"Wonders of Egypt"
Saturday, June 12 - Saturday, June 19, 2004
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE

**Please note that the itinerary of this tour is laid out with the knowledge that it will be summer in Egypt.  Temperatures will be quite high during the midday and early afternoon.  We are therefore following a schedule which is a bit different than our Fall and Spring tours.

Day 0, Fri., June 11, 2004: For those leaving from the USA, our plane leaves NY City, at 11:00 PM, Friday, June 11, 2004.  Ruth Shilling meets the group at JFK airport in New York City and accompanies those leaving from New York on the flight to Egypt. We fly direct non-stop from New York city to Cairo, Egypt. Other departure cities in the USA are available. Contact Us for pricing. 
*Please note that the tour price of $1,995 USD does not include the international airfare.

Those not traveling with Ruth should plan to arrive in Cairo sometime Saturday, June 12. We will arrange to have someone greet you at the airport and bring you to our hotel. We welcome travelers from all countries to join us on these tours.

Day 1, Sat., June 12, 2004: Afternoon arrival in Cairo (7 hours ahead of New York time, 2 hours ahead of Greenwich). Our 5-star hotel is right near the pyramids. Welcome to Egypt! 
Optional opportunity: Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids, if your flight arrives in time.
Hotel: Mena House Oberoi, 5*, historic hotel right next to the pyramids.  BB, L, D.

Day 2, Sun.: Our Egypt experience begins with a full day on the Giza Plateau. We visit the Great Pyramid (of course!) and the "3rd Pyramid" - Menkaure. The 2nd Pyramid is presently closed for renovations, but if possible, we will visit this also. We see the Solar Boat (almost 5,000 years old!), the Sphinx and Valley Temple. There are legends of the Sphinx speaking. Does the Sphinx have a message for you?
Camel rides for the adventurous.
Hotel: Mena House Oberoi, 5*. BB, L, D.

Day 3, Mon.: These first two days (Days 2-3) we experience Ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom era. This morning we begin with a trip into the desert south of Giza where we find the pyramids of Dashur. We spend time in the Red Pyramid (nearly as large as Giza's Great Pyramid) and have the opportunity for an unforgettable walk across the open desert to the Bent Pyramid. The desert is rich with inspiration and the vastness is exhilarating. The Bent pyramid was a key center of worship during the Middle Kingdom.

In the afternoon we continue our desert excursions with the Sakkara complex where we see the Step Pyramid, the early versions of the Book of the Dead in Teti's Pyramid and some interesting tombs that have scenes of daily life during the Old Kingdom. 

Optional: A second chance to see the Sound & Light Show at the pyramids this evening.
Hotel: Mena House Oberoi, 5*. BB, L, D.

Day 4, Tues.: Morning flight to Luxor.  Flight #135  CAIRO 0730   LUXOR 0835
Our New Kingdom (1550-1070 BC) experiences begin with a visit to Hatshepsut's Temple.  Now called Deir El Bahari, the ancient Egyptians called it, "The Most Splendid of All."  Cut out of the rock cliff which surrounds it in a gentle curve, this temple has inspired many - including many modern architects.  There are wall reliefs still showing their original colors, hauntingly beautiful statues of the goddess Hathor built into the columns in the Hathor Chapel, statues of the king overlooking the expansive view from the third level - across the West Bank to the Karnak Temple on the East Bank…
We also visit the Ramesseum, with the fallen colossus about which Shelley's famous poem, "Ozymandias," was written. 

Afterwards there is time to get situated at our hotel on the East Bank of Luxor and maybe even have a quick nap during the heat of the day.

In the late afternoon we visit the Luxor Temple.  Both gently beautiful and full of awesome grandness, this temple was the "Bride of Karnak" during the annual Apet festival. At this late hour the dramatic lighting enhances our views of the wall reliefs.
Hotel: New Winter Palace, the only 5* hotel in the center of the town (Luxor). BB, L, D.

Day 5, Wed.: For those who would like, we have an early morning visit to the Luxor Temple - a perfect time for meditation or to shoot the stunning photos provided by the early morning light. The splendors of Karnak fill the rest of our day. Each Pharaoh wanted to leave something impressive at Karnak. Obelisks and temples abound.  Bring extra film for Karnak.
Optional opportunity: Sound & Light Show at Karnak in the evening.
Hotel: New Winter Palace, the only 5* hotel in the center of the town (Luxor). BB, L, D.

