Egypt
& Jordan a la Indiana Jones
The
Ultra Deluxe Version - The Nile Cruise Boarding Luxor
Travel With the Pharaohs and Sultans of these Ancient lands
17 days In- Depth touring of Egypt and Jordan
Luxury
Nile Cruises
Indiana Jones himself couldn't squeeze more adventure into this journey:Alexandria
Cairo , Memphis, Sakkara and the Pyramids, a cruise on the Nile, the fabled
temples and tombs of Luxor and Thebes, diving in the Red Sea, the mountains
of Sinai, and a trek to the mysterious ruins of Petra in Jordan. Departures
are weekly on Wednesday Compare with
7-day or the 12 day edition .
Add Syria Magic
of the Arabian Empire : Syria,
Jordan & Egypt .Compare with the Alexandria
version : 9 Days ?
DAY
1 - DEPARTURE - Wednesday
We take off aboard Lufthansa, British Airways or Olympic Airways jet from
New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. (Ask about stopovers
in Europe.)
International
Air fare add on:
For departures from most west coast cities, as well as Phoenix, Dallas-Fort
Worth or Atlanta in , please add $250 to the above rates. This doesn't
apply when you handle your own air fare.
For
travel in May / June /July /August, please note that
a $250 air-fare supplement is added to the above rates.
When
you handle your own air fare, please deduct $500 from the listed rate
DAY
2- CAIRO - Thursday
Our Egypt-based staff greets you in bustling Cairo airport and escorts
you to your hotel .
Mena House Palace (Pyramids view ) or The Four Seasons ( Standard
room) , always subject to change.
Complimentary Egyptian visa fee (valid for American, Australian, NZ, EU
& Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid for at least 6 month upon
arrival).
Visa will be issued upon arrival.
As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two , down some
stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes , until you pass the duty free shops,
at the end of a wide corridor , you will see the security officers. There
you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding a sign
with the name you prefer to use for the sign .
Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp
from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport
officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport
as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist you
in collecting your luggage and clearing customs . After exiting the terminal,
our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel
DAY
3 - Alexandria Friday (cBL)
We leave Cairo before sunrise ( private air conditioned car/driver/guide).
We drive across northern Egypt & the Nile Delta heading northwest
for Alexandria: Full day tour of the Greco Roman Museum, the Catacombs,
the Roman Amphitheater, Qayet Bey Fortress housing recovered items from
the French Fleet & Napoleons Flag Ship " L'Orient", sunk
by the British & Admiral Nelson, east of Alexandria. Qayet Bey Fort
was built on the same site of the ancient wonder of the world : the famous
Alexandria Light House. A brief stop at " El Selsela" the site
of the Underwater reserve where Cleopatra Place was discovered, as well
as Caesar Kiosk. Lunch at a local restaurant , then its off to the new
site for the Alexandria Library before heading to
Wadi El Natroun monastery almost midway to Cairo , where early Coptic
Christians retreated here to escape the Roman persecution in the 4th century
AD. The Egyptian Pope of Alexandria is always chosen from the Monks of
wadi El Natroun.
Reach Cairo early evening and your hotel.
DAY
4 - CAIRO- Dahshour, Memphis, Sakkara - Saturday (cBL)
A
morning tour takes us to the time capsule treasure of Dahshour,
the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo: DAHSOUR - we'll
motor to the edge of Cairo, 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.
After
lunch at a local restaurant : The afternoon is for Memphis and Sakkara,
including the Step Pyramid of Zoser & Nobles tombs/Mastabas.
DAY
5 - CAIRO- Giza Pyramids Sound & Light Show - Complimentary Home Hosted
Dinner - Sunday (cB)
Today Cairo is yours to explore on your own. In
the evening, we return to the Pyramids for an awe-inspiring sound-and-light
show.
This
evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right
into the homes of some of the people of Cairo ! 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 at the hotel with your travel companions, by letting us know your
preferences. You may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host
family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town).
DAY
6 - CAIRO - Monday (BL)
Your exploration of the ancient world begins today! First stop is the
Egyptian Museum, with its treasures of the ancient pharaohs: mummies,
statuary, precious stones and metals. We'll also stop at the Citadel of
Saladin and the Alabaster Mosque. Then it's on to Giza and the mysteries
of the Pyramids and Sphinx.
DAY
7 - Luxor - Nile Cruise Tuesday (BLD)
Very early breakfast at your hotel before we head for the airport and
fly to Luxor . Your cabin may not be ready for an early check-in, yet
all public facilities on board are at your disposal. Welcome drink served
upon arrival. After check-in and a delicious lunch , then we'll continue
beside the Nile to take in an array of ancient splendors: the Valley of
the Kings; the imposing tomb-temple of Queen Hatshepsut ; then back to
Luxor and Amon-Ra Luxor Temple. Return to the cruise in time for the afternoon
tea. Get ready for the welcome dinner and the Belly Dance Folk show .
Board the Nile cruise
in Aswan or Luxor
DAY 8 - Luxor- Edfu - Nile Cruise Wednesday (BLD)
This morning we tour the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak. Then sail for
Edfu as we enjoy lunch on board .
Afternoon tea is always served daily on the sun-deck while you are on
board the cruise .
