Egyptian Splendor Cruise 2008

9 days Cairo to Cairo
Giza, Memphis then fly to Aswan for Nile cruise

YOUR CRUISE FEATURES

Over nine days, including a 4-night Nile cruise, be enchanted with the history and culture of one of the world's most ancient civilisations. Visits include the Egyptian museum, Memphis, Giza when in Cairo. You'll also have a chance to marvel at the Sphinx and Great Pyramids. Fly to Aswan for your cruise that includes visits to Kom Ombo, Edfu and Luxor to explore the Valley of Kings and the Valley of Queens. End your vacation in Cairo.

Meals
Breakfast - 8
Lunch - 4
Dinner - 5

Standard Features
CAIRO: Welcome drink, guided sightseeing, visit Tutankhamon's Tomb in the Egyptian Museum, Ramses II & Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis, the "stairway to the sky" at Sakkara, the Great Pyramids & Sphinx of Giza
CAIRO-ASWAN: By air including airport transfers
ASWAN: Sail by felucca to Kitchener Island & visit the Botanical Gardens, excursion to Old Dam & High Dam, motor launch cruise to Agilka, visit Temple of Isis & ancient Granite Quarries
4-NIGHT NILE CRUISE: In luxury two-berth outside cabins with private facilities on the Royal Lotus
LUXOR: Guided sightseing; visit the Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, Deir El-Bahari and the Luxor Temple
ALL DAY-TIME SHORE EXCURSIONS
LUXOR-CAIRO: By air including airport transfers
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable
INCLUDED MEALS: Welcome drink; 4 buffet breakfasts (BB); 4 full breakfasts (FB); 5 dinners (D); 4 lunches (L)

ITINERARY ( 9 days Cairo to Cairo, including - Giza, Memphis then fly to Aswan for Nile cruise )

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN CAIRO, EGYPT.
A welcome drink awaits you at your hotel; settle in and start soaking up the atmosphere of this exciting city.

Day 2: CAIRO. THE PYRAMIDS.
Meet your Egyptologist and travelling companions at 8 a.m. Sightseeing in and around Africa's largest metropolis starts at the EGYPTIAN MUSEUM with Tutankhamon's fabulous treasures, an exciting first encounter with the splendour of three millennia of Egyptian civilisation. Then leave for ancient MEMPHIS to admire the 12-metre (40-foot) statue of Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. On to SAKKARA'S "stairway to the sky", the oldest of all pyramids. Finally, at GIZA, a close-up look at the enigmatic SPHINX and the daunting GREAT PYRAMIDS. Cheops, with an original height of 151 metres (496 feet), is the most colossal ever built. A suggestion for tonight: enjoy an optional dinner cruise on the Nile River. (BB)

Day 3: CAIRO-ASWAN
Time this morning for independent activities or to join an optional excursions to walled Old Cairo. Saladin's 12th-century Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque and the labyrinthine bazaar are well worth a visit. In the afternoon fly 800 kilometres (500 miles) up the Nile Valley to the lovely resort town of Aswan.(BB,D)

Day 4: IN ASWAN. (EMBARKATION)
Morning at leisure in Aswan. You may want to join an optional flight (weather permitting; approximately US$200) to the huge sandstone temples of Abu Simbel. Then check into your elegant river cruise vessel in time for lunch. In the afternoon, a special treat: board a felucca and sail right across the blue waters of the river. En route see the ancient "nilometer" on Elephantine Island, Kitchener Island's lush BOTANICAL GARDENS, and the splendid Aga Khan Mausoleum on the left bank. (BB,L,D)

Day 5: ASWAN, KOM OMBO.
Morning excursion to the turn-of-the-century OLD DAM, to this day the widest dam in the world, and the gigantic Aswan HIGH DAM, completed in 1970. Board a motor launch to the island of AGILKA between the two dams and visit the TEMPLE OF ISIS, transplanted from the submerged island of Philae. Also stop at the ancient GRANITE QUARRIES to see the famous, unfinished obelisk. Before lunch start your leisurely cruise down Egypt's river of destiny. Dock at KOM OMBO for a short walk to its bluff-top temple dedicated to the crocodile and falcon gods. Time to haggle for bargains in the local market before returning to the boat. (FB,L,D)

Day 6: EDFU.
Board a horse-drawn carriage for the drive through Edfu to the TEMPLE OF HORUS with its menacing black stone statue of the falcon god. Built in the time of Cleopatra about 2,000 years ago, it is recent by Egyptian standards and beautifully preserved. During the hottest part of the day sip a drink on the sun deck of your cruise boat and savour the panorama. See white-clad farmers with their donkeys, camels, and water buffaloes work lush green fields; and ever present on the horizon beyond the palm trees, the desert. Tonight you dock at Luxor with a chance to take in the optional sound and light show at Karnak. (FB,L,D)

Day 7: LUXOR.
Focus on the VALLEY OF KINGS and VALLEY OF QUEENS on the west bank of the Nile, where generations of pharaohs and nobles were buried in great splendour in crypts cut into the cliffs. Sixty-two royal tombs have been uncovered so far, of which one, the tomb of Tutankhamon, was nearly inviolate when discovered in 1922. Visit DEIR EL-BAHARI, Queen Hatshepsut's monumental rock temple. Also stop for pictures at the two COLOSSI OF MEMNON guarding the valleys. The afternoon is dedicated to LUXOR TEMPLE. (FB,L,D)

Day 8: LUXOR (DISEMBARKATION)-CAIRO.
A grand finale to your sightseeing in the Nile Valley. See the stunning monuments of KARNAK, the greatest city of ancient Egypt. To walk among the pillars of the colossal TEMPLE OF AMON RA and along the AVENUE OF THE SPHINXES is an experience which you will treasure for the rest of your life. Late morning flight from Luxor back to Cairo. Afternoon at leisure to catch up on your postcard writing and souvenir shopping. Tonight's optional sound and light show at Giza might be just the way to top off an exciting touring adventure. (FB)

Day 9: CAIRO
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (BB)
 

Last Minute SPECIAL 2 cabins available departing 21 SEP 2008 Amsterdam to Budapest A$3199 per/person

2009 Amsterdam to  Budapest EARLYBIRD SUPER DEAL $2638 p/person

VERY LIMITED availability!!

BOOK NOW!

EASTERN EUROPE
6 Country Danube Cruise

17 Sept and 14 Oct 2008

from A$2358*

Magnificent 12 day cruise visiting Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania all in the comfort of our delighful “Kleine Prinz” holding only 90 passengers and featuring some of the largest cabins on the Danube at 172 sq. ft! Plus all meals, shore excursions and live on board entertainment!

*BASED ON TWIN SHARE - PORT CHARGES NOT INCLUDED (APPROX A$198)

EGYPT EXPLORER

from A$1238*

Fantastic 11 day program featuring Cairo combined with a deluxe Nile cruise aboard the brand new Nile Dolphin! Deluxe 5* hotels, all sightseeing, shore excursion, entertainment, home hosted dinners and much more!

Departures 

31 AUG 2008

14 SEP 2008

*BASED ON TWIN SHARE - PORT CHARGES NOT INCLUDED (APPROX A$68)

Last Minute SPECIAL 2 cabins available departing 21 SEP 2008 Amsterdam to Budapest A$3199 per/person

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