Egypt in Style

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Cairo

Arrive in Cairo at any time. A G.A.P Adventures representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to our joining point hotel. There are no planned activities, so check into the hotel (check-in time is approx 3pm) and enjoy the city. In the late afternoon (approx 5pm) meet your fellow group members to go over the details of your trip; this is also when your leader will collect your local payment. Check the notice board or ask reception to see the exact time and location of this group meeting. After the meeting head out for a meal in a nearby local restaurant (optional). If you arrive late, no worries, the leader will leave you a message at the front desk.

Day 2 Cairo (B)

The day starts with a guided tour in Giza to visit the legendary and majestic Pyramids. A trip to Egypt would not be complete with out a tour of the great Sphinx which stands guard over the Royal Burial Chambers and temple of Cheops. In the afternoon visit the Egyptian museum to really understand this fascinating country. The Great Pyramids of Giza, dating back to 2500 BC, are some of the most famous manmade objects in the world. While there are actually over one hundred Pyramids in Egypt the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is the only "Wonder of the Ancient World" that still survives. Many Egyptologists have somewhat different views on exactly why the ancient Egyptian kings built Pyramids as their tombs, but all of them seem to agree that it had to do with their worship of the sun god, Re (Ra). During your time at The Great Pyramids of Giza, there is no escaping the mysterious Sphinx, a symbol which has come to represent the essence of Egypt for thousands of years. With the body of a lion and the head of a king, there is much mystery surrounding who built it and why.Another highlight of a visit to Cairo is The Egyptian Museum. With 107 halls you can explore the history of Pharaonic Egypt through the 120,000 artifacts exhibited, from Narmer to Akhnaton and Ramses. On the upper floor you will find the famous collection of King Tutankhamon treasures. The pharaoh is indeed gone, but his treasures and life still fascinate us today.

Day 3-4 Alexandria (2B)

This day starts early with a drive along the coast of the Mediterranean sea stopping the Coptic monasteries complex at Wadi Natrum before an evening arrival in Alexandria. Explore this fascinating city with visits to Pompey’s Pillar, the Catacombs, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Citadel of Qait Bay and the Montazah Palace. On Day 4 board the evening sleeper train travelling south to Aswan. The city and port of Alexandria was founded on the site of an Egyptian fort, Rhakotis, in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, who turned it into a vital part of the Hellenistic world. It subsequently became one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire, famous for being the home of Cleopatra VII and a great city of culture and learning. By the 4th Century AD, Alexandria was a centre of Christianity, later conquered by the Muslims; it went into a decline with the establishment of the new capital in Cairo. Today, most of it's ancient structures have been lost in the harbour or lie beneath the modern city buildings, although a great deal of excavation has taken place over recent decades, both in the city and the underwater area of the harbour. Its long history of foreign conquest and location on the Mediterranean coast has given the city a cosmopolitan flavour, still more European than Egyptian.

Day 5 Aswan (B,D)

Arriving in the early morning the day gets started with a tour of the ancient granite quarries, Unfinished Obelisk, High Dam and a boat ride to the Temple of Philae - the delicate temple of Isis, which was moved stone by stone from its ancient site (now submerged) to its present location. In the afternoon a Nubian host takes us on a tour of the local village after which we enjoy a traditional dinner with a local family. Egypt's sunniest southern city, Aswan, 81 miles south of Luxor, has a distinctively African atmosphere. Small enough to walk around and graced with the most beautiful setting on the Nile, the pace of life here is slow and relaxing. Days can be spent strolling up and down the broad corniche watching the sailboats or sitting in floating restaurants listening to Nubian music and eating freshly caught fish.In Aswan the Nile is at its most beautiful, flowing through amber desert and granite rocks, round emerald islands covered in palm groves and tropical plants. Explore the souk, full of the scent and colour of spices, perfumes, scarves and baskets. Every night Nubian dancers and musicians perform in the Cultural Centre, just off the Corniche. Folklore troupes recreate scenes from village life and perform the famous Nubian mock stick-fight dances.

Day 6 Abu Simbel (B,L,D)

After an early start travel by plane to Abu Simbel. Upon arrival visit the Temple of Ramses and Temple of Queen Nefertari. Later we fly back to Aswan to embark onto our home for the next few days while we cruise the Nile River.The twin temples of Abu Simbel were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th Century BC, to commemorate his alleged victory at the Battle of Kadesh, as well as to impress and intimidate his Nubian neighbours. Abu Simbel was first reported by J. L. Burckhardt in 1813, when he came over a mountain and only saw the facade of the great temple as he was preparing to leave the area via the Nile.Not only are the two temples located at Abu Simbel among the most magnificent monuments in the world but their removal and reconstruction was an historic event in itself. When the temples (280km from Aswan) were threatened by submersion in Lake Nasser due to the construction of the High Dam, the Egyptian Government secured the support of UNESCO and launched a worldwide appeal. During the salvage operation which began in 1964 and continued until 1968, the two temples were dismantled and raised over 60m up the sandstone cliff where they had been built more than 3000 years before. Here they were reassembled, in the exact same relationship to each other and the sun, and covered with an artificial mountain. Most of the joins in the stone have now been filled by antiquity experts, but inside the temples it is still possible to see where the blocks were cut. You can also go inside the man-made dome to see an exhibition of photographs that show the different stages of the massive removal project.

Day 7-8 Nile River (2B,2L,2D)

Wake up every morning to the sounds of the Nile, and have breakfast while you watch the river come alive. Sail to Esna and cross the locks before sailing into Edfu, where we visit to the Temple of Horus. Sail to Kom Ombo to see the temple dedicated to Sobek (the Crocodile god) and Haroeris (the winged god). Started by Ptolemy VI Philometor in the early 2nd Century BC, the temple known as Kom Ombo actually consists of two temples: a Temple to Sobek and a Temple of Haroeris. In ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the river bank near here. Not much remains of the original temple, due first to the changing Nile, then the Copts who once used it as a church, and finally by builders who used the stones for new buildings. Edfu is considered one of the best-preserved cult temples in Egypt.

Day 9-10 Luxor (2B)

The day starts with a visit to the exciting ancient sites on the West Bank including the two mammoth statues of Amenophis II at the Colossi of Memnon; Queen Hatshepsut Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. You will have free time to explore this fascinating city on your own.Luxor has often been called the world’s greatest open air museum, and for good reason: the number and preservation of the monuments in the Luxor area are unparalleled anywhere in the world. Walk through history today, past statues with the heads of gods and animals, beneath pillars carved with lotus buds and papyrus, and still vibrant hieroglyphic relics. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage, sail in a felucca, take a sunset cruise or see the city from a hot-air balloon. The city of Luxor has the most concentrated temple, tomb and monument region in Egypt. Included among these is the tomb of King Tutankhamen, located in the Valley of the Kings.The Valley of the Kings was the royal cemetery for 62 Pharaohs. The only entrance was a long narrow winding path; it was a secret place, and in the hopes of discouraging tomb robbers sentries were placed both at the entrance to the valley and along the tops of the hills. Unfortunately over the years almost all of the royal tombs have been plundered, including the treasures of the Pyramids.

Day 11-13 Hurghada (3B,3L,3D)

From it's humble origins as an unassuming fishing village, Hurghada is now becoming an increasingly popular destination on the Red Sea coast and has a variety of activities for those who enjoy the sea and the beach. An international centre for water sports is a great place to spend some free time. Make the most of the wonderful range of water sports options available, or relax and unwind on the beach.

Day 14 Cairo (B)

Journey back to the capital for one last night on the town. Use your time to revisit some of your favourite sites, or branch out and discover some new ones. Roam the Khan El Khalili Bazaars to shop for those last minute souvenirs and remember to bargain hard to get the best price!

Day 15 Depart Cairo (B)

You are free to depart at any time on Day 15, though remember check out from the hotel is approx 12am midday.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Superior hotel (11 nts), Sleeper train (1 nt), Boat (3 nts).
Group Size	Max 15, Avg 10
Meals Included	14 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners.
Recommendation	Want to see more of the temples of Egypt? Try the Temples of Egypt DPTE, p 62.
StartFinish	ex Cairo
Transport	Air-conditioned bus, Flight, Boat, Train.

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2009-03-15	2009-03-29	7+
2009-04-12	2009-04-26	7+
2009-05-17	2009-05-31	7+
2009-06-21	2009-07-05	7+
2009-07-12	2009-07-26	7+
2009-07-19	2009-08-02	7+
2009-09-13	2009-09-27	7+
2009-10-18	2009-11-01	7+
2009-11-15	2009-11-29	7+
2009-12-13	2009-12-27	7+
2010-01-17	2010-01-31	7+
2010-02-14	2010-02-28	7+
2010-03-14	2010-03-28	7+

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