Highlights of Egypt 2013

DAY 1 Arrive in Cairo, Egypt
A welcome drink awaits you at your hotel; settle in and start soaking up the atmosphere of this exciting city. 

DAY 2 Cairo
Meet your Egyptologist and traveling companions at 8 am. Sightseeing in and around Africa’s largest metropolis starts with a close-up look at one of the Seven Wonders of the World: the guardian of the great pyramids, the enigmatic Sphinx, and the daunting Great Pyramids of Giza. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built. Then, drive to the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, where you can admire the 40-foot statue of Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. On to Sakkara, a vast desert necropolis built for kings and nobles, and its “Stairway To The Sky,” the oldest of all pyramids. Tonight, enjoy a sound & light show at the pyramids that will put these wonders of the ancient world into an easily understandable historic context. (B) 

DAY 3 Cairo–Luxor (Embarkation)
Today, fly 300 miles up the Nile Valley to Luxor, where your elegant river cruise vessel awaits your arrival. After lunch on board, see the stunning monuments of Luxor and Karnak, the greatest cities of ancient Egypt that had a combined population of more than one million. To walk among the pillars of the colossal Temple of Amun-Ra and along the Avenue of the Sphinxes is an experience you will treasure the rest of your life. (B,L,D) 

DAY 4 Luxor–Edfu
Focus 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 only the tomb of Tutankhamun was nearly inviolate when discovered in 1922. Visit Deir El-Bahri, Queen Hatshepsut’s monumental rock temple. Stop for pictures at the two Colossi of Mennon guarding the valleys. For a little fun tonight, take part in a Galabya party on board. (B,L,D)

DAY 5 Edfu–Kom Ombo–Aswan
This morning, visit the 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, dock at Kom Ombo for a short walk to its bluff-top twin temples. The right side is dedicated to the crocodile god, Sobek-Re, while the left side is dedicated to the falcon god, Horus. Later, sail on to Aswan and enjoy an exclusive lecture on this ancient civilization by your Egyptologist. (B,L,D) 

DAY 6 Aswan
This morning, consider an optional flight (weather permitting) to the huge sandstone temples of Abu Simbel. Return to your ship in time for lunch. This afternoon, board a Felucca and sail right across the blue waters of the river. En route, see the ancient “nilometer” on Elephantine Island, Kitchener Island’s lush botanical gardens, and the splendid Aga Khan Mausoleum on the left bank. Haggle for bargains in the local souk before returning to your ship for a final night. (B,L,D)

DAY 7 Aswan (Disembarkation)–Cairo
Sightseeing today starts at the granite quarries that supplied ancient Egypt with its hard stones for the pyramids in Giza. Then, see the famous unfinished obelisk, still in the quarry. Next, visit the gigantic Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970. Board a motorlaunch to the island of Aglika, situated between the two dams, and visit the Temple of Isis, transplanted from the submerged island of Philae. Later today, fly back to Cairo. How about our optional Nile River dinner cruise tonight to celebrate your Egyptian adventure? (B) 

DAY 8 Cairo
On your last day in Egypt, drive to the now-famous Tahrir Square and visit the Egyptian museum with Tutankhamun’s fabulous treasures and many other masterpieces of ancient Egypt. Continue to walled Old Cairo, with Saladin’s 12th-century citadel, and the alabaster mosque of Mohammed Ali. In Coptic Cairo, see the Hanging Church where the Virgin Mary and Jesus stayed while in Egypt, then walk to see Cairo’s oldest synagogue, founded in the 9th century. There is still time for a visit to the labyrinthine Khan el-Khalili souk before returning to your hotel. (B) 

DAY 9 Cairo
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

• Cairo: Guided sightseeing, visit the Great Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza, Ramses II and Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis, and the “Stairway to the Sky” at Sakkara; Sound & Light Show at the pyramids; visit Tutankhamun’s Tomb in the Egyptian Museum; see Saladin’s citadel and visit the Alabaster Mosque
  in Old Cairo; see the Hanging Church and Cairo’s oldest synagogue in Coptic Cairo; visit the Khan el-Khalili souk
• Luxor: Visit Luxor Temple, the Avenue of the Sphinxes, monuments of Karnak, Temple of Amun-Ra, Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, Deir el-Bahri and the Colossi of Memnon; galabya party on board
• Edfu: Visit the Temple of Horus
• Kom Ombo: Visit the twin temples; lecture on board
• Aswan: Sail by felucca to Kitchener Island; visit the Botanical Gardens; excursion to the High Dam; cruise to Agilika; visit Temple of Isis and ancient granite quarries

 Sail through 5,000 years of history on this incredible Nile river cruise getaway. In Cairo, marvel at King Tutankhamun’s treasures and masterpieces of ancient art, visit the enigmatic Sphinx, and see the Great Pyramids of Giza. Drive to the ancient capital of Memphis to see the 40-foot statue of Ramses II. Fly to Luxor, one of the greatest cities of ancient Egypt, and embark your 4-night Nile River cruise to Aswan. Along the way, visit the Luxor Temple, Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of Kings and Valley of Queens, the Temple of Isis, and Aswan Dam. Ride through Edfu to the Temple of Horus, built in the time of Cleopatra roughly 2,000 years ago. Sail across the water on a felucca, visit colorful local bazaars, and enjoy an exclusive lecture on this ancient civilization by your Egyptologist. Return to Cairo for the conclusion of your trip—it’s a vacation of a lifetime!

• Welcome drink; 4 buffet breakfasts, 4 full breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
• Outside cabins w/ panoramic windows
• Included shore excursions with Egyptologist
• Headsets for shore excursions
• Refresh yourself in the swimming pool
• Unwind in the spa
• Modern bathrooms
• Enjoy color satellite TV on the Nile River
• Large closets w/ shelves for ample storage
• Delicious meals - both Western and Eastern cuisine
• English-speaking crew
• Remarkable service throughout the cruise
• Internet access on the Nile to stay in touch with family
• Complimentary glass of wine or one beer at dinner
• Complimentary soft drinks with lunch & dinner

Cairo: Oberoi Mena House (garden view) (D)
Cruise: MS Mayfair
Cairo Fairmont Heliopolis (D)

Extra nights per person in Cairo (start vacation):
Departure January 5: in single room $480, in twin room $315
Departures January 12-March 23 & April 6-September 28: in single room $325, in twin room $240
Departures March 30, October 5-December 28: in single room $385, in twin room $265

Supplement per person per night for Pyramids view - start vacation - on tour and extra nights:
Departures January 5-April 27 & October 5-December 28: in single room $219, in twin room $115
Departures May 4-September 28: in single room $159, in twin room $89

Extra nights per person in Cairo (end vacation):
Departures January 5-April 20 & September 28-December 14: in single room $275, in twin room $165
Departures April 27-September 21: in single room $220, in twin room $135
Departures December 21-28: in single room $355, in twin room $225

• Triples are not available.
• Intra-vacation air-segments are not included in the prices shown above.
• Your Egyptologist may alter the day-to-day itinerary to optimize time at the sights in accordance with local circumstances such as traffic, local events, etc.
• As traffic conditions and the water level of the Nile are not always predictable, slight changes to the day-by-day itinerary cannot be excluded.
• Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the trip origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package at the price quoted.