Sailing the Mystic Nile
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Highlights:
The life and history of Egypt was and is tied in to the vagaries of the Nile and its water levels. Its nurturing waters allow the desert to bloom along its banks but it can also flood at times so it is a mixed blessing.
For the visitor however, a Nile cruise allows a leisurely pace as you explore temples built by Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Start your exploration with a stay in Cairo, exploring its history as the largest of all African cities.
The life and history of Egypt was and is tied in to the vagaries of the Nile and its water levels. Its nurturing waters allow the desert to bloom along its banks but it can also flood at times so it is a mixed blessing.
For the visitor however, a Nile cruise allows a leisurely pace as you explore temples built by Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Start your exploration with a stay in Cairo, exploring its history as the largest of all African cities.
SKU:
Explore: Egypt & the Nile
Customizable Itinerary - 10 Days ($3,598 per person)
Day 1: Depart USA
This evening you would board an aircraft for the flight to Cairo which was described by Europeans as “the most admirable, and the greatest city seen upon the earth” as early as the 17th Century.
Day 2: Welcome to Cairo
Welcome to Cairo which encompasses many former cities and their monuments: the pyramids of the pharaohs, early Christian monasteries and churches; Salah al-Din’s Citadel; mosques of the Mameluke and Ottoman Sultans and the high rises of today. Five thousand years of culture are concentrated here at the center of three continents…and you are part of it. Relax at your hotel, take a dip in the pool, looking out at the water before you realizing that it is the Nile.
Dinner
Day 3: Four Cities in One
Cairo is really four cities in one; Pharaonic Cairo, Coptic Cairo, Islamic Cairo and Contemporary Cairo. We will focus on the first three as your Egyptologist meets you and takes you to The Egyptian Museum (depending on the time you decide to travel you might, instead visit the Great Museum of Egypt which is being built in Giza near the Pyramids. It will have a much larger display of antiquities - especially from the tomb of the Boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Unfortunately, the skills that allowed the creation of the pyramids have not been handed down and the project is long overdue although late 2019 or early 2020 is the current Launch date). For many fans, however, the current museum is just fine and it is, after all, one of the world’s most famous museums. Regardless of the venue, you will see the gold death mask of Tutankhamun and other world treasures. After lunch at a local restaurant you will visit the Islamic side of Cairo with a visit to the Mohammed Mosque and the Citadel of Salah Al-din built between 1176 and 1182 AD. Tonight your guide will take you to a local restaurant for a chance to meet some of the local Cairenes.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Icons of Pharaonic Egypt
Tour day begins with a visit to Memphis, one of the oldest cities on earth. It was the capitol of ancient Egypt during the period from 2705 BC to 2155 BC, also known as the old kingdom. Nearby is the burial site of the Royals known as Saqqara. You have lunch then rive to Giza where you stand in awe of the Sphinx and the back drop of the three pyramids. After a chance to explore (and perhaps take a camel ride), you return to the hotel. In the evening you return to Giza for dinner and an inspiring sound and light show.
