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"Time & Space in the
Temples & Pyramids" . |
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Day-by-Day Itinerary |
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Includes:
Two 5-star hotels, 2 meals per day, bottled water at all times,
sightseeing with entrance fees as described below. |
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Departure
for
Egypt Saturday from USA or Australia |
For those departing from
USA or Australia: Departures on Sunday, Nov 17, 2013
will arrive in Cairo on Sunday, Nov 18, 2013. |
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Day
1 Sunday Arrivals Photo: Giza Pyramids from the air |
You will be
met inside the Cairo airport by a representative who will help with
obtaining your Egyptian visa and with customs formalities. Afterwards you
will be brought to our hotel in Giza. Our 5-star hotel is right near the pyramids. Welcome to Egypt! |
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Day
2
-----  Local Farmers ----  Niuserre Sun Temple |
We spend time inside the Red Pyramid (nearly as large as Giza's Great Pyramid) and then 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, and was much more important than Giza at that time. The Bent pyramid is the only pyramid to retain most of its original casing stones. The Black Pyramid (Middle Kingdom mud brick) can also be seen from here. Ruth has some friends in the Saqqara area who have a guesthouse in the Black Land, the farming area. Hopefully they will be home and able to welcome us for lunch. It's also a chance to see some the nearby farmers and their animals up close. The farmers love getting the photos of themselves that Ruth brings to them each time. One well-known Egyptologist said, "If you want to learn about Ancient Egypt, study the traditions of the local farmers." They may well be the closest link we have to the ways of the ancients. See Blue Lotus of Saqqara Guesthouse. In the afternoon we visit a site that is not open to the general public - the Niuserre Sun Temple at Abu Gurab. Again, we will be applying for a special permit that will allow us entrance to this site. At the Sun Temple the central alabaster altar represents the sun surrounded with "hotep" blessings in the four directions.
Shopping opportunities: |
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Day 3 ----  Imhotep Museum |
Today we visit the Saqqara complex where we see the Step Pyramid, the early versions of the Book of the Dead in the Teti Pyramid and some tombs with scenes of the daily life in the Old Kingdom. There have also been some recent discoveries at Saqqara which we hope our friend Ashraf Mohie el-Din (part of the excavation team) will have time to tell us about. There are many things to see here at Saqqara. We will also see: the Mortuary and Valley Temples of Unas, the causeway of Unas, the Tomb of Mereruka (now an extra ticket, which is included) and anything else which is of particular interest to those on the tour. We also have the pleasure of seeing the newly opened Imhotep Museum - a beautifully laid out modern museum with a number of wooden statues from the Old Kingdom that are particularly memorable. All the items on exhibit were found here at Saqqara and have not been on public display before. Shopping opportunity: Perfumery. Egypt is famous for its perfume oils. Optional: |
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Day
4 Wednesday FREE DAY with options  Citadel Mosque ---  Tent-Makers Shopping ----  Alexandria ---- or Relax! |
FREE DAY* with 4 Options: 1) Old Cairo - Coptic & Islamic. Day trip into Cairo to see the Coptic churches in the area known as "Old Cairo." See the Church of St. Mary, called El Moallaqah (the "Hanging Church"), which was built in the 4th C. AD on two towers of the Roman fortress of Babylon, and also the Church of St. Stergius. The newly opened Coptic Museum also has a number of interesting items. In the afternoon visit the Citadel and Mohammed Ali Mosque, one of the most beautiful mosques in the city (also known as the "Alabaster Mosque"). You also get a wonderful view of the whole city of Cairo from this vantage point. 2) Shopping with Ruth. Visit the Avenue of the Tent-makers in the old city where you can buy appliquéd items directly from the makers. Then visit Kerdasa where they make a wide variety of galebeya dresses worn by the local women (not the tourist variety), clothing from the Sinai and oases, as well as small souvenir items. Cost: $50 USD pp. 3)
Take a day-long to trip to Alexandria*. With the feel of a
European city, Alexandria is quite different than the rest of Egypt.
Your trip includes visits to the Catacombs of Kom el Shugafa, "Pompey's
Pillar," the Roman Amphitheater and the Greco-Roman
Museum (if it has reopened). Or you may prefer to spend the whole day at the newly
opened Alexandria Library. Return to Cairo by evening.
Cost: $140 USD pp. 4) Take the day off. Relax by the pool while gazing up at the pyramids, catch up on your postcards and/or have a massage. Or hire a taxi and have your own adventure. *Note: On this free day, only breakfast is included. All other days 2 meals a day are included in your tour price (and you get to order whatever you would like, we pick up the tab!). Evening Optional:
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Day
5 Thursday 
Giza Plateau ----  Solar Boat ---  Camel Rides |
In the Solar Boat Museum we see a boat that is almost 5,000 years old and was found 50 years ago, here beside the pyramid. We will also
see the Great Sphinx & Valley Temple. There
are legends of the Sphinx speaking. Does the Sphinx have a message
for you? The Valley Temple is built with huge granite blocks
that fit together snugly even today, almost 5,000 years later. Some
think it is even older than that!
