Tour Details - THE PYRAMIDS, LAKE NASSER & NILE HIGHLIGHTS - MAIN DECK
THE PYRAMIDS, LAKE NASSER & NILE HIGHLIGHTS - MAIN DECK
DISCOUNTS ON EVERY TOUR, UP TO 10% !!!
Tour Duration: 12 days Tour Code: WSU-M2012 Tour Type: Prices From: A$3372 [Tour Dates]
Tour Itinerary
Day
Description
1
ARRIVE IN CAIRO, EGYPT A welcome drink awaits you at your hotel; settle in and start soaking up the atmosphere of this exciting city.
2
CAIRO Meet your Egyptologist and travelling companions at 8 am. Sightseeing in and around Africa's largest metropolis starts at the ancient Egyptian capital of MEMPHIS, where you can admire the 12-metre (40-foot) statue of RAMSES II and the ALABASTER SPHINX. On to Sakkara, a vast desert necropolis built for kings and nobles, and its "STAIRWAY TO THE SKY," the oldest of all pyramids. In the afternoon, drive south to the now-famous Tahrir Square and visit the EGYPTIAN MUSEUM with Tutankhamun's fabulous treasures and many other masterpieces of ancient Egypt. Tonight, enjoy a SOUND & LIGHT SHOW at the pyramids that will put these wonders of the ancient world into an easily understandable historic context. (B)
3
CAIRO Today, visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World's. Take a close-up look at the daunting GREAT PYRAMIDS of Giza. Cheops, with an original height of 151 metres (496 feet), is the most colossal pyramid ever built. A little farther away you find the mystic guardian of the pyramids, the enigmatic SPHINX. Drive back to Cairo to Saladin's 12th-century citadel, whose robust walls and towers were constructed with stones stripped from the pyramids at Giza. Visit the ALABASTER MOSQUE OF MOHAMMED ALI, built completely in Turkish style and making no attempt to incorporate the Egyptian architecture of the time. In Coptic Cairo, see the Hanging Church where the Virgin Mary and Jesus stayed while in Egypt, then walk to see the oldest synagogue in Cairo, founded in the 9th century. There is still time for a visit to the labyrinthine Khan el Khalili SOUK before returning to your hotel. How about an optional Nile River dinner cruise tonight? (B)
4
CAIRO-ABU SIMBEL, LAKE NASSER (EMBARKATION) This morning, fly up the Nile Valley to Lake Nasser, created in the 1960s when the Aswan High Dam was built. The lake was named after Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egypt's President from 1956-1970. At Abu Simbel, on the southern end of the lake, your elegant cruise vessel awaits your arrival. (B,L,D)
5
ABU SIMBEL-KASR IBRIM A special experience this morning (weather permitting): watch the sunrise over Abu Simbel. Later, visit the magnificent TEMPLES built by Ramses II, the mightiest of the pharaohs. In 1968, the temples were dismantled and raised higher up an artificial hill to save them from submersion in Lake Nasser due to the construction of the High Dam. This afternoon your ship docks in Kasr Ibrim in sight of the ancient citadel, the only Nubian monument that still exists in its original location. Entrance to the citadel site is not permitted. (B,L,D)
6
AMADA-WADI EL-SEBOUA This morning, sail to Amada to visit the Temples of AMADA and DERR, as well as the TOMB OF PENOUT, the viceroy of Nubia under Ramses VI. Over lunch, sail to Wadi el-Seboua, which means "Valley of Lionesses" and is named for the sphinxes guarding the rock TEMPLE built in honour of Ramses II. Nearby is the Temple of DAKKA, where, if you are feeling energetic, you can climb the Pylon for an amazing view over the surrounding area, as well as the smaller MEHARAKKA Temple. (B,L,D)
7
ASWAN On your way to Aswan today, sail across the Tropic of Cancer. In the afternoon, visit KALABASHA TEMPLE, the rock-cut temple of BEIT EL-WALI, where several reliefs detailing the Pharaoh's victory over the Nubians can still be seen, and the tiny Roman KIOSK OF KERTASSI. Arriving in Aswan, there's time to visit the SOUK. (B,L,D)
8
LAKE NASSER (DISEMBARKATION)-ASWAN NILE RIVER (EMBARKATION) After breakfast, say goodbye to your Lake Nasser cruiser. In store for you today: the GRANITE QUARRIES that supplied ancient Egypt with its hard stones for the pyramids in Giza. Then, see the famous unfinished obelisk, still in the quarry. On to the turn-of-the-century OLD DAM-to this day, the widest dam in the world-and the gigantic Aswan HIGH DAM, completed in 1970. Board a motor launch to the island of AGILIKA, situated between the two dams, and visit the TEMPLE OF ISIS, the most romantic of Egypt's monuments, transplanted from the submerged island of Philae. The crew of your Nile cruiser now welcomes you, with time to freshen up and enjoy lunch on board. Later, board a FELUCCA and sail across the blue waters of the river. En route, see the ancient "nilometer" on Elephantine Island, Kitchener's lush BOTANICAL GARDENS, and the splendid Aga Khan Mausoleum on the left bank. (B,L,D)
