$3694
(non-member: $3794)
Single Room: add $1026

   Activity Level:
     70% Easy;
    25% Moderate
      5% Strenuous
 
TOUR INCLUDES:

- ALL TIPPING for the entire trip

- All internal flights while in Egypt

- Most meals while on tour including breakfast daily, 9 lunches and 8 dinners

- 3 day/4 night Nile cruise with outside cabins and 2 lower beds

- Entrance to the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, Valley of the Kings, the Temple at Karnack and much more per the itinerary

- Lodging: 4 and 5 star hotels throughout the tour

_____________

Travelers will make their own air reservations and are requested to arrive and depart as follows:

Airport:  Cairo, Egypt (CAI)

Arrive:  Sunday, March 14.  Most flights arrive in the afternoon to late evening.  (You will depart the US on 13 March)

Depart: Friday, March 26, at your convenience. Most flights depart early in the morning. There will be 2 group transfers.

Early Arrival:
To avoid possible flight delays, consider arriving a day early. The cost includes room, airport transfer and breakfast:

   $150 dbl / $250 sgl

Special Notes Regarding this Trip:

- You will need a valid passport for this trip. For US and Canadian citizens you can obtain your Visa upon arrival at the airport. Visa cost: $20 (subject to change)

- Check your expiration date. It cannot expire less than 6 months after your travel completes.

- This tour involves a lot of walking and standing, often on uneven or unpaved surfaces.

- This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties or who cannot stand or walk for 20 minutes without stopping or sitting.

· Air from your home or air to your home

· Any departure taxes or other fees imposed by the local government that must be paid at the time of services or border crossings, etc.

. Entry Visa

Sunday, March 14: Arrive Cairo, Dinner

Upon arrival at Cairo international airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Once checked in, the remainder of the day is at leisure before we gather for dinner together at the hotel. Our hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of the Egyptian Antiquities Museum and downtown Cairo. Accommodations: Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel – 2 nights. (D)

Monday, March 15: Egyptian Antiquities Museum and Islam and Islamic Culture Lecture

After breakfast at the hotel we will begin our morning at the Egyptian Antiquities Museum where we will see the marvelous treasures of Ancient Egypt. This museum tour will set the stage for the rest of our week as we see first hand the antiquities that have been recovered from the sites we will visit later in the week. Lunch will be at a local restaurant including a lecture by our local Egyptian tour guide on Islam and Islamic culture. The remainder of the day is yours to explore and enjoy. (B,L)

Tuesday, March 16: Cairo to Aswan; Philae temple; Evening light show

Today we travel from Cairo to Aswan by air (air is included in cost of tour; departure taxes, if any, are not included.) Upon arrival at Aswan airport, we will begin our tour of the area with a visit to the dam, obelisk and Philae temple. Lunch is included at a local restaurant and then we go to our hotel and check in. The remainder of the afternoon is free. This evening we have dinner together and an evening sound & light show at Philae. Accommodations: Pyramisa Isis Island Hotel – 3 Nights (B,L,D)

Wednesday, March 17: St. Simon Monastery and Nubian Museum

Our day begins with a visit to the St. Simon monastery, a 7^th century monastery that is one of the best preserved of the original Christian strongholds in Egypt. The monastery has stunning views and bears more resemblance to a fortress in the desert. Lunch will be at a local restaurant before we go to the Nubian museum. This museum gives you a small idea of what was lost when the dam was built.  (B,L)

Thursday, March 18: Felucca ride and Botanical Garden; Afternoon city tour and market

A ride on the traditional felucca boats (similar to a small sailboat) is how we start our day. We visit botanical gardens and see how the Nile gives life to the desert. A noontime lunch at local restaurant will be followed by city tour and Aswan market. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the area. A suggestion for this afternoon is to take an optional tour of Abu Simbel – dedicated to the pharaoh Ramses II of biblical fame (optional tour cost and flight not included). (B,L)

Friday, March 19: Morning free; Embark Nile Cruise

Take advantage of the hotel spa services this morning, lay by the pool, or, time permitting, visit Abu Simbel if you did not get a chance to go the previous day (optional tour cost and flight not included).

We will transfer to the Nile cruise ship and have lunch onboard. We sail to Kom Ombo where we will visit the temple before sailing on to Edfu. Dinner on board. Accommodations: M/S Royal Ruby – 3 Nights (B,L,D)

Saturday, March 20: Temple of Horus and Esna Lock Passage

We begin our day with a visit to the Edfu and the Temple of Horus, which is in an excellent state of preservation. Enjoy a wondrous time as we wander through one of the last great monuments to be built under the influence of the pharaohs. From Edfu we sail to Esna and lunch on board. At Esna we pass through the Nile lock system. (B,L,D)

Sunday, March 21: Luxor

Our Nile cruise takes us to the city of Luxor where we will visit Luxor and the Karnak temples. Our day will also include a visit to a local school in Luxor.

Luxor is home to the Valley of the Kings and was built around the 4000 year old site of the ancient city of Thebes. It is one of the greatest open-air museums and stands as a time capsule of a long-ago era.

The Temples of Kanark is actually a complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons and obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban gods – and to the greater glory of Egypt’s Middle and New Kingdom rulers – all on a gigantic scale that boggles the mind of the visitor. (B,L,D)

Monday, March 22: Valley of the Kings

This morning we motor boat to the west bank where we will have breakfast. Our day is full as we visit villages, visit the valley of the kings, valley of the queens, Hatchepsut temple and the Colossi of Memnon. We have lunch at a local restaurant to break up the day. Dinner is at the hotel this evening. Accommodations: Steigenberger Nile Palace, Luxor – 2 Nights. (B,L,D)

Tuesday, March 23: Luxor Museum and Market; Afternoon free for Optional Camel Ride

Our day begins with a visit to the Luxor museum & Luxor market. At the museum is a well-chosen collection of relics from the Theban temples and necropolis. The displays include pottery, jewelry, furniture and statues.

The afternoon is free. Use this time to return to areas that captivated you or take this opportunity to take a Camel Ride. (cost of camel ride not included in tour). Dinner tonight is at the hotel. (B,D)

Wednesday, March 24: Luxor to Cairo

We depart Luxor today and return to Cairo by air (air is included in cost of tour; departure taxes, if any, are not included.) Upon arrival at the Cairo we will transfer to our hotel that is located within easy sight of the Great Pyramids. The rest of the day is at leisure. This evening we have dinner at the Egyptian family house.  Accommodations: Le Meridien Pyramids – 2 Nights (B,D)

Thursday, March 25: The Great Pyramids of Giza

The Great Pyramids. You’ve heard about them all your life and now you are going to visit them! Our day will include a visit to Memphis, Sakkara, pyramids including visits to the small pyramid, the sphinx and solar boat with lunch at local restaurant. (B,L)

Friday, March 26: Return Home

After breakfast we will transfer back to the airport for return flights home. There will be two group transfers. (Departure taxes, if any, are not included.) (B)

Return to List of Tours