Egypt and the Eternal Nile

Highlights:

• Explore the major monuments of Egyptian antiquity with an expert Egyptologist
• Watch the sunrise over the temples at Abu Simbel aboard a deluxe cruise ship on Lake Nasser
• Spend three nights cruising the lower Nile from Aswan to Luxor
• Discover Alexandria’s Greco-Roman heritage at the Library of Alexandria and the tri-level catacombs in Kom el-Shoukafa

Day 1: Depart New York for Cairo, Egypt

Tonight you’ll depart New York’s JFK Airport on EgyptAir bound for Cairo.

Day 2: Arrive Cairo

You’ll arrive in Cairo this afternoon and transfer directly to your hotel, where there’s time to rest before meeting your fellow travelers and Odysseys Unlimited tour director at tonight’s briefing and welcome dinner.

Accommodations: Semiramis InterContinental
Meals: Dinner

Day 3: Cairo

Our full-day tour begins at the world-renowned Egyptian Museum, which holds more than 120,000 relics and antiquities from almost every period in Egyptian history. We continue on to the Citadel of Saladin, a spectacular medieval fortress set high on a hill with extraordinary views of the city below. Built in 1176 to guard against the Crusaders, the Citadel was the home of Egyptian rulers for nearly 700 years, including famed leader Mohammed Ali, whose gilt tomb is inside. Late this afternoon we navigate the exotic Khan el-Khalili bazaar, Cairo’s most popular. Lunch today is at a local restaurant; dinner tonight is on your own.

Accommodations: Semiramis InterContinental
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Cairo/Giza Plateau

Today we visit some of the finest sites in Egyptian antiquity, beginning this morning at the open-air museum at Memphis, Egypt’s first capital dating to the early 4th century BC. Once a magnificent city ruled by legendary King Menes who united Upper and Lower Egypt (ca. 3100 BC), Memphis is now a pleasant remnant of long-ago times, with sculptures, a Sphinx, and a limestone colossus of Ramses II. Our next stop is at nearby Sakkara, a necropolis used for more than 3,000 years to bury Old Kingdom royalty – and still largely unexcavated today. Much of Sakkara’s splendor remains, and can be seen in the Step Pyramid, which was once the largest stone structure ever built. The Step Pyramid forms the center of a remarkable funerary complex, which includes a broad “hypostyle” hall (a structure whose roof is supported by columns), a great court, and stone altars representing Upper and Lower Egypt.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we reach the Giza Plateau and the Pyramids of Egypt, including the Great Pyramid (or Pyramid of Cheops), which ranks among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. For years, scientists have debated about how these massive tombs were built; and to a great degree, the mystery remains unsolved today. The largest structure is the great Pyramid of Cheops, built around 2600 BC. In front of the Pyramids stands the serene Sphinx, carved almost entirely of one piece of limestone and submerged by desert sands for thousands of years. After a long day of outdoor exploration we return to our hotel late afternoon. Dinner tonight is on your own.

Accommodations: Semiramis InterContinental
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Cairo

This morning we encounter Old Cairo – ancient Babylon – the city’s oldest section that is a maze of medieval streets, Islamic mosques, minarets, and domes. We begin at 5th-century St. Sergius, the oldest church in the area. Inside, 12 columns representing the 12 Apostles separate the nave from the aisles. We also visit the restored Ben Ezra Synagogue, Egypt’s oldest, which harkens to the 4th-century Coptic church it once was. Sadly, Egypt’s Jewish community is fast disappearing and there are seldom enough worshippers here to hold a service. Another stop today is el-Mauallaqa, the “hanging church” built over the bastions of a Roman gate. Believed to date from the 7th century, the church features a ceiling that resembles an ark, and a carved marble pulpit considered the finest in Egypt.

This afternoon is free to explore Cairo independently. You may wish to visit the Museum of Islamic Art or return to the Egyptian Museum to see the incredible exhibition of artifacts excavated from the tomb of the young King Tutankhamun (“Tut”) in 1922 by an English archeologist. The King ruled for just nine years, but during that time he amassed great wealth, much of which was buried with him in the form of gold amulets and jewelry, a coffin of solid gold, and an exquisite mask of gold and lapis. Or you may wish to return to the Khan al-Khalil bazaar, believed to be the largest in the Middle East, if not the world. Here you can visit artisans who have passed down their skill from generation to generation, perfecting all types of crafts including wood, perfume, leather goods, and glassware. There are bargains to be had on almost every corner, but you are expected to barter hard for them. Lunch and dinner today are on your own.

