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Best of Egypt Price from £1175 pp

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High tea on the terraces in Aswan, the Great Pyramids of Giza and the awesome temple complex of Karnak are just three of many highlights. The story of King Tutankhamun - at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and later visiting the Valley of the Kings.

Itinerary:

Day 1 - UK - CAIRO

Enjoy your complimentary V.I.P door to door transfer to your departure airport. On arrival in Cairo you are met at the airport and transferred to your tour hotel. Relax and settle in. Hotel: Marriott.

Day 2 - CAIRO SIGHTSEEING

Begin your Cairo sightseeing with a drive to Memphis, the famous capital of the ancient world. See the colossal statue of Rameses II and the great Alabaster Sphinx. Continue to Sakkara, to see the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the oldest Py ramid in the world, dating back from 2700 BC. Now the moment you've been waiting for. Come face to face with the last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World when you visit the Great Pyramids at Giza, and their guardian, the Sphinx. (BB)

Day 3 - CAIRO - OVERNIGHT TRAIN

This morning visit the world-famous Egyptian Museum, with its exhibits from all periods of Egyptian history. 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, dominating the Cairo skyline, and from where you get a breathtaking view over the whole city. Salah El Din, arch adversary of the Crusaders, 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)

Day 4 - ASWAN SIGHTSEEING

Begin your Aswan sightseeing with a visit to the modern High Dam. Continue by motorboat to the well preserved temple of Philae, rising from the waters of the Nile. Now view the unfinished obelisk in the granite quarries, before continuing to your hotel set on Elephantine Island in the middle of the Nile. Enjoy high tea in the garden of your hotel as the sun begins to set. Hotel: Movenpick. (BB)

Day 5 - JOIN YOUR CRUISE

This morning is free. Maybe take an optional excursion by air to see the magnificent Temples of Rameses II at Abu Simbel? Cut from their hillside origin in the 1960's they were repositioned in their new home above the waterline of the newly created Lake Nasser by a remarkable feat of engineering. Later, board your comfortable Nile cruiser. Ship: MS Medea/MS Sapphire (BB,L,D)

Day 6 - ON BOARD SHIP

After breakfast board a traditional Nile felucca for a sail around Aswan's Botanical Gardens. Once back on board your cruise ship set off down the Nile. The Kom Ombo Temple is a beautiful sight as you approach it from the river. It's uniquely dedicated to both Horus the Elder and Sobek the Crocodile headed God, which is verified by the mummified crocodile remains on display. Sit back and enjoy the ever changing scenery as you cruise towards Edfu. Later, get ready for a lively evening as you don traditional Egyptian dress for a fun-filled oriental dinner and galabea party. (BB,L,HD)

Day 7 - ON BOARD SHIP

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, hidden for thousands of years, buried beneath the streets and houses of the town until excavated in the 1860's by archeologist Auguste Mariette. (BB,L,D)

Day 8 - LUXOR - CAIRO

Across the Nile, to the west of the city, lies the necropolis of ancient Thebes. Stop for a photo of the Colossi of Memnon, these two giant seated figures of Amenhotep III once guarded his mortuary temple. Continue to the reconstructed temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of the rare female Pharaohs. In the nearby Valley of the Kings, the Egyptian kings planned to meet their Gods in the afterlife. After visiting some of their tombs, return to Luxor. Your final highlight is Karnak, the largest temple complex ever built by man, constructed over a time period of 1500 years. Walk through the avenue of Ram-headed sphinxes, past the statue of Rameses II, to stand in awe among the huge columns of the vast Hypostyle Hall. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Cairo. Hotel: Marriott. (BB)

Day 9 - CAIRO - UK

The tour comes to an end after breakfast. You are transferred to the airport for your return flight. On arrival at your UK airport, your driver will greet you and escort you to your waiting car for your return V.I.P door to door transfer home. (BB)

Included Premium Highlights

• Board a motorboat to visit the temple complex of Isis originally built on the Island of Philae
• See vast hoards of treasure recovered from the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Egyptian Museum
• Visit the reconstructed temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the tombs in the Valley of the Kings

Additional Excursions & Sights

• See the Rameses II statue & Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis
• See the ancient Step Pyramid of Zoser and the Pyramids of Giza & the Sphinx
• Visit Mohammed Ali Mosque and enjoy stunning views over Cairo from the Citadel
• Sail on a ‘felucca’, visit the Aswan High Dam & see the unfinished obelisk
• Enjoy high tea at sunset in Aswan
• Visit the Temples of Horus & Sobek
• Tour the temples of Luxor & Karnak
• See the Colossi of Memnon, two giant faceless statues of Amenophis III

Insight’s Cairo & Nile Cruise

• Professional multi-lingual Egyptologist/
• Tour Director to escort you
• Sightseeing by air-conditioned coach
• First Class and Deluxe hotels with service charges, taxes & porterage
• 3 Night Nile cruise on MS Medea or Sapphire (or similar) including all cruise boat gratuities
• Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
• Scheduled air travel Luxor to Cairo Cairo to Aswan by overnight train with twin berth cabins
• Airport arrival & departure transfers
• Services of Insight’s Resident Manager

VIP Door to Door Transfers in the UK

• Complimentary private door to door transfers included within 100 miles of your local airport, for additional miles contact reservations.

Quality Dining

• Egyptian Galabea Party with entertainment
• 8 buffet breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, or buffets, (plus bottled water or tea or coffee while cruising)

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