Best of Egypt

Itinerary

Day 1 Cairo

Depending on arrival time, the day is yours to explore this modern city and ancient wonders. There are plenty of things to see and do, take a walk along the Corniche, or take a felucca ride for some differnt views of the city. If you are looking for something more peaceful take the metro and head out to the oldest part of Cairo, the coptic Christian sector, with narrow cobbled stone streets and churches. Overnight.A Welcome meeting will take place on Day 1 in the evening. An information letter will be posted at the reception desk on Day 1.

Day 2 Cairo-Aswan (B,D)

Estimated Travel Time: 13 hoursFollowing breakfast, the day starts with a half-day guided tour to the Great Three Pyramids in Giza, belonged to the Kings of the 4th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom Cheops, Chephren & Mykerionos and the Sphinx, the huge guard of the Funeral Complex with king Chephren face & Lion body. Take an the optional camel rides at the Pyramids.In the afternoon we have a guided tour of the Egyptian museum. In the evening transfer to the rail station to board a 1st class sleeping train and overnight to Aswan.The Great Pyramid of GizaJust on the southeastern edge of Cairo, not more than a few hundred meters from the modern buildings of the suburb of Giza, lie three huge pyramids. The tallest and oldest of these pyramids is called the Great Pyramid, or Khufu's pyramid. Built nearly 46 centuries ago to house the tomb of the Pharaoh Khufu, this structure originally stood 147 meters high (481 feet) with each side of its base measuring 230 meters (756 feet - that's 2-1/2 American football fields). Its base covers 5 hectares (13 acres).The Great Pyramid once had a smooth limestone covering, but that and the very top of the pyramid (which was probably coated in platinum) have long since fallen away. Still, after over 4500 years it's only lost nine meters (35 feet) in height. A lot of blocks. Experts estimate that the Great Pyramid contains well over two million limestone blocks, each weighing between two and fifteen tons apiece. A quick calculation in our heads (2-1/2 million blocks weighing about 3 tons apiece) will leave you with the mind-numbing estimate that the pyramid weighs at least fifteen billion pounds! Then add that it took an army of 100,000 workers ? working without the aid of any animals ? twenty years (actually they only worked during the three or four month-long flood season every year) to complete Cheops' pyramid, and you come up with a bunch of numbers that are nearly overwhelming.The SphinxA sphinx is a mythical beast with the body of a lion and the head of a human. Its most famous portrayal is the huge statue located just in front of the great pyramids at Giza. Though dwarfed by the pyramids, the Sphinx at Giza is still pretty big. Its body is 172 feet (52.4 meters) in length while the height to the top of the head is 66 feet (20 meters).The Greeks, as is common with the closely inter-related civilizations of the Mediterranean, borrowed the idea of a sphinx from the Egyptians, and it is the Greek legend of the sphinx with which we are most familiar. In that legend the sphinx asked every passerby a riddle and devoured anyone that failed to answer it correctly. After many travelers were eaten, Oedipus answered the riddle correctly and killed the sphinx.The Egyptians, however, did not seem to have the same sort of legends about the sphinx. Indeed, no one really knows what the Sphinx represented to them. Some Egyptologists think that the Sphinx represented the sky-god Horus, but there is certainly evidence to indicate that the head of the sphinx portrayed the reigning pharaoh. If this is the case then the face staring out eastward towards the Nile is that of Pharaoh Khafre, whose pyramid lies directly behind the great statue.The mystery of the Sphinx at Giza extends to the strange circumstances surrounding the loss of both its beard and its nose. No one seems to know when or why these pieces of the Sphinx fell off. The most common story is that occupying Ottoman (or French, depending on who tells the story) soldiers used the Sphinx for target practice and essentially shot the nose off its face. Or it could just have fallen off with the passage of time. The issue is whether the monument should be restored to its former glory. Of course the question of a face-lift is complicated by the fact that the British snapped up the nose and are keeping it in the British Museum even though the Egyptians have long demanded its return.The Egyptian MuseumThe Egyptian Museum is one of the most important places in Cairo. Packed to the point of overflowing with more than 100,000 relics and antiquities, it is a feast for the eyes and brain. We had only a few hours, so we saw only the biggest and most important things.The Egyptian Museum is a fantastic collection of rooms that are packed with hundreds and thousands of big and small statues, figurines, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings, coffins and sarcophagi, boats, weapons, glassware objects, wood and metal tools, masks, coins, seals, mummies, cloth, papyrus drawings, stone and clay tablets with hieroglyphics, jugs, amulets, models, photographs, etcetera. Etcetera. Etcetera.Wandering from room to room is like taking a stroll through history by appreciating the tools and objects that the ancient Egyptians used when eating, gardening, farming, reading, cooking, writing, celebrating, sleeping, preparing for parties and religious events (and maybe even dates!), mourning, traveling etc. Think about all the things that you use during your every-day routine and then imagine someone putting them all in display cases in a museum. That's what the Egyptian Museum is all about.Know from the beginning that you will probably not have the energy to see everything in one visit, so start out with the main attraction in the museum; the 1,700 or so objects on display straight from the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun, better known to us today as King Tut.In 1361 BC, a young boy (only about 9 or 10 years old) named Tutankhaten, ascended to the throne as Pharaoh of the New Kingdom. His rule of nine years, until 1352 BC (he died suddenly and without leaving any heirs) was not marked by anything unusual or spectacular. And yet, known today as Tutankhamun, he seems to be the most famous Pharaoh of all.In 1922, a British Egyptologist named Howard Carter, after several years of searching, found King Tut's tomb completely intact and full of a glorious array of ancient treasures! This is important because all the other tombs of all the other Egyptian pharaohs were looted by robbers over the centuries. Even though all tombs were meant to be secret, of the 60 known tombs in the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings in southern Egypt north of Luxor, only that of Tutankhamen was left untouched until Carter's discovery.The most famous of all the objects discovered in the tomb is proudly lit up in the center of one of the central rooms in the museum; the legendary gold mask that was placed over the head of King Tut's mummy. It is still mesmerizing beautiful, especially after so many thousands of years hidden away in the desert. But most people don't know that this is just one, although probably the most spectacular, of 11 layers in which the body was placed, including more masks and body wraps (made of gold and precious rocks), coffins of different sizes (also made of, or covered in, gold) and large gold-covered wooden shrines. Even his inner organs were kept in four compartments of a beautiful alabaster container. In addition, the body was accompanied by enormous amounts of exquisite jewelry, beds supported by animal sculptures, chairs, boats, chariots, and lots of other assorted goods intended to be used by King Tut in his next life.

