Travel to Egypt: Great Sites of Egypt Land

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Great Sites of Egypt Land

One of the views you can share with the Pharaohs

We delve into the secrets of Ancient Egypt, exploring temples, cities, monuments, and cemeteries with first rate Egyptologist guides. The canvas of Egyptian history is vast. Forty-eight continuous centuries of heroism, tragedy, pragmatism and inspiration have refined Egyptian culture. But there is more to Egypt than its unmatchable history, and Egypt is certainly more than simply a museum of historical artifacts. Our adventure starts in Cairo, the modern heart of Egypt. Contemporary Egypt has a vital and vibrant culture, and a strong cultural and political presence in the modern world. As we explore the phenominal history of the Great Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Queens, the temples at Edfu, Kom Ombo and Karnak, and the Citadel of Saladin, we find that modern Egypt has a wonder and mystery to discover that is all its own.

DAY 1 :  CAIRO: MEET & HOTEL TRANSFER
Today we arrive in Cairo, capital of Egypt and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth.  On arrival we are met and assisted through the visa process by our Cairo representative, then transferred to our hotel. Overnight Shepheards Hotel or similar

	Perhaps the world's greatest repository of historical artifacts, Cairo's Egyptian Museum

DAY 2 :  CAIRO: MUSEUM, PYRAMIDS, WISSA WASSEF SCHOOL
Today we visit the outstanding Egyptian Museum where we also see the Mummy Room (included). After lunch at the famed Felfela Restaurant we embark on a journey to the Great Pyramids at Giza. The Great Pyramid, built by King Khufu 4500 years ago, is the last surviving wonder of the ancient world.  We also visit the adjacent Solar Boat Museum and the enigmatic Sphinx. Next on the agenda is a visit to the Ramses Wissa Wassef School of Art, located in Harrania, close to the Pyramids. This little known school is a philanthropic organization that locates prodigy children in rural Egypt to offer them free education and board to develop their artistic talents. The quality of the studemts and their teachers is such that they now exhibit their work around the world. Evening at leisure. Overnight Cairo Shepheard's Hotel. [BL]

DAY 3 :  O/N TRAIN: TOUR CITADEL, KHAN EL-KHALILI
This morning we stow our packed bags in the hotel store room and depart to explore Medieval Cairo. Our first stop is the imposing Citadel, located at the heart of Old Cairo. Built by the fabled hero Salah El Din, this mighty fortress has dominated the citys skyline for eight centuries, and encompasses the magnificent Mosque of Mohamed Ali.  Following free time to buy our own lunch, we plunge into Khan al-Khalili, the citys main bazaar and Africas largest market. The narrow, almost biblical alleyways are lined with silk and spice merchants, silver stalls, food, craftwork, painting and alabaster emporiums and shops of enticing merchandise. Returning to the hotel to collect our stored bags we transfer to the railway station to catch the overnight train to Aswan. The train is modern a Wagon Lits from France with 9 twin cabins per railway car. Each car has a steward who prepares and serves meals, although on this trip we provide a more tasty and healthy box dinner for our guests. There are two toilets in each car tended by a custodian. All cabins have A/C and locked doors with a twin berth fold down top bunk and fold down table. All sheets, blankets and pillows are supplied; beds are dropped down by the steward after dinner. Meals are served in cabins and a bar car is available for drinks and snacks during the evening. Overnight on board sleeper train. [BD]

Note: FLYING TO LUXOR: If you prefer, we can arrange an evening flight rather than the overnight train. This will require a supplement for the extra hotel night in Luxor, and to cover the extra cost of airfare over and above the train. Details available on request.

Named Colossi of Memnon 2000 years ago by a Greek tourist after a Greek God, these monumental guardians are actually gate keepers of Tutmosis III's massive funery temple, demolished in antiquity by Ramsis II to build his own, which lies nearby

DAY 4 :  LUXOR: ARRIVAL TRANSFER. KARNAK TEMPLE
On arrival at Luxor Station we are met and transferred to our hotel. After some time to relax we depart on a guided tour of Karnak Temple. Karnak is a truly phenomenal place with its monuments built, quite literally, on the scale of the gods. Added to through many dynasties by zealous pharaohs competing to out-do each other in architectural gifts to their gods, Karnak developed into the worlds most dominant religious and political city, and remained so for a thousand years. It was to destroy the entrenched power base of the priests of Amun that Akhenaton moved the court away from Thebes to El Armarna a new capital city he built (near present day El Minya), and changed the religion from Amun to Aten. In doing so, Akhenaton invented monotheism and became Atens only pope. Thus, Akhenaton set in motion a course of events that eventually led to his and his wifes murder, the restoration of the priests of Amun at Karnak, the puppet king Tut Ankh Amuns brief regency and quick murder by Ay, high priest of Amun, and Tut Ankh Amuns low key burial ceremony that led to the only royal tomb that has ever been discovered intact in Egypt. After our tour, we return to the hotel. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free to explore Luxor Temple, visit Luxor Museum, or just to wander the town and visit the market. Your guide is on hand to advise and to assist. Overnight Steigenburgers Hotel or similar [B]

