Egypt Tours & Travel - Essence of the Near East

*Guaranteed Weekly Departure*
Day	Itinerary
1	Depart U.S.A. on a scheduled flight to Cairo "Business class seating". All meals and beverages served on board flight.
2	Arrive Cairo where you will be met by our tour manager who will help you with your immigration and customs formalities. Transfer to your hotel, the luxurious Mena House Oberoi Hotel for overnight (accomodation in a junior suite in the Palace Section of hotel). A room at the luxurious Mena House with a view of the pyramids
3	After breakfast drive to Memphis on the edge of the Western Desert, the capital of the Ancient Kingdom. Drive to Sakkara, the vast Necropolis of ancient Memphis. Visit the step Pyramid of Zoser (3rd dynasty, 2668 BC–2649 BC). Also visit the exterior of Pyramid of Unas, the last King of the 5th dynasty. In the afternoon drive to the Pyramids of Giza. Cheops Pyramid, the largest of the three, was built in the 4th dynasty about 2690 BC. Continue your tour to visit the legendary Sphinx. Also visit the Solar Boat Museum where an ancient dismantled river barge of King Cheops (Khufu) was found and has been masterfully re-assembled. Later transfer back to your hotel for an overnight. (B,L)
4	Breakfast, and then drive to Dahshur to visit the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid. The constructor of these Pyramids is thought to have been Sneferu. Sneferu is thought to have built the Pyramid of Maidum as well. Return to your hotel. In the evening you will be met and transferred to embark on a dinner cruise with a folkloric floor show. Enjoy dinner while sailing and watching live music, as well as a belly dancer performance. Transfer back to your hotel for an overnight. (B,D)
5	Breakfast, then visit Fayoum, Egypt's largest Oasis, overlooking Lake Qarun which is a popular spot for hunting and fishing. Visit the remains of the temple and Pyramid of Amenemhat III (1842 BC) which is called the Pyramid of Hawara. Also visit the Roman site of Chariness. Lunch at the famous Oberge Fayoum Hotel. From there drive to Maidum Pyramid, which was started by King Huni and completed by Sneferu. Transfer back to Cairo. Overnight. (B,L) The Water Wheels in the country side
6	Breakfast, then you will be met and transferred to Cairo Airport for your flight to Abu-Simbel. Upon arrival at Abu-Simbel Airport, you will be transferred to visit the great temple, with its four colossal seated statues of the king in front of the entrance. Also visit the king's wife temple. Transfer back to Abu-Simbel Airport for your flight to Aswan. Arrive Aswan and transfer to embark your cruise ship (accommodation either in a Royal or a Presidential suite). Later you will visit by "Felucca" the Elephantine Island, the exterior of the Mausoleum of Agha Khan and the Botanical Gardens. Lunch. You will be met by our tour guide for a private tour of the newly opened Nubian Museum in Aswan, where you can see the Nubian civilization history from start until present time. Transfer back to your cruise ship for an overnight on board. (B,L,D) Your Royal or Presidential suite on board the brand new Moon Goddess or Sun Goddess cruise ship with private balcony
7	Breakfast, then visit the Unfinished Obelisk in the ancient Granite Quarries and the Aswan High Dam. You will also visit the Ptolemaic temple dedicated to Isis, known as Philae for the island on which it was originally built. Lunch, then cruise to Kom-Ombo. Visit the Ptolemaic temple of Kom-Ombo, which was dedicated to two gods: the Crocodile god Sobek and the Falcon-Headed god Haroeris. Sail to Edfu. Overnight on board. (B,L,D)
8	Breakfast, then visit the temple of Horus in Edfu (237 BC) the best-preserved Egyptian temple in existence. Lunch. Sail to Luxor. Overnight on board. (B,L,D)
9	Breakfast, then cross to the West Bank of the Nile to visit the Necropolis of ancient Thebes. Explore the Valleys of the Kings and Queens where tombs of 64 pharaohs and 57 queens have been discovered, and enter some of the most important burials. Visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, also visit the Tomb of Ramses IV. This tomb still retains much of the beautiful colors and astronomical ceilings. Also visit the Colossi of Memnon. Lunch. Afternoon visit the Temple of Karnak, which took over 1500 years to build and is considered the world's largest religious complex. Continue your tour to visit the Temple of Luxor, which was started by Amenhotep III, and completed by Ramses II. Overnight on board. (B,L,D) Dinner on board your luxury cruise, the brand new Moon Goddess or Sun Goddess
10	Breakfast, then disembark your cruise ship. You will be met and transferred to the Old Winter Palace Hotel. Later you will be met by our guide for a tour of the Valley of the Nobles, visiting Userhat Tomb and Rekhmire Tomb famous for their fine wall decorations and drawings which depict scenes from the daily life of ancient Egyptians. Continue your tour to visit the famous tomb of King Tut (14th century BC). Also visit the unfinished tomb of Seti II, known as KV 15 (from the 13th century BC). This tomb's outer halls are decorated with reliefs on beautiful limestone. Also visit the temples and chapels of Madinet Habu, the largest complex that was built by Ramses III. Transfer back to your hotel. Later transfer to attend the magnificent sound and light show at the Karnak Temple. Return to your hotel for an overnight (accommodation in a junior suite). (B,L,D)
11	Breakfast, then visit the newly opened tomb of Nefertari, built by King Ramses II for his beloved queen. This tomb is most famous for its fine art work. It is a breathtaking exhibit and is truly one of the highlights of your trip. Continue your tour to visit the beautiful tomb of Tuthmosis III, known as KV 34. This is the tomb dedicated to the pharaoh who won an empire for his country. End your tour with a visit to the Luxor Museum. In the evening you will be met and transferred to Luxor Airport for your flight back to Cairo. Upon arrival at Cairo Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, the luxurious Cairo Marriott and Towers Hotel (accommodation in a junior suite). Overnight. (B,L,D)
12	Breakfast, then start your tour visiting the Egyptian Museum famous for its antiquities, which include the fabulous treasures of King Tut-Ankh-Amon. Afternoon excursion to Old Cairo, visiting the very old Coptic Churches and the oldest Jewish Synagogue of Beni Ezra. Continue your tour to visit the Citadel of Salah El-Din and the Mohammed Ali Mosque. Also visit the famous City of the Dead. This is a centuries-old cemetery in old Cairo, with very small houses encompassing both the dead and (of late) their living relatives, who—because of inadequate housing—have moved into their family's graves. Continue your tour to the Medieval Bazaars of Khan-El-Khalili. Return to your hotel for an overnight. (B,L)
13	Breakfast, then you will be met and transferred to downtown Cairo for a two hour "Felucca" ride (sailboat). Sail the Nile River in a Felucca, the same way ancient Egyptians used to do thousands of years ago. Lunch at a traditional restaurant. Remainder of day at leisure for last minute shopping or just to relax by your hotel pool. Overnight at your hotel. (B,L)
14	Breakfast, then you will be met by your tour manager and transferred to Cairo Airport, where you will be helped with your check-in and immigration formalities for your flight to Amman. Arrive Amman Queen Alia Airport where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel, the Inter-Continental Hotel (accommodation in a junior suite). Overnight. (B)
15	Breakfast, then drive north for a full day tour to three of Jordan's most famous sites: Jerash, Ajlun and Umm Qeis. Start in the biblical land of Gilead, Jerash. This is one of the finest and most preserved Greco-Roman cities, with its intact towered city walls, colonnaded streets, three theaters, several baths, two temples, plazas, fountains and many other public spaces that formed the typical wealthy Roman town. From the Byzantine period, Jerash has at least 15 churches with sparkling mosaics. Transfer to your hotel for an overnight. (B,L) Jordan: Umm Qeis
16	After an early breakfast, drive south, via the King's highway, on your way to what is rightly called "the 8th wonder of the ancient world:" Petra. As you pass south of Amman through the Old Ammonite Kingdom, you reach Madaba, with one of the best-preserved collections of early Christian Byzantine mosaics from the 4th to the 7th centuries AD. Ten minutes east of Madaba is Mt. Nebo, with its commanding view of the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley. It is the same spot where Moses is thought to have looked out over the Holy Land. Continue to the massive crusader fortress of Kerak, with its labyrinth of underground galleries, rooms and secret passages. Continue to Petra. Overnight at Tibat Zaman Village (accommodation in a suite). (B,D) Jordan: First Century Treasury of Petra
17	After breakfast, start your full day tour in the Rose Red City of Petra, the wondrous, rock-carved Nabatean capital. From that same well-secured spot, the Nabatean Arab Kingdom controlled one of the greatest international trade routes of the ancient world, the fabled "spice and incense route," which linked China, India and southern Arabia with the rich markets of Greece, Rome and the rest of the Mediterranean world. For approximately 500 years, between the 3rd century BC and the 2nd century AD, the Nabateans carved a fabulous city out of the Rose Red rock, of which over 800 individual monuments and tombs can still be highly appreciated today. Overnight at your hotel in Petra. (B,L)
18	Breakfast, then drive to Wadi Rum. First start with a one-hour camel ride into the desert, followed by a desert safari deep into the valley, in a four-wheel drive vehicle. You will see the Thamudic inscriptions, Nabatean water works and other assorted structures attesting to the area's use by residents and passers-by during the past 3,000 years. View the sand-carved cliffs of this wide valley which provided an ideal back drop for the filming of the movie "Lawrence of Arabia." Transfer to meet the Bedouins in the desert and enjoy their hospitality by having a fresh cooked dinner in a tent in the desert. Drive back to Amman. Overnight at your luxurious Grand Hyatt Amman Hotel (accommodation in a junior suite). (B,L,D)
19	Breakfast, then you will be met by our representative and transferred to Amman Airport, where you will be helped with your check-in and immigration formalities for your flight back home. (B)

Also Included: All transfers within Egypt and Jordan, all service charges imposed by hotels, Nile Cruise port charges, portage, meeting and assistance at airport, hotels and docks. Accommodations on this tour are in junior suites throughout and airfare is based on business class.

Please add a peak season supplement of $765 per person if traveling between Dec. 09th to Jan. 14th or from Mar. 19th to Apr. 23rd.

Not included: Items of personal nature, such as phone calls, wine, tips, etc.

Departure from other gateway cities is available as follows: Departure out of Boston, please add $169. Departure out of Washington, D.C., add $189. Departure out of Chicago, please add $259. Departure out of Los Angeles, please add $369, or call for your city.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: For single occupancy in hotels and on board cruise, please add $4980.

EXTENSIONS & OPTIONAL TOURS: Extra days and optional tours to sites that are not included are available upon request.

If airfare from the U.S.A. is not required, please deduct $1050 from posted rate.