Meet our local representative on arrival at Cairo International Airport
Transfer from Cairo Airport to The Cairo Marriott Hotel
Day 2 - Full day tour of Memphis, Sakkara, Pyramids and Sphinx
Day 3 – Full day tour of Museum, Islamic Cairo, Khan El-Khalili Bazaar
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. In the heart of Cairo, overlooking the Nile, nestled within six acres of lush, tranquil gardens and surrounded by the exotic sights and sounds that make Cairo the most popular destination in the Middle East, the Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino is an oasis of peace. A perfect place to unwind, to conduct business and to receive royal Marriott service in an exquisite palatial setting. The spacious rooms have Nile, Garden or Pool View, and are air-conditioned with individual climate controls. 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!
Transfer from Cairo Marriot Hotel to Cairo Domestic Airport
Egypt Air flight Cairo – Abu Simbel – Aswan
Day 3 - Abu Simbel Excursion
Transfer from Aswan Airport to Old Cataract Hotel
The town of Aswan in Upper Egypt marked the southern boundary of Ancient Egypt. It is one of the most beautiful places in the country with the town located on the east bank and the desert coming right to the Nile on the west bank. The best view of Aswan is from the Aga Khan's Mausoleum on the west bank. For total relaxation, take a felucca around the islands. Just south of Aswan is the Old Dam built around the turn of the century and later increased in height. Just south of the dam is the beautiful island temple complex of Philae. Even further to the south is the mighty Aswan High Dam built in the 1960s. Behind it have amassed the waters of Lake Nasser, which extend some 500 kilometres south along the old course of the Nile. The river is dotted with islands. Near the town, the two main ones are Elephantine and Kitchener. Kitchener's Island is the site of botanic gardens, whilst Elephantine has ruins and a museum. Overlooking this island, the Old Cataract Hotel is perched atop a granite hill at the Nile river's edge in Aswan, and takes its name from the river's First Cataract (rapids) at the traditional northern border of Nubia. Thomas Cook had the hotel constructed, mostly for the tourists that his company was escorting down the Nile at the end of the 19th century. Unlike many historical hotels in Egypt, it was never a royal palace or lodge. It has always been a grand hotel, and it remains one of the finest hotels in Egypt today. Victorian architecture combines elegantly with interior decor inspired by the Orient. This unique hotel inspired the Agatha Christie novel, Death on the Nile. The rooms are all air-conditioned, spacious and all feature en suite bathrooms. The 1902 Restaurant offers a gourmet menu while the Darna Restaurant specializes in Eastern cuisine. There are also four bars, one features a view of the Nile and is well known for its terrace.
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.
Transfer from Old Cataract Hotel to the Nile Adventurer
Day 5 - Tour of High Dam, Philae Temple and Unfinished Obelisk; Captain’s Cocktail Party
Day 6 – Tour of Kom Ombo Temple and Edfu Temple; “Egyptian Night” costume party dinner ~ a lavish buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed by oriental music and dancing
Day 7 – Tour of Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple; Formal gala dinner
The Nile Adventurer cruise boat is a 5-star deluxe boat moored in private dock in Aswan. The cruise boat offers comfortable accommodation and has mainly twin bedded cabins all of which are air-conditioned and have private facilities. All of the cabins have panoramic windows affording views of the passing river bank. Suites are also available if you want to have that little bit of extra comfort. These cabins are larger than standard berths and have a double or twin beds and are equipped with en-suite facilities, internal telephone, fridge and TV local channel. One of the pleasures of cruising is the food and your Nile cruise operates on a full board basis with buffet breakfast followed by lunch and dinner which can either be a set menu or buffet style. Menus are changed on a seasonal basis to enable the Chef to use the freshest ingredients at all times. Most meals are served in the restaurant. However, at least one barbecue lunch (while sailing) will be served on deck (weather permitting).
Afternoon tea includes a range of teas and herbal infusions, fresh coffee and a selection of freshly baked, homemade cake, cookies and finger food Mineral water, tea and coffee are included with every meal.
The only additional expenses are drinks, tips, souvenirs and optional excursions available on board. The lounge bar is the perfect place to relax on comfortable sofas and enjoy a cocktail before dinner and entertainment in the evenings. On the sundeck you will find a plunge pool with sun beds and towels, there are also chairs and tables in a shaded area where you can relax. The reception area has safety deposit boxes and there's even a shop on board where you can buy souvenirs and essentials. Entertainment includes Discotheque, Belly Dance Show, Captain's Welcome Cocktail Party, Fancy Dress Galabia Party and Nubian Folkloric Show. 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 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.
Transfer from The Nile Adventurer to Al Moudira Hotel
Day 8 - Tour of Valley of the Kings & Queens, Hatshepsut Temple, Photostop Colossi of Memnon
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.
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.
Transfer from Cairo Airport to InterContinental Heliopolis Hotel
The luxurious InterContinental Heliopolis Hotel is situated adjacent to Cairo's largest retail and leisure complex Citystars Heliopolis and is the ideal starting point for tours sightseeing and enjoying the vibrant life of Cairo
The hotel is only seven minutes from Cairo International Airport and just five minutes from the Cairo International Conference Centre. Guests are assured of a comfortable and relaxing stay in the 790 guest rooms which include suites, Garden Wing, Poolside rooms and 15 bedroom residence suites Club. InterContinental accommodation offers upgraded facilities and amenities. A choice of dining options includes a Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant Mediterranean fine dining Lebanese Restaurant coffee shop cocktail lounge fish market-style restaurant opening soon and various entertainment venues together with 24 hour room service. The hotel offers 19 versatile function rooms including Al Saraya the largest banquet hall in Cairo with a maximum capacity of 2200 persons in a reception setting. A variety of recreational facilities for all age groups includes the 3000 square metre Lifestyle Aqua Spa and Wellness Center squash and tennis courts. There is access to 550 shops City stars an exhibition centre 16 cinemas and a family entertainment centre Concierge services and ample parking are available.
