morning visit Luxor’s fascinating Mummification Museum. Noon begin cruise to Edfu. Witness the majesty of the fabled Nile River, in many ways still as it appeared to the ancient Egyptians themselves. Pass through the Esna locks, an experience in itself! Cruise to Edfu. All meals onboard. Overnight. (B/L/D)
Day 6, Tuesday 27th of March 2012 – Edfu/Kom Ombo/Aswan
This morning we travel through the local town of Edfu by traditional horse-drawn carriages to visit Edfu Temple, one of ancient Egypt’s best-preserved monuments, dedicated to the sky-god, Horus. Return to ship. Cruise to Kom Ombo while relaxing and enjoying the sites and sounds of the Nile River. We pass feluccas (traditional Egyptian sail boats), fishing boats and many traditional villages and farms. Visit Kom Ombo Temple, dedicated to two gods, Sobek, the crocodile God and Haroeris, the winged God. Cruise to Aswan. All meals onboard. Overnight. (B/L/D)
Day 7, Wednesday 28th of March 2012 – Aswan/Abu Simbel
optional excursion
Morning transfer to Aswan Airport for optional extension to Abu Simbel. Visit the imposing Rameses II Temple and the temple Rameses II built in honor of his favorite wife, Nefertari, at Abu Simbel. Both temples were disassembled, moved and reassembled to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, behind the Aswan High Dam. Two amazing human achievements, separated by thousands of years, in one pair of monuments! Transfer to airport for quick flight back to Aswan, return to M. S. Hansa. Lunch. Afternoon visit the Botanical Gardens via felucca boat ride on Nile River. Visit a Nubian Village, where we can have tea in the home of a local family, and explore the shops in the village bazaar. All meals onboard. Overnight. (B/L/D)
Day 8, Thursday 29th of April 2012 – Aswan/Luxor
This morning we tour some of the major sites in Aswan including The Unfinished Obelisk. This 125-foot long, 1,190-ton piece of granite still lies in the ancient quarry where it cracked while being cut. On to the Aswan High Dam, completed in 1971. The dam created a 300 mile-long lake displacing many Nubians. From here we go by motorboat to the beautiful island Temple of Philae, once an important place of pilgrimage. When the High Dam was built, the temple was moved stone by stone to a higher spot so it would not be submerged. We will return to the cruise ship for lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the Nubian Museum with its extraordinary collections centered on the history and heritage of Nubia. Nubia sits between Aswan in Egypt and Khartoum in Sudan. Nonstop M.S. Hansa cruise overnight back to Luxor while you sleep. All meals onboard. Overnight. (B/L/D)
Day 9, Friday 30th of March 2012 – Luxor/Abydos
Morning travel by motor coach to visit Dendera Temple famed for its excellent state of preservation, including original paint colors, and its monumental relief carvings depicting Queen Cleopatra VII. Return to ship. Afternoon at leisure for relaxing onboard or shopping in Luxor. Evening attend Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple. Overnight. (B/L/D)
Day 10, Saturday 31st of March 2012 – Luxor/Cairo
Disembarkation. Transfer to Luxor Airport for short flight to Cairo. Arrive Cairo Airport. Meet, assist by Grand Holidays representative, transfer and check into Mena House Oberoi Hotel. Afternoon and evening at leisure. Overnight. (B/L)
Day 11, Sunday 1st of April 2012 – Cairo/Memphis/Saqqara
Today we have a full day of inspiring, spectacular, experiences including seeing the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, Memphis, and Saqqara (Step Pyramid of Djoser, Tomb of Mereruka or Kagemni, Pyramid of Teti). Lunch at a local restaurant in Saqqara. If time permits, visit a carpet school to learn about traditional weaving methods. Back to hotel. Overnight. (B/L)
Day 12, Monday 2nd of April 2012 – Old Islamic Cairo
and Coptic Egypt
We begin our full day touring in Old Cairo (Misr al Qadima), rich in the history of the world’s major religions. The day includes visits to major Islamic and Coptic sights including the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, built in 879 AD entirely of mud brick and the oldest mosque in Egypt still in its original state; The Hanging Church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which obtained its name from the Arabic, Al-Muallaqa, meaning “suspended” as it was built over the Water Gate of an old Roman fortress; The Coptic Museum, with its rare collections of Coptic art, considered the finest in the world; and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, Egypt’s oldest synagogue dating back to the time of the Old Testament. Lunch will be at a local Egyptian restaurant followed by a tour through the most fascinating part of Islamic Cairo. (B/L)
Day13, Tuesday 3rd of April 2012 – Cairo/Khan el Khalili Bazaar
Our last tour day in Egypt begins with a visit to the Egyptian Museum, home of the splendid treasures from the Tomb of Tutankhamun, including his solid gold funerary mask. See the famous Tahrir Square, birthplace of modern Egypt’s democracy, adjacent to the museum. Next, we begin a walking tour of the 1,000 year-old Khan El Khalili Bazaar. You will have wonderful opportunities to visit small workshops to see and learn about Egyptian handiwork and crafts from the artisans. These include mother of pearl boxes, picture frames, beautiful copper & brass works, perfumes, and gorgeous textiles. We will learn the history of their crafts and how many traditions are passed down from generation to generation. Egyptian gold, silver, and leather goods are in great abundance here and are famed for artistry and quality. Lunch at a local restaurant. Tonight, we gather for our Farewell Dinner at the hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 14, Wednesday 4th of April 2012 – Egypt/USA
Early morning check out. Transfer to Cairo International Airport. Final departure for USA on Lufthansa via Frankfurt, Germany. Arrive USA (B)
...or Continue Your Journey.....join optional extensions listed on next page to Petra Jordan or Famous Sharm El Sheikh, Red Sea Egypt....
