Tour Spain and Egypt including Andalusia and a Luxury Nile Cruise | The 1001 Egyptian Nights Andalusia Edition

Honeymoon tour, Egypt tour, Adventure travel Egypt

DAY 2 - CAIRO- Sailing on the Nile - Tuesday (cBLD)
Today we see Cairo's major sights: the Egyptian Museum, including the Mummies Room. We'll continue to Royal Manial Palace of former Crown Prince Mohamed Ali , on to the Coptic Museum, and the Church of Abu Sergha, and the Beni Ezra Synagogue. We'll see where,according to the legend, Moses was found along the banks of the Nile. We'll take our lunch at a local restaurant.
Enjoy a 30 minute felucca sailing on the Nile to see Cairo from a different angle before we head back to your hotel. Dinner is included at your hotel

DAY3 - DAHSOUR - HOME HOSTED MEAL Wednesday (cBL)
After breakfast, we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza.

Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!

Continue to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:

The "Discovery" of Dahshour:
For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru's pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza's Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru's--miraculously--is still in place.
Lunch is included at a local restaurant or at your hotel.

Evening Sound and Light show by the Pyramids.

DAY 4 - The Red Sea resort of Sharm , Thursday (cBD)
Head for the airport and a short flight to Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy this unique desert beach resort.
Relax by the cerulean waters, take a camel ride at your option.
Breakfast & dinner included

DAY 5 - Sharm El Sheikh, Snorkel or Dive- Friday (cBD)
The Red Sea just off "Sharm" is replete with fascinating coral and aquatic species unique to this area. You'll spend the full day today exploring these wonders as you snorkel or scuba dive (for which proof of certification is a must ). There's also time to relax, take an optional excursion, or look into the life of the Bedouins who have made a way of life in the desert. Evening Bedouin Dinner.

DAY 6 - LUXOR & Cruise to Denderah -Saturday (cBLD)
An early flight takes us to Luxor,along the Nile in fabled Upper Egypt, where We'll navigate the waters of the Nile to Denderah in a day excursion cruise ( or by car) , to visit the best preserved temple in Egypt, then its back to Luxor for a spectacular sound & light show at Karnak temple. Accommodation on board your Nile Cruise. One large bottle of mineral water in your cabin with our compliments.

Today's tour include as well a visit to the Valley of the Kings including Tut-Ank-Amon's tomb , temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, and Colossi of Memnon, returning to our Nile cruiser for lunch. Following lunch aboard, we visit the great Temple of Luxor, and the gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, returning to our vessel in time for tea. Complimentary welcome fruit basket in your cabin.

DAY 8 - ESNA & EDFU- Monday (cBLD)
We cruise to Esna during the night and pass through the locks. After breakfast we cruise to Edfu and board horse-drawn carriages to get to the fine Temple of Horus. In the evening, we have a jolly galabia party. A Galabya will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments.

DAY 9 - KOM OMBO & ASWAN , CAMEL CARAVAN -Tuesday (cBLD)
We explore Kom Ombo's twin Temples of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, before cruising south to Aswan. After lunch aboard, we board a graceful felucca for a cruise among the Nile islands .Then to really immerse yourself, try your hand at a complimentary camel riding! We'll take willing passengers on a traditional caravan to enjoy tea with Nubian villagers. Only Travel In Style & Nubian Nile Cruises afford this unique opportunity to meet & interact with local Nubians. We are proud to offer this insight into the Nubian way of life. Back in your cabin : Complimentary Egyptian pastry & sweets platter.

DAY 10 - ASWAN Wednesday (cBD)
The mighty Aswan dams are our first goal this morning, followed by a trip by motor launch to the Philae temples. this Island temple , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS :

Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled by the mystery of Isis:

"I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled."

Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.

Isis was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra!

Because of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey to the Underworld.

Isis is portrayed regally, as a queen seated on a throne (which may be the meaning of her name), often holding her son Horus as a baby. Other images show her with broad, magnificent gilded wings able to protect the world.

Back on land, we visit an ancient Pharaonic red granite quarry, then Nubia Museum before , we check in at your hotel : Deluxe : Movenpick Elephantine Island. Or the Old Cataract subject to availability.

DAY 11 - ASWAN Abu Simbel Cairo -Thursday (cBLD)
Morning drive by private sedan/mini-coach to to Abu Simbel. There we'll marvel at the temples dedicated to Ramses the Great and Queen Neferatri, saved from rising waters of the Nile when the High Dam was built, fly back to Aswan and connect with our returning flight to Cairo . Dinner at the hotel

ABU SIMBEL

In the larger temple, colossal figures of Ramses are seated with the gods and attended by his queen and daughters.
The smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari, who appears as Hathor, the goddess of love, joy and fertility, symbolized by the benevolent cow. We explore these fine temples, admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which we begin our leisurely drive back to Abu Simbel Airport

Jacquie Kennedy & Abu Simbel Temples in Egypt :
All Americans alive during the 1960s remember President John F Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Most Americans from that time also remember Abu Simbel, the dramatic, ancient pharaonic temple
threatened by the rising waters blocked by the new Aswan High Dam.

