EXPLORER'S EGYPT ITINERARY:
Day 1 • Tuesday - U.S. / En Route / Cairo
Fly from the U.S. on an early evening departure aboard our
flight to Cairo. (Meals Aloft)
Day 2 • Wednesday - Cairo
We are met at the Cairo Airport, where entry procedures have
been taken care of in advance. We transfer to the Mena House
Oberoi Hotel, originally built as a hunting lodge for the
Khedive Ismail, located at the foot of the Pyramids. (Meals
Aloft)
Day 3 • Thursday - Pyramids / Great Sphinx
After a morning briefing by our Egyptologist, we visit the
Pyramids of Giza, the sole survivor among the Seven Wonders of
the Ancient World. We also have a close-up look at the Sphinx,
carved from a single massive limestone outcrop, and the Solar
Boat, Cheops’ 142-foot funerary boat. This evening we have a
special dinner in an Egyptian home. This is a wonderful
opportunity to visit with a family and learn about life in
Cairo. (B,D)
Day 4 • Friday - Sakkara / Memphis
This morning we tour the Egyptian Museum, which holds some
of the greatest masterpieces ever crafted, including the
treasures of Tutankhamon. Afterwards, we drive to Sakkara, the
site of the Step Pyramid and some beautiful tombs. At nearby
Memphis, we see the Alabaster Sphinx and the toppled statue of
Ramses II. (B,L)
Day 5 • Saturday - Cairo / Luxor
We fly from Cairo to Luxor this morning to see some of the
crowning achievements of Egyptian architecture. Here we explore
one of the world’s largest and oldest religious structures, the
Temple of Karnak. We also visit the exquisite Temple of Luxor
before checking in to our beautiful 5-star hotel, Al Moudira,
located on the Nile’s West Bank. This traditionally designed
palace will be our home for two nights. (B,L,D)
Day 6 • Sunday - Abydos / Dendera / Luxor
Today’s first destination, Abydos, has one of the finest
monuments in all of Egypt — the Temple of Seti I, built of fine
white limestone in honor of Osiris. The bas-reliefs are
exquisite, and many of the colors remain vibrant. Later, we
continue to Dendera, one of Egypt’s jewels. It was essentially
lost, buried under the sand until the mid-19th century. In front
are six dramatic columns with capitals in the shape of the
cow-headed goddess of love and joy, Hathor. Reliefs on the walls
show the empress Cleopatra. (B,L,D)
Day 7 • Monday - Luxor / Nile Voyage
Following breakfast we explore Luxor’s West Bank. Here we
see the Colossus of Memnon and the Valley of the Kings, where we
enter several well-preserved tombs. Later we visit the ancient
workmen’s village. This afternoon we see the temple of the
female pharaoh Hatshepsut. It is one of the most striking sites
of the West Bank, sitting in a natural amphitheater dug deep
into the rock at the foot of steep ochre-colored cliffs. Tonight
we enjoy the renowned Sound & Light Show at the Temple of Karnak.
Our accommodations for the next four nights are aboard the
deluxe Nile cruise ship M/S Tu-Ya. (B,L,D)
Day 8 • Tuesday - Nile Voyage
This morning, you may stay onboard the M/S Tu-Ya as she
continues to Esna, giving us the chance to relax and enjoy views
of the countryside. (B,L,D)
Day 9 • Wednesday - Nile Voyage
This morning we explore one of the best preserved temples in
Egypt — the Temple of Horus. The famous statue of Horus as a
falcon stands in the courtyard. Our ship sails on to Kom Ombo,
where we explore the fine temple. (B,L,D)
Day 10 • Thursday - Nile Voyage
In Aswan, our day begins with a visit to the Unfinished
Obelisk, where we learn how the ancient monuments were built.
Had this obelisk been completed, it would have been the largest
of the ancient world. This afternoon we take a relaxing sail in
a traditional “felucca” sailboat. After dinner we enjoy a Nubian
folkloric show featuring a whirling dervish, and if you wish you
may take a stroll through the Aswan Souks, one of Egypt’s best
markets. (B,L,D)
Day 11 • Friday - Aswan / Abu Simbel
We fly from Aswan to Abu Simbel, located on Lake Nasser.
Built by Ramses II, the Great Temple of Abu Simbel towers more
than 100 feet high. The cliff into which it was carved was to be
flooded when the Aswan Dam was built, so the entire complex was
disassembled and rebuilt, piece by piece, on higher ground.
Because we stay here overnight, we have plenty of time to
explore. Our charming hotel, the Abu Simbel Seti, enjoys a
gorgeous setting on the shore of Lake Nasser. We return to the
temples in the evening to see them beautifully illuminated — a
magical experience. (B,L,D)
Day 12 • Saturday - Abu Simbel / Cairo
In the morning, time permitting, we pay an early return visit to
the temples. We then fly back to Cairo and transfer to the
deluxe 5-star Cairo Marriott Hotel. We stay here the next three
nights. The rest of the day is at leisure, and dinner is on our
own. (B,L)
Day 13 • Sunday - Cairo / Islamic Cairo
This morning we travel back to the early years of Islamic
civilization as we visit the 12th-century Citadel. We continue
to the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, unquestionably one of
the masterpieces of Islamic architecture. We pass through the
“Gate of Conquests”: Bab El-Fotouh, raised by the Fatimids in
the 11th century. We walk through El Moez Street and then tour
the Gayer-Anderson Museum. We continue to Cairo’s renowned
bazaar, the Khan-el-Khalili, to browse for jewelry, copperwork,
silver, clothing and much more. (B,L)
Day 14 • Monday - Cairo / Coptic Cairo
This morning we visit “Old Cairo,” founded by the Romans
long before the modern city arose, and see its Coptic churches,
including the lovely 4th-century “Hanging Church,” suspended
over the Roman fortress of Babylon. We visit the Ben Ezra
Synagogue and, if open, the Coptic Museum, which highlights the
artistic importance of the early Christians in the Nile Valley.
This evening we enjoy a farewell dinner celebration. (B,D)
Day 15 • Tuesday - Cairo / U.S.
After breakfast we depart for the airport and our flights to
the U.S. (B, Meals Aloft)
B-Breakfast; L-Lunch; D-Dinner
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