"EXPLORING EGYPT"

An Eleven Day Land & Cruise Adventure

Day 1 (Wed.) Departing New York
Our travel companions will gather from a variety of states at the JFK Airport, New York for a get-acquainted meeting. Egypt Air will be whisking us away for an overnight and non-stop flight to Egypt.

Day 2 (Thu.) - Arriving in Cairo, Egypt
Upon our arrival in the Cairo Airport, we will be met, assisted with luggage and taken by private motor coach to our deluxe hotel for dinner and overnight in Egypt's exciting city. Overnight Cairo (B,D)

Day 3 (Fri.) – Exploring The Pyramids
This will be a full day excursion to Giza, Sakkara and Memphis. First we visit the Great Pyramids of Giza, the only present-day survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Pyramids rank among the world's greatest tourist attractions and never lose their ability to inspire and overwhelm visitors. A visit to Egypt would not be complete without a ride on a “ship of the desert” and so you will have an opportunity to mount your individual camel for a short ride across the sands of Giza to the Sphinx. Then, we enter the temple of the mysterious Sphinx, an ancient figure shrouded in legend and mystery. We venture onward to Sakkara where you will see the famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the first freestanding stone structure in the world. Next, we visit Memphis, where we will see the ancient capital that once stood as a flourishing metropolis during the time of the Pharaohs. Overnight Cairo. (B,D)

Day 4 (Sat.) – Discovering Historic Cairo
Our full day of sightseeing in and around Africa's largest metropolis starts with our tour of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities; which houses the world's greatest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, including 12 rooms filled with golden treasures from the world-famous tomb of the boy-king Tutenkhamun. Next, we tour Coptic Cairo, visit Fortress of Babylon, Church of St. Sergius, and the Coptic Museum. We shall see the “Hanging Church,” supported by only one column, and boasting incredible paintings inside. We continue to the Synagogue of Ben Ezra; a once thriving Jewish community under the leadership of Rabbi Ben Ezra. Discovered inside, the so-called “Geniza Documents,” which showed an unparalleled source of information about life of the Jews in Egypt's past. Along the way, we shall pass by Islamic Cairo and their mosques. Before returning to our hotel, we'll stop at the Khan El-Khalili Bazaar; reputed to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Overnight Cairo. (B,D)

Day 5 (Sun.) – Traveling to Alexandria
Christianity was brought to Egypt by the Apostle Mark between AD 41 and 44, making the Egyptian Christian, or Coptic, Church one of the oldest Christian churches in existence. The Catechetical School of Alexandria became the oldest and most important institution of religious learning in earliest Christendom. After a hearty breakfast, we shall embark on a pleasant drive through the fertile Nile Delta to the seaport of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great in 331 B.C. On arriving in Alexandria, we visit St. Marcos Church, reputedly established by the Apostle who brought Christianity to Egypt. The current basilica is built on the remains of an earlier church. Our visit also includes the GRECO-ROMAN MUSEUM, Pompey's massive red granite pillar, and the intriguingly decorated CATACOMBS. Before making our way back to Cairo, we can stroll through the narrow lanes of this historic city as we contemplate those early days when Christianity was introduced to Egypt. Overnight Cairo (B, D)

Day 6 (Mon.) - Flying to Luxor for Embarkation
This morning we transfer to the airport for our 300 mile flight up the Nile Valley to Luxor, where we board an elegant cruise vessel, our floating hotel for the next four nights. Early afternoon we can anticipate a grand start to sightseeing in the Nile Valley. We shall view the stunning monuments of LUXOR and KARNAK, the greatest cities of ancient Egypt with, in their heyday, a combined population of more than one million. Included will be a visit to the Temple of Karnak and the Temple of Luxor. After dinner tonight, you may choose to take in the optional sound and light show at Karnak. Overnight Luxor (B,L,D)

Day 7 (Tue.) – Exploring the Monuments of Luxor
Today our focus is on the VALLEY OF KINGS and VALLEY OF QUEENS on the west bank of the Nile, where generations of pharaohs and nobles were buried in great splendor in crypts cut into the cliffs. Sixty-two royal tombs have been uncovered so far, of which one, the tomb of Tutankhamon, was nearly inviolate when discovered in 1922. We shall visit DEIR EL-BAHARI, Queen Hatshepsut's monumental rock temple. We will also stop for pictures at the two COLOSSI OF MEMNON guarding the valleys. In the afternoon, we start our leisurely cruise up Egypt's river of destiny. During the hottest part of the day we can sip a cool drink on the sun deck of our cruise boat and savor the panorama. See white-clad farmers with their donkeys, camels, and water buffaloes work lush green fields; and ever present on the horizon beyond the palm trees, the desert. Overnight Edfu (B,L,D)

Day 8 (Wed.) – Meandering through Edfu & Kom Ombo
We board a horse-drawn carriage for the drive through Edfu to the 2,000 year old and well preserved TEMPLE OF HORUS, with its menacing black stone statue of the falcon god. Built in the time of Cleopatra about 2,000 years ago, it is recent by Old Egyptian standards and beautifully preserved. After lunch we dock at KOM OMBO for a short walk to its bluff-top temple dedicated to the crocodile and falcon gods. There will be time to haggle for bargains in the local market before returning to the boat and sailing onward to our night's destination, Aswan. (B,L,D)

Day 9 (Thu.) – Marveling at Aswan
After breakfast on board, we embark on an included excursion to the turn-of-the-century Old Dam, to this day the widest dam in the world, and the gigantic Aswan High Dam completed in 1970. Then, we board a motor launch to the island of Agilka between the two dams and visit the TEMPLE OF ISIS transplanted from the submerged island of Philae. We will also stop at the ancient GRANITE QUARRIES to see the famous, unfinished obelisk. The remainder of the day will be spent at leisure to enjoy the lovely resort town at your own pace. Overnight Aswan (B,L,D)

Day 10 (Fri.) – Disembarking for Cairo or Abu-Simbel
We have two choices when we leave our floating hotel. Some of our group will fly directly to Cairo. The majority of our group will likely fly upriver to Abu-Simbel to visit the colossal Temple of Ramses II and the temple of his beloved Queen Nefertari, both temples carved out of the hillside beside the Nile in the 13th Century BC. Then this group will wing back to Cairo for overnight. (B,D)

Day 11 (Sat.) – New York & Home
We will be transferred to Cairo International Airport for our return to the USA.
Though sad that our adventure is coming to a close, we will bring back with us enriched friendships, magnificent experiences, and a whole new appreciation for Egypt. What a privilege we have enjoyed! We bid our group of most congenial friends adieu at the JFK Airport as we wing our ways home.