Christian & Pharaonic Egypt
Full Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Cairo where you will be met by our Egypt Tours and Travel tour manager who will meet and assist you. Later you will be transferred to your hotel, the historical and luxurious Marriott Mena House Hotel for overnight.
Day 2
Meet with your Egypt Tours tour guide. Drive to Memphis at the edge of the Western Desert, the capital of the Ancient Kingdom, and among the cities of greatest importance in the history of Ancient Egypt. Drive to Sakkara, the vast Necropolis of Ancient Memphis, visit the Djoser pyramid. Comprising six mastabas, the pyramid has a unique stepped appearance and dates back to the 27th century B.C. In the afternoon, drive to the Pyramids of Giza. Cheops Pyramid, the largest of the three Pyramids, was built in the 4th dynasty about 2690 BC and is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Enjoy a camel ride by the Pyramids area if you wish. In front of the Pyramid of Chephren (Khafre), stands the Sphinx carved from a single piece of stone. It is a lion with a Pharaoh's head thought to be a portrait of the Pharaoh Chephren. Continue your tour to the Solar Boat Museum where a dismantled river barge of King Cheops (Khufu) was found and has been masterfully reassembled. Return to your hotel. In the evening, you will be met and transferred by our tour manager to the Giza Plateau, to attend the magnificent Sound and Light show. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3
Meet with your Egypt Tours tour guide. Drive to Fayoum, Egypt's largest oasis, overlooking Lake Qarun, a popular spot for hunting and fishing. You can visit the remains of the Temple and Pyramid of Amenhat III and Qasr Qarun, a well-preserved temple from the Greco-Roman era. Lunch at the historical Oberge el-Fayoum Hotel overlooking the lake. Continue to the town of Karanis, visit some of the temples, tombs, and the museum. This town was used by the Romans in the 1st century BC. In the afternoon, visit Maidum. The Pyramid of Maidum was originally a seven-stepped pyramid. Eventually, the steps were filled in and a smooth outer facing turned it into a true pyramid. It is a huge structure that is surrounded by the debris from the casing that collapsed. The Maidum Pyramid is thought to have been started by Huni, the last ruler of the 3rd Dynasty, and eventually completed by his son Sneferu. Sneferu was the first 4th Dynasty Pharaoh. (2613-2494 BC). A little north of the Maidum Pyramid is the remains of the Seila Step Pyramid, which is built of limestone, thought to be from the 2nd Dynasty. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4
Meet with your Egypt Tours tour guide. Drive to Dahshur, visit the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid. The builder of these pyramids is thought to have been Sneferu, who is thought to have built the Pyramid of Maidum. His son Cheops who continued his constructive tendencies. Transfer back to your hotel. In the evening, you will be met and transferred to an Egyptian home, for a traditional Egyptian dinner and for getting acquainted with the people of Egypt, their way of life, see an Egyptian home, engage in a social discussion about the two cultures and the people if you wish. Later, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5
Meet with your Egypt Tours tour manager and transfer to Cairo airport, for your early flight to Abu-Simbel. Upon arrival at Abu-Simbel, you will be transferred to visit the Great Temple of Ramses II, with its four colossal seated statues of the king in front of the entrance, dedicated to Amun Ra, the Horakhti, and Ramses II. Continue to visit the King's wife's temple, the Temple of Nefertari. The entire site was threatened by the waters upon the completion of the Aswan High Dam and has been preserved by International action organized by "UNESCO". All of the parts of the temple have been sectioned, cut, removed from the original site, and reassembled on higher ground. Transfer back to Abu-Simbel airport for your flight to Aswan. Upon arrival at Aswan Airport, you will be met and transferred to the Old Cataract for check-in, a room with a Nile view. Later, visit the Nubian Museum which details the Nubian History from past to present time, including some Coptic Christian and Islamic art as well. Continue our tour visiting the Nubian village and a special visit to a Nubian home where you will be served tea, and engage in a short social discussion. Later, transfer back to your hotel. In the evening, you will be met and transferred to Philae Temple by felucca, to attend the beautiful Sound and Light Show. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6
You will be met and transferred to embark your deluxe cruise ship. The Sonesta M/S Moon Goddess. Later, you will visit by "felucca" the Elephantine Island, the Mausoleum of Agha Khan, and the Botanical Gardens. Overnight onboard ship.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Image Source: Marc Ryckaert
Day 7
Visit the Unfinished Obelisk, the ancient granite quarries, and the High Dam. Cruise to Kom-Ombo. Visit the Ptolemaic Temple of Kom-Ombo, which was dedicated to two gods: the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon-headed god Haroeris. Sail to Edfu. Overnight on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8
Visit the Temples of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in existence. It’s a Ptolemaic temple built between 237 and 57 B. Sail to Luxor via Esna, Overnight on-board your cruise ship.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9
Cross to the West Bank of the Nile, visit the necropolis of ancient Thebes. Explore the Valleys of the Kings and Queens where tombs of 64 Pharaohs and 57 Queens have been discovered. Enter some of the most important burials including the King Tut Tomb. Visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Afternoon visit to the Temple of Karnak, which took over 1500 years to build and is considered the world's largest religious complex. Also visit the Temple of Luxor, started by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramses II. Overnight on-board your cruise ship.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10
