13 Day Tour of Egypt - Christmas King Ramses
Day 1: Cairo
Welcome to Egypt and the start of your holiday! Arrive Cairo, included transfer to hotel. Overnight - Cairo
Day 2: Cairo - Aswan - breakfast
A big day out as we venture to the Giza Plateau to explore the great pyramids and Sphinx in all their ancient glory. Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus are the sole survivors of the Seven Ancient Wonders. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are long gone, but the enduring pyramids have been attracting and mesmerising the hungry eyes of travellers since ancient times. Cheops (Khufu) is the oldest and biggest. It stood 146.5m high when it was completed in 2600BC. After 46 centuries, its height has only reduced by 9m!
Although there’s not much to see in any of the pyramids, the sheer mysticism attracts ogglers keen to venture inside these massive Toblerone-shaped monoliths. Demands for entry tickets are healthy but you might like to opt for entry to one or other that may be open. For a real Arabian experience, consider haggling for a camel ride.
Continuing, we drive to the necropolis of Saqqara. Strewn across the site, are many temples, tombs and pyramids. Built by Imhotep, Zhoser’s step pyramid formed the blueprint for ancient Egypt’s most enduring architectural legacy. Overnight sleeper cabin train to Aswan. Overnight - sleeper train
Day 3: Aswan - breakfast box
Arrive and check in to our hotel. A visit out of town takes us to the mighty High Dam, a modern feat of engineering; the by–product for which is Lake Nasser, the world’s largest artificial lake! Continuing, we enjoy a short boat trip to Agilika Island for Philae Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Isis. Later, free time to perhaps do some shopping in the colourful souks and markets or simply relax at our hotel that straddles the River Nile. Overnight - Aswan
Days 4 & 5: Aswan - Kom Ombo - All meals aboard the felucca
Optional early morning air excursion to famous Abu Simbel. This afternoon, we board our Nile felucca for a 2-night cruise upstream. Relax, top up your tan and chat with new friends as the felucca gently plies its route. A visit is also made to the Temple of Kom Ombo. Overnight (2) - felucca
Day 6: Kom Ombo - Luxor - breakfast
Disembarking our felucca, we drive north to Luxor. Arrive and check in to our hotel. Luxor’s fantastically preserved temples, coupled with the legendary Valley of the Kings make this Nile town built on the ancient site of Thebes, the jewel in Egypt’s ancient pharaonic crown. Today we visit Luxor’s East Bank where we visit the Temple of Luxor. Later, free time. Overnight - Luxor.
Day 7: Luxor - Dahab - breakfast
An early start! There is the option to float over Luxor in a hot air balloon and see area wake up and come alive. Afterwards, we cross to Luxor’s West Bank, where visit the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens and the imposing Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. The first sight we’ll see are the large seated statues known as the Colossi of Memnon. Although they are all that remains of the temple of Amenophis III, they resemble twin sentinels staring out across the Nile, seemingly guarding the many tombs pocketed in the valleys behind them. Visiting both the Valley of the Kings and also the Queens, you’ll have a chance to see firsthand how Egypt’s ancient rulers attempted to confine thieves, wrongdoers and mortality with fantastic tombs hollowed deep into the surrounding valleys.
The more powerful the deceased pharaoh, the deeper and more elaborate was his tomb. King Tut’s tomb, although nondescript as compared with say the highly decorated tomb of Ramses III, is more remarkable for the treasures revealed upon Howard Carter’s archeological discovery in 1922. Loaded to the gunnels with priceless treasures intended for Tutankhamen’s passage to the afterlife, Carter’s find has never been equalled.
Returning to the East, we’ll have time to relax. Later this afternoon, we visit the vast temple complex of Karnak. Lose yourself in the forest of stone papyrus columns in the huge Hypostle Hall and go camera crazy! Karnak is an awesome, lasting legacy of the power of ancient Egypt. Later, we take our overnight bus to Dahab on the Red Sea. Overnight - bus
Days 8 - 11: Dahab - breakfast
Arrival at Dahab, our beachside base for the coming days. Perhaps enjoy some snorkelling on our optional visit to the Blue Hole. Swimming, sun-worshipping and lazy days are the go. An optional excursion to ascend Mt Sinai awaits the energetic. Check out our bolt-ons to Petra & Wadi Rum or extend your stay and learn to scuba dive the PADI way. What ever you choose, in Dahab do it your way! Overnight (4) - Dahab
Day 12: Dahab - Cairo - breakfast box
Early this morning we board the bus back to Cairo, arriving early afternoon and we visit the Egyptian Museum. Rest of the day free to enjoy Cairo your way. Overnight - Cairo
Day 13: Cairo - breakfast
Hotel check-out and included onward transfer to airport.
What you see!
Cairo & Egyptian Museum
Pyramids & Sphinx at Giza Plateau
Necropolis of Saqqara
Aswan, Philae Temple & Aswan High Dam
Nile felucca cruising - islands enroute
Temple of Kom Ombo & Temple of Horus at Edfu
Luxor - East and West Bank
Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens
Colossi of Memnon
Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple by night
Dahab - Red Sea - sun and relax
What you get!
Breakfast daily
All meals aboard felucca cruise
4 and 5 hotels
2 nights aboard felucca (open deck)
1 night SLEEPER train - Cairo - Aswan
1 night bus - Luxor - Dahab
Airport 'Meet & Greet' arrival and departure transfer
Touring of Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Aswan and Luxor
4 days Dahab - Red Sea stay - swim, sun & sand
Egyptian tour leader degree qualified in Egyptology
All relevant transfers on private modern A/C buses
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