Day 1 - Saturday, January 31: Flight from Toronto
Departure from Toronto for Cairo via London or another European airport. Full inflight services provided.
Day 2 - Sunday, February 01: Arrival in Cairo
Arrival in Europe and connecting flight to Cairo, arriving in late afternoon or evening. (The time difference between Ontario and Egypt is 7 hours.) Transfer to our hotel, the Hyatt Centric West or similar, dinner, and overnight.
Day 3 - Monday, February 02: The plateau of Saqqara
Morning excursion to the plateau of Saqqara, site of the necropolis of Ancient Egypt’s capital city, Memphis. Visits to the funeral complex of king Djoser of the Third Dynasty, built by the architect Imhotep, who designed the step pyramid, forerunner of the great pyramids of Giza, to the mastaba (rectangular superstructure of a tomb) of Kagemni, decorated with well-preserved reliefs, and to the funerary chamber of the pyramid of Teti. In the afternoon we head for Dashour to discover the curious Bent pyramid, which changes of angle at mid-height, and the so-called “red” pyramid. The monuments visited today and tomorrow, all part of ancient Memphis, are collectively classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 4 - Tuesday, February 03: Giza
Today we explore the plateau of Giza, site of the world-famous Sphinx and the great pyramids, the only survivor of the seven wonders of the ancient world. They date back to the Old Kingdom and were built by three Kings of the Fourth Dynasty: Cheops, Khephren, and Mykerinos.
Day 5 - Wednesday, February 04: Cairo
After breakfast, visit to the recently inaugurated Grand Egyptian Museum, an architectural marvel featuring thousands of objects evoking the long history of this fabulous civilization including the world-famous treasures of King Tut! In the afternoon, short flight from Cairo to Aswan, Egypt’s gateway to Nubia, a region along the Nile stretching from here to Khartoum in Sudan. Transfer to Hotel Movenpick Aswan. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6 - Thursday, February 05: Abu Simbel
After breakfast, visit to the magnificent Philae temple, located on a homonymous island and dedicated to the goddess Isis; this was the last active pagan sanctuary in Egypt. On to view the unfinished obelisk, which would have been the highest in Egypt if a crack had not caused the project to be abandoned. In the afternoon, visit to the Nubian Museum and free time to explore Aswan on your own, shop, and/ or just relax. Incidentally, all the Nubian temples to be visited during the next few days, from Philae to Abu Simbel, are collectively classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 7 - Friday, February 06: Abu Simbel
Today we travel south by private coach through the desert to fabulous Abu Simbel, where two temples were carved out of a rocky cliff by Ramses II to mark the frontier of his kingdom with Nubia, now Sudan. The four colossal statues of Ramses are arguably the spectacular examples of ancient Egyptian art! In the 1960s, the temples were salvaged from the rising waters of the Nile River caused by erection of the Aswan High Dam. Visit of the temples after embarkation on a luxurious cruise ship, the STEIGENBERGER OMAR KHAYAM, and lunch on board. In the evening, the breathtaking daily light and sound show! Dinner and overnight on board the boat.
Day 8 - Saturday, February 07: Cruise to Wadi El Seboua.
As we sail way this morning, we can admire the unforgettable facade of the temples of Abu Simbel but also panoramic views of Kasr Ibrim, a mighty citadel with ancient Egyptian as well as Roman antecedents. After lunch, visits to two more fascinating monuments. First, the ancient Nubian temple of Amada, also moved to its present location to be saved from the rising waters of Lake Naser. Second, the rock temple of Derr, built by Ramses II and similar to Abu Simbel. Third, the Tomb of Pennout, dug in the rock and decorated with scenes relating the life of Pennout, a governor of Lower Nubia during the reign of Ramses VI. At the end of the day, our ship docks in Wadi El Seboua.
Day 9 - Sunday, February 08: Sail to Aswan
Morning visits to the new Wadi El Seboua temple complex, the Greco-Roman temple of Maharakka, dedicated to Isis and Serapis, and the temple of Dakka, dedicated to Thot. Afterwards we sail to Aswan. Dinner followed by a Nubian folklore show, and overnight on board.
