In Style: Egyptology - TAEG10

14 days - from $1747

As we take an unforgettable journey through Egypt, we gain an in-depth insight in to a truly fascinating ancient civilisation. Through onsite lectures we get a greater understanding of these special sites and our qualified Egyptologist is always on hand. We stay in a range of comfortable hotels, each individually chosen for their great locations and excellent service.

Itinerary:

Day 1 - CAIRO Arrive in Cairo.  No transfer is included, but can be arranged for an extra cost.   Day 2 - CAIRO Today we enjoy a tour of the famous Archaeological Museum, Citadel and Old Town of Cairo. (B)   Day 3 - CAIRO A memorable day tracing the history of Pyramids. The day starts at Saqqara where we visit the Step-Pyramid. From here we head to the little-visited pyramids at Dashour.  After lunch, we visit the Great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza.  This afternoon we board our comfortable overnight sleeper train bound for Aswan. (BD)   Day 4 - ASWAN This morning we arrive in Aswan, the most southerly city in Egypt.  We spend the day visiting the rock-cut tombs of The Nobles and continue on for a visit to Elephantine Island.  (B)   Day 5 - ASWAN Today we visit the remote temples of Philae and Kalabsha. For over 50 years the island of Philae and its monuments were submerged in water as a result of the Aswan Dam. (BL)   Day 6 - ASWAN Today you have the option of a visit to Abu Simbel, 300 km to the south through the Nubian Desert. You can make your visit by road to Abu Simbel or the temples can be visited by air. Built by Ramses II, the two temples are certainly some of the most spectacular in Egypt.  In the afternoon we will board our Nile Cruise Boat. (BLD)   Days 7- 8 - NILE CRUISE A cruise down the Nile offers the opportunity to view the traditional rural way of life. We cruise along slowly and visit the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo. The time at sunset gives us a chance to savour the tranquillity of the Nile. We arrive in Luxor in the evening of day 8 and spend our last night on the cruise boat. (2B 2L 2D)   Day 9 - LUXOR We disembark from our cruise in the early morning and transfer to our hotel. After this we begin our tour of Luxor with a visit to Luxor Temple and the huge Karnak Temple complex. (B)   Day 10 - LUXOR We cross the Nile in the morning to the West Bank. Here we see the Valley of the Kings.  One ticket allows us to see three tombs. Our guide will attempt to choose three tombs that represent a range of styles. Tutankhamun's tomb is visited with a separate ticket. We then drive to Queen Hatshepsut's Temple. The half-day finishes with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon and a view of the Ramesseum. (B)   Day 11 - LUXOR Medinet Habu is second only to Karnak in size and complexity. The temple is impressive with its inscribed reliefs, architecture and art - many bright colours still remain. The workmen's village, also on the West bank, comprised of over 70 tombs that are heavily decorated and are truly some of the best preserved. (B)   Day 12 - LUXOR - CAIRO Today is free to explore Luxor at own pace. You may wish to visit the Luxor Museum (optional), which has a fantastic collection of relics from the Theban temples and necropolis. In the evening we return to Cairo on the overnight sleeper train. (BD)   Day 13 - CAIRO We arrive in Cairo in the early morning and head for Al Fayom, Egypt's largest oasis. It is a beautiful area, well known for its fertile land. We then drive to Maydom Pyramids, the fourth dynasty pyramids, and on to Lake Karoun.  We continue our drive to visit the remains of the ancient city of Karanis before returning to Cairo. (B)   Day 14 - CAIRO Our tour ends this morning. (B)

Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights
Group Size: 8 - 20.
Transport: Private air-conditioned transport, 5 Star Nile cruise boat, first class sleeper train.
Accommodation: 8 nights 4-5 star hotels, 3 nights on board Nile cruise boat, 2 nights first-class sleeper train.
Activities: Extensive walking at sights.
Meals: 13 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 5 Dinners

Trip Reference: TAEG