Jewels of the Nile Lake Nasser and Abu Simbel - Winter dept

Welcome to Egypt- a land that abounds in ancient wonders and mysteries which has enthralled travellers for centuries! You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Relax and settle in, the rest of the day is at leisure.
Hotel: Marriott.

Join your Tour Director for a detailed pre-tour briefing. Then commence your exploration of Cairo with a visit to the Citadel, for breathtaking views over the 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. Then take some time to test your bargaining skills in the famous Khan El Khalili bazaars. This afternoon, you visit the famous Egyptian Museum, an unrivaled warehouse of Pharaonic treasure. Among the many exhibits on display are the fabulous artefacts recovered by archeologist Howard Carter from the tomb of King Tutankhamun. (BB)

Transfer to the airport for your flight via Aswan to the ancient Nubian lands near Egypt's southern border. On arrival, board your comfortable cruise boat on Lake Nasser. Get your camera ready now as you visit the Great Temple of Abu Simbel. Originally built by Rameses II, this temple was designed to impress and it still serves that purpose today. You are confronted by four towering statues of the Pharaoh himself, carved out of a single slab of rock. The smaller Temple of Hathor, built for Rameses' wife, Nefertari, is also guarded by six 10 metre statues. Spend some time exploring inside the 3,200 year old walls, depicting scenes of Rameses and the Gods. Tonight, experience the monuments lit in all their glory at the sound and light show.
Ship: MS Prince Abbas. (BB,L,D)

Enjoy the ever changing scenery as you cruise to the ancient ruined citadel of Kasr Ibrim, still occupying its original strategic high ground. Cruise on to Amada, noted for having the oldest surviving structure on Lake Nasser. Also, it has some of the finest carvings of any Nubian temple. Explore the temple dedicated to Amun-Re and Re-Harrakte and also visit the Tomb of Penniut, deputy of Nubia. (BB,L,D)

This morning you visit Wadi El Sebou,- the 'Valley of the Lions', named after the great Avenue of Sphinxes which led to the Temple of Rameses II. Now relax and enjoy your superb cruise facilities as you continue on to exotic Aswan- where the Middle East overlaps with Africa! (BB,L,D)

Visit the Temple of Kalabsha, built by the Roman Emperor Octavius Augustus and dedicated to the local fertility god Mandulis. Disembark now and cross over the Aswan High Dam. Take a motorboat to the Temples of Philae, rising from the waters of the Nile. Aswan granite was used by many of the Pharaohs to build their temples and you visit one of the quarries on your way to your second cruise ship which will transport you up the Nile.
Ship: MS Giselle or MS Saphire or MS La Boheme. (BB,L,D)

For a change of mood, embark on a traditional sail boat (felucca), around Aswan's Botanical Gardens. Your cruise continues to Kom Ombo to visit the only Egyptian temple dedicated to two gods- Horus the Elder and the crocodile headed Sobek. In fact, crocodiles were kept in the temple and some mummified remains are still on show. Set sail again for Edfu. Tonight celebrate in true Egyptian style at an Oriental Dinner and Galabea Party. (BB,L,HD)

In Edfu, two black granite falcons guard the entrance to the Temple of Horus, the Falcon God. After exploring the beautifully preserved wall reliefs, continue your Nile cruise to Luxor. On arrival, visit the fabulous Luxor Temple. The obelisk now occupying the centre of the Place de la Concorde in Paris originally came from this temple. (BB,L,D)

Drive over to the west bank of the Nile for a photo stop at the towering Colossi of Memnon. These two giant seated figures are all that is left of Amon-Ofis III mortuary temple. Next, visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, blending into the cliff face above. Continue to the Valley of the Kings, the burial place of many of the New Kingdom Pharaohs. Return to Luxor to the Temple complex of Karnak. Among its splendours is the Hypostle Hall, the largest of any temple in the world, with its roof blocks supported by a mass of colossal columns 70 feet high. Later, transfer to the airport to board your flight back to Cairo.
Hotel: Marriott. (BB)

Drive out to Memphis, to view the colossal statue of Rameses II and great alabaster sphinx. Nearby at Sakkara, view the Step Pyramid of Zoser; dating from 2686BC, it's the oldest in the world. Your tour reaches its zenith with a guided tour of Giza where you see the enigmatic Sphinx and venture inside one of the magnificent Pyramids! (BB)

Your tour comes to a close this morning with a transfer to the airport. (BB)