Day 1: Arrival in Cairo, Airport Pick-up
Thanks for choosing our Egypt tours! We will try our best to serve you. Today, after landing at Cairo International Airport and clearing the customs, you will see our local representative waiting for you in the arrival hall. He or she will give you a warm welcome, transfer you to the hotel by air-conditioned vehicle and help you with check-in. Afterwards, he or she will confirm with you the pick-up time tomorrow and say good-bye. During the rest time of the day, you will be free to do whatever you like. You may have a good rest to get over the jet lag. If you are not tired, it will be a good choice to take a walk nearby. The hotel we choose for you is within the walking to the Nile. You may go there to appreciate the beautiful scenery. Accommodation: Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino (5 stars)
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Day 2: Cairo Sightseeing with Giza Pyramids
At the appointed time, our local experienced guide will pick you up and start today’s sightseeing with the marvelous architecture at the Giza Pyramids complex, whose construction can be dated back to 4,500 years ago. A camel ride will also be arranged on the site, which will last for about 30 minutes. We will appreciate the Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure from the outside and go inside the Pyramid of Khufu to see the delicate murals and mysterious burial chamber. We will also stop by the Great Sphinx, a large statue of an imaginary creature featuring a lion's body with a human’s head. It was set there to guard the pyramids. Valley Temple will be the last stop in Giza Pyramids. After the ancient pharaohs died, their bodies would be moved here and made into mummies. Returning to downtown, we will go on to visit the Egyptian Museum, featured by over ten thousands of precious relics from the ancient Egypt, including the papyrus inscriptions and the golden mask of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Our last stop today will be Khan El Khalili in Islamic Cairo. Having been operated for several centuries, this old bazaar is crowded with colorful Egyptian art wares, spices and jewelry, where you can indulge yourself in an exotic atmosphere. ► Friendly Tip: It is not an easy thing to explore deep inside the Pyramid of Khufu. If you do not like it, we can replace it with a one-hour felucca ride on the Nile in Aswan. Please tell our travel consultant in advance if you prefer the felucca ride. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino (5 stars)
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Day 3: Cairo to Luxor by Flight, Luxor East Bank Trip
After breakfast, the guide will transfer you to the Cairo International Airport and assist you to get onboard the onward flight to Luxor, the starting point of the following full-board Nile cruise. On arrival, our guide based there will transfer you from the airport to the ship and help you with check-in. After having lunch on the cruise ship, the guide will escort you to explore two landmarks on the east bank of Luxor: Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. Used to be a part of the great city Thebes - the capital of the New Kingdom, these temple complexes are quite large in scale. You will find delicately carved columns, reliefs on the walls, and the statues of mythical creatures and pharaohs there, showing ancient Egyptian's worship towards their paramount deities and the mighty kingship. After the visit, send you back to the cruise. Good night! Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: MS Salacia Nile Cruise (5 stars)
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Day 4: Luxor West Bank Trip, Nile Cruise to Edfu
In the morning, the guide will lead you to the west bank of Luxor to visit the Valley of the Kings at first. It is a popular burial site for pharaohs of the New Kingdom as it was considered a desolate area safe from the tomb raiders. By now, over 60 tombs have been found there. You will be allowed to visit three of them, like other visitors. In addition, our guide will escort you to visit two more tombs - KV9 and KV62, through which you will have a better understanding of Egypt’s past. Next, we will move to the Temple of Hatshepsut built in the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt about 3,500 years ago. Sitting magnificently under the mountain, this three-level mortuary temple shows the successful ruling of the first female pharaoh of Egypt- Hatshepsut. Afterwards, we will have a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two 18-meter-high (59 feet) statues used to be the guardian of the Amenhotep's memorial temple. When the visit is over, transfer you back to the cruise ship, which will set sail to Edfu. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: MS Salacia Nile Cruise (5 stars)
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Day 5: Nile Cruise: Edfu to Kom Ombo to Aswan