Disembark your cruise ship, where you will be met and transferred to the Jollie Ville Movenpick or the Sonesta St, George Hotel in Luxor for check-in. Later, meet with our Egyptologist, visit the Tomb of Queen "Tausert", wife of King Seth II. That tomb was usurped by King Set Nakht who changed some of its inscriptions and added to its original construction. From there continue the tour to visit the Tomb of Ramses VI. It's a rock-cut tomb and the largest in the valley. It has the most beautiful design of the Goddess Nout (the Goddess of the Sky). In the afternoon, visit the Tomb of Ramses 9. It has beautiful reliefs with still vivid colors. Transfer back to your hotel. In the evening, you will be met and transferred to attend the magnificent Sound and Light Show in Karnak Temple. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11
Visit the Temple of Dendera, its construction was initiated by the Ptolemies. Dendera is dedicated to Hathor, the Cow Goddess, known as "The Golden One". Continue your tour to the Valley of the Nobles, many of which are vividly painted with naturalistic scenes of agriculture, fishing, fowling, feasting, and junketing. Continue to the famous King Tut Tomb, and visit the very large Temple of Ramses III, known as Medinet Habu which depicts the battle reliefs on the temple exterior. End our tour by visiting the Luxor Museum. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Image Source: Bernard Gagnon
Day 12
Start your tour by visiting the tomb of Nefertari, built by King Ramses II for his beloved queen. This tomb is most famous for its fine artwork, called the most beautiful Tomb in the Valley of the Queens, which is known for its vibrant colors. It is a breathtaking exhibit and is truly one of the highlights of your trip. Continue the tour to visit Deir el Madina, a village of the skilled laborers and artisans, builders of the Valley of the Kings, In the afternoon, visit the Tomb of Senefer. It has reliefs to mummification methods and a doorway to the second life. Later, you will be transferred to embark on a 2-hour felucca (sailboat) ride, exploring the Wast and the West Bank of the Nile riding in a sailboat the same way as the ancient Egyptians used to do thousands of years ago. Return to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13
Visit the Ramesseum, which used to be the funerary temple of Ramses II. It has the statues Azamendous weighing over 1000 tons of granite and inscriptions from the Battle of Kaddish. Continue your tour, visit the Tomb of Ramose, the vizier of Akhnaton from the 18th Dynasty. This is a tomb has intact and vivid colors and reliefs, displaying scenes of burials and funerals. In the afternoon, visit Menna and Nakht, Governor of Luxor, and the High Priest from 1450 BC. It has reliefs displaying scenes of everyday life including, belly dancing scenes and musicians with their instruments. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Image Source: Marc Ryckaert
Day 14
Drive from Luxor to Hurghada, which is about a three and half hour drive. Arrive Hurghada and transfer to the Hurghada Marriott or the Movenpick resort and Spa, El Gouna Hotel. Balance of day at leisure for swimming, diving, or snorkeling. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 15
Breakfast and a free day for swimming, diving, or snorkeling. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 16
Transfer from Hurghada to Zaafarana, visit the Monastery of St. Paul. Built-in the end of the 4th century, the monastery is considered to be very well preserved and is built in the Basilica style. This is one of the first monasteries to teach Christianity and depended financially on the caravans (merchants) passing by for food and health supplies. Most of the icons in that monastery were donated by people passing by. From there drive to St. Antonio Monastery, built to be the first Christian school in the Eastern region. It has natural water well, that provided water to people living in the two monasteries. Continue our drive to St. Catherine. Arrive at St. Catherine. Overnight at the St. Catherine Village.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Image Source: Mloosak
Day 17
Breakfast and visit the Sinai Peninsula. Not much has changed in the area since Moses fled the Pharaoh of Egypt and made his way to this craggy moonscape, where he beheld the miracle of a burning bush and heard God telling him to lead the Israelite’s out of bondage. Today you will enjoy that same journey through the same stark granite mountains to the site of the Burning Bush, where Emperor Justinian built the Monastery of St. Catherine during the 6th century. The site sits at the foot of Mount Sinai, where Moses is believed to have received the Ten Commandments. While visiting the old monastery compound, you will see the enclosing churches, gardens, and living quarters of the monks who operate it. Some of your highlights will be the actual bush, a shrub that grows nowhere else in the world; the Chapel of the Burning Bush; the well where Moses is said to have seen the daughters of Jethro tending sheep. The monastery owns more than 2,000 Byzantine icons, the world's largest and finest collection of such paintings, many of them displayed in the Church of the Transfiguration. The monastery also has a priceless collection of more than 4,500 manuscripts, including the world's second-oldest Bible. A 3-hour climb to the summit of Mount Sinai is available if you wish to see a spectacular sunrise as well as a view of the Red Sea and the Saudi Arabian border. A popular time to start the climb of 3,750 steps is at 2:00 A.M. in order to arrive at the summit for sunrise around 5:00 am.
