Fly with Air France via Paris from one of 8 UK airports into Cairo, or directly with British Airways from London Heathrow. Arrive late evening and transfer* to the Mena House Oberoi Hotel for a three night stay in a Garden Pyramid View Room.
Today explore Cairo at your leisure or alternatively, take an optional** half day tour to Coptic Cairo. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow guests for a cocktail reception including hot and cold canapés, an introductory lecture on Egypt with your Egyptologist, and detailed information on your itinerary.
Meals: Breakfast
A highlight today is our tour of the remaining 7th Wonder of the Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza. Marvel at the sight of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the largest pyramid. Enter the amazing Solar Boat Museum and view the original funeral boat of King Khufu. Your visit to Giza ends at the famous Sphinx, carved from a single limestone block. This afternoon visit Saqqara, and the first pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Zhoser. Tonight enjoy the Sound and Light Show in front of the Pyramids.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, transfer to Cairo International Airport for an early morning flight to Abu Simbel where you will board our luxurious cruise boat. Late afternoon we tour Egypt’s most revered temples which are sure to be the highlight of your trip. These stunning temples were built by Pharaoh Ramesses II as a lasting monument to himself and his beloved Queen Nefertari. Arguably the greatest indulgence of any Pharaoh, the breathtaking façade consists of four gigantic statues of the Pharaoh seated on his throne; each statue is 20 metres high. Tonight see an unmissable ‘Sound and Light’ show played out in front of these magnificent temples. Board the Jaz Omar El Khayam for a three night cruise of Lake Nasser.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take in the amazing views of the Kasr Ibrim Temple as you sail past. It once stood on a cliff high above the Nile which is now an island due to the formation of Lake Nasser. It is the only major Lower Nubian archaeological site to have survived the flooding without having to be relocated. Next, visit Nubia’s oldest temple, The Temple of Amada before moving on to the Temple of Derr, the only rock cut temple in Nubia. We finish off the morning’s sightseeing with the Tomb of Penut and then head back to enjoy a leisurely lunch whilst sailing to Wadi El Seboua.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning tour Wadi El Seboua, originally the site of two New Kingdom Egyptian temples and these were relocated four kilometres west to avoid flooding from Lake Nasser. The new Wadi El Seboua site is now home to two other Nubian temples which were relocated here: - the Greco-Roman temple of Dakka which is dedicated toThoth; and the never completed Egyptian-Roman temple of Meharakka. Return to the boat to enjoy lunch as we cross the Tropic of Cancer on our way to Aswan where the boat moors for the night.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Disembark and visit Kalabsha Temple, a tribute to the Lower Nubian sun god Mandulis. Next we travel to the Aswan High Dam completed in 1970 after ten years of work; it is Egypt’s lifeline, providing irrigation and electricity for the whole country. From the top of the High Dam you can gaze across Lake Nasser, the huge reservoir created when the dam was built, to Kalabasha Temple in the south and the huge power station to the north. We continue by motorboat to explore the Temple of Isis at Philae. Built in the third century BC and known as the ‘Jewel of the Nile’, this temple complex is located on an island in the Nile and was dedicated to the goddess Isis. It features well preserved temple buildings, courtyards, reliefs and murals. Check into your 5-star luxury Nile River cruise boat, then journey by motorboat to a traditional, local Nubian village, passing Elephantine Island and the Mausoleum of Aga Khan. Re-board the Jaz Minerva or the Jaz Legacy for your three night Nile cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail to Kom Ombo and visit the Temple dedicated to Sobek, God of Fertility and Horus, the Solar War God. We then cruise to Edfu and visit the magnificently preserved Temple of Horus, the Falcon God. Unique amongst the temples of Upper Egypt, the temple is located on the west bank of the Nile, which is normally dedicated to the afterlife. Impressive features of this temple are the carvings and hieroglyphics that cover nearly every surface. Set sail as the boat continues to Luxor where it moors for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you can take an optional hot air balloon flight** over the West Bank, this is to be booked on tour and will be at your own cost. This morning we cross to the west bank of the Nile and explore one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Our first stop is the Colossi of Memnon, two massive quartzite statues which once flanked the entrance to Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple. Next visit the imposing Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the longest ruling female pharaoh. Our final stop is the Valley of the Kings, the ancient city of the dead, where magnificent tombs were carved into the desert rocks. We enter the tomb of Tutankhamen before returning to Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning explore the awe inspiring Karnak Temple, this was built over a 2000 year period by the great pharaohs of Egypt and is the largest ancient religious site in the world. Next we visit Luxor Temple; here you can see the ruins left not only by the Ancient Egyptians, but also other civilizations including the Greeks and the Romans. This afternoon travel by air conditioned coach to the Marriott Hurghada Beach Resort for a two night stay in a guaranteed Sea View room.
