



: R14780
Egypt at its very best! Pyramids, Pharaohs & mighty temples, Nile felucca cruising, ancient Thebes & the tomb strewn Valley of the Kings. Sun, fun and time to explore. This very popular itinerary provides a fantastic overview of legendary Egypt in nine intoxicating days.
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Starting from | R14 780 |
Package Validity | Set travel dates between 02 JUL 2016 - 27 AUG 2016 *** Excludes entrance fees of approx. USD105 - USD115 per person & tipping kitty of approx. USD35 - USD45 per person *** |
Duration | 9 days |
Destination | Egypt |
Starts in | Cairo |
Ends in | Cairo |
{tab Description}
- Return airport/hotel transfers
- 4 nights 4 - 5 star hotel accommodation
- 2 nights on-board a train from Cairo to Aswan & Luxor - Cairo (1st class sleeper cabin)
- Breakfast daily
- Selected lunches & dinners
- All relevant transfer & transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles
- Assistance of an Egyptian tour guide
- Touring of Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Aswan, Edfu & Luxor
- Highlights include Cairo, Nile felucca cruising, Edfu, Valley of the Kings, Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Aswan, Kom Ombo & Luxor
{tab Day 1}
Cairo
Saturday. Welcome to Egypt & the start of your holiday! Arrive Cairo, included transfer to hotel & overnight.
{tab Day 2}
Pyramids & Saqqara
Cairo - Aswan. Visit to the famous pyramids & huge Sphinx at Giza Plateau. Sole survivors from the ancient Greek-listed Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramids are the planet’s oldest tourist attraction! Gaze in awe at Cheops (Khufu) - the largest of the three great pyramids. Constructed from over 2.5 million limestone blocks it is thought to have taken more than 20 years to construct. Continuing to Saqqara, we can explore the myriad tombs & temples at this site & see Zhoser’s step pyramid - constructed by Imhotep, the pharaoh’s chief architect in 2700 BC! Later there is a chance to have dinner before the overnight sleeper train to Aswan.
{tab Day 3}
Philae Temple
Arrive & check into our hotel. A visit out of town takes us to the mighty High Dam – a modern feat of engineering - creating the world’s largest artificial lake, Lake Nasser! This afternoon's highlight is a leisurely boat trip to Agilika Island for Philae Temple for a guided tour of the romantic Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. As the sun sets, free time to shop in the colourful souqs & markets or simply relax & watch an amazing sunset in Egypt's southern most town straddling the River Nile.
{tab Day 4}
Felucca Cruise
Aswan - Nile felucca cruise. Optional early morning drive to Abu Simbel, the famous the rock-cut temple of King Ramses II, the Great Builder. This afternoon, we board our Nile felucca for a 2 night voyage downstream on the River Nile. If sailing by felucca is not your style, consider upgrading to a 5 star luxury Nile Cruise with our Nile Cruise Upgrade.
{tab Day 5}
Felucca Cruise
Relax, go for a swim or just chill out in the sun on deck. Let your troubles melt away, as the felucca plies its route.
{tab Day 6}
Kom Ombo & Luxor
Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor. Disembarking near Kom Ombo, we enjoy a guided tour of the Temple of Kom Ombo - dedicated to the crocodile headed god - Sobek & the Temple of Horus at Edfu, before driving north to Luxor. Home of the legendary Valley of the Kings & Temple of Karnak, 4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at its best. Enjoy some rest & relaxation. Tonight, an optional visit is available to the Temple of Luxor, alternatively enjoy the facilities of your hotel.
{tab Day 7}
Valley of the Kings
Luxor - Cairo. Take flight over ancient Luxor with an optional hot air balloon ride very early this morning before touring the West Bank of the Nile. An early start allows us to avoid some of the fierce midday heat as we venture to the tomb strewn Valley of the Kings. Highlights of the visit include the Colossi of Memnon, a massive pair of statues that stand silent against a historic backdrop, the Valleys of the Kings & the awesome colonnaded Temple of Queen Hatshepsut.
The Valley of the Kings is studded with often highly decorated tombs, constructed to once house the regal sarcophagi enclosed mummies of the mighty pharaohs awaiting passage into the after-life. This afternoon after lunch & time to relax we visit the colossal Temple of Karnak, with its stone-columned Hypostle Hall. Tonight, we return by overnight sleeper train to Cairo.
{tab Day 8}
Egyptian Museum
Arrival into Cairo & hotel check-in. Later, we visit the famous Egyptian Museum, famed for the treasures of King Tutankhamen & his solid gold funerary mask. This afternoon is free - perhaps spend the remainder of the day exploring Cairo your way.
{tab Day 9}
Cairo
Sunday. Hotel check out & included onward departure transfer to airport.
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