Slendors
of the Nile ... EGYPT
(The
order of the itinerary may vary due to the sailing date of the cruise.)
Day
1 - Dinner aboard our scheduled air jet to Cairo.
Day 2 - Arrive Cairo, transfer
to our five star hotel. The balance of the day is free for relaxing
before dinner at our hotel.
Day 3 - After breakfast at our
hotel we are off to Memphis, city of the god Ptah and capital of the
oldest kingdom in the world; the alabaster sphinx; statue of Ramses
II; Saqqara and the great pyramids of Giza. Tonight we can enjoy
an optional Sound and Light performance at the pyramids. Overnight
Cairo.
Day
4 - Off to Old Cairo: the Citadel; Ibn Tolon Mosque; Islamic Museum;
Bein el Kasrei Street, and Khan el Khalili Bazaar. Overnight Cairo.
Day 5 - This morning we will visit
the Egyptian Museum which contains a rare collection of pharaonic
antiquities, particularly the rich golden treasure from the tomb of
Tut Ankh Amon. After lunch our destination is Coptic Cairo.
Day 6 - A short jet flight takes
us to Luxor where we will board our 5-star Nile cruise ship, which
will be our home for the next 5 days. 61[Picture] After lunch aboard
ship we will visit the great temple of Luxor 56[Picture] (where additional
archaeological finds have recently been uncovered) and the Temple
of Amon at Karnak.
Day 7 - Our destination this morning
is the west bank. Here in the Valley of the Kings 59[Picture] were
the richest treasure houses in history. After visiting the Colossi
of Memnon, 58[Picture] the tombs of the Pharaohs and Hatshepsut's
magnificent temple at Deir el Bari, 60[Picture] we return to Luxor.
Afternoon sail to Esna where we will disembark for a visit to the
temple of Khnum.
Day
8 - Continuing our sail we reach Edfu where we will see the temple
of Horus, 64[Picture] the protector god. This afternoon we sail on
to Kom Ombo. At the Nile's edge, the temple at Kom Ombo offers beautiful
murals and reliefs of the two deities, Horus and Sobek.
Day 9 - Cruising on we reach Aswan.
66[Picture] Aswan was a favorite spot of the late President Sadat,
beautifully situated as it is on the banks of the Nile. This afternoon
we partake of one of the greatest joys of the tour, a felucca ride
on the Nile, visiting first Elephantine island, then the botanical
gardens, and the mausoleum of Aga Kahn. 68[Picture] We will visit
the unfinished obelisk in the granite quarry, the Aswan High Dam,
and Philae Temple. Overnight aboard ship.
Day
10 - This morning we will check in at our hotel on the banks of the
Nile. The day is free to enjoy Aswan. We will have the opportunity
for an optional tour to St. Simeon Monastery (by camel!) 69[Picture]
and the Tombs of the Nobles. Tonight we can experience the bazaar
and spice market of Aswan. Overnight Aswan.
Day 11 - Today has been reserved
for an optional tour to Abu Simbel, site of the extraordinary rock-carved
temples of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. These temples date from
the 13th century B.C. and were carved out of the side of a mountain.
73[Picture] In the second half of our century the temples were dismantled,
moved and reconstructed on higher ground to escape the rising water
of the Nile caused by the Aswan High Dam. Overnight Aswan.
Day
12 - The day is free for sailing on the Nile or for more sightseeing.
This evening an optional tour is available: Sound and Light performance
at Philae Temple.
Day 13 - Today we fly back to
Cairo. The remainder of the day is free for a visit to the Egyptian
Museum or Khan el Khalili bazaar.
Day 14 - This morning our guide
will drive us to the airport and assist us with check-in for our flight
home from the land of the Pharaohs.
Included as part of the tour:
Roundtrip scheduled air from
New York
Flights within Egypt
5 star hotels
5 star cruise ship
Breakfasts, most lunches
and dinners
Experienced Egyptologist
Transfers
Admissions
Not included with the tour:
Passport
Beverages
Visa
Gratuities
Items of a personal nature
Date:
Nov 29 - Dec 13, 2002
Cash discount price: $3844
from NYC
Single supplement: $625