	The most delightful part of visiting Egypt is the people

DAY 5 :  LUXOR: VALLEY OF KINGS & QUEENS. HATCHEPSUT TEMPLE
As the sun rises in the east, the East Bank of the Nile is associated with life and boasts an array of temples, gardens, and palaces. The sun sets in the west, so the West Bank is associated with death and is home to countless mortuary temples and tombs. Starting early, we cross to the West Bank and the land of the dead. Pausing first at the Colossi of Memnon, two monumental statues that once guarded the now lost funerary temple of Amenophis III, we continue to the magnificent royal tombs of The Valley of the Kings, each wall decorated with texts from the Book of the Dead. Here, we visit a number of tombs, including that of Tut Ankh Amun (King Tut). Our next destination is the terraced temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Dier al-Bahri, destroyed by her successor Tuthmosis III and painstakingly reconstructed by Polish archeologists. We then drive to the Valley of the Queens and view the Tombs of the Princes. Mid-afternoon, we return to the hotel and the remainder of the day is at leisure. In the evening we include a visit to Karnak Temples Sound and Light Show by calesh (horse drawn carriage). Overnight Steigenburgers Hotel or similar [B]

DAY 6 :  ASWAN: DRIVE ASWAN VIA EDFU & KOM OMBO TEMPLE
Today we drive 210 km / 130 miles along the east bank of the Nile to Aswan, through fertile fields and local villages. Our first stop is the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Begun in 237 BCE by Ptolemy III, the temple was finished 200 years later by Ptolemy XII (Cleopatras father). Edfu is in excellent condition and is, in effect, a Greek copy of an architectural style already ancient in Ptolemys day. Our next stop is Ptolemaic Kom Ombo, a unique construction of twin temples side by side, each architecturally mirroring the other. One is dedicated to Horus (and his brother Haroeris, the sky-god and god of healing), the other to Sobek the crocodile-god of the Nile. An interesting frieze illustrates a large array of surgical instruments from the Ptolemaic (Greek) period and details the medical techniques of child birthing at about the same time as Octavian became Caesar Augustus and defeated Cleopatra and Marcus Antonius (Marc Anthony) at the battle of Actium in Greece. Near the entrance is a room containing stuffed and embalmed crocodiles, some more than twenty feet long, and some over two thousand years old. Continuing our journey, we arrive in Aswan late afternoon and check into our hotel. Overnight Isis Island Resort or similar [B]

Aswan is Egypt's most beautiful city

DAY 7 :  ASWAN: NUBIAN BREAKFAST, CAMEL RIDE, PHILAE TEMPLE
This morning we embark on a motor boat crossing to the West Bank and a local village where we meet the families of the camels we will ride and share an informal breakfast with them. We then mount camels for the short ride to the 12th Dynasty Nobles Tombs, then into the desert to visit the Coptic St. Simeons Monastery (circa 6th c). Our final camel ride is back to the Nile, where we ere-embark on our motor boat for the journey back to the East Bank. En route we stop at Kitcheners Island for an early picnic lunch (included), in the shade of the botanical gardens. The Island was named after the British Field Marshal, Lord Kitchener during his unsuccessful attempt to relieve General Chinese Gordon, besieged in Khartoum by the Maghdi. After lunch, we cross back to the East Bank where we board our vehicle and depart for Philae Temple. Driving past the High Dam and Low Dam en route, we take the 15-minute boat ride, perhaps the most memorable approach to any of Egypts monuments, to Philae Temple. With the construction of the Aswan High Dam, Philae was destined to disappear forever beneath the waters of the soon-to-be-created Lake Nasser. Fortunately, Philae was saved by UNESCO building a coffer dam around the temple in 1977, and pumping out the water. The temple was carefully dismantled; every block assigned a number and its position noted. A nearby island called Agilkai was modified to resemble Philae Island and the temple was reassembled in exact replica. In 1980 Philae once again opened to the public. Today, Philae is one of the highlights of any visit to Aswan, and its lake location allows for some great photography. We return to Aswan late afternoon. Evening free. Overnight Isis Island Resort or similar [BL]

DAY 8 :  FLY CAIRO: OPTIONAL VISIT ABU SIMBEL
This morning we offer an optional tour and flights to Ramses IIs mighty temples of Abu Simbel. As was Philae Temple, Abu Simbel, about to be drowned under Lake Nasser by the construction of the Aswan High Dam, was cut into blocks and reassembled on the side of a totally man-made hill 200 feet above the original location. This massive effort, also instigated by UNESCO, is almost as phenomenal an achievement as the original construction.  We visit the Great Temple dedicated to Ramses II, and the smaller Temple of Hathor built in honor of Ramses favorite wife, Queen Nefartari. Following our visit, we return to the airport for our flight back to Aswan. Those who choose not to take this optional tour have the morning at leisure to wander Aswans charming souk. Later we fly to Cairo. On arrival we are met and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure in Cairo. Overnight Shepheards Hotel or similar [B]

DAY 9 :  DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport. Services end. [B]

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

. C o n t a c t Adrian Chalker 1(800)345-4453