ITINERARY
Monday, October 6, 2008
Depart U.S. / Travel Day
Your tour cost includes round-trip airfare on Egyptair, plus three domestic flights within Egypt. We depart New York’s JFK International Airport on Egyptair Flight # 986 at 6:30pm this evening. Check in for this flight no later than two hours prior to departure and proceed to the departure gate, where you will meet your tour leader. Our actual flying time tonight will be about 10 hours, non-stop.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Arrive in Cairo
We arrive at the Cairo International Airport at 11:25am today, and are met by our local host who will assist with our transfer to the Marriott Palace. The afternoon is free to rest up from jet lag and enjoy the amenities of our wonderful hotel. This evening Toto Tours hosts a Welcome Dinner at the very trendy La Bodega Restaurant, just a short walk from our hotel. (Welcome Dinner)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Old Cairo / Citadel
After a sumptuous buffet breakfast at our hotel we are off to the Egyptian National Museum for a guided tour of the most famous museum of ancient Egyptology, featuring the amazing treasures of King Tut. (Even though some pieces are currently out for a traveling exhibition, the vast majority of the treasures can only be seen at this museum.) We also include entrance to the special room containing the amazing collection of ancient mummies.
Tour Old Cairo and see the Coptic Church known as The Hanging Church, then plunge into the excitement of the Khan el Khalili Bazaar. Our guide will take you through its bustling lanes, where you can see typical day-to-day life in Old Cairo and shop for unique souvenirs. We enjoy lunch at Naguib Mafouz, an historic and lovely Oberoi café within the Bazaar. The tour concludes with a visit to the Citadel of Salah el Den, built in 1183 AD, and featuring the Mosque of Mohammed Ali (also known as the Alabaster Mosque).
This evening thrill to your first glimpse of the pyramids in a most spectacular way, attending the Sound & Laser Light Show at the Great Pyramids of Giza. This enchanting production with music, historical narration and special effects created with laser lights will be an unforgettable first encounter with the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx! (Breakfast / Lunch)
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Memphis / Sakkara / Giza
Our day of touring begins in Memphis, the site of Egypt’s ancient capital, where we see the remains of two temples and a huge alabaster statue of Ramses II. Continue on to Sakkara and Egypt’s oldest standing stone structure, the Step Pyramid of King Zoser.
Next stop is Giza, where we enjoy lunch at the luxury Mena House, overlooking the Great Pyramids. Then, at last, enjoy one of the true highlights of the tour—getting up close and personal with the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. Our guide will lead a tour of the area, including the Sphinx and the Solar Boat, then we enjoy free time to soak up everlasting impressions of these world wonders.
You might use your time to wander the site atop a camel or a horse, or climb into the burial chamber of one of the Great Pyramids if it is open (these activities optional). We return to our hotel in Cairo and the remainder of the day is free. (Breakfast / Lunch)
Friday, October 10, 2008
Tour Luxor & Karnak
Depart our hotel early this morning bound for the airport and our flight to Luxor. Upon arrival we organize a late breakfast and drop our luggage at our hotel before we commence sightseeing. Lunch is included today at the Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel (formerly the Meridien Pyramid) in the heart of the old city. Highlights of touring today are memorable visits to the great temples of Luxor and Karnak. Time permitting, enjoy an optional carriage ride to a local village. After dinner you have the option to attend a Sound and Light Show at the Luxor Temple. (Breakfast / Lunch)
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Valley of Kings & Queens
You have the option this morning of taking a dawn hot air balloon adventure over the magnificent Temples of Luxor and Karnak. After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to our deluxe Nile cruise ship, boarding before lunch. Continue to the West Bank to tour the Valley of Kings and Valley of Queens, where many of Egypt’s rulers were buried in ornate tombs. Tour the Deir El Bahari funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, then visit the Colossi of Memnon, huge twin statues each 75 feet high and hewn from a single piece of rock.
Return to our cruise ship in the afternoon to enjoy the Captain’s welcome festivities. We remain docked in Luxor this evening, and those who wish are free to return to town. (All Meals)
NOTE: The proposed itinerary, schedule and activities aboard our Nile Cruiser are subject to revision at the discretion of the Captain.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Cruise to Edfu via Esna
Relax and enjoy the passing scene and all the amenities of our luxurious ship as we cruise along the Nile to Edfu. Lounge on the upper deck, splash in the pool, or enjoy an excellent massage or facial. We pass through a lock at Esna, and as we wait our turn to enter the lock local merchants throng the sides of our ship on small boats selling their wares. Haggling is fun! (All Meals)
Monday, October 13, 2008
Edfu / Kom Ombo / Aswan
In Edfu, visit the Temple of Horus, built between 237BC and 57BC. It is the best-preserved temple complex in Egypt. The Court of Offerings has a colonnade of 32 pillars covered with bas-reliefs. Magnificent black falcons guard the entrance to the steps of the complex.
Continue our cruise along the Nile to Kom Ombo where we visit the Sobek Temple, a unique temple from the Ptolemic period. Divided between two separate Egyptian deities, it honors the local crocodile god Sobeck and the falcon-headed sky god Horus. Continue cruising south along the Nile to Aswan. (All Meals)
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Aswan
Visit the awesome High Aswan Dam, an ancient granite quarry with a huge, unfinished obelisk, and the Philae Temple. After lunch enjoy a view of Kitchener’s Island, the Botanical Gardens and the Agha Ghan Mausoleum aboard a romantic felucca boat. (All Meals)
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Aswan to Abu Simbel
After breakfast, disembark from the ship and fly to Abu Simbel. Here we stand and marvel at one of the greatest feats of archeological preservation ever accomplished. When the lake created by the Aswan Dam threatened to submerge the Great Temples of Ramses and Nefertari, the Egyptians undertook a herculean project to move the temples, brick by brick, to higher ground.
After relaxing at our hotel, we return to the Temples as the sun sets to marvel at Egypt’s most spectacular sound and light show. Very few tour groups actually spend the night in Abu Simbel, and this event is guaranteed to be one of the highlights of your tour! Dinner is on our own tonight in Abu Simbel. (Breakfast)
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Return to Cairo
This morning our group travels to the Abu Simbel airport for our return flight to Cairo. The afternoon is at leisure to relax by the pool, do last-minute souvenir shopping, or visit some additional historic sites on your own.
This evening Toto Tours hosts a very special Farewell Dinner aboard the elegant Nile Maxim Dinner Cruise and Show. We cruise around Cairo at night, enjoying the lights of this grand city sparkling in the reflections of the Nile while savoring wonderful food and watching Egyptian and International entertainment. The acts include professional belly dancers, whirling dervishes and more—all blending into a most festive conclusion to our exploration of “The River of the Pharaohs.” (Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)
Friday, October 17, 2008
Departure
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our return flight. Egyptair Flight # 985 departs Cairo at 9:10am and lands at JFK at 3:15pm the same day. (Breakfast) |
