Essential Egypt

Cairo - the Triumphant City - is the glorious capital of Egypt, the cradle of civilization and the beacon of religion. It is the largest city in the Middle East and Africa and lies at the centre of all routes leading to, and from the three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe. Greater Cairo extends on the banks of the River Nile to the south of its delta. Here the Nile divides into its two tributaries: Rosetta and Damietta. It is the city where the past and present meet. On its east side stands the evidence of 2000 years of Islamic, Christian Coptic, and Jewish culture still flourishing to this day. On its west side lays the Ancient Egyptian city of Memphis (Giza), the renowned capital of the Old Kingdom and the site of the Pyramids, the only wonder surviving of the Seven Wonders of the World. Indeed, a journey through Cairo is a journey through time, a journey through the history of an immortal civilization. This palatial hotel in the shadow of the Great Pyramids in Cairo has enchanted guests since 1869. Located in forty acres of jasmine scented gardens, Mena House Oberoi has played host to kings and emperors, Heads of State and celebrities. Its royal history is reflected in luxurious interiors that are embellished with exquisite antiques, handcrafted furniture and rich textiles. Mena House Oberoi has rooms and suites in the Palace and Garden wings and Cabana style rooms by the swimming pool. All guest accommodation at Mena House Oberoi is air conditioned with private bathroom. Rooms and Suites are lavishly appointed with traditionally inspired furnishings and rich carpets. All Suites in the old Palace section feature beautiful traditional detailing, murals, screens, panelling, gilding, fine upholstery, original wooden balustrading and arched windows. A variety of international as well as Egyptian cuisine is on offer at the excellent restaurants and bars in the hotel. This is the perfect place to begin your explorations of Cairo.

Guided touring includes the following:

Pyramids: Your Egyptologist will meet you at the hotel to escort you on an unforgettable tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza. The only present-day survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, they are among the world’s greatest tourist attractions and never lose their ability to inspire and overwhelm visitors. Your tour today includes an opportunity to enter inside one of these fabulous monuments and explore the mysteries of its ancient past for yourself.

Sphinx: Enter the temple of the mysterious Sphinx, an ancient figure shrouded in legend and mystery. Your Egyptologist will enthrall you with the tales told of this fascinating figure.

Sakkara: Experience Egypt’s long and rich history in this exciting double tour to the city of Memphis and the necropolis of Sakkara. At vast Sakkara, you will see the famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the first freestanding stone structure in the world. Our Egyptologist will guide you to some tombs belonging to the nobles of the past. They show the beauty and excellence of Ancient Egyptian art on their walls and give an insight in the daily life of Ancient Egypt.

Memphis: At the site of Memphis, you will see the ancient capital that once stood as a flourishing metropolis during the time of the Pharaohs. The place is thickly surrounded by lush palm groves and bushes, isolating the site of the old city from modern civilization.

Museum: Your Egyptologist will escort you today on a fascinating tour of 7,000 years of Egyptian history with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. The Museum houses the world’s greatest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, including 12 rooms filled with golden treasures from the world-famous tomb of the boy-king Tutenkhamun.

Islamic Cairo: Take a fascinating tour of Islamic Cairo, including the beautiful and graceful Mohamed Ali Mosque and the ancient Citadel, a spectacular medieval fortress perched on a hill above the city. Originally built by Salah El-Din in 1176 to fortify the city against the Crusaders, the Citadel was modified and enlarged over the centuries by subsequent rulers and today is a complex of three mosques and four museums.

Khan El-Khalili Bazaar: Proceed to the fascinating Khan El-Khalili Bazaar – reputed to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Originally founded as a watering stop for caravanserai in the 14th century, the bazaar has now grown to vast proportions. As you wander through the labyrinth of narrow streets you will find workshops and stalls selling all manner of things from woodwork, glassware and leather goods to perfumes, fabrics and Pharaonic curiosities. Remember to bargain hard!

The Movenpick Aswan Resort is situated on an island across from the city of Aswan. In one of the most fantastic settings in Egypt, close to the city's most famous attractions, the hotel provides a wonderful and convenient base from where to explore all that Aswan has to offer. A perfect place to relax in some of the most beautiful natural surroundings in Egypt. The resort offers 190 rooms, 38 duplexes and 8 villas. Comfortably furnished and tastefully decorated in soft muted tones, each room leads out onto its own private balcony with dramatic views of the Nile and the desert beyond. Each room has individually controlled air conditioning, direct-dial telephones and fully marbled bathrooms en-suite, complete with personal toiletry and individual bathrobes. The magnificent duplex suites are located on two levels with separate sleeping and living/dining areas. And beyond the main hotel are 8 exclusive villas each leading to its own private garden. The hotel was built around a main tower structure and is situated on a lush 16 hectare property that includes cultivated gardens, children's parks and pleasant pathways. Notably, the botanical gardens and the Tombs of the Nobles are a short boat ride away. The Orangerie, serves French cuisine, a buffet and an a la carte menu on a 24-hour basis. The second main dining facility is an Italian restaurant called La Perle. A poolside restaurant offers snacks and pizzas, and a lounge bar also operates on the first floor for drinks, coffee or light snacks. The Panorama bar, which enjoys the best views of Aswan and the surrounding area, is situated on the upper floor of the tower, and operates for high tea and for drinks. The facility operates a fitness and exercise room, tennis courts, table tennis, two heated pools (one infinity pool overlooking Aswan) and a children's pool.