click the green link
14 Days/13 Nights Visiting Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Nile Cruise
with Extensions to Petra/Jordan and Sharm El Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Roundtrip Airfare JFK/Cairo/JFK
- 13 nights accommodation at 5
star hotels and Nile Cruise
- 5 nights accommodation at 5
star hotels in Cairo as follows:
Conrad Hilton
- 6 nights accommodation on-board
M/S Hansa Cruise Ship
- 2 nights accommodation at a
5 star hotel in Luxor on half-board
- Meals: 12 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches
and 9 Dinners
- Comprehensive sightseeing in
Cairo-Luxor-Aswan as listed in
day by day itinerary guided by a
License Egyptologist tour guide
- Domestic airfare within Egypt
- All transfers and luggage handling
within Egypt
- All transportation provided by
deluxe air-conditioned Motor
coach or private car
- All hotel taxes and services charge
- All entrance fees as per itinerary
SPECIAL FEATURES
- We will have Dr Mark Lehner, a
famous Egyptologist to guide us
through his site (a discovery at the
workers village) next to the
pyramids. The workers were the
builders of the Pyramids.
- We will visit the new ancient
Egyptian Textile Museum which
opened recently.
- We will also visit to the Museum of
Islamic Ceramics at Zamalek.
Not Included:
- Airport taxes
- Visa upon arrival
- Tips & Personal Items
2012 TOUR COSTS AND
DEPARTURE DATES
5-STAR HOTEL with NILE CRUISE
Air and Land Prices Per Person
Taxes are additional and
Subject to Change
FOR RESERVATIONS AND
FURTHER INFORMATION
CALL 1 (866) 646-4602
Prices do not include US and foreign government airport taxes and fees of up to $350, depending upon the package, including the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per US enplanement, up to $10 per round-trip; passenger facility charges of $4.50 per segment, up to $18 per round-trip; federal domestic segment fee of $3.70 per segment; travel facilities tax of $8 per direction; immigration fee of $7; customs user fee of $5.50; APHIS user fee of $5; and international transportation tax of $16.10 per arrival or departure.
PLEASE NOTE ITINERARY SEQUENCE MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE,
HOWEVER ALL SIGHTSEEING WILL BE PROVIDED AS LISTED IN ITINERARY
Following are all necessary forms to be read and processed in order to complete booking, reservation formalities.
We are departing on Thursday March 22, 2012 and returning to the USA on Wednesday, April 4
Joining us in Egypt for the entire tour is my Egyptian colleague, a professional tour guide and Egyptologist with 20 years of experience, Ms. Amani Gawadat. Amani is wonderful; you will love her.
Our expedition arrangements are being handled by Tarot Tours/Grand Holidays USA, one of Egypt's oldest and largest tour operators.
with Dr. Stephen R. Phillips
Egyptian Section, Penn Museum
Basic tour air and land prices,
via Egypt Air, JFK/Cairo/JFK
-Price p/p adult air and land $3999
+ tax $295
-price p/p child air and land $3340
+ tax $295
-price p/p adult or child single supplement accommodation $790
Basic tour “land only” prices (for anyone coming from outside the USA or
booking their own plane flights)
-price p/p adult land only $3259
-price p/p child land only $ 2789
-price p/p adult or child single supplement accommodation $790
Abu Simbel additional (for r/t airfare, transfers, site admission fees)
-price p/p $250
