Tour Itinerary
Day #1: Arriving Cairo, Egypt
You will be met at Cairo International Airport ( arrival procedures ) by Memphis Tours representative, who will accompany you to your hotel for check-in and a free welcome drink. There you will be introduced to your Tour Leader for the trip, who will explain what to expect on your visit, Your Tour Leader will be your point of contact throughout the whole trip, and will give you details of how to contact him at any time whilst in Egypt under the care of Memphis Tours. Throughout your holiday, in addition to the Tour Leader you will meet a variety of English-speaking tour guides, who have been chosen for their expertise on each of the areas you are visiting. After check-in you are free to spend the rest of the day/evening at your leisure.
Welcome Drink
Day # 2: Giza Sightseeing Tours / Aswan (Sleeper Train)
After breakfast, your guide will collect you for a full day visiting the famous pyramids in the area. We will begin with the famous Giza Plateau to visit the only remaining wonder from the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - the Great Pyramid of Khufu (called Cheops by the Ancient Greeks). Also on the plateau are the pyramids of Khafre (Chephren) and the smaller one of Menkaure (Mykerinos). The plateau is as famous for the mysterious structure 'the Sphinx' as it is for the pyramids, where you will visit the Valley Temple.
Then you will visit the world-renowned Egyptian Museum in Cairo that was built in neo-classical style and designed by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon. The museum's vast collection of over 120,000 artifacts ranges from pre-dynastic era, through the Pharaonic era to the Greco-Roman period of Egypt. Amongst the most famous items which you may see are the funerary treasures of the child King Tutankhamun, the colossal statues of the heretic king, Akhenaten, and the only surviving image of Khufu, creator of Egypt's Great Pyramid. Visiting the museum is a great introduction to learning about the ancient Egyptian civilization, including their famous art of mummification.
Your tour then takes you to the Christian heritage in Coptic Cairo, including some of the early religious monuments of the city such as the Hanging Church. This basilica church was named for its location on top of the south gate of the Fortress of Babylon and became the center of the Christian Church of Egypt. You will visit also the famous Jewish heritage in Cairo, including Ben Ezra Synagogue which has a Jewish heritage library containing documents found here in 1896 that describe the economic and social conditions of Jews under Arab rule, together with descriptions of relations between various Jewish sects. This full day ends with dinner during an overnight trip to Aswan by a sleeper train.
Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Day # 3: Aswan Nile cruise Vacation
Enjoy breakfast with sunrise view before arriving Aswan, where you will be met by your guide for the day. You will begin by visiting the High Dam which was built in the 1960’s to provide the much needed electricity and irrigation for the country. Nubia, the area that was to be flooded, experienced the biggest and most thorough archaeological excavations that Egypt has known.
Then we go to see the "unfinished Obelisk" which still lay in the granite quarries which provided ancient Egypt with building materials. It would have been the largest piece of stone ever handled but when a crack was discovered it was abandoned where it was being hewn. Cross by boat to Angilika Island, to see the Temple of Isis at Philae which is one of the Nubian temples rescued before the High Dam was built. Enjoy Philae’s long colonnades, towers and reliefs which include the last surviving hieroglyphic and demotic inscriptions in Egypt. End the day with a relaxing trip by one of Aswan’s famous feluccas to the botanical gardens on Kitchener's Island, before joining your cruise ship.
Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Day # 4: Nile Cruise Vacation
After enjoying breakfast onboard your cruise ship in Aswan you sail to see Kom Ombo Temple . Of all the ancient temples in Egypt, this is the only one which is divided into two, to reflect that it is dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god of fertility; and the falcon-headed Horus, god of the sky. Kom Ombo is also famous for the depictions of surgeon's instruments, giving us an early record of medicine and surgery in Ancient Egypt.
In the afternoon you visit the huge Ptolemaic Temple of Horus at Edfu, which is the most complete and best preserved of the Egyptian temples, consisting of many columns, halls, chambers and chapels. Two statues of Horus flank the twin towered entrance gate; and inside, one of the interesting inscriptions lists the titles of books (scrolls) held in the library.Back to your Nile cruise for dinner, afternoon tea is served on the sun –deck with dinner and overnight stay onboard cruise
Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Day # 5: Nile Cruise Vacation
Breakfast is served on board in Luxor before being escorted by your guide to cross to the West Bank of the Nile to the sites of Ancient Thebes, overall one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Visit the two colossal statues of Amenhotep III (Colossi of Memnon) and the impressive colonnaded and terraced Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri, which was built into a high cliff face and has graphics telling the story of Hatshepsut’s expeditions to the mysterious land of Punt.
Then you go to the Valley of the Kings to see a selection of the beautifully decorated rock-cut tombs, many of which still display vibrant colour and breathtaking detail of deities and scenes from the Book of the Underworld. The most visited tombs have walkways and electric lighting, and the internal walls are protected by glass. Back to your cruise for lunch. For the rest of the day you will have free time to spend at leisure in Luxor to experience the modern culture. You may wish to return at night for the optional evening Sound and Light show which tells the story of Luxor and Karnak.
Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Day # 6: Nile Cruise Vacation/ Cairo by Sleeper Train
Relax while watching daily life on the banks of the Nile while having breakfast on board. You will begin by visiting Karnak Temple, which is the world's largest ancient religious site. The hypostyle hall with its colossal granite columns is one of Egypt’s infamous landmarks. There will be free time to explore the different parts of the huge complex built during the reigns of various Pharaohs, then moving to Luxor Temple which was built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II for ritual and festivals that was dedicated to the god Amon. Then you will be transferred to Luxor train terminal to board your sleeper train back to Cairo, dinner and overnight stay on board.
Breakfast + Dinner
Day # 7: Cairo / Free Day /Alexandria
Enjoy breakfast with sunrise view before arriving Cairo, where you will be met by Memphis Tours Representative from there you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. This would be a good time to do an optional tour to visit the major sights of Alexandria, excursion to Pompeii Pillar, Catacombs of Kom El Shokafa, Library of Alexandria, Alexandria National Museum, Citadel of Qaitbay after that have your lunch during the tour and then transfer to your hotel in Cairo with Free time at leisure and a peaceful overnight in your hotel in Cairo
Breakfast
Day # 8: Cairo / Home
After breakfast at your hotel you will be transferred to Cairo airport for your return flight home.
Breakfast
