Hidden Egypt: Nubian Sea Cruise

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1 : DEPART USA

EN ROUTE

Depart on your overnight flight to Cairo.

DAY 2 : ARRIVE CAIRO

INTERCONTINENTAL CITYSTARS

Upon arrival transfer to the InterContinental CityStars Hotel.

DAY 3 : CAIRO / ASWAN

OLD CATARACT

Morning flight to Aswan. Visit Sehel Island. Navigate through the giant boulders of the Nile’s First Cataract for lunch on private Basma Island. Tour Elephantine Island, the Nubian village and ongoing excavations. See the Nilometer and the new Nubian Museum, with its wonderful collection of artifacts from ancient Nubia. (B)

DAY 4 : ASWAN

OLD CATARACT

Ride "ships of the desert" (camels) to the 7th century St. Simeon's Monastery. Afternoon free at the excellent local bazaar. Evening witness the spectacular Sound & Light show at majestic Philae Temple. (B)

DAY 5 : ASWAN – EMBARK NUBIAN SEA CRUISE

M/S KASR IBRIM

The morning is free. Embark the M/S Kasr Ibrim. Visit the temples at Kalabsha saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. (B,L,D)

DAY 6 : ASWAN / WADI EL SEBOUA

M/S KASR IBRIM

Day cruise on Lake Nasser, also called the Nubian Sea. (B,L,D)

DAY 7: AMADA / KASR IBRIM

M/S KASR IBRIM

Explore a temple built by Ramses II at Wadi el Seboua. Continue to Amada, constructed by three pharaohs of the Thutmosis line. At Derr, see a rock-cut temple dedicated to the sun god Ra. (B,L,D)

DAY 8 : KASR IBRIM / ABU SIMBEL

M/S KASR IBRIM

Visit Kasr Ibrim, still in its original location. Cruise to Abu Simbel. See the temples of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari, saved from inundation by UNESCO. Both temples were constructed to mark the 30th anniversary of Ramses’ accession. Tonight is a Sound & Light Show at Abu Simbel. (B,L,D)

DAY 9 : ABU SIMBEL / ASWAN / LUXOR

HILTON LUXOR

Morning flight to Aswan and drive to Luxor. Optional stops en route to Luxor at Kom Ombo to see the temple shared by two gods, Sobek & Haroeries; and Edfu to see best-preserved temple in Egypt, the Temple of Horus. (B)

DAY 10 : LUXOR

HILTON LUXOR

Visit Karnak Temple with its huge hypostyle hall and labyrinthine passageways, and the Open Air Museum. (B)

DAY 11 : LUXOR

HILTON LUXOR

Drive to Gebelain to tour the remains of Hathor Temple. At El-Kab, the ruins are surrounded by a massive sunbrick enclosure. Visit Luxor Temple and Luxor Museum featuring incredible statuary from the Luxor Cache. At the Ramasseum marvel at the remains of Ramses’ giant statue. The hieroglyphs at Medinat Habu are most expressive. See Queen Hatchepsut’s Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. Visit the tombs of Sennefer and Ramose. (B,L)

DAY 12 : LUXOR / MINYA

MERCURE EL MINYA

Dendera is the reputed site of the cesarean birth of Julius Caesar’s & Cleopatra’s son. The temple of Seti I at Abydos features the Abydos King List with invaluable information on the sequence of 76 Pharaohs. (B,L,D)

DAY 13 : MINYA / TEL EL-AMARNA / MINYA

MERCURE EL MINYA

Tour of Tel el-Amarna, built by Akhenaten and Nefertiti, and dedicated to the sun god Aten. Visit the Northern Palace and Tombs including #25, the tomb of infamous Ay, Tutankhamun’s successor as Pharaoh. (B,L,D)

DAY 14 : MINYA / BENI HASSAN / MINYA

MERCURE EL MINYA

Return to the Southern Group of Tombs. See the Akhenaten Border Stellae and the Family Tombs. Continue to Beni Hassan. (B,L,D)

DAY 15 : MINYA / CAIRO / ALEXANDRIA

FOUR SEASONS ALEXANDRIA AT SAN STEFANO

Drive to Cairo for lunch at the Mena House and on to Alexandria. (B,L)

DAY 16 : ALEXANDRIA

FOUR SEASONS ALEXANDRIA AT SAN STEFANO

Visit Qait Bey Fort, built on the site of the Paros Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. See the Royal Jewelry Museum, Pompey’s Pillar, the Catacombs and Montazah Palace. (B,L)

DAY 17 : ALEXANDRIA / CAIRO

FOUR SEASONS NILE PLAZA

Drive to Rosetta where the Rosetta Stone was discovered, enabling Jean-Francois Champollion to unlock the mystery of hieroglyphics. (B,L)

DAY 18 : CAIRO

FOUR SEASONS NILE PLAZA

Depart into the desert – destination Fayoum Oasis, noted for its magical wooden waterwheels. Visit the Collapsed Pyramid at Meidum and Senefru’s unusual Bent Pyramid at Dahshour. See the Great Pyramids of Giza. Bid goodbye to the inscrutable Sphinx as you return to your hotel. (B,L)

DAY 19 : CAIRO

FOUR SEASONS NILE PLAZA

In the Roman fortress of Babylon visit the Ben Ezra Synagogue, the Hanging Church, the Coptic Museum and St. Sergius, the site of refuge for Mary and Jesus. Tour the Egyptian Museum with its evocative Mummies Room. Dinner at Abou el Sid in Zamalek. (B,L,D)

DAY 20 : DEPART CAIRO

EN ROUTE

Morning departure on your flight home. (B)