Day 10 - Monday, February 09: Kalabsha
After breakfast, visit to Kalabsha, the site where three temples of ancient Egypt were moved to escape the waters of Lake Nasser: the Temple of Kalabsha, built during the reign of Augustus, center of worship of the Nubian god Mandoulis, the Nubian avatar of Horus; the rock-cut temple of Beit el-Wali, another Nubian temple associated with Ramses II; and Gerf Hussein, a sanctuary dedicated to the god Ptah. After disembarkation, we view Aswan’s High Dam, the project that gave birth to Lake Nasser, before embarking on the ship that will be our home during a luxurious 5-day cruise on the Nile, the SUNRAY, a member of the five-star Movenpick chain of hotels. In the afternoon, we visit a Nubian Village.
Day 11 - Tuesday, February 10: Sail to Luxor
Morning sail down the Nile and visit the temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to two deities: Haroëris the falcon-headed god and Sobek the crocodile. Resume sailing down the Nile and visit to the temple of Edfu, dedicated to the god Horus, said to be the best preserved temple of Ancient Egypt. Dinner and overnight on board. (Boat ducks in Luxor)
Day 12 - Wednesday, February 11: Valley of the Queens
Visit the Valley of the Queens, where the tombs of the pharaohs’ wives contain fabulous painted decorations, and Deir el Medineh, an ancient Egyptian village, residence of the craftsmen who built the royal tombs and funeral temples during the New Kingdom. On to Medinet Habu and its ancient temple, associated with Ramses III, Egypt’s last great pharaoh. In the afternoon, visit to the great temple of Luxor
Day 13 - Thursday, February 12: Valley of the Kings
Visit to the Valley of the Kings, with the magnificently decorated tombs of pharaohs of the New Kingdom. dug in the rock, are feature magnificent scenes in a remarkable state of conservation. On to Deir el-Bahari for a visit to the temple of Queen Hatshepsut: a unique structure in Egyptian architecture, with its three terraces superimposed at the foot of a high cliff. We also view the famous Colossi of Memnon and visit the Luxor Museum before checking into the Hilton Hotel.
Day 14 - Friday, February 13: Denderah
Full-day excursion to Denderah to visit one of the best-preserved monuments in the Nile Valley, a temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor, situated on the cusp of the cultivated “black land” and the desert or “red land”. Then we continue to Abydos, an ancient pilgrimage centre with a unique temple, dedicated to Osiris, god of the underworld. Return to Luxor in time for dinner.
Day 15 - Saturday, February 14: Temples of Karnak
After breakfast, we visit the temples of Karnak, devoted to the deity Amon-Ra, a cult complex that is considered to be the largest ever built by any civilization. Then we head for the airport and fly to Cairo. Dinner and overnight in the Hyatt Centric West.
Day 16 - Sunday, February 15: Cairo
A recap of Ancient Egypt history by visiting the (Old) Egyptian Museum with its fabulous collection of Egyptian antiquities. Full-day sightseeing in the historic centre of the Egyptian capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with as highlights Saladin’s Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali, the Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, the Mosque of Ibn Toloun, the Coptic district featuring Orthodox Christian as well as Jewish places of worship, the Caravanserai of Khan El Khalili, and the famous Cairo Bazaar.
Day 17 - Monday, February 16: Alexandria
After breakfast, departure by private coach for Alexandria. En route, visit to Wadi el-Natroun, site of a source of carbonated sodium used in Ancient Egypt for mummification but now famous for its impressive Coptic monasteries. Continue to Alexandria for dinner and overnight in a hotel by the shores of the blue Mediterranean. Alexandria, today Egypt’s second city, was founded by Alexander the Great and was for a long time a Greek and then Roman city, not considered to be part of Egypt! Dinner and overnight in the 5-star Steigenberger Hotel Cecil Alexandria, located near the waterfront.
Day 18 - Tuesday, February 17: Ciro
Our sightseeing program today includes the recently renovated Graeco-Roman Museum with its memories of Alexander the Great and Ceopatra; the Catacombs of Kom El-Shokafa; the virtually intact Roman Theatre; the new Library of Alexandria; and (view from outside) the Fortress of Kaitbay, built on the ruins of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Lunch in local restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean, and dinner in the hotel.
Day 19 - Wednesday, February 18: Visit to El-Alamein
After breakfast we drive to El-Alamein, site of a famous 1942 battle that halted Rommel’s advance into Egypt, and visit to various British as well as German cemeteries and monuments In the afternoon, return to Cairo for a lavish buffet dinner and overnight in Hotel Le Meridien Cairo Airport.
Day 20 - Thursday, February 19: Return flight to Toronto
Transfer to the airport in time for the flight to Toronto.