Captain's Welcome Cocktail followed by dinner .
DAY 9 - Edfu - Nile Cruise- Thursday (BLD)
Horse-drawn carriages or vans meet us at riverside to take us through
Edfu to the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt . Enjoy lunch
on board as we cruise northward down the Nile today, at a stately pace,
disembarking for a visit to Kom Ombo, the twin temple dedicated to the
crocodile river god, Sobek. We'll also see Haroeris, the solar disk. Back
on board we sail further south towards Aswan . Afternoon tea is served
on the Sun-deck. A galabia will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments.
You may wish to try it on tonight , get ready for the "costume/galabia"
party .
DAY
10 - ASWAN - Friday (BLD)
After breakfast on board . We'll visit the enormous dams at Aswan, then
board a launch on to visit the Temples island of Philae, dedicated to
the Ancient Egyptian Goddess of Isis, that was later worshiped in Rome
as well as Ancient Greece, the temple was rescued from rising waters
and reassembled on this island , this
Island temple , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS .
Return back to your cruise in time for tea.
Afternoon sailing in Feluccas on the Nile among the rocky islands . Dinner
and Folk Show on board
DAY 11 - ASWAN - Abu Simbel - Saturday (BLD)
After breakfast - Check-out . We take a short flight to Abu Simbel . Your
private air-conditioned car , Driver and Egyptologist / guide , will be
waiting for you at
Abu Simbel Airport .
Abu Simbel and Ramses great 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 , after which retire to a comfortable hotel
for refreshments. Fly back to Aswan, arriving in time for a late lunch
at your hotel : Old Cataract Hotel, Nile view room, deluxe room. Dinner
is also included at the hotel. Hotel will be closed in 2008 for renovations
DAY
12 - SHARM EL SHEIK - RED SEA Sunday (B)
Now that you've seen the best of the Egypt of the Pharaohs, our guides
escort you to the airport. You'll fly over the Sinai Peninsula ( via Cairo
) and land at historic Sharm El Sheik on the Red Sea. You're at the beach
and free to swim, or explore under the waters. Four Seasons Hotel , Ritz,
(standard room)
DAY 13 - Sharm El Sheikh - Monday (BL)
Relax! Today is set aside as a strategic mid-journey break. Spend some
time in the sun, but don't miss your chance to snorkel or dive under Red
Sea waters for an array of coral and glittering tropical fish.
DAY
14 - AQABA, PETRA Tuesday (B)
We'll drive to the port of Nuweiba, where we'll board the Red Sea ferry.
Across the water in Aqaba, with Israel and Saudi Arabia in sight, our
Jordan-based representative waits to greet you. You'll drive north under
a towering ridge of mountains, and arrive at your hotel in Petra for the
night. Movenpick Petra . Complimentary Jordanian visa fee (valid only
for American & Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid for at least
6 month upon arrival).
DAY
15- PETRA- Wednesday
(B)
We'll spend the entire day at Petra, the stunning desert city hewn by
the Nabateans from solid cliffs of pink and violet sandstone. Petra was
known in the bible as Sela, and rediscovered only in 1812. You'll feel
like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark as you penetrate into the
city through a narrow sandstone gorge, the Siq, and wander among the Temple
of the Winged Lion, tombs, Roman theater, and the imposing Treasury.
DAY
16 - PETRA/ WADI RUM / JERASH - Thursday (BL)
After
breakfast at the hotel, 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 enjoy lunch at a local restaurant then on 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
and your hotel. Four Seasons ( Standard room)
DAY
17 - DEPARTURE FOR HOME - Friday (B)
Our staff escorts you to the airport of Amman for your flight home. Or,
you may choose to add one of our extensions, and return later from Jordan
at no additional cost for your air fare.
RATES
per person in USD
|
|
Deluxe |
| Triple |
US$
5550 |
| Double |
US$
5700 |
| Single |
US$
6750 |
For
Easter, Christmas, New Year's ( Dec 20 - Jan 3 ) : 20 % supplement will
apply
Air
fare notes:
-
International
Air fare add on:
For departures from most west coast cities, as well as Phoenix, Dallas-Fort
Worth or Atlanta in , please add $250 to the above rates. This doesn't
apply when you handle your own air fare.
-
For
travel in May to end of Sep , please note that a
$250 air-fare supplement is added to the above rates.
-
When
you handle your own air fare, please deduct $500 from the listed rate.
Inclusions:
- All
transfers in Egypt and Jordan, always on a private basis.
- International
air fares from New York to Cairo with return from Amman in economy
class , tax included .
- Air
fare within Egypt in economy class , tax included.
-
Air-conditioned hotel accommodations with tax and service charges
- Sightseeing
with professional guide and entrance fees as indicated
- Meals
as indicated, with pre-set menu (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Jordanian
visa and Egyptian visa fee (valid only for Western EU , Australian,
NZ, American & Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid for at least
6 month upon arrival).
- Jordanian
departure tax.
Not
included:
Upgrade
to the Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruises:
Supplement : 10 % applies to be added to the deluxe rate
The Sonesta M/S Moon Goddess . MS Amarco .
Movenpick Radamis II or Royal Lotus , or M/S Philae. The
Ultra Deluxe" Queen TiYi
Other
choices :
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