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Day 1 – London/Cairo
Fly London to Cairo with EgyptAir and transfer to the Sofitel Sphinx, our first-class hotel at Giza for two nights on bed and breakfast basis. This resort hotel is in an excellent location close to the Pyramids and has all the usual amenities.
Day 2 – Cairo
We will start our tour with the pyramids on the Giza Plateau with an overview of the Old Kingdom and a chance to enter a pyramid before we investigate the wonderful mysterious Sphinx and Valley Temple. The afternoon is spent in that warehouse of treasures the Cairo Museum including the magnificent collection of Tutankhamun. (B)
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Day 3 – Aswan
Today we fly south to the lovely city of Aswan and check-in to the relaxing medium class Basma Hotel for three nights on room and breakfast basis. We will explore the granite quarries and study the imposing unfinished obelisk and associated tools and fragments of statues and columns. We will also take a launch to the Island of Isis and the pretty and almost complete Temple of Philae this afternoon. (B)
Day 4 – Aswan
A relaxing day as we take to the river by boat and visit the Nobles Tombs of Kubbet el Hawa. We sail on to view the interesting rock art and inscriptions on Sehel Island including the famous Famine Stele and then to the outstanding excavations of the ancient city on Elephantine Island. An evening walk through the bustling souk. (B)
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Day 5 – Abu Simbel
Today we have a special trip to the great monument of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel set overlooking the shores of Lake Nasser and a highlight of any tour to Egypt. This evening we will visit the excellent Nubian Museum. (B)
Day 6 – El Kab/Mo’alla
Today we head north by road for Luxor with two special stops en route. The tombs at El Kab are absolutely fascinating and rarely visited and Mo’alla is even more off the beaten track. These tombs tell us so much about ancient Egyptian life. On arrival in Luxor we check-in to the first-class Old Winter Palace Garden Pavilion for four nights on room and breakfast basis. All the amenities of a resort hotel in a peaceful garden setting. (B) |
Day 7 – West Bank
This morning we will cross the Nile and make our fi rst tour of the West Bank with visits to the Valley of the Kings where we will visit three tombs, the ever romantic Ramesseum with the great fallen colossus that inspired Shelley’s famous poem “Ozymandias” and the excellent open air Merneptah Museum. We then take a relaxing felucca trip on the river. (B)
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Day 8 – Karnak
Karnak Temple is arguably the largest temple ever built and today’s thorough exploration will reveal all the main features of the complex as well as many intriguing and less well known corners. This evening we will visit Luxor Museum with many important and fi ne exhibits. (B)
Day 9 – West Bank
Our final tour takes us back to the West Bank. We will start at the huge temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu, continue to the wonderful Valley of the Queens and finally visit some of the tombs of the nobles such as Ramose and Rekhmire. (B)
Day 10 – Luxor/London
This morning we fly Luxor to London with EgyptAir arriving early afternoon. (B)
Expert: Carol Andrews former Assistant Keeper of the department of Egyptian Antiquities at The British Museum is a well known author and lecturer. |