It’s worth remembering that it was Jacquie Kennedy who provided crucial support for the mammoth rescue project. Without her help, Abu Simbel might have been lost. Arrive early in Egypt, extend one day to be able to see Abu Simbel . Read More

DAY 12- Cairo -Friday (cB)
Breakfast is included at the hotel . Full day at leisure , explore Cairo on your own .

Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals, you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo l! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.

DAY 13- Cairo / Madrid - Saturday (cB)
After breakfast, we'll proceed to Cairo Airport. Air fare is included in our rate in economy class, Cairo Madrid, tax included. In Madrid , we'll meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel : Florida Norte or similar.

DAY 14- Madrid - Sunday (cB)
Breakfast at the hotel , full day on your own to explore Madrid as you wish

DAY 15—MADRID, CORDOBA, SEVILLE (BD) Monday
Breakfast at the hotel. Then we meet up to escort you to the coach terminal in Oriente Square in Madrid and set out by 9 a.m., making the most of our time aboard to introduce ourselves to each other and learn more about what lies ahead. Our route takes us into La Mancha, the landscape of romance and adventure where Don Quixote tilted at windmills. We’ll wind across hills and down into irrigated valleys, to Puerto Lápice, a town lost in time, looking much as it did in the seventeenth century. We might even espy the establishment where an innkeeper conferred knighthood upon Don Quixote. Then we’ll pass onward through the region of Valdepeñas, where fine Tempranillo grapes are grown, and cross the Canyon of Despeñaperros, and pass through the town of Bailén on our way to Cordoba. Here we’ll visit the famous Mosque, one of the most notable in the days of Moorish rule. Then we’ll continue onward to Andalusia, where dinner and comfortable beds await us in Seville.

DAY 16— SEVILLE (B, L) Tuesday
We’ll stay all day in Seville, where the Moors have left their mark in whitewashed houses, tile roofs, graceful archways, and a warren of intimate lanes with surprises at every turn. Our visit will take us to the monumental and stunning tower of La Giralda, the Cathedral that once echoed with daily calls to prayer, and the Palace of the Alcazar, with its delicately carved stonework and gardens that still delight the senses. Your afternoon is free to wander the alleyways of Seville on your own, and perhaps to stop in and sample the tapas at an inviting establishment.

DAY 17—SEVILLE, GRANADA (B, L) Wednesday
We say adiós to Seville this morning, and embark across Andalusia, the spectacular ridge of the Sierra Nevada forming a backdrop to our journey, coated in snow well into springtime. With all the spectacular vistas along the way, we’ll be in Granada before we know it. We’ll visit the Palace of the Alhambra, which inspired caliphs, conquerors, and writers as noted as Washington Irving, with its magnificent rooms and intricately decorated Moorish archways. We’ll stroll through its fabled Generalife gardens, of course, and there will be time to wander and shop on your own before you retire to your lodgings.

DAY 18—GRANADA, TOLEDO, MADRID (B) Thursday
Our northward route takes us back through central Spain, to the historic city of Toledo, where fine steel making is a tradition and a craft, where Jews and Muslims and Christians all flourished in the Golden Age of Moorish Spain. Notable sights will include the Cathedral, of course, with masterpieces by El Greco; and the Alcázar, a fortress site from Roman times right into this century. Afternoon will see us back aboard the coach, on our way to Madrid. And your hotel : Florida Norte or similar

DAY 19—Departure , MADRID (B) Friday
After breakfast , we escort you back to the Airport . Hasta Luego. Bon Voyage.

Deluxe Nile Cruises : Monaco , Monte Carlo , Mojito , Beau Soleil , Florence. Adonis or similar
First Class : Nile Dream , Ruby or Similar

The Ultra Deluxe all suites M/S Amarco , accommodation : Presidential or Royal suite

All of our Nile cruise vessels are fully air conditioned. Onboard dress is casual except at dinner, when smart casual is the rule. Lightweight cotton and other natural fiber clothing is best, with swimsuits and sun hats for the sundeck and pool. Bring a light sweater or light jacket for cool mornings and evenings, but most days are warm to hot, with very little rain. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for shore excursions.

CRUISE THE NILE IN LUXURY...

Mark Twain did it. Rockefeller did it. More recently, First Ladies Barbara Bush and Laura Bush, and pop music legend Lionel Richie did it:

cruise Egypt's timeless Nile in luxury.

