Egypt & Nile Cruise

EGYPT AND NILE CRUISE

08 – 18 MAY

8 MAY – We meet at Malta International Airport at 8.30am for our Turkish Airline flight via Istanbul to Cairo. On our arrival to Cairo Airport, we meet our representative and transfer to our hotel in Cairo.

9 MAY- Pyramids / The Grand Egyptian Museum / Dinner Cruise.

Breakfast and we will start our day by a visit to the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum.  We will get picked up from our hotel by our Egyptologist who will first take us for a visit to the Pyramids.  The Egyptian pyramids are ancient masonry structures located in Egypt. Sources cite at least 118 identified “Egyptian” pyramids. Approximately 80 pyramids were built within the Kingdom of Kush, now located in the modern country of Sudan. Of those located in modern Egypt, most were
built as tombs for the country’s pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods. In the afternoon, we move on to The Grand Egyptian Museum, considered one of the most important and greatest achievements of modern Egypt. It was created to be an integrated global civilizational, cultural and entertainment edifice, and the first destinationfor everyone interested in ancient Egyptian heritage.  It is the largest museum in the world that tells the story of the history of ancient Egyptian civilization, as it contains a large number of distinctive and unique artifacts, including the treasures of the Golden King Tut. After finishing this fantastic and memorable tour you will be transferred back to your hotel. Around 6:00pm, we will be transferred to Marine for dinner on the floating restaurant on the River Nile.  Dinner and transfer to hotel.

10 MAY –  The Greco-Roman Museum– Alexandria Library- Catacombs- Pompey’s pillar.

After breakfast we will transfer to Alexandria to start our day visiting the Greco-Roman Museum – this is an archaeological museum in Alexandria.  It displays a wide range of antiquities found in and around Alexandria, most of which date from the Ptolemaic and later Roman periods, specifically from the founding of Alexandria in the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD.
Library of Alexandria, It is the largest library of its time, and was built by Ptolemy I. It is said to be founded by Alexander the Great about twenty-three centuries ago. It is also said that it was founded by Ptolemy II in the early third century BC, in the year (285 – 247) BC. The library was exposed to many fires and was completely destroyed in the year 48 BC. In 2002 and was rebuilt under the name of the New Library of Alexandria. The Tombs of Kom el-Shoqafa are a historical archaeological site located in Alexandria, in the Kom el-Shoqafa area, south of the Mina al-Basal neighbourhood. It is considered one of the most important cemeteries in the city and was considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World in the Middle Ages. The necropolis consists of a series of Alexandrian tombs, statues and archaeological remains of Pharaonic funerary cult, and because of the time period, many of the features of the Kom el Shoqafa catacombs combine Roman, Greek and Egyptian cultural points.
Pompey’s Pillar is a Roman triumphal column in the city of Alexandria.  It is the largest of its type. In fact, it was constructed outside of the imperial capitals of Rome and Constantinople. Pompey’s Pillar Alexandria is the only known free-standing column in Roman Egypt and is indeed one of the largest ancient monoliths and also one of the largest monolithic columns which was ever erected. The monolithic column shaft measures 20.46m in height with a diameter of 2.71m at its base. The weight of the single piece of red Aswan granite estimated at 285 tons. Pompey’s Pillar in Alexandria is 26.85m high including its base and capital.  After finishing this fantastic and
memorable tour, you will be transferred back to hotel for dinner and overnight.

11 MAY – Civilization Museum / Coptic Cairo

After breakfast, we start our day by visiting the Civilization Museum. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is located in the city of Fustat, Cairo, on an area of 33.5 acres. The museum contains fifty thousand artifacts that tell the stages of development of Egyptian civilization, in addition to a display of the achievements of the Egyptian man in various fields of life from the dawn of history until the present time. It also contains models, photographs, manuscripts, oil paintings, artistic artifacts, and antiquities from the Stone Age, Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic, Arab, and Sudanese civilization and the modern era. The museum site overlooks a natural lake, Ain Al-Sira Lake.
Coptic Cairo, is a part of Old Cairo which encompasses the Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church, the Greek Church of St. George and many other Coptic churches and historical sites. It is believed in Christian tradition that the Holy Family visited this area and stayed at the site of Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga), after finishing this fantastic and memorable tour you will be transferred to hotel for dinner and overnight.

12 MAY – Arrive Luxor (Monday) / Karnak temple / Luxor temple.

After breakfast we are transferred to Cairo airport for our internal flight to Luxor. Upon arrival we will Visit the Temple of Luxor, one the most beautiful Temples in Egypt. It was known in the New Kingdom period as Ipt-Rsyt, which means the southern shrine. It was also the northern house of Amon Ra. The temple runs close and parallel to the river Nile from north to south. It was built by kings of the 12th dynasty and Amenhotep III was the architect and overseer of the works of construction at this time.  The Temple was only 190m in length and 55m in width. We then proceed to Karnak temple, which is the largest man-made religious building on the east bank of Luxor and one of the most important places of worship during the New Kingdom. We will then be transferred to our Nile Cruise for dinner and overnight on board.

13 MAY – West bank (Valley of the Kings / Hatshepsut)

After breakfast, we will visit The Valley of the Kings, located on the west bank of the Nile River near Luxor. It is the most famous site for the unique collections of tombs and breathtaking ancient ruins. That location makes it one of the hottest spots for exploring ancient Egyptian history. Archaeologists have been sweeping the area of the Valley of the Kings for centuries, and till now it continues to surprise them. The Valley of the Kings is where the modern myth of Egypt began with Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, complete with all of the treasures with which he had been buried, in 1922. The fame of that discovery ushered in a new era of Egyptian tourism as the treasures of Tutankhamun toured the world and generated new, widespread interest in the history of Ancient Egypt.  We then drive to Hatshepsut Temple. Queen Hatshepsut was one of the greatest queens and the second who ruled ancient Egypt. Hatshepsut was the fifth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt. She was the second confirmed female pharaoh who ruled Egypt, the first one was Sobekneferu. Hatshepsut took over the rule of Egypt in 1478 BC.  We then return to our boat to sail to Edfu via Esna Lock.  Lunch and dinner and overnight on-board.

14 MAY – Edfu / Kom ombo Temples

Breakfast onboard, then we start the day with Edfu temple, where we have a wonderful ride by a horse carriage through the village to the fantastic temple of Horus, one of the largest and best-preserved monuments of Egypt. Two beautiful granite statues of the falcon god Horus flank the entrance.  We return to the boat and start sailing towards Kom ombo.  Upon arrival we will visit Kom Ombo Temple, where we explore the exceptionally beautiful temple of Haroeris (Horus the Elder) and Sobek (Crocodile God). The temple was built with two symmetric entrances, halls and sanctuaries; it is the only double temple in all of Egypt.  We then sail to Aswan. Lunch and dinner and overnight on-board.

15 MAY – Aswan / High Dam / Unfinished Obelisk / Philae temple

Breakfast onboard, then we start the day with The High Dam, also known as the Aswan High Dam.  It is a remarkable feat of engineering that has had a transformative impact on Egypt’s modern development. Situated on the Nile River near the city of Aswan, this massive hydroelectric dam was built to control the Nile’s floodwaters, generate electricity, and provide a reliable source of water for agriculture. The High Dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity and a symbol of Egypt’s modern development. We then procced to Philae temple on the island of Agilika. This sacred complex was dedicated to the goddess Isis and reflects a
fusion of three great civilizations — Egyptian, Greek and Roman. The temple was dismantled and then painstakingly reassembled when the Aswan High Dam was constructed. We proceed to the granite quarries and site of the Unfinished Obelisk. Illustrating the skills of Egypt’s stonemasons, this monolith is one-third taller than any other ancient Egyptian obelisk.  Lunch and dinner and overnight on-board.

16 MAY – Abu Simbel Temples and return flight to Cairo

After early breakfast, we disembark from boat and travel to Abu Simbel Temples by coach. From here we then proceed to Aswan Airport for our flight back to Cairo. Dinner and overnight in Cairo hotel.

17 MAY – The Grand Egyptian Museum / citadel.

After breakfast we start our day by visiting the Grand Egyptian Museum, considered one of the most important and greatest achievements of modern Egypt. It was created to be an integrated global civilizational, cultural and entertainment edifice, and to be the first destination for everyone interested in ancient Egyptian heritage, as the largest museum in the world that tells the story of the history of ancient Egyptian civilization.  It contains a large number of distinctive and unique artefacts, including the treasures of the Golden King Tut. We then proceed to the citadel which was constructed by Salah El Din on the Moqattam hills in 1183 AD, overlooking the whole city.  It was built to be his defensive point against the attacks of the Crusaders. Salah El Din was appointed to be the governor of Egypt after the death of the Sultan of Damascus, Noor-el-Din. The mosque is situated in the Citadel of Cairo in Egypt and commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha between 1830 and 1848. Situated on
the summit of the citadel, the mosque was built in memory of Tusun Pasha, Muhammad Ali’s oldest son, who died in 1816, after finishing this fantastic and memorable tour you will be transferred back to your hotel for dinner.

18 May – Return flights to Malta

After early breakfast, we are transferred to Cairo airport for our return flights to Malta via Istanbul.  We arrive back in Malta at 6.20pm.

Adult in Twin             €2580

Adult in Single            €3030

Price Includes:

Flights Malta-Cairo-Malta plus luggage

Flights Cairo-Luxor and Aswan-Cairo plus luggage

• Meet & assist upon arrival and departure.
  · 04 Nights accommodation in Cairo on B.B basis (4 stars).
  · 02 Nights accommodation in Cairo on H.B basis (4 stars).
  · 04 Nights accommodation onboard Nile Cruise on F.B basis (5 stars).
  · 03 Full day in Cairo.
  · 01 Full Day in Alexandria.
  · 02 Full days in Luxor.
  · 01 Full day Aswan.
  · 01 full day Komombo and Edfu.
  · Dinner cruise in Cairo.
  · Bottled water and snacks daily.

Lunches and dinners as per above itinerary

Full board on Nile cruise
· All ground transport by modern Private A/C Vehicle.
· Private English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
· Hotel pickup & drop off.
· Taxes, services charges, and Visa
· All entrance fees for all the sightseeing as per itinerary including the grand Egyptian museum & The Greco-Roman Museum.