Breakfast, Light and Dinner
Day 5: Coptic Cairo and Luxor
After breakfast you meet your guide and driver and visit the Coptic Church of St. Sergios where Jesus and his family traveled to in their escape from Jerusalem. You will also visit Ben Ezra Synagogue before heading to the airport for the brief flight to Luxor, where you embark on your luxury river boat. After lunch on board, you visit the temples of Luxor and Karnak. Luxor is divided by the Nile. To the east, where the life-giving sun rises is the city of the living. To the west, where the sun in its never-ending orbit bids farewell to life, is the city of the dead. You will first visit the Temple of Luxor built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II. You complete your Luxor excursion with a visit to the temple of Karnak, world famous for its history and architecture. Return to the ship for an afternoon tea. This evening enjoy a cocktail reception before dinner and a belly dance after.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Luxor West Bank and the Sail to Esna
After breakfast on board you disembark and join your Egyptologist for a visit to the Colossi of Memnon, all that remains of a temple honoring Amenhotep III but with two statues, 60 feet high, still very impressive. You then visit the Tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Queens. Carved into the rock face you will find the tombs of Nefertari, wife of Ramses II, Seti I, Ramses III and Amenhotep II. You return to the ship and as you have lunch, you cruise to Esna where the boat will dock overnight. This evening a Captain’s Cocktail Party followed by dinner. After dinner enjoy the disco or visit a piano bar, if you'd like something a little calmer at day’s end.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: The Temples at Edfu and Komombo
After breakfast you disembark for a tour of the Temple of Edfu. We have moved from the Egyptian to the Hellenistic period after Alexander the Great conquered Egypt. One of his advisors, Ptolemy, was appointed as Pharaoh after Alexander’s death and this period is described as Ptolemaic. The Temple is dedicated to Horus the Sun God and it is an exquisite edifice. Part of the experience is to travel to the temple by horse drawn carriage. After a visit, return to the ship for lunch while the boat cruises to Komombo where you disembark to Kom Ombo - built on a high dune overlooking the Nile. Tonight you have an Egyptian Buffet and the chance to dress in Gallabiyah, native Egyptian dress. There will be more entertainment after dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Aswan Dam and the Temple of Isis
As you wake up for breakfast you will be cruising to Aswan. Take time to enjoy the view as you indulge in a leisurely breakfast watching the Nile flow by the boat. In the afternoon you will dock and disembark to visit the Aswan high dam, one of the largest in the world. The dam is 10,000 feet long and 120 feet wide at its top. You then continue by motorboat to the beautiful island of Philae to view the Temple of Isis. Returning to the ship you pack up your belongings, ready for an early departure before a farewell dinner and a Nubian show.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Abu Simbel and a Cairo Finale
Depart the ship for an early flight to Abu Simbel; When the Aswan High dam was planned to protect the Nile Delta from devastating flooding, created by Lake Nasser, which would cover and destroy two temples at the heart of Nubian Culture. Thanks to UNESCO and nation donors, the temples were moved to higher ground and preserved for future visitors like you. The larger temple was erected by Ramses II who reigned for over 70 years and fathered 162 children. He is also considered to be the Pharaoh with whom Moses had his disagreement. The façade is 90 feet high and 120 feet wide and guarded by four statues of Ramses, each of which is 60 feet high. North of this temple is the smaller (but still impressive) temple built by Ramses to honor his wife Nefertari. After exploring the temple you will return to the temple for a flight to Cairo. You will return to your original hotel. In the evening, enjoy dinner on a boat as you view the lights of Contemporary Cairo having viewed the history of the country over the past days.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10: Return to USA
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for the return flight to the USA arriving back the same afternoon.
Breakfast
This evening you would board an aircraft for the flight to Cairo which was described by Europeans as “the most admirable, and the greatest city seen upon the earth” as early as the 17th Century.
Day 2: Welcome to Cairo
Welcome to Cairo which encompasses many former cities and their monuments: the pyramids of the pharaohs, early Christian monasteries and churches; Salah al-Din’s Citadel; mosques of the Mameluke and Ottoman Sultans and the high rises of today. Five thousand years of culture are concentrated here at the center of three continents…and you are part of it. Relax at your hotel, take a dip in the pool, looking out at the water before you realizing that it is the Nile.
Dinner
Day 3: Four Cities in One
Cairo is really four cities in one; Pharaonic Cairo, Coptic Cairo, Islamic Cairo and Contemporary Cairo. We will focus on the first three as your Egyptologist meets you and takes you to The Egyptian Museum (depending on the time you decide to travel you might, instead visit the Great Museum of Egypt which is being built in Giza near the Pyramids. It will have a much larger display of antiquities - especially from the tomb of the Boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Unfortunately, the skills that allowed the creation of the pyramids have not been handed down and the project is long overdue although late 2019 or early 2020 is the current Launch date). For many fans, however, the current museum is just fine and it is, after all, one of the world’s most famous museums. Regardless of the venue, you will see the gold death mask of Tutankhamun and other world treasures. After lunch at a local restaurant you will visit the Islamic side of Cairo with a visit to the Mohammed Mosque and the Citadel of Salah Al-din built between 1176 and 1182 AD. Tonight your guide will take you to a local restaurant for a chance to meet some of the local Cairenes.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Icons of Pharaonic Egypt
Tour day begins with a visit to Memphis, one of the oldest cities on earth. It was the capitol of ancient Egypt during the period from 2705 BC to 2155 BC, also known as the old kingdom. Nearby is the burial site of the Royals known as Saqqara. You have lunch then rive to Giza where you stand in awe of the Sphinx and the back drop of the three pyramids. After a chance to explore (and perhaps take a camel ride), you return to the hotel. In the evening you return to Giza for dinner and an inspiring sound and light show.
Breakfast, Light and Dinner
Day 5: Coptic Cairo and Luxor
After breakfast you meet your guide and driver and visit the Coptic Church of St. Sergios where Jesus and his family traveled to in their escape from Jerusalem. You will also visit Ben Ezra Synagogue before heading to the airport for the brief flight to Luxor, where you embark on your luxury river boat. After lunch on board, you visit the temples of Luxor and Karnak. Luxor is divided by the Nile. To the east, where the life-giving sun rises is the city of the living. To the west, where the sun in its never-ending orbit bids farewell to life, is the city of the dead. You will first visit the Temple of Luxor built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II. You complete your Luxor excursion with a visit to the temple of Karnak, world famous for its history and architecture. Return to the ship for an afternoon tea. This evening enjoy a cocktail reception before dinner and a belly dance after.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Luxor West Bank and the Sail to Esna
After breakfast on board you disembark and join your Egyptologist for a visit to the Colossi of Memnon, all that remains of a temple honoring Amenhotep III but with two statues, 60 feet high, still very impressive. You then visit the Tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Queens. Carved into the rock face you will find the tombs of Nefertari, wife of Ramses II, Seti I, Ramses III and Amenhotep II. You return to the ship and as you have lunch, you cruise to Esna where the boat will dock overnight. This evening a Captain’s Cocktail Party followed by dinner. After dinner enjoy the disco or visit a piano bar, if you'd like something a little calmer at day’s end.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: The Temples at Edfu and Komombo
After breakfast you disembark for a tour of the Temple of Edfu. We have moved from the Egyptian to the Hellenistic period after Alexander the Great conquered Egypt. One of his advisors, Ptolemy, was appointed as Pharaoh after Alexander’s death and this period is described as Ptolemaic. The Temple is dedicated to Horus the Sun God and it is an exquisite edifice. Part of the experience is to travel to the temple by horse drawn carriage. After a visit, return to the ship for lunch while the boat cruises to Komombo where you disembark to Kom Ombo - built on a high dune overlooking the Nile. Tonight you have an Egyptian Buffet and the chance to dress in Gallabiyah, native Egyptian dress. There will be more entertainment after dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Aswan Dam and the Temple of Isis
As you wake up for breakfast you will be cruising to Aswan. Take time to enjoy the view as you indulge in a leisurely breakfast watching the Nile flow by the boat. In the afternoon you will dock and disembark to visit the Aswan high dam, one of the largest in the world. The dam is 10,000 feet long and 120 feet wide at its top. You then continue by motorboat to the beautiful island of Philae to view the Temple of Isis. Returning to the ship you pack up your belongings, ready for an early departure before a farewell dinner and a Nubian show.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Abu Simbel and a Cairo Finale
Depart the ship for an early flight to Abu Simbel; When the Aswan High dam was planned to protect the Nile Delta from devastating flooding, created by Lake Nasser, which would cover and destroy two temples at the heart of Nubian Culture. Thanks to UNESCO and nation donors, the temples were moved to higher ground and preserved for future visitors like you. The larger temple was erected by Ramses II who reigned for over 70 years and fathered 162 children. He is also considered to be the Pharaoh with whom Moses had his disagreement. The façade is 90 feet high and 120 feet wide and guarded by four statues of Ramses, each of which is 60 feet high. North of this temple is the smaller (but still impressive) temple built by Ramses to honor his wife Nefertari. After exploring the temple you will return to the temple for a flight to Cairo. You will return to your original hotel. In the evening, enjoy dinner on a boat as you view the lights of Contemporary Cairo having viewed the history of the country over the past days.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10: Return to USA
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for the return flight to the USA arriving back the same afternoon.
Breakfast