Tour Features • Optional contracted transatlantic air transportation available from all US gateways • 4-night accommodations at selected hotels • 4-day/3-night Nile cruise, M/S Sonesta Nile Goddess, outside standard cabin with two lower beds and private facilities • Tour by air-conditioned motorcoach • Sightseeing as indicated with local guide and all entrance fees • All transfers per itinerary, including FREE airport transfers at arrival and departure city • Professional tour director (Egyptologist) during entire tour • Travel bag, one per person • Document holder and luggage tags • Hotel taxes and service • Note: Flights Cairo/Aswan and Luxor/Cairo are not included as they should be added to the optional transatlantic airfare in order to secure better airfares for those 2 air segments

Itinerary

Day 1 Mon Depart USA Evening departure. Meals and refreshments are served on board. Day 2 Tue Cairo Upon arrival in Cairo, you'll be met and taken to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure. Day 3 Wed Cairo Full day city sightseeing including the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, with the world's largest collection of Pharaonic artifacts and treasures from Tutankhamen's tomb. Subsequently, drive to the Citadel to view wonderful Islamic structures, including the Muhammad Ali Mosque. In Old Cairo, we visit Al Moallaka Church (Hanging Church) and Ben Ezra Synagogue. End this city tour at Khan el-Khalili, Cairo's labyrinthine shopping Mecca. Best buys: gold, silver, papyrus, slippers, galabeyas, t-shirts, perfumes, antiques, spices, lanterns, famous Egyptian cotton, and everything under the Egyptian sun! Lunch is included during tour. (B,L) Day 4 Thu Cairo (Giza Pyramids, Memphis & Sakkara) This full day guided tour takes you to the Giza complex, including the Pyramid of Khufu (the Great Pyramid), the only remaining monument of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the Great Sphinx. After Giza proceed to Memphis, where we tour the "open air museum", site of the Colossus of Ramses the Second and the Alabaster Sphinx. The visit to Sakkara will include the Step Pyramid, the first pyramid ever built. You will subsequently view the Pyramid of Teti. Time permitting, we will stop at a school of carpet weaving. Lunch is included during tour. (B,L) Day 5 Fri Cairo / Aswan / Cruise (Aswan) After a short flight you will arrive in Aswan, where you will be met, transferred to the pier and assisted during embarkation on the M/S Sonesta Nile Goddess. After lunch on board enjoy a morning tour of the High Dam, an outstanding water project undertaken with the aim of preventing the Nile River's flooding. Also stop at the Granite Quarries, which in antiquity furnished the stone for the monolithal, colossal statues, obelisks, and shrines which are found throughout Egypt. See the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae, dedicated to Isis, Goddess of Magic. The temple had to be relocated block by block to its current location because of the rising waters caused by the dams built on the Nile. In the evening, after dinner, there will be a very special Nubian Folkloric Show. Optional Sound & Light Show at Philae Temple. Overnight in Aswan (B,L,D) Day 6 Sat Cruise (Aswan / Kom Ombo / Edfu / Esna) Sail for Kom Ombo, where you will visit the temples of Sobek and Haroeris. You will resume sailing and arrive in Edfu before lunch. Here you travel by horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Horus, the Falcon God. The temple is known as the major Ptolemaic temple, built between 237 B.C. to 57 B.C., up to the reign of Cleopatra VII. Of all the temples that remain in Egypt, the Temple of Horus is the most completely preserved. In Edfu, there are also the remains of ancient pyramids. Sail to Esna, and after dinner enjoy a Galabeya Party. Overnight on board ship in Esna. (B,L,D) Day 7 Sun Cruise (Esna / Luxor) Early morning arrival in Luxor, where you will visit the necropolis on the Nile's West Bank that includes the Valley of the Kings & Queens, a vast City of the Dead where magnificent tombs were carved into the desert rocks. These tombs were richly decorated and filled with treasures for the afterlife of generations of Pharaohs. You will also have the chance to visit at least one tomb in the Valley of the Queens. The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (ancient Egypt's only female Pharaoh) rises out of the desert plain in a succession of terraces, merging with the sheer limestone cliffs that surround it, as if nature herself had built this extraordinary monument. On the way back to the river Nile, your road passes by the famed Colossi of Memnon. Overnight in Luxor on board ship. Optional Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple. (B,L,D) Day 8 Mon Cruise (Luxor/Cairo) After disembarkation an interesting tour will take you to the Temple of Karnak, built over more than a thousand years by generations of Pharaohs. The great "Hypostyle Hall" is an incredible forest of giant pillars, covering a vast area. Proceed to the Temple of Luxor, famous for its pillars that take the form of a bundle of papyri. This temple, dedicated to Amun-Ra, was celebrated annually. At the end of this sightseeing transfer to Luxor Airport for a short flight to Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo, transfer to your hotel and balance of the day at leisure. You have an opportunity for a last visit to a shopping bazaar and to enjoy Cairo's exciting nightlife. A fitting farewell to Egypt might be the astounding optional Sound and Light at the Pyramids. (B) Day 9 Tue Cairo to USA (or extend your stay) Morning transfer to Cairo International Airport for your return flight home. Meals and refreshments are served aloft. (B)

