In the foot steps of

Ramses the Great
With a Foray into Petra Jordan

19 days  Egypt and Jordan   including air from JFK

19 days  Egypt  and Jordan including air fare from JFK
 Tour operates weekly on  Friday . Year Round. Maximum 6 guests Group
Cairo, Alexandria, Royal Cleopatra 5 Day Sailing Cruise & Abu Simbel
Compare with 10 day version

Day 1 Fri : JFK / Cairo

Board your  wide body  jet  at JFK.  Overnight  across  the  Atlantic. Dinner is served on board.
Subject to availability : British Airways via London , Air France via Paris, Lufthansa via Frankfurt, Swiss via Zurich

Day 2 : Sat; Cairo

Arrive  at  Cairo airport,  our  rep will escort  you to your hotel. Complimentary visa issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport. Valid only for American, Canadian , EU Citizens , Australian , NZ , Korean , Singaporean & Japanese Citizens. Passport must be valid for at least 6 month. Welcome Egyptian Sweets platter at hotel room.

Day 3, Sun  :Cairo (cBLD)
Our full-day tour of the great metropolis includes the most spellbinding sights: the Pyramids at Giza, for those interested and are in good physical condition, tour the interior chambers of the Pyramid , then on to the mighty Sphinx, and the treasure-filled Egyptian Museum .Lunch in one of the exotic  local restaurants.

Complimentary 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 4, Mon : Cairo (cBLD)

Breakfast at leisure . Late morning start . Check -out from your hotel rooms
We continue our explorations with a half-day tour through medieval Khan  el- Khalili, the bazaar district, to admire the ancient streets, houses  , Saladin's Citadel and Mohammed Ali Alabaster mosques. Lunch at  a local restaurant. The afternoon is yours.

Day 5,Tue  : Luxor   - Hotel (cBD)

Morning flight to Luxor ,our local rep will escort you to your  hotel for another fresh cup of coffle & tea , before we head to tour the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings including King Tut's Tomb , and Valley of the Queens, including the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, stopping also at the Colossi of Memnon before heading back to Luxor .

This afternoon we stand in awe before the gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 6- LUXOR, ESNA- ROYAL CLEOPATRA Felucca ( rated 3 stars modest) Wednesday (BLD)

Breakfast at the hotel. Board your private air conditioned vehicle to Esna:tour Esna Temple of Khnum, discovered in late in the 19th Century, it was well protected & preserved , buried under the main village's square for thousands of years.

Check-in , and board your Felucca the Royal Cleopatra ( The Boat is rated modest 3 stars).

( Your crew of 5 will be available to welcome you : the captain, sailor, chef, housekeeper and of course your Resident Egyptologist) Welcome drink served upon arrival "Karkadeh - Local herb tea". Lunch will be served, as we sail for Edfu. Welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin, watch sunset as we dock north of Edfu and sip tea on deck. Dinner follows ) , then to bed, with the ripples of the Nile gently rocking you to sleep.

With 2 cabins, this is  the  ultimate when it comes to personal service & attention :
Cleopatra sailing boat. Welcome drink served upon arrival. And a complimentary fruit basket awaits you in your private cabin. Click here for your Sailing Boat lay out & deck plans

Day 7 - EDFU- Thursday (BLD)

Breakfast in your cabin, or on the sundeck,As sun rises we continue our sailing towards Edfu.In Edfu, climb aboard your private horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop through the town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt's best preserved. Enjoy a grand afternoon of sailing on the Nile watching villages & scenery that changed little since Biblical times. We enjoy lunch at one of the small islands on the way. Dock at Elmerinat.

Day 8 - GABAL ELSISILAH - FARES - Friday (BLD)

Breakfast on board. We sail further upstream heading for GABAL ELSISILAH
Enjoy lunch on board . We reach Gabal Elsisilah early afternoon and tour the ancient sandstone quarries. A charming off the beating track site that 's not yet overwhelmed with large groups of tourists.

Watch sunset as we sip tea on deck. Dinner follows, then on to Fares where we dock for the night . Enjoy the Egyptian southern clear skies with thousands of stars to watch ! A galabya will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments.

