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Egypt in Depth - Christmas Tour Itinerary

Day 1 - 21 December 2010 - Depart Australia

Day 2 - 22 December 2010 - Arrive in Cairo
Welcome to Egypt! On arrival we will met by our friendly Egyptian guide and transferred to our hotel. The afternoon is at leisure before tonight’s group welcome dinner where you will meet your fellow travellers. [D]

Day 3 - 23 December 2010 - Cairo

This is it! You will actually be standing directly in front of the Great Pyramids of Giza! Our tour includes plenty of free time to soak up the mystical power of these awe-inspiring structures. We then experience the famous sight of the Sphinx which stands in guard of the pyramids.[B]

Day 4 - 24 December 2010 - Cairo

We have an amazing day ahead as we visit the ancient step pyramids of Sakkarah, where every 30 years Pharaohs would need to endure amazing tests of strength and stamina to prove they still have the power to rule. We continue to Memphis, the site of the ancient capital of Egypt where we find a giant statue of Ramses II.[B]

Day 5 - 25 December 2010 - Cairo

A full day sightseeing starting with a visit the world’s best and most famous Egyptian Museum which houses countless priceless artefacts including those of Tutankhamen. This afternoon we visit the Saladin Citadel, the Mohammed Ali Mosque and try out our bargaining skills at the 625 year old Khan El Khalili bazaar. The bazaar was built in 1382 and is one of Cairo’s most important shopping areas.[B]

Day 6 - 26 December 2010 - Cairo – Luxor

Today we fly to the city of Luxor, where we are met and transferred to our hotel. This afternoon we visit the fascinating Luxor and Karnak Temples on the East Bank of Thebes. Luxor Temple was built in the heart of the ancient city of Thebes and is connected to Karnak Temple. It is the largest temple complex ever built by man, and represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders.[B]

Day 7 - 27 December 2010 - Nile Cruise

Today we board our Nile cruiser which will be our home for the next four nights. We cross to the Nile’s West Bank, where we visit the world’s largest open air museum, followed by a visit to the area of the Necropolis of Thebes including the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon [B,L,D]

Day 8 - 28 December 2010 - Nile Cruise

Today our morning is at leisure before we continue sailing this afternoon, crossing the lock at Esna before sailing on towards Edfu. Sit back as we cruise the Nile River and witness rural Egyptian life on its banks.[B,L,D]

Day 9 - 29 December 2010 - Edfu – Kom Ombo

In Edfu this morning we visit the magnificent Temple of Horus, dedicated to the falcon god. This beautiful ancient temple is one of the best preserved in Egypt and second largest after Karnak in Luxor. In such good condition, it provides an excellent idea of how all the temples once looked. Our Nile journey continues later this morning as we sail to Kom Ombo.[B,L,D]

Day 10 - 30 December 2010 - Abu Simbel

This morning we travel by coach to the amazing temples of Abu Simbel. The temples are marvels of repeated engineering. When Aswan’s High Dam was completed, the temples were in danger of being submerged in the newly formed lake so a massive international effort initiated by UNESCO raised the money to move the temples, stone by stone to higher ground. This entire project took five years! We explore the stunning temples before returning to Aswan. [B,L,D]

Day 11 - 31 December 2010 - Aswan

This morning we disembark our cruise and visit the highlights of Aswan including the High Dam, an engineering miracle built in 1960, the Unfinished Obelisk and the majestic Temple of Philae. This afternoon we enjoy a relaxing trip on the Nile on a traditional felucca sail boat, cruising around Kitchener's Island and the Agha Khan Mausoleum [B]

Day 12 - 1 January 2011 Overnight Train

Aswan is one of the most relaxing and scenic cities in Egypt. Horse-drawn carriages parade along the Corniche, and feluccas drift down the river against a backdrop of sand dunes. Today is at leisure in Aswan where you can explore the city. This evening we are transferred to the train station to board our overnight sleeper train travelling to Cairo.[B,D]

Day 13 - 2 January 2011 - Cairo – Alexandria

This morning we arrive into Cairo at the train station and are transferred to Alexandria, otherwise known as the Pearl of the Mediterranean. Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Alexandria is the second largest city in Egypt. After lunch we visit Pompeys Pillar and the Catacombs, the Citadel of Qauitbei and the Montazah Palace.[B,L]

Day 14 - 3 January 2011 - Alexandria

After breakfast we depart Alexandria, following the route of Field Marshall Montgomery along the Mediterranean coast towards El Alamein, which is known for its serenity, its fascinating scenery and mild climate. We visit the battlefields where Rommel’s advance on Cairo was halted, and the Commonwealth War Cemetery which includes 7,367 tombs of war victims from Britain, New Zealand, Australia, France, India and Malta, before returning to Alexandria.[B,L]

Day 15 - 4 January 2011 - Alexandria – El Alamein – Cairo

Today starts with a visit to the Bibliotheca (the New Library of Alexandria) and the National Museum. Following this we drive to Cairo where tonight we enjoy a wonderful farewell dinner.[B,D]

Day 16 - 5 January 2011 - Depart Cairo

Today you transfer to the airport for your flight home [B]

Day 17 - 6 January 2011 - Arrive 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.

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