Depart the USA on overnight flight to Cairo.
Upon arrival in Cairo, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Cairo.
This morning we will start our day with a drive to the famous Giza Plateau and visit the Great Pyramids, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Sightseeing includes: the Great Pyramid of Cheops from inside, middle Pyramid of Chephren and the small one of Mykerinos, as well as the Solar Boat Museum and the Mysterious Sphinx. Then we will travel to Saqqara, which is the part of Memphis' massive necropolis to see the first pyramids built in Egypt 'the Step Pyramid', designed for Pharaoh Djoser by Imhotep.
We will end the day touring the museum of Memphis which houses a colossal statue of Ramses II and the alabaster sphinx. Overnight in Cairo.
Today we'll begin our exploration with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Some of the highlights in the museum are the Amarna Room with the unfinished head of Nefertiti, the Jewelry Room, the Royal Mummy Room and the Tutankhamun Galleries. Next we'll stroll in Old Cairo, where much has not changed over the past 1000 years. We'll tour the Hanging Church, or Suspended Church; the Church of St. Sergius in Coptic Cairo, built over a cave where the Holy Family is supposed to have stayed; and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, which dates from the 9th century. In the afternoon, we'll proceed to the Citadel, built by Saladin in 1176; the Mohamed Ali Pasha Mosque and the Khan el Khalili Bazaar. Overnight in Cairo.
This morning we will be transferred to Cairo airport for our domestic flight to Abu Simbel. After arrival, we will start our excursion with the Temples of Ramses the Great and Nefretari and be amazed at the feat that the Egyptian government went through to move these magnificent treasures to their current location when the great Aswan Dam was constructed. After another short flight to Aswan, we will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. The afternoon will be at your leisure. Overnight in Aswan.
Today we will visit the Nubian museum in Aswan and before lunch we will board the Sonesta Moon Goddess to begin our cruise on the longest river in the world, the lifeblood of Egypt. In the afternoon we will sail on the Nile by traditional felucca around Kitchener's Island and the Agha Khan Mausoleum. After dinner, we will be entertained by a Nubian Folkloric Show. Overnight in Aswan.
In the morning our first stop will be at the Aswan High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae before setting to sail for Kom Ombo. In the afternoon we'll explore the Temple of Gods Sobek and Haroeies in Kom Ombo. Later, we'll enjoy afternoon tea on board as we sail to Edfu and tonight there will be the Captain's Welcome Cocktail Party including dinner and dancing. Overnight in Edfu.
This morning we will visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu, a very dramatic monument and most completely preserved Egyptian temple. In the afternoon, we will enjoy the views along the Nile as we sail to Esna and later on to Luxor, also see the activities around the locks before passing through them on the way. Overnight in Luxor.
Today we make our way to the West Bank of the setting sun, which offers the sites: The Valley of the Kings and Queens, the Temple of Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon.
After lunch, we will have a visit to the Karnak and Luxor Temples - the magnificent wonders of Ramses II and Akhenaton on the East Bank of the Nile, in the City of the Living, where they greet the sunrise. It was known as the 'city of palaces' in Homer's time. Overnight in Luxor.
This morning, we'll disembark our cruise and be transferred to our hotel. After checking in, we will head to the Valley of the Nobles and the Valley of the Workers, probably the most interesting burial site in Egypt where we gain the idea of their daily life. Here we will see Medinat Habu - second in size only after the temple complex at Karnak; it is one of the most underrated sites on the West Bank. With the Theban Mountains as a backdrop and the sleepy village of Kom Lolah in the front, it is a wonderful place to spend a few hours. At the site, we will visit the Temple of Amun and the Funerary Temple of Ramses III, which was inspired by the style of his forbear, Ramses II. The Tomb Chapels of the Divine Adorers and the Syrian Gate, a large two-story building modeled after an Asiatic fortress will be the highlights, as well as the Pharaoh's Palace, as they are outstanding examples of New Dynastic architecture. In the afternoon we will tour the Luxor museum and still have some free time to relax and enjoy the gardens and the pool. Overnight at a hotel in Luxor.
Today we have a full day excursion to Dendera and Abydos. Abydos is the home of Osiris, the ruler of the netherworld. It is said that at night you can hear the spirits congregating to pay homage to Osiris. The Temple of Seti I is one of the few remaining royal monuments still intact at Abydos. It contains some of the most sublime decorations of any Egyptian monument.
Dendera was the main city of the sixth Egyptian Nome (a nome is similar to a state or province). It was also the site of an ancient cult center for Hathor. The Temple of Dendera was built in the late Ptolemaic period and later elements were added by the Romans. Overnight in Luxor.
This morning we will take a domestic flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, we will travel by a private car to Alexandria. As we pass the interesting countryside where much of the country's produce is harvested, we will reach this illustrious city and drive along the promenade to our hotel, stopping to stretch our legs along the way at the promenade at Fort Qait Bey. The fort occupies the site of the famous Pharos Lighthouse. Overnight in Alexandria.
Today we will tour the sights of Alexandria, such as: Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa, the Roman amphitheater, Pompey's Pillar and the Serapeum, the magnificent new Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Graeco-Roman Museum. In the afternoon, we will visit the Jewelry Museum and the Midan Tahrir - the marketplace. Dinner this evening will be in a local fish market restaurant along the Corniche. Overnight in Alexandria.
This morning will be at leisure to wander in the attractive Montazah Palace Gardens which surround the President's residence, or stroll along the seafront Corniche. In the afternoon we will return to Cairo to spend the night. Overnight in Cairo.
Depart for the USA.
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