classic tutankhamen - 10 days

Tour Information
Starts/Ends in: Cairo
Departs: 17th Dec, 20th Dec, 23rd Dec, 27th Dec 2008 & 2009
Prices and Departures: Click Here
Local Payment Required: No 
Breakfast: Daily, Lunch: 2, Dinner: 3
Hotel rating: 4 - 5   
Egyptian Tour Guide: Yes

Day 1: Cairo
Cairo. Welcome to Egypt and the start of a great festive Egyptian adventure. Arrive Cairo airport and  included transfer to our hotel. Overnight - Cairo

Day 2: The Pyramids of Giza & Saqqara
Cairo - Aswan - breakfast. A big day out with a visit to the famous pyramids of Giza, sole survivors from the ancient Greek-listed Seven Wonders of the World. Later we continue to Saqqara to tour King Zhoser's step pyramid - the first known pyramid ever built. We enjoy a chance to freshen up and have dinner before catching the overnight seater train (1st Class seater train) to Aswan. Overnight - seater train

Day 3: Aswan & Philae Temple
Aswan - breakfast box. Arrival and check into our hotel. Our first stop is the mighty High Dam and later a leisurely boat trip to the romantic Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and rescued under an enormous UNESCO effort in the 1970's to save the temple from the rising waters of the High Dam. As night falls, free time to shop in the colourful souqs or simply relax and watch an amazing sunset. Overnight - Aswan

Days 4 & 5: Felucca Sailing
Aswan - Nile Felucca cruise - breakfast. Optional early morning air excursion to famous Abu Simbel, the rock-cut temple of King Ramses II, the Great Builder. This afternoon, we board our Nile felucca for a 2 night voyage downstream on the River Nile. Relax, top up your tan and chat with new friends as the felucca gently plies its route. Stops are made en route for swimming and visiting local villages. Lunch, dinner and overnight (2) - Nile felucca

If sailing by felucca is not your thing, navigate the River Nile on board a 5 luxury Nile Cruiser with private cabin and ensuite bathroom. Add to this a sleeper train upgrade. Sleeper train cabins are fully enclosed, fitted with bunk beds, linen and washbasins. Both are offered through purchasing our Pharoah's Pass.

Day 6: Kom Ombo temple and Luxor
Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor - breakfast. Disembarking, we enjoy a guided tour of Kom Ombo Temple and the Temple of Horus at Edfu, before driving north to Luxor. Hotel check into our 5  and free afternoon swim or chill by the pool. Home of the legendary Valley of the Kings and Queens and the gigantic Temple of Karnak, 4000 year old Luxor is ancient Egypt at it's best. Tonight, we have the opportunity to view Luxor Temple - built by Amenophis III, at night with dinner afterward. The temple looks stunning at nightfall illuminated by hundreds of coloured lights. Book/pay locally. Remainder of the evening at leisure.  Overnight - Luxor

Day 7: Valley of the Kings
Luxor - Cairo - breakfast. An early start! There is the option to float over Luxor in a hot air balloon ride and see area wake up and come alive. Afterwards, we cross to the West Bank, where we'll see the massive twin seated statues known as the Colossi of Memnon. We'll then explore the Valleys of the Kings and Queens and the awesome ramped and colonnaded Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Later, a chance to relax before our visit to the colossal Temple of Karnak. Lose yourself in the stone-columned Hypostle Hall and go crazy with your camera. This is ancient Egypt. Later tonight, we return by overnight seater train (1st Class seater train) to Cairo. Overnight - train

Day 8: Cairo & The Egyptian Museum
Cairo - breakfast box. Arrival and hotel check-in. Later we enjoy a guided tour of the famous Egyptian Museum. See the priceless funerary treasures of King Tutankhamen, including his legendary solide gold death mask. Enjoy the remains of the day shopping and exploring Cairo. Overnight - Cairo

Day 10: Cairo
Cairo - breakfast. Our tour concluded after breakfast and onward departure transfer to the airport.  

20th December departure
The touring arrangments of day 9 are conducted between day 2 and day 3 of the itinerary featured above. This allows us to spend a great Xmas Day on board our felucca, carefree and relaxed enjoying the merriment of the day.