Cairo to Zanzibar - OLD Itinerary

Day 1  Depart Australia
Today we depart Australia for the wonders of Egypt.

Day 2  Cairo
Welcome to Cairo. On our arrival we will be met and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to relax and unwind before tonight’s welcome dinner at a local restaurant. [D]

Day 3  Cairo
Today we will stand in front of the awe-inspiring Great Pyramids. The Great Pyramids of Giza are the oldest structures in existence, having been started more than four and a half thousand years ago. They are also the sole remnants of the Seven Wonders of the World. Here we take the time to soak up the mystical power of these awe-inspiring structures before visiting the nearby Sphinx.  We then visit the ancient capital Memphis and the step pyramids of Sakkara, where every 30 years pharaohs endured amazing tests of strength and stamina to prove they still had the power to rule. [B]

Day 4  Cairo
Today we venture into the bustling heart of Cairo to visit the world-famous Egyptian Museum, home to Tutankhamen’s priceless treasures and many other historic artefacts. There will be time for an optional visit (entrance ticket not included) to the "Mummy Room", it has nine mummies on display including the newly discovered mummy of Queen Hatshepsut . This afternoon we visit the Citadel of Cairo and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, before trying out our bargaining skills at the 625-year-old Khan El Khalili bazaar. [B]

Day 5  Cairo - Luxor
This morning we fly to Luxor and board our Nile cruise. This afternoon we visit the beautiful Luxor and Karnak Temples. Luxor Temple was built in the heart of the ancient city of Thebes and was once connected to Karnak, the largest temple in Egypt, by a 3km-long avenue of sphinxes. [B,L,D]

Day 6  Nile Cruise* (see notes on Nile Cruise below)
A fascinating morning exploring the Nile’s West Bank, the world’s largest open-air museum. We’ll visit the Colossi of Memnon and explore the Valley of the Kings where we have the opportunity to go underground and experience the tombs first-hand. We then continue on to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. It was built of limestone, not sandstone like most of the other funerary temples of the New Kingdom period, and is therefore one of the most unique temples in the whole of Egypt. [B,L,D]

Day 7  Nile Cruise
Our day starts with a horse-drawn carriage ride to Edfu’s magnificent Temple of Horus. We then sail on to Aswan via the riverside temples of Kom Ombo. The Temple of Kom Ombo is an unusual double temple built between 180 and 145 BC. The building is unique because its 'double' design meant that there were courts, halls, sanctuaries and rooms duplicated for two sets of gods. [B,L,D]

Day 8  Nile Cruise
We rise very early to cross the desert – our destination is the incredible temples of Abu Simbel. The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari. The complex was relocated in its entirety in the 1960s, to an artificial hill high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir. This afternoon we sit back and relax on a traditional felucca sail boat cruise on the Nile.  [B,L,D]

Day 9  Nile Cruise - Aswan
Enjoy a great day in Aswan. Here we’ll take a morning city tour including the Temple of Isis on Philae Island. The afternoon is at leisure for you to further explore this beautiful city.  [B]

Day 10  Aswan - Cairo
The morning is at leisure before we fly from Aswan to Cairo where the remainder of the day is at leisure. [B,D]

Day 11  Cairo
Enjoy your last full day in Egypt exploring Cairo at leisure, before we board our overnight flight to Zanzibar. [B]

Day 12  Cairo - Zanzibar
Today we fly to the tropical island paradise of Zanzibar. Here you can soak up the relaxed beach lifestyle.

Day 13  Zanzibar
 Take time to relax and unwind today or maybe take an optional excursion to one of the area’s colourful and aromatic spice plantations. [B]

Day 14  Zanzibar
Enjoy a day at leisure in Zanzibar. With its rich cultural heritage and pure white sandy beaches this island is the perfect place to truly relax. [B]

Day 15  Zanzibar - Nairobi
Today we are transferred to Zanzibar airport for our flight to Nairobi.[B]

Day 16  Nairobi - Mt Kenya
 Our adventure begins this morning as we depart Nairobi, travelling to the Mt Kenya National Park and our hotel situated in the forests in the shadow of the great mountain. Here the afternoon is at leisure for you to soak up the spectacular scenery. [B,L,D]

Day 17  Mt Kenya - Samburu
 This morning we travel north, across the equator, to the Samburu National Reserve. Rugged and remote, this wildlife reserve provides some of the country’s best game viewing. [B,L,D]

Day 18  Samburu
 Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in the Samburu Reserve. Situated on the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River, the reserve attracts a multitude of wildlife including giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck and zebra, as well as lions, leopards, cheetahs and elephants. [B,L,D]

Day 19  Samuburu - Nakuru

After breakfast we travel to Lake Nakuru National Park, famous as a home to thousands of flamingos. In the afternoon we will embark on a game drive in the national park which is a sanctuary to leopards, giraffes and rhinoceroses. [B,L,D]

Day 20  Nakuru - Naivasha

Enjoy a morning drive to Lake Naivasha, a beautiful freshwater lake, with its commanding setting at the foot of the Rift Valley Escarpment. It is fringed by thick papyrus and is an important horticultural area of Kenya. Later today we visit Elsamere, the former home of Joy Adamson, the famous conservationist and author of Born Free. [B,L,D]

Day 21  Naivasha - Masai Mara
 Today we travel to the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s finest and most famous wildlife reserve. In the late afternoon we set out for a game drive. With its abundance of wildlife and rolling grasslands it makes for unforgettable game viewing. [B,L,D]

Day 22  Masai Mara
 Enjoy a great day game-viewing with early morning, mid-morning and afternoon expeditions. [B,L,D]

Day 23  Masai Mara - Nairobi

After breakfast we begin our journey back to Nairobi. This evening we savour a delicious dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant. [B,D]

Day 24  Nairobi - Cairo
This morning we enjoy a city tour of Nairobi including a visit to the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Kenya National Museum and Snake Park. This afternoon we transfer to the airport for our flight to Cairo. [B]

Special Note:  February & March 2011 Tours commence their departure flight to Australia from Nairobi via Dubai in the evening on Day 24***

Day 25  Cairo - Australia
Today we transfer to Cairo Airport to fly home to Australia.  [B]

Day 26  Arrive in Australia

*Note on Nile Cruises:  The Nile cruises featured on all itineraries to Egypt operate between the cities of Luxor and Aswan.  These cities lie only 240km apart which means this distance could easily be covered in only 1 or 2 days without stops. However, due to logistical and scheduling reasons the cruises are offered only as 3, 4 and 7 night packages.  This allows for extensive sightseeing along the way and, as such, much of the time is spent in port in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo or Aswan.  Each cruise itinerary will, however, have an element of day-time cruising - allowing you to relax and see life along the river. 
 
Note on Esna Lock and Itinerary Schedule:  Please note that due to the high volume of river traffic all cruise itineraries are subject to change without notice.  The order and timing of sightseeing may therefore change, however all inclusions will remain the same.  Similarly, travel through the Esna Lock is subject to river traffic and local conditions which means you may pass through the lock during the night or have an extended wait prior to entering the lock.          
 

Cairo to Zanzibar - OLD

...see full itinerary

click to enlarge map