Best of Egypt - Winter dept

Welcome to Egypt, a country rich in wonders and mysteries. You are met at Cairo airport and transferred to your tour hotel. Relax and settle in.
Hotel: Marriott.

Begin with a drive to Memphis, the famous capital of the ancient world. See the statue of Rameses II and the great Alabaster Sphinx. Continue to Sakkara, to see the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the oldest Pyramid in existence. Now the moment you've been waiting for. A face to face encounter with the the Great Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx. (BB)

This morning visit the world-famous Egyptian Museum. Star among its attractions is the amazing treasure of Tutankhamun, recovered from the pharaoh's tomb by Howard Carter in 1922!. Sightseeing continues at the Citadel where you can enjoy breathtaking views over the whole city. Salah El Din started the Citadel in the 12th Century, but it owes its present outline to Mohammed Ali whose great alabaster mosque you visit next. Now spend a leisurely afternoon in Cairo before it's time to board your overnight sleeper train to Aswan.(BB,D)

Begin your Aswan sightseeing with a visit to the High Dam and the old granite quarries where an unfinished obelisk still lies attached to the bedrock. Take a motorboat across the Nile to the well preserved temple complex of Isis on the island of Philae. Now settle in to your resort set on Elephantine Island in the middle of the Nile. As a special welcome, enjoy high tea in the garden of your hotel as the sun begins to set.
Hotel: Mövenpick. (BB)

This morning is free. Maybe take an optional excursion by air to see the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel? Later, board your comfortable Nile cruiser.
Ship: Ms Medea/Ms Sapphire/MS La Boheme. (BB,L,D)

After breakfast board a traditional Nile felucca for a sail around Aswan's Botanical Gardens. Once back on board your cruise ship sets off down the Nile. The Kom Ombo Temple is a beautiful sight as you approach it from the river. Inside you'll find hieroglyphs, pylons, friezes and even mummified crocodile remains. Sit back and enjoy the scenery as you cruise to Edfu. Get ready for a lively evening as you don traditional Egyptian dress for a fun-filled oriental dinner and galabea party. (BB,L,HD)

Visit the beautifully preserved Temple of Horus, the Falcon God. Then continue cruising through Esna Lock to Luxor where you visit the temple of Luxor, which lay hidden beneath for thousands of years. (BB,L,D)

Across the Nile lies the necropolis of ancient Thebes. Stop for a photo of the two giant figures known as the Colossi of Memnon. Continue to the reconstructed temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of the rare female Pharaohs. Also visit some of the royal tombs in the nearby Valley of the Kings. Back in Luxor your final highlight is Karnak. Walk through the avenue of Ram-headed sphinxes to stand among the huge columns of the Hypostyle Hall. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Cairo.
Hotel: Marriott. (BB)

The tour comes to an end after breakfast with transfers to the airport. (BB)