**You must be physically fit, healthy, and not have a fear of heights in order for you to do the 3-hour mountain climb.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 18
Transfer from St. Catherine by car to Sharm-el-Sheikh. One of the world's best resorts and a diver's paradise. Arrive Sharm transfer to the Marriott Sharm Hotel. Balance of day at leisure for swimming, diving, or snorkeling. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 19
Free morning for swimming, diving, or snorkeling. Early evening, you will be met and transferred by car to the Sinai Desert. From the desert road, we will take camels (or a jeep, if you don’t want to ride a camel), meet the Bedouins. Experience the Bedouin hospitality, a dinner will be barbecued and served in front of you at a canyon, in a Bedouin tent surrounded by nothing but the stars. Traveling and dining in the desert with the Bedouins will make you relive the adventures of Lawrence of Arabia's. Transfer back to your hotel Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 20
Transfer to Sharm Airport for your flight back to Cairo. Upon arrival at Cairo Airport, you will be met by your Egypt Tours tour manager and transferred to your hotel, the historical Cairo Marriott Towers and Casino Hotel. In the evening, you will be met by your Egypt Tours tour manager and transferred for a Cairo dinner cruise with traditional folkloric music, and a belly dancing performance. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 21
Meet with your Egypt Tours tour guide. Drive from Cairo to Monastery of Saint Pishoy. This monastery has existed from the end of the 6th century, built to be a fortress from attacks of the Bedouins and converted by monks into a monastery. Continue our drive to Alexandria. Upon arrival start your sightseeing by visiting the Greco-Roman Museum that contains statues, bas reliefs, pottery, jewelry, marble pieces, and other artifacts, that give you a picture of the grandeur of Alexandria in its Greek and Roman days. Visit the Roman Amphitheater which is the only known amphitheater from the Roman era in Egypt. In the afternoon, visit the catacombs of Kom-el-Shouqafa. These tombs are remarkable for their unusual mixture of art styles, sculptures, and reliefs of Egyptian Gods. Continue your tour to visit Pompey's Pillar, a column 98 feet high and 7 feet thick, made of Aswan Rose Granite, and erected in 297 AD. Drive back to Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Image Source: Einsamer Schütze
Day 22
Meet with your Egypt Tours tour guide. Start your tour visiting the Egyptian Museum famous for its antiquities from Egypt's Pharaonic period, dating back some 50 centuries and includes the fabulous treasures of King Tut-Ankh-Amon. Afternoon excursion to Old Cairo, visiting the very old Coptic Churches, Abu Serga Church, built over the crypt where Jesus, Mary, and Joseph stayed while in Egypt, also visit the Hanging and the oldest Jewish Synagogue of Beni Ezra. Continue your visit to the Alabaster mosque of Mohammad Ali and the Citadel of Salah-El-Din and the medieval Bazaars of Khan-El-Khalili, where you can bargain for jewelry, copper, and hand-tooled leather items. Return to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Image Source: Ovedc
Day 23
You will be met by your Egypt Tours tour manager and transferred to Cairo Airport, where you will be helped with your check-in for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Also Included: Egypt Tours includes as well all transfers within Egypt. Personalized sightseeing as mentioned in the itinerary, in a private car, with a tour guide and a driver including entrance fees to sights mentioned. Included as well is the service charge imposed by hotels, port charges, porterage, meeting and assistance at airport, hotels and docks.
Extensions & Optional Tours: Extra days and optional tours to sites that are not included are available upon request.
Pricing
$6989
Christian & Pharaonic Egypt
$1249
Single Supplement
**Please keep in mind that if you are travelling alone, you are single occupancy.