Day 3-4 Aswan (2B,D)

Arrive in Aswan early in the morning. Then a half-day of tour starts with a Felucca tour sailing past the famous islands in the Nile. We stop and tour Elephantine Island, and the botanical gardens on Kitchener Island, sail past the Agha Khan Mausoleum. Camel ride to view the Monastery of St. Simeonen, visit a Nubian village, where we'll enjoy a traditional dinner at a local home. Overnight in Aswan.An option on day 4 is a very early start to head out to the magnificent temple of Abu Simbel. AswanEgypt's sunniest southern city.Aswan, located about 81 miles south of Luxor, has a distinctively African atmosphere. Its ancient Egyptian name was Syene. Small enough to walk around and graced with the most beautiful setting on the Nile, the pace of life is slow and relaxing. Days can be spent strolling up and down the broad Corniche watching the sailboats etch the sky with their tall masts 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 color of spices, perfumes, scarves and baskets. View the spectacular sunsets while having tea on the terrace of the Old Cataract Hotel (Named due to the location of the Nile's first cataract located here). Aswan has been a favorite winter resort since the beginning of the nineteenth century, and it's still a perfect place to get away from it all.Every night Nubian dancers and musicians perform in the Cultural Center, just off the Corniche. Folklore troupes recreate scenes from village life and perform the famous Nubian mock stick-fight dances.Aswan is a strategic location which currently houses a garrison of the Egyptian army, but which has also seen ancient Egyptian garrisons, as well as that of General Kitchener, Turkish troops of the Ottoman empire and the Romans.The city proper lies on the east bank of the Nile. Relax here, visit a few mosques, but then prepare for an adventure. The bazaar runs along the Corniche, which continues past the Ferial Gardens and the Nubian Museum, and continues on to the Cemetery, with its forest of cupolas surmounted tombs from the Fatimid period. Just east of the cemetery in the famous area quarries is the gigantic Unfinished Obelisk. Just to the south of this, two Graeco-Roman sarcophagi and an unfinished colossus remain half buried in the sand.The most obvious is Elephantine Island, which is timeless with artifacts dating from pre-Dynastic times onward. It is the largest island in the area. Just beyond the Elephantine Island is Kitchener's Island (Geziret el-Nabatat). It was named for the British general Haratio Kitchener (185--1916) and was sent to Egypt in 1883 to reorganize the Egyptian army, which he then led against the Sudanese Mahdi. But the island is known for its garden and the exotic plants the Kitchener planted there, and which continue to flourish today.On the opposite shore (west bank), the cliffs are surmounted by the tomb of a Mara but, Qubbet el-Hawwa, who was a local saint. Below are tombs of the local Pharaonic nobles and dignitaries.Upriver is the tomb of Mohammed Shah Aga Khan who died in 1957. Known as the Tomb of the Aga Khan, it is beautiful in its simplicity. A road from there leads back to the Coptic Monastery of St. Simeon, which was built in the sixth century in honor of Amba Hadra, a local saint.There is also the old Aswan dam, built by the British, which was enlarged, expanded, but unable to control the Nile for irrigation.Abu SimbelThe historic site for one of Egypt's greatest temples.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 (280 km 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 world wide appeal. During the salvage operation which began in 1964 and continued until 1968, the two temples were dismantled and raised over 60 meters up the sandstone cliff where they had been built more than 3,000 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 and see an exhibition of photographs showing the different stages of the massive removal project.Abu Simbel was first reported by J. L. Burckhardt in 1813, when he came over the mountain and only saw the facade of the great temple as he was preparing to leave that area via the Nile. The two temples, that of Ramesses II primarily dedicated to Re-Harakhte, and that of his wife, Nefertari dedicated to Hathor, became a must see for Victorians visiting Egypt, even though it required a trip up the Nile, and often they were covered deeply in sand, as they were when Burckhardt found them.

