Itinerary: Mysteries & Magic of Ancient Egypt

Day 1, Saturday

Cairo

Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport you will be met, assisted through Immigration & Customs, and then escorted to your selected hotel.

Day 2, Sunday

Cairo

Today's sightseeing takes you to the fabulous Egyptian Museum. Regarded as one of the most prominent in the world, it offers visitors remarkable insights into Egypt's ancient history dating back 5000 years. The priceless antiquities include King Tutankhamon's Treasures -- a spectacle beyond belief! After lunch we visit Cheops' Pyramid--one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World--and the Sphinx, the great god-lion sentinel, built over 35 centuries ago. The towering pyramid stands majestically on a desert plateau with two slightly smaller pyramids (one built by Cheop's son Kephren and the other by Mycerinus) erected to preserve their bodies and treasures for the afterlife. East of Cheops Pyramid is the Solar Boat Museum housing the spectacular funerary boats placed at the King's disposal for his journey of Day and Night in the afterlife with the Sun God Ra. Your sightseeing also includes the bazaars featuring a variety of items and bargains galore! (BL)

Day 3, Monday

Cairo / Luxor - Cruise

Transfer to Cairo Airport for your early morning flight to Luxor. On arrival you will be escorted to your Ship, your floating hotel for the next 5 days as you cruise up-the-Nile. This morning you cross the Nile to Luxor's West Bank, where you'll explore the astonishing and extensive New Kingdom city of "Thebes". Sightseeing includes the Valley of the Kings and Queens where some 64 of Egypt's Pharaohs have their palatial resting places hewn into the sheer rock and the Colossi of Memnon, two huge seated statues of Amenhotep III. After lunch, you will visit Luxor and Karnak Temples, a holy city of pylons, hypostyle halls, colossal statues and obelisks built over many centuries and dedicated to the God Amon-Ra, his consort Mut, and their son Khonsu. (BLD)

Day 4, Tuesday

Luxor / Edfu - Cruise

Sail to Edfu via Esna lock. Overnight in Edfu. (BLD)

Day 5, Wednesday

Edfu / Kom Ombo / Aswan - Cruise

Today an exhilarating carriage ride takes you through town to the Temple of Horus, the Falcon God. Return to your ship and sail to Kom Ombo to visit the Graeco - Roman style Temple of Sobek, the Crocodile God. Standing serenely on a hilltop, the site offers an incredible view over the Nile. Then sail to Aswan. (BLD)

Day 6, Thursday

Aswan - Cruise

Morning sightseeing includes Aswan's Old and High Dams, the ancient Granite Quarries, and the Temple of Philae. After lunch we sail around Elephantine Island, the Botanical Gardens. (BLD)

Day 7, Friday

Aswan / Abu Simbel* / Cairo

Disembark after breakfast. Transfer to Aswan Airport for your flight back to Cairo where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. *Passengers who purchased the "Abu Simbel" excursion will fly from Aswan to this dramatic site to admire the magnificent Temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. They were moved up the hillside to keep them from destruction by flooding from the Nile when the High Dam was built forming Lake Nasser. (B)

Day 8, Saturday

Cairo/Santa Katherina Monastery/Nuweibaa' or Taba

Early morning we cross the Red Sea and continue by motorcoach to the Sinai Peninsula, which contains great stretches of extraordinary desert scenery. High Granite Mountains and deep chasms form landscapes that in places look like the surface of the moon. There are fertile green oases where Bedouin tribesmen bring their sheep and camels for water. Your imagination will be captured by the biblical traditions of its ancient past where Moses led the 12 tribes of Israel from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land Jebel Musa, the Mount Sinai of the Old Testament, is where Moses received the Ten Commandments from Jehovah. We arrive at the Monastery, an isolated holy place of rich treasures. The fortified monastery has sheltered Christian monks since the Sixth Century, when it was built on the order of Emperor Justinian. It is at the foot of Jebel Musa on the traditional site of the Burning Bush, a part of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Church contains the great Mosaic of the Transfiguration of Christ, numerous icons and sacred art treasures. The Monastery's Library is considered second in importance only to the Vatican Library. Overnight in Nuweibaa’ or Taba. NOTE: Please dress conservatively when visiting St. Katharina Monastery Chapel. Entry is at the discretion of the resident monks. We might be refused entry without notice. (BLD)

Day 9, Sunday

Nuweibaa’ or Taba

A day at leisure to relax and soak up the sun. Also, time for water sports activities, scuba diving and snorkeling. (BD)

Day 10, Monday

Nuweibaa’ or Taba/Aqaba/Wadi Rum/Petra

We cross by ferry to Aqaba and continue to Petra through Wadi Rum a land of mesmerizing beauty and contrast: the haunting wilderness, ever changing, and remote desert canyons, immense and still. A jeep ride takes us deep inside the valley. Afterwards continue to Petra. (BD)

Day 11, Tuesday

Petra

Today you visit Petra, Jordan's most exciting site. It was carved out of the craggy rock mountains south of the Dead Sea by the Nabataean traders more than 2000 years ago. Travel by horseback through a narrow defile or sig; the sudden view of the spectacular Khazneh or Treasury is dramatic. See the gigantic Deir or Monastery, the High Place and the Roman-styled Palace Tomb. Overnight in Petra. (BD)

Day 12, Wednesday

Petra/Mount Nebo/Madaba/Amman

On our way to Amman, we stop in Mount Nebo, the memorial of Moses, the presumed site of the prophet’s death and burial place. The remarkable view of the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea and the spires of Jerusalem is simply exhilarating. Continue to Madaba, “the City of Mosaics”, where we visit St. George’s church and the 6th century Byzantine mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other holy sites. Overnight in Amman. (BD)

Day 13, Thursday

Amman/Jerash/Ajloun

We travel to the olden city of Jerash, remarkable for its unbroken chain of human occupation. Here at a well-watered site in the hills of Gilead, we find remains from Neolithic times, as well as Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Omayyad and others. Jerash's golden age, however, arrived with Roman rule. Today it is acknowledged as one of the best preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. After lunch, we continue to Ajloun to tour the 12th century Saracen Castle built by one of Saladin's lieutenants in the campaign against the Crusaders. (BD)

Day 14, Friday

Amman

The excitement begins with a visit to the ancient city of Amman that was built on seven hills. We get to see the Roman Theater, the Citadel, the Archeology and the Folklore Museums. Overnight in Amman. (B)

Day 15, Saturday

Depart

Transfer to airport.

3/4 Star Standard

5 Star Standard

5 Star Superior

5 Star Deluxe

5 Star Premium

Rates

Premium Hotel Rates Are Subject To Availability And Review At Time Of Booking Supplements

Price Includes:

• Airport transfers; Accommodations; Meals as indicated BLD; Guided sightseeing & entrance fees as per itinerary.

Additional Information:

• Touring in Cairo is based on shared seat in a van. Private touring available on request.
• Cruise Shore excursions, shared with other English Speaking passengers onboard. Private guide available on request
• Shore excursions are at the discretion of the cruise line. Description provided may be altered or changed. Refer to the Ship lobby bulletin Board for the final daily cruise itinerary schedule.
• Egyptair is the only major airline within Egypt. Their internal flights are generally very early morning and late evening. Be prepared for flight cancellation; delay; change of schedule; overbooking condition; too many or too little flights. therefore, your cooperation and understanding are very much appreciated.
• Beyond our Control: During certain times of the year, hotels and cruise ships may overbook. If so, we reserve the right to substitute accommodations within the same or higher category. We also reserve the right to change the sequence of the itinerary and internal flight schedule should local conditions necessitate. Onsite passenger(s) will be attended to at all times.

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