Day 6, Thurs.: We travel early to the West Bank of Luxor today. Death in ancient Egypt was seen as a transition into the afterlife.  The west symbolized the afterlife or "other side" so this is where the dead were buried. Early morning is a fine time to visit the Valley of the Kings before the heat of the day sets in. There are many tombs in the Valley of the Kings (this is where King Tut's tomb was found) and you will get to choose which ones you would like to see.
We also visit the Deir El Medina, the Valley of the Workmen, where one sees exquisite, colorful scenes of daily life during the New Kingdom.

Late afternoon visit to the Luxor Museum with its special exhibit room of a cache of statues found in near-perfect condition. They were buried under a courtyard at the Luxor Temple and found only recently during renovations.  There is also a new exhibit under construction of a wall from Amarna.  Our friend, Rachid, is painstakingly putting together thousands of tiny pieces.  Each time we visit he has completed more of it.
Hotel: New Winter Palace, the only 5* hotel in the center of the town (Luxor). BB, L, D.

Day 7, Fri.: This morning we journey to Abydos, the place of pilgrimage during Ancient Egyptian times.  Our bus passes the hills of Nag Hamadi, where the scrolls were found that contain some of the Gnostic gospels.  Abydos is filled with magic, mystery and transformation. In the Temple of Seti I we some of the most stunning wall reliefs in all Egypt.  Many still contain the original colors.  The quality of workmanship is superb.  Behind the temple is the renowned Osireion, full of mystery...

On our return to Luxor we stop at Denderah to visit the Hathor Temple there.  Long a place of worship of the Goddess Hathor, the present temple was built during the Ptolemaic (Greek) era.  The famous circular zodiac was found in the ceiling of a chapel on the roof of the temple.  The ceilings and walls of the main hypostyle hall are full of astrological imagery.  The sky goddess, Nut, stretches across the ceiling.
Hotel: New Winter Palace, 5*. BB, L, D.

Day 8, Sat.: An early morning visit to Karnak reveals yet another layer of the beauty and grandeur we find here.  It is also a perfect time to do a meditation with the fiery lioness, Sekhmet, in the chapel she shares with her consort Ptah.  When we return to our hotel it is time to gather our things and check out of our hotel.
We spend our last afternoon in Luxor on the West Bank again.  After visiting the Colossi of Memnon, the final temple we visit is Medinet Habu.  Built by Ramesses III beside an earlier temple built by Hatshepsut, this was the final great temple to be built during the New Kingdom.  Ramesses III had a difficult time with foreign invaders.  This was the beginning of the decline which ended the New Kingdom and the glory that was Ancient Egypt.
Medinet Habu is the second largest temple in Luxor (Karnak is the largest).  Colorful columns are decorated with reliefs of the Ancient Egyptian gods & goddesses.  How many can you recognize now?
Evening flight back to Cairo or continue your tour with a Nile Cruise extension.  If you are returning to the USA, your flight leaves at 9:00 AM the next morning.
BB, L.
There may be changes to this itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR

What is Included 
in the "The Wonders of Egypt" Tour
Saturday, June 12 - Saturday, June 19, 2004.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

Tour Price:  $1,995 USD 
per person in double occupancy
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Included:
· 3 nights 5-star Mena House Oberoi, Giza-Cairo
· 4 nights 5-star New Winter Palace, Luxor
· All meals.  Meal selections are your choice (no pre-set menus).
· Airfare within Egypt as per the "Wonders of Egypt" Tour itinerary.
· Sightseeing as per the "Wonders of Egypt" Tour itinerary.
· All transportation by private A/C bus.
· American Tour Leader/Guide
· Egyptian Egyptologist Tour Guide, English speaking
· Camel ride at the Giza Pyramids
· Baggage portage & handling.
· Bottled water.
· Snacks.
· ALL TIPS (approx. $230 p.p.)

SMALL GROUP.  Limited to 12 Travelers.

Not included:
· International Airfare (to/from Cairo).
· "Nile Cruise & Cairo" Extension.
· Beverages other than water.
· Items of a personal nature.
· Anything which is not listed above as being included in your tour package.