Only a few Nile cruisers qualify as the most luxurious vessels on the Nile. In order to meet the requirements of Nubian Nile Cruises, they must be the newest and best, with up-to-the-minute facilities and all possible luxury services such as deluxe staterooms with private bath
(shower and/or bathtub), 20-inch satellite TV, large picture window, minibar, individual climate control, electronic entry system and security deposit boxes, hair dryer and direct-dial telephone.

The service onboard, under the watchful control of companies renowned worldwide for excellence, must be flawless and exceed guests’ expectations, and also reflect the warm traditional hospitality of the Egyptian people.

Few vessels qualify. Here they are:

Amarco
The brand-new, ultra-luxurious Amarco, launched in late 2003, has 51 staterooms, all with large picture windows and Internet access. Four junior suites (well equipped for handicapped passengers), two Presidential suites and two Royal suites accommodate special guests.

The Amarco is the only vessel on the Nile with a true mini-gym (not just an exercise room), and a mini-spa with two saunas, two massage rooms and steam rooms. Two elevators take guests (especially those who find stairs difficult) between decks.

Clients of Travel In Style.com receive special consideration on these luxury cruises. If you reserve your Presidential or Royal Suite through Travel In Style.com , we will provide you with a private valet to take care of your personal and touring needs, and a private guide and Egyptologist to answer any questions you may have about the wonders around you. Two
guests in each suite will be entitled to a 30-minute massage. Just for fun, we'll even engage a local fortune-teller, knowledgeable in the mystic secrets of ancient Egypt, to read the future in your palm or your coffee grounds! These special services are not available to other
passengers, even those who reserve Presidential Suites by other means.
You must reserve through Travel In Style.com to enjoy them.

Though the Nile is timeless, life is short. You may only cruise the Nile once. Make it the voyage of a lifetime aboard one of the ultra-luxury vessels

The Physically Challenged Passengers in Egypt

Egypt presents challenges to the traveler in a wheelchair, but we are determined to make it possible for everyone to enjoy Egypt's wonders.

Here's what the wheelchair traveler may expect:

1. Airport arrival in Cairo may not be as smooth as at some more handicapped-ready airports, but it presents no big problems.

2. A number of five-star hotels in Cairo are well prepared to accommodate visitors in wheelchairs.

3. Most museums are not well prepared to receive wheelchair travelers, so their visits may be limited to certain exhibits, for example, those on the ground floor.

4. Some outdoor sights, such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and some temples along the Nile, are more or less readily accessible. Your Egyptian guides will display ingenuity in overcoming small barriers to access so that you can enjoy these wonders. It may be necessary in some places for the traveler to be carried by guides up or down steps or steep ramps to allow wheelchair access.

5. Unfortunately, some sights are inaccessible to wheelchairs, such as most of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings (including that of Tutankhamon).

6. At Luxor a suitable ramp connects the Nile cruise boat dock to street level. There are a few small steps which can be negotiated by wheelchair with the crew's help (our crew members are always available to help). At Aswan there is no ramp, but rather two flights of 20 steps each. Travelers will need to be carried between street and boat levels by our crew.

7. The gangway of some of the Nile cruise vessel is wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, but the angle of ascent may be steep and the guest may have to be carried aboard. Onboard, most of the ship do not have an elevator, but wheelchair travelers can be accommodated in a wheelchair-friendly cabin on the same deck as the reception and dining rooms.

A journey into the heart of the Great Pyramid is a real-life Indiana Jones adventure. But it can also be a taxing and frightening one.

You'll follow claustrophobic passages cut into the heart of the pyramid, feel the pull of the mass of stone directly above. For better or worse, you have placed yourself in the hands of the engineering expertise of the ancients.

As you continue along the unventilated passages, the oxygen becomes depleted, the air becomes noticeably warmer and more pungent. The ascent of steep stairways consumes more energy than you imagined, and you find yourself short of breath. Lighting is dim, every footstep must be carefully calculated. Low passageways repeatedly oblige you to advance while bent down, and your muscles protest. Where walls disappear into the dark above, you feel wedged into a shaft. Despite warnings, and your own resolve, claustrophobic feelings are hard to suppress.

Finally, you behold the King's Chamber at the heart of the Great Pyramid. The effort to reach it has made the reward more exhilarating than you imagined. If only you can face the return.

Is the King's Chamber for you? If you're not used to bending and regular exercise, you might find the challenge beyond your capabilities. Turning back is more difficult the farther you go, and the experience could leave you aching for days afterwards.

Be realistic about yourself, your abilities, and your disposition. And remember that there are many other rewarding sights and adventures at Giza, without the physical challenge and risks of the King's Chamber.

1001 Andalusian Nights 19-Day: Egypt & Spain

1001 Andalusian Nights
19-Day: Egypt & Spain