2012 & 2013 Scheduled Departures Rates (except cruise portion) indicated on the website are subject to currency fluctuations.  For an accurate rate, please call our Reservations Department at 1-800-935-5000. Once we have received the deposit on your booking, the land price is guaranteed from any future fluctuations in the rate of exchange.

Dates City Type 2 Star 3 Star 4 Star 5 Star Rates for 2012 * * May. 21, 28, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,110 Jun. 4, 11, 18, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,110 Jun. 25, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,118 Jul. 2, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,118 Jul. 9, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,110 Jul. 16, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,156 Jul. 23, 30, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,156 Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,156 Sep. 3, 10, 17, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,156 Show rates for further dates? Yes No Sep. 24, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,182 Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,644 Oct. 29, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,638 Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,622 Dec. 3, 10, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,622 Dec. 17, 2012 Land & Cruise $2,096 Dec. 24, 2012 Land & Cruise $2,188 Dec. 31, 2012 Land & Cruise $1,813 Rates for 2013 * * Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28, 2013 Land & Cruise $1,753 Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25, 2013 Land & Cruise $1,753 Mar. 4, 11, 18, 2013 Land & Cruise $1,753 Mar. 25, 2013 Land & Cruise $2,371 Apr. 1, 2013 Land & Cruise $2,371 Apr. 8, 2013 Land & Cruise $1,824 Apr. 15, 22, 2013 Land & Cruise $1,753 Apr. 29, 2013 Land & Cruise $1,554

 

City 2 Star 3 Star 4 Star 5 Star

Cairo Cairo Marriott Hotel

J W Marriott Cairo

Le Meridien Pyramids

Sonesta Hotel Tower and Casino

Cabin Upgrade & Supplements for suite accommodations available on request

Actual airfares from all gateways will be advised at the time of booking. Some airfares may require instant purchase.

All prices are based per person on double occupancy. Rates for Triple/Children and extra nights at arrival and departure city are available on request. Other hotels in Cairo are also available on request.

M/S Sonesta Nile GoddessView Deck Plan

M/S Sonesta Sun Goddess is a category 5-Star Deluxe vessel, built in 1989 completely renovated year 2008, offering superlative luxury and comfortable cruising for the experience of a lifetime. The boat features 5 decks including 49 standard cabins. 4 extravaganza suites with private terrace. 4 deluxe suites with private lounge. All suites & cabins have broad panoramic windows. Private direct-dial telephones. Safety deposit boxes & mini bars. Music system. Individual climate control. Wireless internet access. Plasma TVs and marine satellite. Bathrooms are equipped with bathtubs and hairdryers. Panoramic elevator. Barbecue area on deck. Gym room, Massage room, Sauna and Jacuzzi. Technical Data : Length 236.22 feet - Width: 42.65 feet - Height: 36.09 feet Water purification station (ultra violet), filtered and softened before distribution - Sound proof and fire resistant panels and ceilings - Fire alarm protection and sprinkler system 3 engines 380 hp (VOLVO PENTA) - 3 generators. Classification : Awarded the Certificate of Excellence from the American Bureau of Shipping (A.B.S.). Classified as A1 River Service.

Amenities

Onboard Entertainment: Entertainment on board is a marvelous complement to the daily activity ashore. Have fun in a state of the art Discotheque, Belly dancer show, "Gallabiya" party, a Nubian folklore show.and all other nightly entertainment. A great highlight is the Captain's cocktail party. During the day time enoy the outdoor swimming pool with bar service, jogging track located on the sun deck, billiard and Spa. In order to stay in form, before or after the daily adventures ashore, the M/S Sonesta Sun Goddess gives you a Gym room, Massage room, Sauna and Jacuzzi.

Dining

Savor the superb international gourmet cuisine available in the many boat�s venues. Main Dining Room: serving breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a la carte dinners are served in an atmosphere of elegance on the lower deck. Sun Deck Bar: overlooking the Nile, offering refreshing cocktails all day until sunset, as well as barbeque specialties. Lounge: adjacent to the lobby, the lounge which features a dance floor, serves light meals for lunches and dinners and also a wide range of cocktails and beverages in a comfortable and stylish ambiance. Bar service can also be found on the sun deck by the Outdoor Swimming Pool which also offers a jogging track, billiard and the Spa

Full-day Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Citadel Call for Price
	This Tour is Available from: Cairo Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Citadel Departure time: Actual pick-up time will be advised upon arrival in Egypt Schedule: Daily Duration: Approx. 7 hours Highlights: See the pyramids of Cheops, Chephran and Mycerinus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the Great Sphinx of Giza, a monument that stands 65 feet high and 187 feet long, and that combines the head of a pharaoh with a lion's body. See the Citadel, one of the world s greatest monuments and most important landmarks in Cairo. Visit the Mosque, also called the Alabaster Mosque, due to the extensive use of alabaster stone for the exterior walls. Visit the Egyptian Museum. Situated on Tahir Square in Cairo, with its 107 halls, it is the most important museum in Egypt. Statues, mummies, antique jewels and the Tutankhamon treasures are on display. Lunch is included

Full-day Pyramids, Sphinx, Solar Boat, Memphis & Sakkara Call for Price
	This Tour is Available from: Cairo Pyramids, Sphinx, Solar Boat, Memphis and Sakkara Departure time: Actual pick-up time will be advised upon arrival in Egypt Schedule: Daily Duration: Approx. 8 hours Highlights: See the pyramids of Cheops, Chephran and Mycerinus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the Great Sphinx of Giza, a monument that stands 65 feet high and 187 feet long,and that combines the head of a pharaoh with a lion's body. Continue with a visit of Memphis, the first capital city of Egypt, and Sakkara, one of the most exciting historical and archaeological areas in Egypt. Lunch is included

Full-day Alexandria Call for Price
	This Tour is Available from: Cairo Alexandria Departure time: Actual pick-up time will be advised upon arrival in Egypt Schedule: Daily Duration: Approx. 6 hours Highlights: Visit the National Museum with Greek and Roman artifacts, the Library, the Catacombs of Kom El Shuqafa and the Qaitbay Fort, the ancient lighthouse. Lunch is included

Half-day Citadel Call for Price
	This Tour is Available from: Cairo Citadel Departure time: Actual pick-up time will be advised upon arrival in Egypt Schedule: Daily Duration: Approx. 2 hours Highlights: See the Citadel, one of the world s greatest monuments and most important landmarks in Cairo. Visit the Mosque, also called the Alabaster Mosque, due to the extensive use of alabaster stone for the exterior walls.

Half-day Egyptian Museum Call for Price
	This Tour is Available from: Cairo Egyptian Museum Departure time: Actual pick-up time will be advised upon arrival in Egypt Schedule: Daily Duration: Approx. 3 hours Highlights: Situated on Tahir Square in Cairo, with its 107 halls, it is the most important museum in Egypt.Statues, mummies, antique jewels and the Tutankhamon treasures are on display.

Half-day Memphis & Sakkara Call for Price
	This Tour is Available from: Cairo Memphis and Sakkara Departure time: Actual pick-up time will be advised upon arrival in Egypt Schedule: Daily Duration: Approx. 4 hours Highlights: See Memphis, the first capital city of Egypt. Continue with a visit of Sakkara, one of the most exciting historical and archaeological areas in Egypt.

Half-day Pyramids & Sphinx Call for Price
	This Tour is Available from: Cairo Pyramids and Sphinx Departure time: Actual pick-up time will be advised upon arrival in Egypt Schedule: Daily Duration: Approx. 3 hours Highlights: See the pyramids of Cheops, Chephran and Mycerinus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the Great Sphinx of Giza, a monument that stands 65 feet high and 187 feet long, and that combines the head of a pharaoh with a lion s body.

Sound & Light Show at Pyramids Call for Price
	This Tour is Available from: Cairo Sound and Light Show at Pyramids Departure time: Actual pick-up time will be advised upon arrival in Egypt Schedule: Daily, except Thursdays and Sundays Duration: The show is approx. 1 hour Highlights: Evening performance by the Pyramids