Ancient and Biblical Egypt

April 10 Fri US departure from Minneapolis

April 11 Sat Arrival Cairo
• Arrival at Cairo Int’l Airport.
• Meet with ‘Quanbeck/Johnson’ sign and assist through customs and formalities.
• Transfer to the hotel.
• Dinner and overnight in Cairo.(D)

April 12 Sun Giza - Cairo
• After breakfast, transfer to Giza.
• Visit the Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren & Mikarinus.
• Optional: enter inside any pyramids.
• After viewing the three great Pyramids from a panoramic viewpoint, visit to the giant one stone Sphinx.
• Then transfer to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum.
• Dinner and overnight in Cairo.(B,D)

April 13 Mon Memphis - Cairo
• After breakfast transfer to visit Saqqara Step Pyramid, built by King Zoser, of the third dynasty.
• After that proceed to visit the Open Museum at Memphis, the old capital of Egypt.
• Dinner and overnight in Cairo. (B,D)

April 14 Tue Cairo
• After breakfast, transfer to Visit the Egyptian Museum located in downtown Cairo, housing thousands of pieces of the ancient Egyptian civilization, including the most famous collection of the young king Tut Ankh Amoun with its fascinating treasures.
• Visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, which provides a comprehensive history of Egypt and houses 20 royal mummies of the New Kingdom.
• Dinner and overnight in Cairo. (B,D)

April 15 Wed FLY ASWAN- NILE BOAT ASWAN
• Morning fly to Aswan.
• Arrival Aswan airport, meet, assist and transfer to the boat.
• Embarkation before lunch. In the afternoon, you will discover the gigantic high Dam; the unfinished Obelisque and Philae temple dedicated to the goddess ISIS.
• Dinner and overnight on board in Aswan. (B,L,D)

April 16 Thu NILE BOAT- EDFU
• In the afternoon, your ship will sail to Kom Ombo where you will visit the unusual double temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the god Haroeris.
• Lunch on board.
• Sail to Edfu.
• Dinner and overnight on board in Edfu. (B,L,D)

April 17 Fri EDFU - NILE BOAT LUXOR
• After breakfast it’s time to admire the beautiful scenery of the Nile while sailing to Edfu where you will discover the huge temple dedicated to the God Horus by horse carriage and tour it with your guide.
• Sail to Luxor.
• Dinner and overnight on board in Luxor. (B,L,D)

April 18 Sat Disembark - LUXOR
• Disembarkation then transfers to visit Karnak Temple. Walk among the pillars of the temple dedicated to the god Amun Ra and along the avenue of the Sphinxes at Karnak.
• Then transfer to visit Luxor Temple.
• Check in to hotel in Luxor.
• Dinner and overnight in Luxor. (B,D)

April 19 Sun Valley of the Kings - Luxor
• Optional: early morning hot-air balloon flight over west Luxor.
• After early breakfast, drive to the west side of Luxor: explore the great Valley of Kings, where generations of Pharaohs were buried in crypts cut into the cliffs
• Optional: visit Tut Ankh Amon’s tomb.
• Stop by the Colossi of Memnon, then proceed to visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut.
• Dinner and overnight in Luxor. (B,D)

April 20 Mon Luxor
• After breakfast transfer to visit the Valley of the Nobles.
• Then transfer to visit Ramssum temple and Madinet Habu temple.
• Dinner and overnight in Luxor. (B,D)

April 21 Tue FLY CAIRO
• Check out after breakfast then transfer to Luxor airport to flyb ack to Cairo.
• Transfer from the airport to visit the Citadel (Mohamed Ali Mosque). The mosque, the largest such structure built during the first half of the 19th century, is more impressive at a distance than close up. It is an unparalleled contribution to the skyline of Cairo, visible high atop the Citadel grounds. Its great dome and towering minarets give the Citadel a romantic, oriental quality that makes up for any shortcomings in its detail.
• Visit Old Coptic Cairo. The Church of St Sergius. This church is the oldest and most unique of the churches in Old Cairo, founded in the 5th century. Its main attraction is crypt claimed to be the place where the Holy Family stayed during their Egyptian exile.
• Visit Ben Ezra synagogue is the supreme Jewish monument in Cairo. It is not the only synagogue, but it is the most used. It no longer has a rabbi, but is maintained by 42 local Jewish families. Legends claim that the synagogue is built on the spot where pharaoh’s daughter found Moses in the bulrushes and where Jeremiah spoke to survivors after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.
• Check in at Cairo hotel.
• Dinner and overnight in Cairo. (B,D)

April 22 Wed Departure transfer to airport end of tour OR optional trip to Alexandria - Alexandria
• Optional Alexandria trip
• Check out after breakfast, then early transfers to Alexandria.
• On the way, stop to visit The Monastery of St. Macarius, 92 kilometers from Cairo on the western side of the desert road to Alexandria. It was founded in 360 A.D. by St. Macarius the Egyptian, who was spiritual father to more Than four thousand monks of different nationalities-Egyptians, Greeks, Ethiopians, Armenians, Nubians, Asians, Palestinians, Italians, and Spanlards. There were among them men of letters and philosophers, and members of the aristocracy of the time, along with simple illiterate peasants. From the fourth century up to the present day the monastery has been continuously inhabited by monks.
• Arrive Alexandria then visit Bibliotheca of Alexandria the New Library of Alexandria; the New Bibliotheca Alexandrina is dedicated to recapture the spirit of openness and scholarship of the original Bibliotheca Alexandrina. It is much more than a library.
• The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa These tombs were tunneled into the bedrock in the age of the Antoine emperors (2nd century A.D.) for a single wealthy family still practicing the ancient religion. These tombs represent the last existing major construction for the sake of the old Egyptian religion.
• Dinner and overnight in Alexandria. (B,D)

April 23 Thu Alexandria - Cairo
• Check out after breakfast then transfer to visit POMPEY’S PILLAR an approximately 25metre red Aswan granite column with a circumference of 9metres was constructed in honor of the Emperor Diocletian; it was once a magnificent structure rivaling the Soma and the Caesareum.
• The Roman Theater (KOM AL-DIKKA) Over 30 years of excavation have uncovered many roman remains including this well-preserved theatre with galleries, sections of mosaicflooring and marble seats for up to 800 spectators. The theatre at one point may have been roofed over to serve as an Odeon for musical performances. Inscriptions suggest that it was sometimes also used for wrestling contests.
• We will continue to visit Qaitbay Citadel, which is considered one of the most important defensive strongholds.
• Back to Cairo.
• Dinner and overnight in Cairo. (B,D)

April 24 Fri Departure
• Transfer to the airport for final departure.(B)

• Roundtrip Airfare with LH from MSP- CAIRO
• Meet and assist service upon arrival and departure in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan airports.
• 6 Nights in a 4 stars standard Radisson Blu Hotel in Cairo
• 3 Nights on a 4 stars standard Nile cruise M/S Jaz Crown Jewel Boat
• 3 nights in 4 stars standard Iberotel Luxor Hotel in Luxor. (City view rooms)
• Daily breakfast and dinner at hotels, 3 lunches on board the boat
• Entrance fees to all archaeological sites included in the program.
• English Speaking licensed tour guide throughout the itinerary.
• Transportation by private A/C buses.
• Cairo/Aswan -Luxor/Cairo domestic flight tickets.
• Portage for one piece of luggage at the hotels.
• Service charges and local taxes.

INCLUDING FOR ALEXANDRIA EXTENSION

• 1 night in a 4 stars standard Romance Alexandria Hotel in Alexandria based on half board basis.
• Entrance fees to archaeological sites included in the program of the Alex tour.
• English Speaking licensed tour guide.
• Transportation to and from Alexandria by private A/C bus.

• Egypt Visa ($25) to be paid in cash upon arrival
• Lunches in Cairo and Luxor.
• Drinks in the whole trip.
• Optional tours: Pyramids inside entry, Tut Ankh Amon’s tomb, hot air balloon and any other optional tours not included
• Personal expenses, any other item which is not included above.
• Charges for camera permit at museums and some sites.
• Tips to tour guide and drivers and boat/hotels staff: $10 per person per day.

EXCLUDING FOR ALEXANDRIA EXTENSION

• Lunch in Alexandria.
• Drinks.
• Optional tours.