Meals: Breakfast
Today is a Scenic FreeChoice day where you choose what you’d like to do from the following Scenic FreeChoice inclusions: enjoy a relaxing massage; a snorkeling trip including lunch; or a morning cruise on a glass bottom boat. This evening enjoy our private, traditional Bedouin dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
The morning is free to spend at your own leisure before we transfer you to the airport for your flight to Cairo. On arrival, transfer to the Cairo Marriott Hotel for a two night stay in a Nile View room.
Meals: Breakfast
This morning we visit the incredible Egyptian Museum, home of the greatest collection of Ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world. The tour includes Tutankhamen’s collection of treasures from his tomb and access to the Mummies Room. This afternoon tour Islamic Cairo including the Citadel, Mohammed Ali’s Mosque and Khan el Khalili Bazaar. This evening enjoy our exclusive farewell dinner in the Palace at the Cairo Marriott Hotel including a private folklore show.
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
This morning transfer to Cairo Airport for your flight to Jordan. On arrival, transfer* to your hotel. This evening dine with a local Jordanian family and experience their friendly hospitality whilst learning about the lifestyle and culture of the Jordanians.
Two Night Stay: AmmanMeals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
This morning travel to the ancient city of Jerash, once known as the city of 1000 pillars. Here remains from Neolithic times have been found, as well as Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad. Today it is acknowledged as one of the best preserved cities of the Roman Empire. Tour the old walled city including the Triple Arch Gate, the huge Hippodrome, the Colonnaded Street, the Forum, the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of Artemis. After lunch we tour Amman, starting with a walking tour of the old city, including the oldest market and a visit to a Jordanian coffee shop where we sample the sweet Jordanian coffee. Visit the Roman Ampitheatre and the ancient Citadel where you will see traces of Amman’s many lives: the columns of a Roman temple, the Byzantine church, Umayyad Palace and the fascinating displays in the Archaeological Museum. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast we leave Amman and travel to a key biblical site – ‘Bethany Beyond Jordan”. Amazing archaeological discoveries have identified this as the area where Jesus was baptized. Continue to one of the most revered sites in Jordan – Mount Nebo. View the memorial to Moses at the presumed site of the prophet’s death and burial place. Enjoy breathtaking views across the Jordan Valley. Visit a local mosaic workshop supported by the Jordanian government where you will learn about the techniques used in designing the intricate mosaic floors. Then visit Madaba and St. George Church, famous for the oldest mosaic map of the world, before continuing to the Rose Red city of Petra.
Two Night Stay: Petra Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
A highlight of our trip is today’s full day walking tour of magnificent Petra, carved into the sandstone mountains it is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in south Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. Petra became widely admired for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels. By the 16th century Petra became completely lost to the West, and remained so until 1812 when a Swiss traveller Johann Ludwig Burckhardt persuaded his guide to take him to the site of the lost city. Marvel at Petra’s most famous monument The Treasury, which appears dramatically at the end of the ravine or ‘siq’. Our tour continues to include spectacular sites such as the Theatre, Roman Way, monumental Arch, Temple and the Royal Tombs. This evening enjoy the awe inspiring spectacle of Petra by Night, where 1,800 candles light the way through the ‘siq’ to the magnificent Treasury.Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast we leave Petra and travel along the Kings Highway to the impressive Shobak Castle, a medieval fortress built to guard the road from Egypt to Damascus. Continue north to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea for a two night stay at the Jordan Valley Marriott Resort and Spa. Enjoy our exclusive dinner tonight on the roof of the resort with views over the Dead Sea.Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
Spend the day relaxing and enjoying the facilities of the resort, or float in the Dead Sea renowned for its therapeutic benefits. Meals: Breakfast
Transfer* to Amman Airport for your early morning flight back to the UK, via Paris with Air France to one of 8 UK regional airports or British Airways to London Heathrow.**Optional tours are at your own cost and must be booked before departure.
*Check transfer entitlements with your travel agent. For passengers who have already received documentation - refer to your booking summary.
Brochure: IS/EGY/GBP1011
Tour code: UCNJ.1