Accommodations: Semiramis InterContinental
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Fly to Aswan/Abu Simbel/Embark Ship

It’s a very early morning as we set off for a flight to Aswan where we board a motorcoach for the 2½-hour ride across a corner of the Sahara to Abu Simbel, the Pharonic site with an inspiring history. When the Aswan High Dam was built in the 1960s to control the mighty Nile, it was expected to double the country’s hydroelectric supply. But in the course of creating one of the world’s largest manmade lakes (Lake Nasser), the resultant flooding would destroy most of the native Nubian villages found here, as well as a number of irreplaceable monuments in the lowlands, among them Abu Simbel. So the Egyptian Department of Antiquities, in conjunction with UNESCO, embarked on a rescue project beyond the scope of anything that had ever before been attempted: they dismantled several ancient sites, stone by heavy stone, and rebuilt them on higher ground. We see the results of these efforts at Abu Simbel, a massive complex of temples guarded by four colossal statues of Ramses II, each more than 60 feet high. Inside, the walls are covered with incredibly well preserved murals depicting scenes of Queen Nefertari and her court and of King Ramses in battle. This is truly an astonishing place; one you’ll be glad was preserved for posterity. After visiting Abu Simbel, we board the 52-cabin river ship M/S Kasr Ibrim for lunch together and an afternoon at leisure. As the desert sun goes down, we return to Abu Simbel and experience one of the highlights of our trip: a dramatic sound-and-light show amid the massive statuary of Abu Simbel. We spend the evening on board our deluxe river ship.

Accommodations: M/S Kasr Ibrim
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Lake Nasser Cruise – Kasr Ibrim/Amada/Wadi el-Seboua

This morning you may want to rise early to experience the sunrise over the temples at Abu Simbel. Then during breakfast we sail to the settlement of Kasr Ibrim, the last vestige of Nubian culture still in its original location. After a brief visit during which we learn about this ancient settlement from onboard ship (it’s prohibited to go ashore here), we’ll continue on to Amada, where we tour the 8th-dynasty Temple of Amada, built during the reign of Tutmosis III and the oldest surviving Lake Nasser temple. During lunch we cruise to Wadi el Seboua for an afternoon of leisure and where we spend the night.

We are now in the heart of ancient Nubia, the country that bordered southern Egypt during antiquity and was Egypt’s gateway to Africa. Though heavily influenced and often ruled by Egypt, Nubia had a culture and history distinct from that of its more powerful neighbor. It had its own kingdoms, some of which were cooperative with Egypt’s, while others were competitive. While Nubia has long been incorporated as a part of Egypt, some Nubians have struggled to maintain their culture and traditions, much of which is now dying out because of assimilation and changing times.

Accommodations: M/S Kasr Ibrim
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Lake Nasser Cruise – Wadi el Seboua/Aswan

We spend this morning in Wadi el Seboua exploring the reconstructed Dakka temple, dedicated to Thoth, the messenger of the gods. We also visit the Temple of Meharakka, dedicated to Serapis, a god created to unite the Greek and Egyptian religions. These temples were significant elements of the Aswan High Dam relocation project; both were preserved and moved to their current locations during the 1960s. This afternoon we cruise to Aswan, the city where Agatha Christie famously wrote Death on the Nile, and enjoy dinner together on board. Late this evening we arrive in Aswan and spend the night aboard our deluxe river ship.

Accommodations: M/S Kasr Ibrim
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Disembark/Aswan/Embark Ship

We disembark the M/S Kasr Ibrim this morning in the desert lands of Aswan and set out to visit the Nubia Museum, an acclaimed showcase of Nubian art and architecture that puts much of what we’ve seen in the region into a broader context. Completed in 1997, the museum received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2001 and is renowned as a center of African and Middle Eastern archaeology and scholarship. This afternoon we travel by coach to Aswan High Dam, considered a miracle of engineering when completed in 1965 after some 18 years of work. Numbers tell part of the story: it stands 11,811 feet long, 364 feet tall, and at its base is 3,215 feet thick. Material used in the dam’s construction is 18 times the amount of material used to construct the Great Pyramid at Giza. But in addition to doubling Egypt’s electrical supply, the dam’s construction – and subsequent creation of Lake Nasser – also caused the relocation of up to 90,000 Nubians from their homeland.

This afternoon we embark our Nile ship H/S Osiris before we board small feluccas, replicas of ancient Nile sailboats, for a relaxing afternoon sail. We’ll admire the river scenery as we make our way slowly down the Nile, passing close by the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener’s Island, home of the British hero who helped tame the Sudan; Elephantine Island, with its huge granite rocks; and the tomb of the Aga Khan, where we visit the Temples of Philae. Tonight we overnight on board in Aswan.