Abu Simbel Excursion - Our Representative will meet you at Airport and escort you to the world-renowned site where Ramses II ordered two sun temples carved from the limestone mountains at Abu Simbel, between 1290-1124 BC. At the Great Temple of Ra-Harakhte, the four famous colossal statues of Ramses II sit majestically over 20 meters high, staring out across the desert. Six massive standing statues front the Temple of Hathor, dedicated to the cow-headed goddess of love and built in honor of Ramses’ favorite wife, Queen Nefertari, each 10 meters high. In modern times the waters that would rise with the completion of the High Dam threatened the two temples of Abu Simbel. A campaign to save them was organized by UNESCO, with the temples being cut into blocks, raised piece-by-piece, and reassembled in a new position higher up the hillside. The massive job took two years to complete, 1966-1968.

Touring while cruising includes the following:

High Dam: Your Egyptologist guide will escort you to visit the Aswan High Dam, Egypt’s contemporary example of building on a monumental scale.

Philae Temple: Take a short motorboat ride to visit the romantic and majestic Philae Temple on the Island of Agilka. Unfinished Obelisk: Visit the Granite Quarries, which supplied the ancient Egyptians with most of the hard stone used in pyramids and temples, and still hold a huge unfinished obelisk.

Kom Ombo Temple: Visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile-god Sobek. The temple stands at a bend in the Nile where in ancient times sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank.

Edfu Temple: Explore the largest and most completely preserved Pharaonic – albeit Greek-built – temple in Egypt, the extraordinary Temple of Horus at Edfu.

Luxor has often been called the world’s greatest open-air museum, as indeed it is and much more. The number and preservation of the monuments in the Luxor area are unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Actually, what most people think of as Luxor is really three different areas, consisting of the City of Luxor on the East side of the Nile, the town of Karnak just north of Luxor and Thebes, which the ancient Egyptians called Waset, which is on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor. On the East bank of the Nile, in the city of the living, are found the Temples of Luxor and Karnak, the largest place of worship ever built. On the West Bank are the Colossi of Memnon, the tombs of the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, and a number of commemorative temples and tombs of important officials. Today, you can walk through history, past statues with heads of gods and animals, beneath pillars carved with lotus buds and papyrus. Al Moudira Hotel has been built with traditionally styled architecture incorporating actual pieces saved from old Egyptian buildings. Designed by Egyptian architects and constructed using local material, it took almost two-and-a-half years to build. Ninety-nine percent of its décor is comprised of Egyptian-made items including artifacts from souks, antique shops, bazaars, galleries and handicrafts by local artisans. The result is as though a fairytale palace was dropped in the middle of a rural Egyptian village. The rooms are grouped around private courtyards with lush greenery and fountains. Columns and archways add to the Oriental feel. Frescoes depicting Arabic artwork and styles decorate the walls. All rooms have a tiled bathroom with a tub, and some even have a sunken tub reminiscent of a Turkish bath. All the rooms have satellite TV and air-conditioning.

Touring while cruising includes the following:

Valley of the Kings & Queens: Begin your day with a visit to the West Bank of Luxor to explore the Valley of the Kings, a vast City of the Dead where magnificent tombs were carved into the desert rocks, decorated richly, and filled with treasures for the afterlife by generations of Pharaohs. You will also have the chance to visit at least one tomb in the Valley of the Queens.

Hatshepsut Temple: Rising out of the desert plain in a series of terraces, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Ancient Egypt’s only female Pharaoh) merges with the sheer limestone cliffs that surround it, as if nature herself had built this extraordinary monument.

Photostop Colossi of Memnon: On the way back to the river Nile, your road passes by the famed Colossi of Memnon, known in Ancient Greek times for their haunting voices at dawn.

Luxor Temple: Your Egyptologist will guide you on a tour of the East Bank of Luxor, starting with the strikingly graceful Temple of Luxor dedicated to the god Amun.

Karnak Temple: Visit the Temple of Karnak, built over more than a thousand years by generations of Pharaohs. The great “Hypostyle Hall” is an incredible forest of giant pillars, covering an area larger than the whole of Notre Dame Cathedral.