The special permits are for: Overnight: Le Meridien Pyramids, Mena House or other 5-star hotel near the pyramids. |
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Day
6 Friday  Cairo Egyptian Museum --- Flight to Luxor |
Today we will be leaving Cairo to fly to Luxor. We check out of our hotel in the morning and drive into downtown Cairo where we will visit the famous Cairo Egyptian Museum. Your guide points out the most famous pieces and then there is free time to look at whatever interests you the most. The treasures of King Tut, the Royal Mummy Room, Middle Kingdom papyruses, statues from all time periods. Evening one-hour flight to Luxor. Egypt Air flight MS 162 leaves Cairo at 6:15pm and arrives in Luxor at 7:15pm. Our hotel in Luxor is right on the bank of the Nile. We can enjoy breakfast on the veranda overlooking the West Bank hills across the water. In the evening there are delightful places to sit and look out over the river.
Shopping opportunity: Papyrus Institute. |
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Day
7 Saturday  Workers' Village ---  Ramesseum ----  Hatshepsut's Temple --- "Colossi of Memnon" --- Luxor Bazaar |
Here
in Luxor, we begin our New Kingdom (1550-1070 BC) experiences on the West
Bank, one of the most famous archeological sites in the world.
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Day 8 Sunday  Abydos ---  Luxor Temple |
Today we
leave Luxor for an excursion to Abydos, the place of
pilgrimage during Ancient Egyptian times. We drive north, following the Nile to Qena and then to
Abydos. The Temple of Seti I (with
the renowned Osireion), is a place of legends, mystery and
power. Many feel that the reliefs of this temple are the highest
art found in Ancient Egypt. It is truly unforgettable.
More than 270
pictures of Abydos! During
our journey we pass through Nag Hammadi where the
writings were found that are now called the Nag Hammadi Library.
Discovered in 1945, these ancient codices (dating from 390 AD) contained
the Gospels of Thomas, Mary and others. Overnight: Sofitel Karnak Resort, Sonesta St George or other Luxor 5-star Hotel directly on the Nile. |
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Day
9 Monday  Dendera & Day-long Nile Cruise |
Taking the Nile Cruise to Dendera gives us a chance to relax and watch the timeless life along the Nile pass by at a pace that brings us into the life of times past. Lunch and afternoon tea served on board. Overnight: Sofitel Karnak Resort, Sonesta St George or other Luxor 5-star Hotel directly on the Nile. |
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Day
10 |
Morning options: 2) Early morning Balloon Ride over the West Bank of Luxor. See the temples from a very different perspective! You decide about this option while you are in Egypt, a few days before arriving in Luxor. Cost: about $140 USD. We start a bit later today. This will give you a chance to do the early visit to Luxor Temple, the balloon ride, or get some extra sleep in the comfort of our hotel. You may even decide to take the whole day off and lounge by the pool. The splendors of Karnak fill our day today. Karnak was the center of government during the New Kingdom and each Pharaoh wanted to leave something impressive at Karnak. The largest temple complex in Egypt, we see multiple temples, obelisks, great gates and the famous hypostyle hall - unequalled to this day. We also see the Sacred Lake, the Festival Hall and Botanical Garden of Tutmosis III (a precursor of Napoleon's later record of the fauna and flora found in Egypt). Also at Karnak, we visit the fascinating Open Air Museum where we view the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut and Tutmosis III (Karnak's original Holy of Holies) and Senwosret's White Chapel with its finely-carved Middle Kingdom hieroglyphs. These are in raised relief - some of the best to be found anywhere. There is something new each time we visit, as reconstruction of new pieces is ongoing. Bring extra film (or memory cards) for Karnak. In the late afternoon (Karnak closes at 4 PM) we make a visit to the modern Luxor Museum. There is a special exhibit room for 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 wing, just opened recently, with an excellent mummy exhibit and a number of splendid artifacts. Our friend, Rachid, has painstakingly put together a wall from Tel el-Amarna which is displayed here. Optionals: |
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11 Wednesday  Valley of the Kings ---  Medinet Habu --- Farewell Meeting --- Flight to Cairo |
On our last day of touring together we begin with the most famous archeological site in the world, the Valley of the Kings, where King Tut's tomb was found. There are many tombs here, and excavations are still going on, as well as renovations to tombs that have been uncovered a long time. One never knows which tombs will be open that day, but there will be a variety to choose from.
Recent highlights are the opening of the Ramesses I tomb, restored with
modern techniques pioneered during the restoration of the tomb of
Nefertari (Nefertari's tomb is no longer open to the public), and the
Tomb of Ramesses V & VI -- also recently restored and opened to the
public. The Ramesses V & VI is truly breathtaking. Ruth does
not want you to miss this one, so the extra ticket has been included in
your tour. The Ramesses I tomb is included in the standard Valley of
the Kings ticket, so you can see that, too! Time for one last farewell meal together before going our separate ways. Those following the tour schedule will return to Cairo by air this evening. Optional Felucca Sailboat ride in the late afternoon with sunset for those who choose it. Those returning home fly from Luxor back to Cairo on Egypt Air flight MS 358, leaving Luxor at 8:40pm and arriving in Cairo at 9:50pm. Overnight: Cairo hotel, 5-star hotel beside Cairo airport -- Iberotel Heliopolis Hotel & Casino or similar. |
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Day
12 Thursday Tour is finished. -------  Edfu Temple  Kom Ombo  Abu Simbel Temple |
Return flights home, Thanksgiving Day or extend your time in Egypt. For those leaving for New York with Egypt Air, your flight leaves at 10 AM and arrives in New York at 3:15 PM - the same day but with an increase of 7 hours for the time difference between Cairo and New York. For those traveling to the UK the time difference is 2 hours. There may be changes to this itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control. |
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Optional Add-on Extensions |
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Cairo |
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Photo credits this page: all photos by Ruth Shilling.