Accommodations: H/S Osiris
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Nile Cruise – Edfu/Luxor

This morning we sail to the site of the ancient trading town at Kom Ombo, which sat on the great caravan route from Nubia. Here we see outstanding Nile views from an unusual double temple, dedicated both to the crocodile god Sobek and to the falcon god Haroeris (Horus the Elder). We return to the ship for lunch before we sail to Edfu where we explore the Temple of Horus, considered Egypt’s best-preserved ancient temple (having spent centuries buried beneath desert sands). Construction of the complex began in 237 BC and was completed nearly 200 years later; the temple’s remains were not discovered until 1900. We’ll see the 12 enormous columns that stand in front of the Great Halls, and stop to admire the wall inscriptions in the Hall of Consecrations. We return to our ship for this afternoon’s cruise to Luxor. On board tonight you’re invited to a party wearing traditional Egyptian galabeya as we overnight dockside in Edfu.

Accommodations: H/S Osiris
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Nile Cruise – Luxor

We spend today exploring Luxor, the ancient city that surpasses even Cairo in the number and importance of its ancient sites. Beginning on the West Bank at the haunting Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, this isolated valley holds the tombs of more than 50 kings, queens, and nobles, each in a tomb constructed underground in an attempt to mirror the underworld. For many years Egyptians inhabited this vast City of the Dead in an attempt to protect the tombs from grave robbers – though sadly, some of the tombs were indeed looted over the centuries. What remains, however, are some of the most magnificent paintings you’ll see anywhere in Egypt. The tombs were filled with sand, which not only protected everything inside, but also served as a sort of embalming element for the paintings, preserving them from the wind and sun. Today some of the paintings have been covered by glass for further protection, and photography is strictly forbidden inside the tombs. To visit all the tombs would be impossible; your tour director will select some of the most interesting for you to see. Continuing on, we visit the dramatic Temple of Hatshepsut, dedicated to one of the few female pharaohs; and the enormous Colossi of Memnon, two 64-foot-high statues that once guarded the gates of a mortuary temple.

Accommodations: H/S Osiris
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Nile Cruise – Disembark

This morning, we disembark and move on to the splendid Karnak Temple, which was under construction for some 1,500 years. It comprises the three main temples of Amun, Mut, and Montu, as well as smaller enclosed temples and several outer temples located a short distance north of Luxor. We also see the temple’s enormous pylons, the Temple of Ramses II, the Great Hypostyle Hall, and the two Obelisks of Hatshepsut. Late this afternoon, we move on to our hotel, and you are free to enjoy dinner there on your own this evening.

Accommodations: Sonesta St. George Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Luxor

We spend today touring Luxor Temple, where Amun-Ra, the sun god and god of creation, would travel for festivals held during annual flood season. Over the years, more rulers built onto the temple, including Tutankhamun, Ramses II, and even Alexander the Great. We visit the Great Court of Ramses II, the Temple of the Theban Triad, and the obelisk, whose twin stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. This afternoon is free to explore the city on your own.

Accommodations: Sonesta St. George Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 14: Luxor/Cairo/Alexandria

This morning we fly to Cairo from Luxor. Here we board a motorcoach for the 3½-hour drive northwest to Alexandria, one of the ancient world’s greatest cities and today Egypt’s main port and second largest city sitting at the crossroads of the main trading routes between Asia, Africa and Europe. As we arrive in this city founded by Alexander the Great, we drive by the Fort of Quaitbay where once stood the Pharos of Alexandria, the lighthouse that ranked as one of the Seven Ancient Wonders. Adjacent to our hotel, we also see Montazah Palace, a beloved 115-acre complex whose gardens overlook the sea.

Accommodations: Helnan Palestine Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 15: Alexandria

Today we encounter Alexandria’s Greco-Roman heritage at the Library of Alexandria and the tri-level catacombs in Kom el-Shoukafa. After lunch in a local restaurant, we tour the well-preserved ruins of the ancient Roman theater. We return to our hotel mid-afternoon; the remainder of the day and evening is at leisure for independent exploration (your tour director can offer suggestions). Dinner tonight is on your own.

Accommodations: Helnan Palestine Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 16: Alexandria/Cairo

This morning we depart Alexandria for Cairo, the ancient city standing on both sides of the Nile River. Today numerous contemporary and ancient districts comprise Cairo, Egypt’s capital and most populated city. We reach Cairo with time to relax before tonight’s farewell dinner at our hotel.

Accommodations: Le Méridien Heliopolis
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 17: Cairo/Return to U.S.

After breakfast, we depart for the airport for your morning EgyptAir flight to New York’s Kennedy airport, arriving mid-afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast