Discover the Pharaohs - OLD Itinerary

Day 1  Depart Australia

Day 2  Arrive in Cairo
Today you arrive in Cairo, the sprawling capital of Egypt and largest city in Africa. Upon arrival we are welcomed by our local guide and taken to our hotel. This evening we enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. [D]

Day 3  Cairo
This is it! This morning you will be standing directly in front of the Great Pyramids of Giza! The Great Pyramids are the oldest structure in existence. Work building them began 4,617 years ago; today they are 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.  Our sightseeing continues to the ancient capital of Memphis and the nearby necropolis of Sakkara with its unique step pyramid. [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  Depart Cairo
Today is at leisure to further explore Cairo, or perhaps enjoy an optional tour. Tonight we board the overnight sleeper train to Aswan - a real Egyptian experience! [B,D]

Day 6  Arrive in Aswan
This morning we explore Aswan and visit the High Dam, the Temple of Philae and the Unfinished Obelisk. In the afternoon we enjoy a relaxing trip on the Nile on a traditional felucca sailing boat. [B]

Day 7  Abu Simbel - Nile Cruise* (see notes on Nile Cruise below)
This morning we travel by coach to 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. In the 1960s the complex was relocated in its entirety to an artificial hill, high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir. Upon our return to Aswan we board our Nile cruise. [B,L,D]

Day 8  Nile Cruise
This morning we sail to Kom Ombo where we visit the Temple of Kom Ombo which is dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haroeris. This afternoon we continue sailing towards Edfu. Sit back, relax and watch the day to day happenings of rural Egyptian life on the riverbanks of the Nile as we sail past. [B,L,D]

Day 9  Nile Cruise
Today we visit the magnificent Temple of Horus in Edfu, the second-largest temple in Egypt after Karnak and one of the best-preserved. We then sail on to Esna, crossing the lock and continuing to Luxor. [B,L,D]

Day 10  Luxor
We disembark after breakfast and set off to explore the West Bank, the world’s largest open-air museum. We also 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 distinctive temples in the whole of Egypt. We end our day at the Colossi of Memnon. [B]

Day 11 Luxor
Today we visit Karnak, the largest and most impressive of all temples and the scene of the most important of ancient Egypt’s many religious festivals and ceremonies. We also visit Luxor Temple which was once linked to Karnak by a 3km avenue of sphinxes and contains evidence of early Christian occupation. [B]

Day 12  Luxor - Red Sea
You have time to relax this morning before we depart in the afternoon to cross the desert by coach to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada or El Gouna [B,D]

Day 13  Red Sea
Your day today is at leisure to relax and enjoy the resort-style atmosphere of the Red Sea; perhaps indulge in some local shopping, relax by one of the hotel pools or take a swim in the calm waters of the Red Sea. Optional snorkelling trips are also available.  [B,D]

Day 14  Red Sea - Cairo
Today we take a short flight from the Red Sea back to Cairo where your afternoon is at leisure for further exploration of the lively capital. [B]

Day 15  Cairo
Today you will have a full day at your leisure to further explore the city on your own or with an optional tour.  This evening we enjoy a farewell dinner. [B,D]

Day 16  Cairo
Today we say goodbye to Egypt as we start our journey home.  [B]

Day 17  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. 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.

Discover the Pharaohs - OLD

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