DAY 01 – CAIRO

Arrive in Cairo & transfer to hotel

DAY 02 – CAIRO &ASWAN

Morning flight to Abu Simbel to visit the colossal rock-cut temple of Ramses II & the exquisite temple he built for his wife, Nefertari. At noontime, check into the Nile Cruise, our floating home for the next five nights. After lunch, sail by feluccas to the Elephantine Island, the home of God Khnum, one of the creator gods. Visit the excavations & the German Institute Open Air Museum.

DAY 03 – NILE CRUISE

Morning visit to the temple of Isis on Philae Island. This temple is one of the key sights along the Nile as it was dedicated to the Mother Goddess Isis who gave birth to Horus on this island. Visit the Unfinished Obelisk & the granite quarries.

DAY 04 – NILE CRUISE

Early morning sail to Kom Ombo. After breakfast visit the temple of Kom Ombo dedicated to the gods, Sobek& Horus. Continue sailing to Edfu. After lunch, horse buggies will roll you through the ancient city of Edfu to the temple of Horus & his consort Hathor. This temple was dedicated to the reunion of the gods & goddesses.

DAY 05 – NILE CRUISE

Early morning sail to the city of Luxor. Afternoon visit the temple of Karnak & the temple of Luxor, dedicated to god Amen & goddess Mut.

DAY 06 – NILE CRUISE & LUXOR

Drive to the West Bank of Luxor City. Visit the Valley of the Kings, containing the exquisite tombs of the New Kingdom Pharaohs, the Valley of the Queens, & the Valley of the Nobles (EXCLUDING ENTRANCE FEES). By special permission from the Egyptian Antiquities Organization, visit several tombs that are not open to the general public. In the afternoon, lunch at the historic courtyard of the venerable Sheikh Ali Restaurant, watering hole of all renowned Egyptologists, including Howard Carter. Following lunch, we visit the great mortuary temples of Hatshepsut, Ramses II, & Ramses III, as well as the ancient village of Dier el Medina with its extraordinary tombs of the ordinary workers who built the temples.

DAY 07– LUXOR &ABYDOS

Morning drive through the exquisite lush green countryside to the majestic city of Abydos, located north of Luxor. On the way, visit the temple of Goddess Hathour, goddess of love, music and art. This temple has the early astrological signs carved on its ceiling. After lunch, visit the Temple of Osiris. This temple has the best wall colored reliefs. It was dedicated to god Osiris. Behind the temple there is a pre-historic mysterious small temple, believed to be the tomb of God Osiris.

DAY 08 – ABYDOS&AMARNA

Drive to Amarna the City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti.
Visit the Royal Palace and the Noblemen tombs.

DAY 09 – AMARNA&GIZA

Morning Drive to Bani Hassan to visit the tombs of the Governors of the Middle Kingdom. Drive to Giza. We will stop on the way to Giza to visit the Pyramid of Maydoum.

DAY 10 – GIZA

Drive into the countryside to visit the Pyramids of Dahshur: The Red Pyramid & the Bent Pyramid of Pharaoh Senefro, Khufu’s father. After lunch, at Saqqara Palm Club, visit the Step Pyramid in Saqqara.

DAY 11 – GIZA

Morning visit to the Cairo Museum. View the collection of the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, & the famous collection of King Tutankhamen. Lunch in downtown Cairo.After Lunch, Visit the 16th century Street of the Tentmakers & the southern section of the 10th century Fatimid city with its medieval houses, inns, marketplaces, & Al-Azhar (the oldest continuously functioning university in the world). Visit Khan el-Khalili, the most famous Cairo market.

DAY 12 GIZA – Final Departure

Spend the day on the Giza Plateau visiting the Great Pyramid, the Great Sphinx, and the Solar Boat