After breakfast, our guide based in Edfu will accompany you to visit the Temple of Horus. Known as one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, it still has beautiful roof and clear reliefs after over 2,000 years. After finishing the visit, go back and continue sailing to Kom Ombo, where our local guide will also be ready to serve you. He or she will accompany you to visit the Kom Ombo Temple, a Ptolemaic temple special for its worship of two gods - god Sobek and god Haroeris. Inside the temple, you will also learn about the medical development during that time from the reliefs. After going back, the Nile Cruise will proceed to Aswan. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: MS Salacia Nile Cruise (5 stars)
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Day 6: Nile Cruise: Aswan Day Tour
In the morning, go ashore to discover Aswan, also an ancient city along the Nile. Firstly, our local guide will lead you to the huge High Dam sitting across the Nile. You will have a chance to walk on the grand dam and enjoy the beautiful view of the deep blue Lake Nasser formed after the construction of the dam. Afterwards, proceed to the massive Unfinished Obelisk, the world’s largest of its kind measuring 42 meters (46 yards) long and 1,168 tons. Lack of modern advanced tools, it still remains a mystery how it was cut down and moved to the current place. Then we will visit another temple built in the Ptolemaic Dynasty - the Temple of Philae, which is dedicated to goddesses Isis and Hathor. After that, return to the cruise for one more night’s stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: MS Salacia Nile Cruise (5 stars)
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Day 7: Lake Nasser Cruise: Transfer from Aswan to Abu Simbel
The Nile cruise will perfectly end today. After breakfast, please pack your personal belongings and check out. Then, we will transfer you to Abu Simbel, about 3 hours’ drive away, to embark another luxury cruise ship, which will show you around the Lake Nasser. After check-in and having lunch, the cruise guide will accompany you to Abu Simbel Temple, which comprises two splendid rock-cut temples left by Pharaoh Ramesses II. Famous as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it also features the colossal statues at the gate and the wonders on the Sun Festival twice a year: the sunlight shines inside the temple and cover the faces of the giant statues. Before dusk, return to the ship for dinner and overnight stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Movenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise (5 stars)
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Day 8: Lake Nasser Cruise: Kasr Ibrim
Today, the ship will set sail while you have breakfast. It will firstly send you to Kasr Ibrim, a significant archeological site whose history can date back to the 8th century BC. We will not go ashore, but have a glance of it on the sundeck. Then, continue sailing to Amada, where we will disembark to visit the Temples of Amada built in the New Kingdom for god Ra; the Temple of Derr, another rock-cut temple constructed by Ramesses II; and the Tomb of Pennut, a rock-cut tomb for the chief priest Pennut in the Twentieth Dynasty of ancient Egypt. After you coming back, the cruise ship will sail to Wadi El Seboua. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Movenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise (5 stars)
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Day 9: Lake Nasser Cruise: Wadi El Seboua
After breakfast, leave the cruise ship to visit Wadi El Seboua, which is famous for the avenues lined with the statues of sphinx. Here we will also explore the Temple of Dakka, a Ptolemaic temple dedicated to the god of wisdom - Thoth and the Temple of Meharakka featuring the spiral stairs. After the visit, the guide will escort you back to the cruise and sail to the destination of this Lake Nasser cruise - Aswan. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Movenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise (5 stars)
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Day 10: Disembark in Aswan, Fly Back to Cairo
After breakfast, check out from the lake cruise. Then our local guide will escort you to explore the New Kalabsha, including the Kalabsha Temple, where you will learn about the cult of the Nubian god of sun - Mandulis in 30 BC; Beit El Wali, the first rock-cut temple built by Ramesses II in this area; and Kiosk of Kertassi, a Roman garden ruin featuring the papyrus columns. When the visit in Aswan ends here, the guide will transfer you to the airport for you to take the flight back to Cairo. Upon landing, we will transfer you from the airport to the hotel. Wish you a sweet dream! Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino (5 stars)
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Day 11: Departure from Cairo, Airport See-off
Our final service for you in Egypt will be the Cairo airport see-off service. We will send you to the airport on time according to the take-off time of your flight. May these days in Egypt will be one of the happiest memories in your life. If you plan to visit some nearby countries, feel free to contact us and we will also try our best to work for your smile. Meals: Breakfast
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