9
ASWAN-KOM OMBO-EDFU Today, dock at KOM OMBO for a short walk to its bluff-top twin temples. The right side is dedicated to the crocodile god, Sobek-Re, while the left side is dedicated to the falcon god, Horus. This is where you will also find man's first calendar. Later, while sailing to Edfu, learn more about this ancient civilisation during an exclusive lecture by your Egyptologist. After dinner tonight, it's time for some fun and an onboard GALABYA PARTY. (B,L,D)
10
EDFU-LUXOR This morning, visit the TEMPLE OF HORUS with its menacing black stone statue of the falcon god. Built in the time of Cleopatra about 2,000 years ago, it is recent by Egyptian standards and beautifully preserved. Sail on to Luxor and visit the stunning monuments of LUXOR and KARNAK, the greatest cities of ancient Egypt that had a combined population of more than one million. To walk among the pillars of the colossal TEMPLE OF AMUN-RA and along the AVENUE OF THE SPHINXES, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an experience you will treasure the rest of your life. (B,L,D)
11
LUXOR (DISEMBARKATION)-CAIRO After breakfast, disembark and set out to visit the VALLEY OF KINGS and VALLEY OF QUEENS on the west bank of the Nile, where generations of pharaohs and nobles were buried in great splendour in crypts cut into the cliffs. Sixty-two royal tombs have been uncovered so far, of which only the tomb of Tutankhamun was nearly inviolate when discovered in 1922. Visit DEIR EL-BAHRI, Queen Hatshepsut's monumental rock temple. Stop for pictures at the two COLOSSI OF MEMNON guarding the valleys. Later today, fly back to Cairo and enjoy a special FAREWELL DINNER. (B,D)
12
CAIRO Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
CRUISE: Deluxe 4-night cruise from Abu Simbel to Aswan on Lake Nasser and 3-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor on the Nile River in an outside stateroom with private facilities CAIRO: Guided sightseeing, visit Ramses II and Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis, the "Stairway to the Sky" at Sakkara; visit Tutankhamun's Tomb in the Egyptian Museum; Sound & Light show at the Pyramids; visit the Great Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza; see Saladin's citadel and visit the Alabaster Mosque in Old Cairo; see the Hanging Church and Cairo's oldest synagogue in Coptic Cairo; visit the Khan el Khalili souk; farewell dinner ABU SIMBEL: Visit the rock temples KASR IBRIM: See the citadel AMADA: Visit the Temples of Amada and Derr; visit the Tomb of Penout WADI EL-SEBOUA: Visit the temples of Dakka and Meharakka ASWAN: Visit Kalabsha Temple, Beit el-Wali, and Kiosk of Kertassi; visit the souk; sail by felucca to Kitchener Island; visit the Botanical Gardens; excursion to High Dam & Old Dam; cruise to Agilika; visit the Temple of Isis and the ancient granite quarries with the unfinished obelisk; see the Mausoleum of the Aga Khan KOM OMBO: Visit the twin temples, see man's first calendar; lecture on board; galabya party EDFU: Visit the Temple of Horus LUXOR: Visit Luxor Temple, the Avenue of the Sphinxes, monuments of Karnak, Temple of Amun-Ra, Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, Deir el-Bahri, and the Colossi of Memnon ALL INTRA-TOUR FLIGHTS MEALS: Welcome drink; 4 buffet breakfasts, 7 full breakfasts (B), 7 lunches (L), 8 dinners including farewell dinner in Cairo Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the cruise description.
Meals Breakfast - 11 Lunch - 7 Dinner - 8
Optional Excursions
To help plan your leisure time, as well as your pre-tour budgeting, here is a list of optional excursions that may be offered on this tour.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, group interests, and general feasibility for your tour. Please note prices may be based on the previous year and are subject to change. Full terms and conditions are contained in the important travel documents.
Cost
Description
63
USD
Name:DINNER ON THE NILE Location:CAIRO Details:Enjoy a gourmet dinner with entertainment provided by a band and belly dancers during your two-hour cruise on one of the Nile Crystal Boats.
Optional Excursions
