CAIRO, ALEXANDRIA & THE MEDITERRANEAN W/NILE CRUISE
Day 1 - Fri. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT. Day 2 - Sat. ARRIVAL IN CAIRO, EGYPT. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this exciting city. Later, meet your TourDirector and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner this evening. (D) Day 3 - Sun. CAIRO. This morning drive to the Giza Plateau to visit the three pyramids of Kings Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinos, as well as the Valley Temple with the Sphinx. In the afternoon visit the National Egyptian Museum and listen to the historic commentary given by your Tour Director as you walk around the Halls. Also admire the treasure of the Boy King Tutankhamon. Tonight, join the optional evening Nile dinner cruise with belly dancing and a folklore show. (B) Day 4 - Mon. CAIRO-ALEXANDRIA. Discover the oldest part of the city known as Coptic Cairo, which was originally a Roman Fortress town called "Babylon." Today some of the Roman walls can still be seen. Next, visit the Citadel of Saladin with its beautiful mosque. Leave Cairo and drive north by way of the Agricultural Road through the Nile Delta area. Lunch is included en route. More vistas of the Egyptian countryside come alive before reaching Alexandria for two overnights. (B,L,D) Day 5 - Tue. ALEXANDRIA. Alexandria, the pearl of the Mediterranean, is the very essence of everything Egyptian - cosmopolitan, cultured, elegant, architecturally contrasting, effervescently alive, and, above all, conscious of its beauty and magnetism. On the included city sightseeing see the catacombs, Pompey's Pillar, the new Alexandria library, the Fort of Qait and enjoy a stroll around the gardens of the Montaza royal palace. Afternoon and evening are at leisure. (B) Day 6 - Wed. ALEXANDRIA-MARSA MATRUH. Drive along the Mediterranean coastal road for a stop in El Alamein, made famous by the decisive victory of the Allies during WWII. Visit the Military museum and cemetery and enjoy the included lunch before heading toward Marsa Matruh for two overnights. (B,L,D) Day 7 - Thu. MARSA MATRUH. Marsa Matruh is a large waterfront town built around a charming bay of clear Mediterranen waters with clean, white sandy beaches. This morning visit the Agiba Beach and Rommel's Cave. The rest of the day is at leisure to soak up the atmosphere of this enchanting town. (B,D) Day 8 - Fri. MARSA MATRUH-CAIRO. Experience completely different scenery today as you travel back to Cairo on the desert road. Stop in Wadi el Natrun, situated in a valley dotted with oases. Visit one of the Coptic monasteries of this area and learn about the Coptic faith. Arrive in Cairo in time for some lastminute shopping at the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar. (B) Day 9 - Sat. Cairo-Aswan (EMBARKATION). Early morning flight to Aswan. On arrival, enjoy the city sightseeing, including the Temple of Isis, which was transplanted from the submerged island of Philae. Also on the agenda, the unfinished Obelisk and the High Dam - completed in 1970. Board your cruise ship, HS Mövenpick Radamis II, in time for lunch. The afternoon is at leisure or join the optional Abu Simbel excursion. (B,L,D) Day 10 - Sun. NILE CRUISE. Dock at Kom Ombo for a short walk to its bluff-top temple dedicated to the crocodile and falcon gods. Return to the ship and continue sailing down the Nile toward Edfu. Here, board a horse-drawn carriage for the drive through Edfu to the Temple of Horus. Sail overnight toward Luxor via the Esna lock (closed December 1-15: slight changes to the itinerary may occur). (B,L,D) Day 11 - Mon. NILE CRUISE. A morning to relax on board and enjoy the splendid scenery as you arrive in Luxor. After lunch, focus on the Valley of Kings situated on the West Bank of the Nile. Visit Deir el-Bahari, Queen Hatshepsut's monumental rock temple, and take pictures of the two Colossi of Memnon guarding the valleys. Later, visit the Temple of Luxor by night. (B,L,D) Day 12 - TUE. NILE CRUISE. LUXOR, (DISEMBARKATION )-CAIRO. Today visit the colossal Temple of Amon Ra in Karnak before your flight to Cairo for an overnight. (B) Day 13 - Wed. HOMEBOUND FLIGHT. (B) |
