Egyptian Pearls Nile Cruise Packages from Greece to Egypt - Nile River Cruises to Cairo, Alexandria, Sakkara, Memphis Egypt
EGYPTIAN PEARLS (Cairo - Sakkara - Memphis - Nile Cruise), 9 DAYS
We assemble at the airport and fly to Egypt, the cradle of one of the earliest civilizations that set the course of humanity. Arrival in busy and crowded Cairo. Transfer to the hotel where you will have time to settle in.
Our first day begins with a tour of Islamic Cairo. The Salahdin Acropolis (the Cairo Citadel) was the mightiest castle during the early Islamic era, comprised of three parts: the lower wall, el-Azab (the northern wall) and el- Ankhisariyia. We will also visit the Mohammed Ali Mosque, renowned for its magnificent architecture, also located in the Citadel's premises.
From there we depart for the ancient capital town of Memphis and to Sakkara to see the exquisite Djoser Pyramid, the first stepped pyramid ever built. Afterwards, we will have lunch in a luxury restaurant in Cairo and return to the hotel. Evening free time. Overnight stay.
After breakfast, we depart for the Coptic Museum, where we will admire works of art from the Early-Christian period. We continue with a visit to the hanging church, which is built on a Roman Tower and offers an amazing view. Located nearby is the Church of Agios Georgios, beneath which seven other churches are built. The most important of these are the churches of Agia Varvara and Agios Stergios, where according to legend, the Virgin Mary and the newborn Christ lived for some time. From there we head for the Pharaonic village. This tour presents all the history of Egypt (houses, rural life of Egyptians, the Pharaohs and their palaces, etc), acted by young Egyptian thespians, and is carried out by boat in a large part of the Nile and in Cairo. It is a spectacular event that must not be missed. Immediately after this short boat trip we will be transported to a luxury restaurant to dine. Return to hotel. Leisure time in the afternoon. Overnight stay.
After breakfast we begin our tour, starting from the Archaeological Museum, which contains the priceless masterpieces of the Pharaohs. Today we will experience the splendor of this ancient civilization. We continue with a visit to the Giza Pyramids, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the enigmatic Sphinx and lastly, to a fragrance and papyrus workshop. At the end of the tour, we will dine at a luxurious traditional restaurant in Cairo. After our meal, we will explore the traditional oriental Khan-el-Khalili Bazaar, where you can purchase weaving, leather goods, as well as copper, silver and gold articles. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay. It is better if we catch our flight to Luxor this evening to avoid the very early morning flight the following day. If there are seats available and we catch our flight today, we will spend the night in Luxor instead of Cairo.
Early morning flight to Luxor, to stand witness to the splendor of Ancient Egypt. Departure for the east bank, where the renowned Temples of Luxor stand. They were built by Pharaoh Amenhotep III and Ramses II in dedication to the god Ammon-Ra. We continue our journey, passing by the avenue of the Sphinxes, towards Karnak to visit the Temples of Amun, Mut and Khonsu. We then pass over to the west bank, visiting the Ancient City of Thebes, otherwise known as the city of the dead. Next we stop in the Valley of the Kings, where 60 tombs exist, of which the most famous are those of Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses III and Nefertiti. Lastly, we will tour the three-leveled Temple of Hatshepsut, the only female Pharaoh of Egypt, as well as the two huge Colossi of Memnon. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay aboard the ship.
We sail along the calm waters of the Nile, passing through the Esna Dam, otherwise known as the key of the Nile, where the water level changes. We head in the direction of Edfu, where we begin our tour of the well-preserved Edfu Temple, dedicated to Horus, the hawk god of the sun, protector of the Pharaoh. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight stay aboard the ship.
As our cruise ship travels towards Nubia, it sails past serene sandy beaches and lush cultivated terrain. We will have the opportunity to admire the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the hawk Haroeris. We continue our journey towards Aswan. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight stay aboard the ship.
In morning we arrive in scenic Aswan, the African state located at the tip of the Nile, 900 kilometers from Cairo. We start off with a visit to Philae Island and its Temple of Isis, and go on to see the impressive dam that regulates the flow of the Nile and to ride on a felucca through the botanical gardens, while gazing at the Mausoleum of Agha Khan. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight stay aboard the ship.
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Return flight to Athens via Cairo.
IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION: THE SEQUENCE OF THE CRUISE AND THE CAIRO TOUR MAY BE ALTERED IF NECESSARY.
The tour schedules presented on the website are INDICATIVE.
The sequence of the tours may be altered if necessary, without omitting any of the tours mentioned.
Please always ask for our seasonal schedule slips so that you can have a full view of the different trips to be realized in different seasons, throughout the year. The tour schedules are indicative, since it is impossible that new brochures be printed or changes be made on the website on a constant basis.
INCLUDED:
4 nights in the in the hotel of your choice, including breakfast
4 nights aboard a 5* DELUXE cruise ship, in external cabins, on an all inclusive basis
All tours during the cruise, according to schedule (visits to 3 tombs of the ancient kingdom, apart from the tomb of Tutankhamun)
Meals according to schedule
Entrance fees for museums and archaeological sites
Experienced English-speaking guide
Transportation
Full insurance
Travel Maps / Info Leaflets
NOT INCLUDED:
International & Domestic Air fares
(Is also available upon request)
IMPORTANT NOTIFICATIONS: