Upon arrival Cairo Airport, you will be met inside the “Arrivals Hall” by your Egyptian Express Tour Host, assisted through formalities and driven to your hotel for three memorable nights. Your Tour Host will handle all check in arrangements, your baggage.
The balance of your day is at leisure to explore your charming hotel.
Overnight Cairo.
After your included breakfast, your Tour Host will introduce to you your superb
private English-speaking Egyptologist-Guide. Your Guide will be with you for all sightseeing in
Giza, Cairo, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Luxor throughout giving you this morning a short but helpful introduction to the sites - and sights - we will see during our tour.
Motor through the picturesque Egyptian countryside to the site of
Memphis, ancient Pharaonic capital of Egypt! - In its shady open-air museum, view stunning remnants of this once glorious metropolis - the city from which for many centuries the known world was ruled! - Among the wonders you will see are the beautiful
fallen colossal statue of Ramses the Great and an elegant
alabaster sphinx. -
Then motor onto the nearby desert plateau to explore the astounding necropolis of Memphis storied Sakkara!
Here gaze up at the soaring
Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Zoser, first of all the pyramids! Then explore the Heb Sed Court of the amazing pyramid complex. - These and the Step Pyramid are
the very first buildings in hewn stone in all history, - truly “
where architecture was born”! - Then, entering the Tomb of a Court Noble of the Old Kingdom, see enchanting carved and painted relief scenes, which give a vivid picture of
daily life at the dawn of history!
An included lunch will be served at the private “
Membership Only”
Seasons Country Club.
This afternoon shows us the final triumph in the search for the perfect pyramid, - the imposing Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx!
By motor and by foot explore the entire northern Memphite necropolis of Giza. - Driving through the site, we see the three major monuments - the towering Pyramids of
Cheops (Khofu),
Chephren (Khafra or Khafre), and
Mycerinus (Menkaura or Menkaure); - the Subsidiary Pyramids of favorite Queens and Princesses; - the other three most important buildings of the funerary complex of each pharaoh - his
Valley Temple, Causeway, and Mortuary Temples; the still mystifying sacred boat pits which dot the ground beside each pyramid; - and the vast adjoining cemeteries of members of the Royal Family and of court nobles and high government officials!
Proceeding to the high desert plateau beyond, we then enjoy a panoramic view - and can take a marvelous photograph - of all the Giza monuments spread out below! Returning to the heart of the necropolis, we visit the
Museum of the Royal Boat (or “Solar Boat” or “Sun Boat”) of Cheops, oldest large sailing craft every discovered - and a vessel of surpassing craftsmanship and elegance. -
Those who wish may take their picture with the Great Pyramid of Cheops - only remaining marvel of
the ancient Seven Wonders of the World in the background. Then enter the well-preserved
Valley temple of Chephren, with its astounding stonework, - and step onto his huge Causeway for a close-up introduction to his
giant Sphinx!
Enjoy a
lighthearted camel ride through the sands surrounding the Pyramids!
Overnight Cairo.
After your included
breakfast, we motor a short distance to Mokattam Hill, on which stands a 12th century
Citadel, constructed by Saladin to protect Cairo from the Mongol threat. Within the fortress walls, visit the magnificent alabaster mosque built by
Mohamed Ali.
Next, we motor to the nearby colorful exotic
Khan El Khalili Bazaar quarter, for a walking tour of this maze of workshops and bazaars where all the traditional arts and crafts of Egypt are made and sold!
An included lunch will be served at
Al-Azhar Park Restaurant.
After lunch, we drive to the imposing building, which now houses the
Cairo Egyptian Museum, designed by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon. Today the museum contains the most important collection of Egyptian art in the world. Upon entering the atrium of the ground floor we are greeted by four colossal statues in granite, and to the right, is a copy of the famous
Rosetta stone, which enabled
Champollion to find the key to the reading of Egyptian hieroglyphics. The great central hall contains objects of colossal size from various periods.
The imposing burial furnishings from the tomb of Tutankhamun in
Biban El Muluk are the principal attractions of the first floor of the museum. Even today, the magnificence and splendour of such a multitude of precious objects of the treasures of
the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun leaves one breathless!
Overnight Cairo.
Check out from your hotel after your included breakfast and then we transfer to Cairo Airport for our mid-morning domestic flight departing Cairo south along the Nile taking us to Aswan!
Upon Arrival Aswan Airport, your Tour Host will transfer you and check in at the your hotel for three memorable nights. An included lunch will be served at your charming hotel.
In the evening, attend the spectacular production of Sound & Light Show at Philae Temple.
Overnight Aswan.
Leave your hotel after your included
breakfast and then we motor to visit the
ancient granite quarry, to learn of the amazing techniques of ancient times for extracting huge blocks of stone from the bed-rock without machinery, and to view the famous
Unfinished Obelisk probably commissioned by Queen Hatshepsut.
A stop is made atop the mammoth
Aswan High Dam, constructed between 1960 and 1971, where we receive a briefing on this controversial barrier across the Nile - and enjoy views of vast artificial Lake Nasser, stretching for 300 miles to the south into the Sudan!