Day 5 Aswan (B,L,D)

We board our feluccas to spend the rest of the day out on the river and a night under the stars. All meals are provided.Feluccas are very basic traditional Nile sailboats and make for an extremely relaxing and enjoyable way to travel down the river. You sleep on the deck of the boat (mattresses are provided, but you will need a blanket or light sleeping bag). Please note that the Felucca itself does not have toilets or showers, however your group will be provided with a private support boat, traveling in close proximity to your Felucca. This support boat is fully equipped with toilets and and an area to eat your meals, leaving you stress free to enjoy this tranquil and traditional experience on the Nile.

Day 6-7 Luxor (2B)

Today we will transfer by private car or minibus to Luxor. Arrive in Luxor and check in to the hotel. In the evening you can do a tour by calesche (horse drawn carriage), and watch the sound and light show at Karnak Temple (optoinal) - it isn't only a simple temple but a complex of many pylons, temples, halls & sanctuaries from the middle kingdom till the Greek-Roman period. Return to hotel and overnight in Luxor. Following breakfast, on day 7, the day starts out with a donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings and a visit to the temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari, called "the most splendid of all".LuxorLuxor has often been called the worlds greatest open air museum, as indeed it is and much more. The number and preservation of the monuments in the Luxor area are unparalleled anywhere else in the world that know of. What most people think of as Luxor is really three different areas, consisting of the city of Luxor on the East side of the Nile, the town of Karnak just north of Luxor and Thebes, the ancient Egyptians called Waset, which is on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor. Today, you can walk through history; 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 is well-known for having one of the most concentrated regions of famous temples, tombs and monuments. Among them include the tomb of King Tutankhamun located in the Valley of the Kings. Queen Hatshepsut?s Temple, named Deir El Bahari is another spectacular site; the only woman to rule over Egypt as pharaoh, named her temple "Djeser Djseru" the Splendor of Splendors.The Luxor Temple is also known as the southern temple, dedicated to Amon. it was Known to the ancient Egyptians as Ipet reseyet, the Harem of the south.Valley Of The KingsThe Valley of the Kings was the royal cemetery for 62 Pharaohs, and is located on the west bank at Luxor. The only entrance to this place was a long narrow winding path. This was a secret place, where sentries were placed at the entrance of the Valley, as well as along the top of the hills, in the hopes of discouraging tomb robbers, who had in the past plundered all royal tombs, including the treasures of the Pyramids! Some thefts were probably carefully planned, but others were spur of the moment, as when an earlier tomb was accidentally discovered while cutting a new one and workmen took advantage of the opportunity. This may have happened when KV 46 was found during the cutting of KV 4 or KV 3 nearby. The tombs in the Valley range from a simple pit (e.g. KV 54), to a tomb with over 121 chambers and corridors (KV 5)John Gardiner Wilkinson first established the present numbering system, in 1827, as part of his preparation of a map of Thebes. Wilkinson painted the numbers 1 through 21 at the entrances of the tombs that were then visible. The numbers were assigned geographically, from the entrance to the Valley southward. Since Wilkinson's day, tomb numbers have been assigned in chronological order of discovery, KV 62 (Tutankhamen) being the most recent. Wilkinson's is not the only system of tomb designation that has been used in the Valley though. Several explorers assigned numbers, letters or