Day 9 -  Kom Ombo Aswan- Saturday (B)
After breakfast on board. We return to Royal Cleopatra to bid farewell to the crew. We change our mode of transportation and board an air conditioned van/car , heading for Kom Ombo. We visit its twin temple dedicated to the crocodile god of the Nile, a true Greco Roman masterpiece .Inspect the ancient wall carvings that documents the measurements and detailed description of the medical instruments available to the Ancient Egyptian.We enjoy a short walking tour thru the local village and souks of Kom Ombo before heading for Aswan's and your hotel

Day 10 -   ABU SIMBEL - Ramses The Great Master of Builders of all Times
Sunday (cBD)
Very early breakfast. Abu Simbel We've planned our visit to Abu Simbel to be a highlight of your Egyptian adventure. Rising before dawn, we drive along the shore of Lake Nasser, watching the sky lighten and the sacred sun rise above the horizon. We reach the great temples while the air is clean, clear and cool, and the sun's light still golden;just right for photographs.
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 temple by ourselves in the quiet of the morning, admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which retire to a comfortable hotel for refreshments. Just as planeloads of visitors arrive to throng the temples we begin our leisurely drive back along the shore to Aswan.

Jacquie Kennedy & Abu Simbel:
Almost all of us alive during the 1960s remember President John F Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Most of world citizens 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. Read More

In Aswan , in the afternoon we visit  the  Mighty Aswan Dam . After which we change our mode of transportation to go by motor launch to the island temples of Philae .
this Island temple , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS :

The Mystery of 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.

Isis, the great Mother Goddess. Come explore her mystery in timeless
Egypt when you Travel in Style!

Today, we'll get to known Alexandria in depth, as we visit the Greco-Roman Museum, the Roman Amphitheater, the Koum El Shougafa Tombs, and the Museum of the Crown Jewels.

Octavious visiting Alexander the Great's Tomb in Alexandria just after the Roman Emperor defeated Cleopatra & Marc Anthony.  He left his coat as a token of respect to Alexander the Great. The search continues for Alexander the Great's Tomb.

Napoleon in Egypt:

From the Pharaohs to Napoleon: Discoveries Continue in Alexandria. Even today , the treasures of Egypt are still being rediscovered—sometimes spanning millennia in a single location!

The Egyptian Department of Antiquity recently revealed the existence of a Pharaonic tomb dating from 400 BC on Nelson Island, just four kilometers from Alexandria’s Abu Qir Bay. Finds by a team of Italian archeologists included three mummies, along with earthenware utensils, statues, and figurines adorned with texts from the Book of the Dead.

But that’s not all. The English sank Napoleon’s fleet at Abu Qir in 1798, and the excavations yielded a treasure trove from the battle: the remains of soldiers, sailors and officers in uniforms, along with military gear, rosaries, and coffins and body wrappings, all well preserved in Mediterranean sands. There were even skeletons of newborns, as family members accompanied officers aboard ship.

As these exciting discoveries are catalogued and protected, many are sure to be placed in the collection of the Qeit Bey Castle Museum, which already houses relics from Napoleon’s fleet.

A brief stop at " El Selsela" the site of the Underwater reserve where Cleopatra Place was discovered, as well as Caesar Kiosk before we head back to your hotel.

Day 12 - Wed, Alexandria / Cairo  (cBL)
After breakfast : A brief stop at " El Selsela" the site of the Underwater reserve where Cleopatra Place was discovered, as well as Caesar Kiosk , then its off to the new site for the Alexandria Library before heading back to south. Reach Cairo early evening and your hotel. Time permitting we 'll visit the new museum in Alexandria , the building was originally built in 1926 for the US consulate in Alexandria and is a masterpiece in 1920's architecture & Mediterranean style buildings. On to Wadi El Natroun and the famous Coptic Monasteries, then on to Cairo , with lunch enroute in a local modest highway restaurant

Day 13- Thu, Giza (cBL) 
After breakfast, we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the museum of the Royal Barge of Cheops Solar Boat.
The museum is built over the rectangular pit that housed the Royal Barge for thousands of years , the wooden boat was readied for the king's daily journey with the sun god, Ra . Discovered in 1954, in a completely dismantled state, the 43-metre (140-foot) cedar boat is a rare window on the Royal boats used by the kings of Ancient Egypt.

Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!

On to Memphis , Sakkara , Abu Sir Pyramids . 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.

Day 14 Fri - At Leisure (cB) 
Full day at leisure or for last minute shopping.

Day 15 , Sat - Amman Jordan (cB)
After  an  early breakfast , transfer to Cairo airport , board your flight heading for Amman Jordan. Air fare is included in our rate , in economy class, tax included . Our local rep. greets you at Amman International Airport, and escorts you to your hotel in Amman. The city is yours to explore as you like for the rest of the day.

DAY 16 - MADABA, KERAK & PETRA - Sunday (BD)

We drive south along the King's Highway, an ancient caravan route, to Madaba to visit the church containing the oldest known map of the Holy Land. Continuing to Mount Nebo, we enjoy the panoramic view of the Promised Land the way Moses saw it for the first time. Farther on, at Kerak, we tour the ruins of its romantic Crusaders' castle of Renaud de Chatillon, one of a line which stretched from Aqaba to Turkey. Finally, we arrive in Petra, and settle in at our hotel.

DAY 17 - PETRA - Monday (BD)

Today the fabulous Nabatean city of Petra awaits us. Made famous in the Indiana Jones movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark," its ancient temples, tombs and striking Khazneh (Treasury) were hewn right from the pink and violet sandstone. We spend a full day here, and another night.

DAY 18 - WADI RUM & AMMAN - Tuesday (BD)

We board four-wheel-drive vehicles for an expedition to Wadi Rum, the "Valley of the Moon" where T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") organized Arab resistance to Ottoman rule during World War I. After our visit, we return to Amman.

DAY 19 - JERASH -Wednesday (BD)

We drive to Jerash, among the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, to tour its temples, theaters, churches and colonnaded streets. From Jerash, we will escort you back to Amman. Jordanian departure tax is included in our rate.

(Optional tour : Extend to Syria)
Or you may join our Discover Syria tour, driving from Jerash across the Syrian border for a visit to the ancient Roman city of Bosra, before continuing to Damascus. F

Available on board :

* For men's electrical shaver : 220 Volt / 110 Volt converter.
* Hairdryer. Shampoo, conditioner, soap.
* Music at the bar.

Jacquie Kennedy & Abu Simbel:

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.

No one questioned that the temple must be saved. UNESCO developed a marvelous plan to cut the huge monument into 1,423 stone blocks and move it 200 meters (219 yards) north and 63 meters (207 feet) higher, just above the estimated level of Lake Nasser, the vast inland sea that would be created by the new dam.

But who would pay? As a developing country, Egypt could not shoulder the burden alone. Other countries could contribute, but only one country--the United States of America--truly had the resources for this
monumental rescue effort.

No matter how much wealth there is, it is never enough. Many legitimate, worthwhile projects compete for funds. What Abu Simbel needed was an advocate, someone who recognized the temple for the irreplaceable world art treasure that it was.

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, already famous for her grace, refinement, and sensitivity to the arts, saw the need to work for the salvation of Abu Simbel. It was she who urged Congress to allocate $10 million for the rescue effort (a sum roughly equivalent to $100 million today). It was an enormous amount of money, but she saw that America
must step up to the challenge of saving this treasure of worldwide importance for all time.

The rescue funds were approved by Congress and the temple was saved.

In appreciation for her efforts, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser presented the First Lady and the president with a 4000-year-old Egyptian statue (which is now preserved in the John F Kennedy Library &
Museum in Boston). (http://www.jfklibrary.org/visit_museum-14.html)

President Nasser wanted also to give a gift of thanks to the people of the United States for their valuable support. He asked Mrs Kennedy to choose an appropriate monument. She suggested the small Temple of
Dendur (c. 15 BC), and the gift was readily approved. The temple was brought to the United States in 1965 and installed at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1967.
(http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/ view1.asp?dep=10&full=0&item=68%2E154)

Times change, leaders come and go, but some acts of support and generosity are remembered through the decades.

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy loved Egypt, and Egypt still loves her.