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Spiekermann
Tour Itinerarys...
Great Sites of Egypt Itinerary
Day 1 Depart USA on Egyptair’s non-stop flight to Cairo from JFK, NY.
Day 2 Upon arrival at the Cairo International Airport, you will be met and
transferred to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure
Day 3 Cairo
Immerse yourself in the exploration of Cairo, the heartbeat of Egypt, and also
known as the "Mother of the World." This is a city with a rich history having
been part of the Persian, Ptolemaic, Roman and Byzantine empires and home to
Christians, Jews and Muslims alike. Begin your exploration at the Egyptian
Museum of Antiquities, as you enter the ancient world of Egypt. The most
impressive exhibit is the replica of Tutankhamun's tomb with its golden
sarcophagus and his funerary treasure. Walk the cobblestone streets of Old
Cairo, the oldest quarter of the city, with its ancient churches and the
synagogue of Ben Ezra. Continue to Islamic Cairo, with a visit to the Citadel
of Saladdin and Mohamed Ali Pasha's 19th century alabaster mosque(B,L)
Day 4 Cairo
Your exploration of Ancient Egypt starts with a visit to Giza to view the
Pyramids, and the enigmatic Sphinx. Continue your tour with a visit to
Memphis, the once resplendent capital of the Old Kingdom where you will see
the reclining statue of Ramses II. Then travel to Sakkara, the burial place of
the pharaohs of the Old Kingdom. Here you will see the Step Pyramid, one of
the world's oldest stone structures of its size. (B,L)
Day 5 Cairo / Aswan (Option to Abu Simbel)
Transfer to the airport for an early flight to Aswan
Possibility of optional visit of the Temples of Abu Simbel, to visit the two
temples on the shores of Lake Nasser. The smaller of the two was commissioned
by Ramses II to honor Hathor, goddess of love, which he dedicated to his
beloved wife, Nefertari. From here, fly to Aswan where you are met upon
arrival and taken to the Nile Cruise (B,L,D)
After a late lunch you may wish to join fellow passengers on a river cruise in
a sailing boat (felucca), passing by the Agha Khan Mausoleum, and Elephantine
Island and the Botanical Island of Lord Kitchener. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Aswan / Kom-Ombo
Enjoy a morning tour of the high dam, Unfinished Obelisk, and Philae Temple,
the dwelling place of the goddess of Isis, the universal mother of nature and
protector of humans. Return to the ship for lunch, and set sail for Kom-Ombo
where you will visit the riverside Temple of Kom-Ombo. This dual temple,
dedicated to the gods Horus (falcon) and Sobek (crocodile), is completely
symmetrical. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Edfu
Start your morning with a visit to the Ptolemaic Temple of Horus in Edfu. This
is the largest and most completely preserved temple in Egypt. Continue sailing
towards Luxor, passing through the locks at Esna. From the ship you may see
the Temple of Khnum, the ram-headed god who created mankind. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Luxor
Travel to Luxor's West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings and Queens and
the tombs of the rulers of the Egyptian dynasties. View the Colossi of Memnon,
a great tourist attraction since the Greco-Roman times and the only remaining
pieces of the temple of Amenophis III. You will then visit the Mortuary Temple
of Queen Hathshepsut. Return to the East Bank of the city where you will tour
the Temple of Luxor and the temples in the Karnak complex, whose ancient name
means "the most perfect of places," before returning to the boat for your last
night aboard. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Luxor
Disembark the cruise ship, and transfer to the airport for your flight to
Cairo. Check in and balance of the day free (B)
Day 10 Onward
Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or extend your trip with a visit
to Jordan. (B)
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