descriptive labels to the tombs, as the accompanying chart indicates, but Wilkinson's is the only system that is still in use. There are two main wings to the Valley of the Kings, west and east! You will find that eastern side has the majority of the tombs, the western part having very few, but including the tombs of Amenhotep III and Ay.The Karnak TemplesThe Temple of Karnak is the largest Temple in the World! The complex contains a group of Temples such as the Great Temple of Amon Ra, The Temple of Khonso, The Ipt Temple, The Temple of Ptah, the Temple of Montho and the Temple of the God Osiris. A 20m high, mud brick enclosure wall, surrounded all of these buildings.This great Temple of Amon Ra was known during the Middle Kingdom period as Ipt-Swt, which means the Selected Spot. It was also called Pr-Imn, which means the House of Amon. The name Al-Karnak in Arabic was derived from Karnak, which means fortified village, probably because the Arabs found many Temples and buildings in the area when they entered it for first time.The Temple of DenderaVisitors to Luxor, who have the time, should try and visit the famous Temple of Hathor at Dendera The Temple is located about 60KM north of Luxor, along the West Bank of the Nile River.The temple of Hathor at Dendera was built during the Ptolemaic period. It was built for Hathor, Horus, Bes, and Ihy (Hathor's son). The divine triad of Dendera was carved on the south outer wall of the temple. Cleopatra VII added to the majesty of Dendera temple. The approach path to the temple is between two Roman fountains that end at the massive entry gate. The pylons of the back wall of the temple are suggestive of Egypt?s past when mud-brick, wood, and papyrus reeds were the principal construction materials. The outward-curving cavetto cornice is another typically Egyptian motif.Massive mud-brick enclosure walls surround the Dendera temple complex, most of which was constructed during the late Ptolemaic and early Roman Periods. The area had been sacred for millennia, because ruins dating from the Old Kingdom through the Late Period have been found. There is a painted raised relief of Bes that stands near the Roman Gate of the temple. Bes was the Egyptian household god who protected the mother and child during childbirth. He was a bow-legged, muscular dwarf with a ferocious facial expression; but despite his fierce countenance, he was actually a very gentle god. His protective role was suited to his appearance, which was supposed to frighten away evil spirits.The Temple Of AbydosThe Temple of Abydos is located to the west of El-Baliana (120 km north of Luxor). In ancient times it was called Abdu, and the Greeks called it Abydos. The 8th province in ancient Egypt, this area is considered to be amongst the most famous archaeological sites. It was the city were Menna, the unifier of upper and lower Egypt, came from, and from the 11th Dynasty onwards, a burial in Abydos was the ultimate wish, and honour, for any local to have. The Temple was built in the reign of King Seti I and was finished by, first, his son King Ramses II and then his son, King Mern-Ptah It is unique in design as it is in the shape of an ?L?, and it also contains the most complete lists of Kings and Gods. The Temple contains 7 shrines dedicated to 7 Gods: Osiris, Isis, Horus, Amon Ra, Ra HorAkhty and Ptah, and Seti I as a deified King. You will also find the best-preserved painted reliefs and texts from the 18th Dynasty.

Day 8 Luxor - Cairo (B)

Estimated Travel Time: 1 hourAfter returning to Cairo by plane, in the morning (approximately 8am arrival, subject to change but no later than 8am) your trip ends at the airport. For those who have extra time, take the time to explore this exotic city. Revisit the Egyptian Museum, explore Khan al-Khalili bazaar and watch the world pass by from one of our favourite coffee shops, or perhaps head up to Alexandria - an easy 2 to 3-hour train ride from Cairo.