A voyage by motor launch (bird watchers, be on the alert!) takes us across the lake between the two dams to explore the romantic
Temples of Philae, rescued, like the Abu Simbel Temples, from the rising waters of the Nile due to the building of the High Dam - and re-situated on nearby Agilkia Island! - In the beautiful Temple of Isis, principal monument of Philae, enter Sanctuary - the last holdout of the ancient Egyptian religion when Christianity swept the land in the early centuries AD.
Next, we motor to visit the newly opened fabulous
Nubian Museum, which houses many examples of Nubian heritage & history.
Then sail by
felucca to a
Nubian Village and enjoy a
drink of Karkadei or tea at a Nubian home and the
lunch will be served at the Nubian Village.
Overnight Aswan.
Leave your hotel after your included
breakfast and then your Tour Host will transfer you to Aswan Airport for our short 45- Minutes morning flight departing Aswan south along the Nile taking us to Abu Simbel to visit the awe-inspiring
Temples of Abu Simbel!
These giant monuments were carved from scarlet sandstone cliffs beside the Nile, by the artists and engineers of Pharaoh
Ramesses II - “
The Great” - for reasons of empire your
Local English Guide will explain. We are here at the perfect time of day, when the morning light is full on the facades of the temples and the colossal statues, which adorn them!
A short flight departing Abu Simbel brings us back to Aswan and direct transfer to your hotel.
An included
lunch will be served at
your charming hotel.
This afternoon, you are invited for a lazy sail on the river in a “felucca”, traditional sailing craft of the Nile, - skimming along the shores of palm-covered
Elephantine and Kitcheners Islands, - with lovely views of the
Mausoleum of the Agha Khan.
Overnight Aswan.
Check out from your hotel after your included breakfast and then we drive with your private guide by private deluxe A/C Mini-coach for 3 hours through the Agriculture Road bring us to Luxor - glittering Thebes of Old!
Upon Arrival Luxor, we will transfer you and check in at your hotel for three magical nights.
An included lunch will be served at your charming hotel.
The balance of your day is at leisure to explore your charming hotel.
Overnight Luxor.
After your included breakfast, we drive across the new bridge in Luxor to the
West Bank. This is the vast
Necropolis of Thebes known as the City of the Dead. Your visit starts at the two Colossi of Memnon, which are the only remnants of a once colossal funerary temple built by Amenhotep III.
Then drive to the
Valley of the Queens and Royal Princes where you will visit
Temple of Queen Hatshepsut & the tomb of Prince Amon-Hir-Kopshrf.
Continue to the famous
Valley of the Kings lying protected by the soaring Gurna Hills surrounding it. Deep-cut into the rocky mountainsides are the magnificent tombs of spellbinding construction and decoration. Among the tombs you may visit are the tombs of Seti I, Ramses I, Thutmoses III, Amenophis II, and the small but famous tomb of the
Golden Pharaoh,
Tutankhamun.
Return to your charming hotel.
An included lunch will be served at your
charming Hotel.
Overnight Luxor.
05:00 AM In the early morning, we leave your hotel (
Breakfast Box will be provided) and cross the river Nile, to the take-off site on the west bank. Then experience flying in a
hot air balloon over the West Bank of Luxor, viewing the inspiring Necropolis of Thebes, Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple, the Valley of the Queens, the Ramses III Temple at Medinet Habu. (Flying time is approximately
45 minutes.)
Upon landing, you will cross the Nile and be driven back to your hotel.
This tour will be operated only if wind and weather conditions are appropriate.
An included lunch will be served at your
charming Hotel.
After lunch, we motor to visit the temple of
Amon-Ra, known as the
Luxor Temple. This great temple was joined to that of Karnak by a long dromos paved in stone, a processional avenue flanked by human-headed sphinxes. You will marvel at the magnificence of the decorations of the temple entrance, and you will drift back in time as you study the gigantic wall relief scenes depicting life in ancient Egypt.
Next, we visit
Karnak, a complex of temples. Here you will visit the many sanctuaries, shrines, and the famous sacred lake. Walk through mazes of pylons and obelisks of staggering height, including the 134 columns of
the Great Hypostyle Hall considered the Eighth Wonder of the World! At Karnak, the temple of Amon is the largest columned temple in the world.
Overnight Luxor
Check out from your hotel after your included
breakfast and then leave
Luxor by private deluxe air-conditioned Mini-coach driving northeast to Hurghada through the fascinating Eastern Desert.
Driving time is approximately
3 – 3½ hours.
Upon arrival Hurghada, we will transfer you and check in at your Resort for three magical and relaxing nights on the Red Sea.
Overnight Hurghada.
Breakfast will be served at your hotel.
Full day at leisure to enjoy your fabulous hotel.
Overnight Hurghada.
Breakfast will be served at your hotel.
Full day at leisure to enjoy your fabulous hotel.
Overnight Hurghada.
Check out from your hotel after your included breakfast and then we transfer to Hurghada Airport for our afternoon flight departing Hurghada taking us back to Cairo!
Upon arrival Cairo Airport, your Tour Host will transfer you and check in at your hotel conveniently located near the airport your home for one memorable night.
After check-in, the balance of your day is at leisure to explore your charming hotel.
Overnight Cairo.
Check out from your hotel after your included breakfast and then say good-bye to Egypt as you are driven to the airport, assisted through formalities by your Egyptian Express Tour Host, and checked in for your flight home!