Day 01 USA – Egypt

Day 02 – Cairo

Arrive at Cairo airport, meet, assist and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight

Day 03 – Cairo
Included: breakfast
Full-day visit to the Pyramids of Giza & the Sphinx.
Evening at leisure and overnight.

The Pyramids: The 4500-year-old pyramids are universally recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A single pyramid is built of 2,300,000 blocks, each weighing an average of two and one–half tons.  In the face of such immensity, one cannot help but feel the wonder and awe that so many writers & artists have sought to convey over the centuries. The Cheops Pyramid is especially interesting since its interior burial chambers are open for inspection by the public.  Not far from the Pyramids is the Great Sphinx of Giza, which dates from the time of Chephren (aka Khafre) (2558BC).  Hewn from natural yellowish limestone & standing 65 feet high & 187 feet long, this unforgettable statue combines the head of a human (Pharaoh Khafre himself?) with a lion’s body.  Proceed with a visit to Memphis and Sakkara.

Memphis: served as the capital of Upper & Lower Egypt some 5,000 years ago during the 1st Dynasty.  Menes, the first pharaoh of this dynasty, built a great white-walled palace & the Great Temple of Ptah here.

Sakkara (also spelled Saqqara sometimes): one of the most exciting historical & archaeological areas in all of Egypt, situated about 12 miles South West of Cairo.  The site is dominated by the famous step pyramid of King Zoser. It was the first pyramid to be built in ancient Egypt, preceding those at Giza by many centuries, and is the work of the famous pharaonic architect, Imhotep.

Day 04 – Cairo
Included: breakfast
Half Day visit to the Egyptian museum
Half Day visit to Citadel of Saladin, Mosque of Mohamed Ali, and Mosque of Al-Rifai (where the members of the royal family of Egypt and Shah of Iran are buried). Evening at leisure and overnight.

The Egyptian Museum: Is the most important depository of Egyptian antiquities anywhere in the world.  It features artifacts from the Pharaonic and Greco-Roman periods, including the celebrated mummy and treasures of ancient Egypt’s King Tut Ankh Amun.  Then we visit the 19th century Alabaster Mosque (Mohammad Ali Mosque).  Finally, we drive to Al-RifaiMosque which was built in the early 20th century and where the members of the royal family of Egypt and the Shah of Iran are buried. The Citadel: Is situated on a spur of the Musqattam Hills.  The citadel dominates Cairo’s Skyline and was the nerve center of the city and Egypt for almost 700 years.  Its construction was initiated in 1176 by Saladin, and completed by Muhammad Ali.  Mameluke sultans and Turkish governors later made it their residence, building palaces and mosques within the Citadel walls.

Day 05 Cairo – Aswan
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Cairo domestic airport for flight to Aswan
Arrive at Aswan airport and transfer to Nile cruise for 4 days 3 nights. Check-in (noon)
Lunch on board /Felucca Ride/Nubian show. Overnight in Aswan

Day 06 Cruise
Breakfast on board
Visit the High Dam, the Philae Temple, & the Unfinished Obelisk.
Visit Kom Ombo temple
Lunch on board Dinner Galabeya Party.Sail to Edfu.

Overnight in Edfu

The High Dam and Unfinished Oblelisk:  The Old High Dam was built by Sir W. Wilcox on behalf of the British authorities in 1898. It is constructed of granite quarried in the Aswan area. The official opening took place in 1902. In the 1960’s another dam was built by the Egyptian Government.  A visit is also made to the unfinished obelisk, which gives a great deal of information about how the original builders set about their tasks. The existence of granite in Aswan area was of particular interest to the ancient Pharaohs since it provided them with a ready source of material for their obelisks and temples

Philae Temple:  Was dismantled & reassembled on Agilika Island (about 500 m from its original home on Philae Island) in the wake of the High Dam. The Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Isis, is in a beautiful setting, which has been landscaped to match its original site. Its various shrines & sanctuaries (including the temple of Hathor, a Birth House, and two pylons), celebrate all the deities involved in the Isis & Osiris myth.

Temple of Kom Ombo:  Is actually two temples: the Temple of Sobek and the Temple of Haroeris.  In ancient times sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank near here.  The Temple has scanted remains due first to the changing Nile, second to the Copts who once used it as a church, and finally to builders who used the stones for new buildings.

Day 07 Cruise
Breakfast on board
Visit the Temple of Edfu (Horus Temple) by horse carriage.
Sail to Esna Lunch on board.Sail to Luxo.

Dinner Disco Party on board. Overnight in Luxor

Temple of Edfu: This is not only the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt, but also the second largest after Karnak.  It is believed that the temple was built on the site of the great battle between Horus and Seth.  Hence, the current temple is just the last in a long series of temples to be built on this location.

Day 08 Luxor – Cairo
Breakfast on board
Visit Karnak and Luxor Temples.
Check Out, Transfer to Luxor airport for flight to Cairo
Arrival Cairo and transfer to the hotel. Half Day visit to the Khan El Khalili Bazaars. Rest of day at leisure

Day 09 Cairo – Dubai

Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to airport arrive Dubai check in to your hotel.

Day 10 Dubai

Breakfast at hotel

Get to know the glamorous “City of Gold” on a full-day sightseeing tour. Situated between the sparkling waters of the Arabian Gulf and empty deserts of the UAE, glittering Dubai is both relaxing and exciting, with its state-of-the-art architecture, cutting-edge leisure amenities and vibrant atmosphere. On your tour, explore both shores of beautiful Dubai Creek, the city’s central waterway, to experience the two contrasting sides of the metropolis – the old town with its charming courtyard houses topped with wind-towers and the glitzy 21st-century city with its cloud-piercing skyscrapers. Ride the high-speed elevator to the observation deck on the 124th floor of the soaring Burj Khalifa*, the world’s tallest building and Dubai’s showpiece tower. Marvel at the breathtaking views from here down over the city, sea and distant desert, and enjoy lunch in the iconic Atlantis the Palm, the monumental hotel rising from the man-made archipelago of the Palm Jumeirah. Other highlights include visits to Dubai Museum* and the Dubai World Trade Center, and time to browse the traditional Spice Souk and shimmering Gold Souk. During your tour, stop for photos at the iconic sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel, and enjoy time to browse for souvenirs and designer goods at Dubai Mall. Spend this evening as you wish, perhaps enjoying Dubai’s varied dining scene or relaxing at your hotel.

Day 11: Dubai

Included: Breakfast.

Morning after breakfast, rest of the day at leisure. Enjoy a full day to relax and explore Dubai as you wish today.

Day 12: Dubai

Included: Breakfast.

Morning after breakfast, rest of the day at leisure. Enjoy a full day to relax and explore Dubai as you wish today.

Day 13: Dubai – USA

Included: Breakfast 

Today transfer to the airport, you have your flight from Dubai to the United States.