Signature Egypt: Nubia and the Nile 2018

DAY 1: ARRIVE CAIRO

Arrive in Cairo, where you are met by your tour representative and transferred to your hotel. After settling in, depart with your Egyptologist for an afternoon visit to the Giza Plateau, site of the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Explore the interior of one of this pyramids. Ride on camel back, explore the sun Boat Museum. Then, view the Great Sphinx, the ancient world’s largest sculpture, carved of a single ridge of stone.

DAY 2: CAIRO

Enjoy a visit to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, exploring treasures of Tutankhamun and the mummy room. After lunch, explore the Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan. Drive to Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, where tightly packed stalls display everything from spices and leather goods to jewelry and birds. Stroll down the main street of the old walled city of Cairo, seeing beautiful Islamic monuments and busy local market

DAY 3:

Fly to Aswan and visit the Tombs of the Nobles. The tombs mark the final resting places of powerful governors and priests who controlled commerce between Aswan and Nubia. Proceed to Saint Simeon’s Monastery, one of Egypt’s best-preserved original Christian strongholds.

DAY 4:

Cruise across the Nile to visit a traditional Nubian village. Learn about their lifestyle and culture,

DAY 5

Fly to Abu Simbel, where you visit the twin temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. In Aswan, board your luxurious Nile cruise for the next three nights. After lunch on-board, visit the “Unfinished Obelisk,”. Return to Sanctuary ‘Sun Boat IV’ for afternoon tea. Later this evening, enjoy cocktails and dinner aboard.

DAY 6

This morning, journey via motor boat to visit Philae, a reconstructed temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis. Return to your Nile cruise for cooking lesson exploring local ingredients. Disembark in Kom Ombo to visit the temple of Haroeris and Sobek, Enjoy afternoon tea aboard as you sail for Edfu. Later, visit the Temple of Horus (the falcon god). This evening, enjoy an Egyptian-themed costume party aboard.

DAY 7:

Cruise to Luxor, to explore the east bank beginning with a visit to the Temple of Luxor. At the Temple of Karnak, walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall. After lunch on board, explore the west bank of the Nile and the famous Valley of the Kings, Discover the terraced funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Time permitting, visit the Valley of the Queens). Return to Sanctuary ‘Sun Boat IV’ for a festive dinner celebrating your final night aboard.

DAY 8:

 

Disembark your Nile cruise and fly to Cairo. Drive to Memphis, taking in an open-air museum and the giant statue of Ramses II. Continue to Sakkara, home to tens of tombs and 14 pyramids, including the famous Step Pyramid of Zoser, the largest building of its time.

DAY 9: DEPART CAIRO

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart.