Egypt Nile Cruise

Spend 8 nights in Egypt, including a 4-night Nile Cruise. After a night in Cairo, head to the Giza Plateau and marvel at the sight of the three great pyramids. Visit Memphis, the ancient capital, where you see the massive statue of Ramses II and the Sphinx from the same period. The next day, experience the glories of ancient Egypt by exploring collections at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) that date from the Prehistoric until the Roman Period. Each artifact’s story reveals a unique aspect of the ancient Egyptian civilization. The museum features the world's most important collection of Egyptian antiquities, including the amazing treasures of the young king Tutankhamun. Then visit the Citadel complex, including the great Mosque of Mohammed Aly. Embark on your Nile Cruise with sightseeing that features the magnificent temples of Karnak and Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, and the Edfu Temple. Sail to Aswan, visiting Philae Temple and the High Dam. From Aswan, fly back to Cairo for a night. Starting from $3695 including air via Qatar Airways from New York City; or $2555, land only. Guaranteed weekly departures.

Day 1, Thursday - New York/Cairo
Depart from New York JFK International Airport via Qatar airways for Cairo.

Day 2, Friday - Arrive Cairo
Arrive at Cairo International Airport, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. (Jaz Pyramids/Marriott Omar El Khayyam)

Day 3, Saturday - Cairo
This morning, meet your Egyptologist and head to Giza plateau for a full-day tour. Sightseeing begins with the Giza Plateau, where you marvel at the sight of the three great pyramids of Giza. Afterward, head to the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. Then continue with a visit to Memphis, the capital city founded by the pharaoh Menes, which lies southeast of its cemetery at Saqqara. Statues and architectural fragments have been collected in the sculpture garden, which occupies the southeastern part of the Ptah Temple complex, dedicated to the patron god of Memphis. Here, the massive statue of Ramses II lies under a roof, and the Sphinx from the same period dominates the courtyard. Transfer back to hotel when tour ends. (B)

Day 4, Sunday – Cairo
Today's half-day guided tour begins with a visit to the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located next to the Giza Pyramid Complex. GEM serves as a bridge between the past and present, blending the grandeur of ancient Egyptian civilization with cutting-edge museum technology. There are thousands of statues, jewels and artifacts from nearly every period of ancient Egypt. Admire an amazing display of the treasures of the young king, Tutankhamen, including his famous mask made out of solid gold and in a perfect state of preservation, as well as his throne and chariots. Next, continue to the Citadel, which dominates Cairo from its high vantage point on the Mokattam Hills. The heart of the city for more than 200 years beginning in 1176, the Citadel was erected by Salah El Din, the legendary Saladin who conquered the Crusaders in Palestine. The Citadel tour's highlight is the great Mosque of Mohammed Aly, which was built imitating the Blue Mosque of Istanbul. Transfer back to hotel when tour ends. (B)

Day 5, Monday – Cairo/Luxor/Nile Cruise
Today, transfer to the airport and fly to Luxor. On arrival, transfer to the pier and embark on your four-night Nile cruise by lunchtime. Afternoon sightseeing along the East Bank features the temples of Karnak and Luxor. The immense wealth of Thebes was spent embellishing and building temples in honor of Amun-Ra, who was worshipped as the supreme state god. The most magnificent of these is the Temple of Karnak. The scale of Karnak surpasses every other temple complex in the ancient world. Continue to the Temple of Luxor, which was built over several centuries by Amenhotep III, Tutankhamun, Ramses II, and Alexander the Great. A graceful piece of architecture preceded by an avenue of sphinxes, the Temple contains impressive statuary of Ramses II and the Great Court of Ramses, and the temple of Amun. (MS Blue Shadow Nile Cruise/MS Chateau Lafayette Nile Cruise) (B/L/D)

Day 6, Tuesday – Nile Cruise
Early this morning, after breakfast, visit three sites on the West Bank of Luxor: the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon. In the Valley of the Kings, 62 pharaohs are entombed. Gorgeously adorned with gold and jewels and surrounded with treasures and replicas of all they would need in the afterlife, the pharaohs were buried in rock-cut tombs. The famous tomb of the boy-king Tutankhamun was discovered here in 1922, with over 5,000 precious items. Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which rises out of the desert plain in a series of terraces, is one of the finest monuments of ancient Egypt. The Colossi of Memnon, a massive pair of statues, are all that remain of the temple of the hedonistic Amemhotep III. Rising about 18 meters from the plain, the enthroned, faceless statues of Amenhotep III have kept a lonely vigil on the changing landscape around them, surviving the rising floodwaters of the Nile. After the tour, sail to Edfu with lunch on board. Dinner and overnight on board. (B/L/D)

Day 7, Wednesday – Nile Cruise
Today, cruise through the luxuriant Nile to Edfu and visit the Edfu Temple, dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Having escaped destruction from floods, this huge complex is Egypt’s most completely preserved temple. Built between 237 BC and 57 BC, this extraordinary Ptolemaic temple was one of the last ancient attempts at building on a grand scale. Continue sailing to Kom Ombo and visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual double temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus. Standing on a promontory at a bend in the Nile, the temples have been substantially ruined, but are nevertheless a stunning site. Sail to Aswan. Dinner and overnight on board. (B/L/D)

Day 8, Thursday – Nile Cruise
This morning, begin visiting Aswan at Philae Temple on the island of Agilika. The romantic and majestic aura surrounding the temple complex of Isis has been luring pilgrims for thousands of years. The temple was in danger of being submerged with the construction of the new Aswan dam. Fortunately, the Egyptian government and UNESCO worked together to relocate the entire temple, stone by stone, to the island where it stands today. The High Dam, Egypt’s contemporary example of building on a monumental scale, contains 18 times the amount of material used in the Great Pyramid of Cheops. The water contained by the controversial High Dam has backed up nearly 310 miles, taking it well into the Sudan and creating Lake Nasser, the world’s largest artificial lake. See the Unfinished Obelisk still lying in the bedrock of it granite quarries. The Obelisk offers invaluable insight into the ancient Egyptians' quarrying and carving techniques for single-stone monuments. Lunch and dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan. (B/L/D)

Day 9, Friday – Aswan/Cairo
Disembark after breakfast. Transfer to the Aswan airport for your flight to Cairo. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. (Jaz Pyramids/Marriott Omar El Khayyam) (B)

Day 10, Saturday – Cairo/New York
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight this evening. (B)

Day 11, Sunday - Arrive New York
Arrive New York.

Tour Features

• Round trip airfare coach class via Qatar Airways from New York. Other gateway cities are available.
• Roundtrip airport transfer
• 4 nights accommodation at first class (FC) or deluxe (D) hotels in Cairo, or similar, as per itinerary
• 4 nights on board MS Blue Shadow Nile Cruise (FC) or similar; or MS Chateau Lafayette Nile Cruise or similar (D)
• Breakfast daily at hotels in Cairo
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on board cruise ship
• One full-day tour, and one half-day tour in Cairo, as per itinerary
• Extensive sightseeing on cruise, as per itinerary
• All transfers in Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor, as per itinerary
• Entrance fees to all sights in the itinerary

 

Rates do not include

• Any expenses of personal nature such as tips, laundry, table drinks, telephone calls, etc.
• Optional Travel Insurance
• Any item not mentioned above

Remarks

• If listed hotels are not available at the time of reservation, alternative hotels at the same category could be used. Prices may differ.
• During trade fairs season and during Christmas and New Year’s days, some hotels may require surcharges. The prices may increase.
• Ticket(s) must be issued (if air purchased) and full payment must be received 90 days prior to departure
• Major credit cards accepted; credit card authorization required
• Change and cancellation penalty ($250-$600 per person) apply once ticketed; Pacific Holidays’ general cancellation policy applies
• Hotel upgrades, additional hotel nights, extensions to all Asian destinations and add-on air fares from various US cities are available