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Insight - Wonders of Egypt - Small Group, Summer (05/2024 - 09/2024) (SA945ZN19)

9 Days From Cairo to Cairo 
Tour Style: Ancient Civilizations
Insight Brochure Price from $3,525.00
Brochures: Ancient Civilizations 2023 v2, Ancient Civilizations 2024 v1
Visits: Egypt

Embrace the very best of Egypt on this 9-day tour. In Luxor, walk through an avenue of ram-like sphinxes at Karnak, a complex of ancient temples, churches and pylons, and enjoy the Luxor museum, where you can see two royal mummies. Travel by luxury coach to the Valley of the Kings, where the infamous pharaoh Tutankhamun is buried. Along the Nile, board a felucca — a wooden boat with billowing sails — with a local sailor, who teach you about traditional sailing practices. In Cairo, meet an Egyptologist at the Egyptian Museum to see treasures recovered from pharaohs’ tombs, and ascend to the Citadel for sweeping views of the city below. And behold the incredible Pyramids of Giza from inside, as an Egyptologist takes you past the Sphinx to the center of a pyramid so that you can see its cavernous wonders.
Choice Highlights
  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Cairo: Cruise to Qursaya Island by boat and meet the members of VeryNile, the first large scale initiative to clean the Nile. The project supports residents with low income, most of them being fishermen and their family, through employment opportunities such as collecting, sorting, compacting, and creating products out of collected recyclables. Through their cleaning, and prevention campaign, the ensures the preservation of the local biodiversity. This experience advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and 14: Life Below Water. Alternatively, choose to explore Cairo Citadel and see the Great Alabaster Mosque.
  • Cairo: Guided by your Local Expert, explore the Cairo Citadel and see the Great Alabaster Mosque.

Well-being
  • : Our highly-skilled Travel Director and certified Egyptologist will ensure your journey is seamless, serving as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.
  • : Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxury, air-conditioned coach with onboard washroom. Alternate vehicles without onboard washroom may be used on occasion. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
  • : Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19.All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
  • : We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.
  • : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Travel Director
  • : "Koshari is our national dish, and it never disappoints. Believed to have originated in the 19th century, this vegetarian street food staple is made of rice, pasta, lentils, and chickpeas, topped with delicious fried onions and a spicy tomato-based garlic sauce."
  • : "I love to share our Ancient Egyptian civilization and history with our guests and to explain all the details and stories related to Egyptian mythology so our guests can enjoy a very special guided vacation."
  • : "The Abu Simbel Temples are utterly unique in scale, architecture, art and history. From one of the most prominent eras of Ancient Egyptian history, these magnificent structures emphasise how persistent and clever ancient Egyptian architects were to carve a mountain to make such incredible tributes for Egyptian deities."

Top Rated Highlights
  • Cairo: Take a short scenic flight to Luxor where you will begin your Nile Cruise.
  • Karnak: Stand amid a vast forest of columns in the largest temple complex known to man, as your Egyptologist explains the significance behind it. Walk the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, see the of Rameses II and the Hypostyle Hall.
  • Luxor: Visit the Luxor Museum and discover ancient artefacts.
  • Colossi of Memnon: See the massive stone statues of the Colossi of Memnon.
  • Valley of the Kings: Embark on an experience with an Egyptologist to visit the mortuary Temple Hatshepsut.
  • Valley of the Kings: Explore with an Egyptologist the Valley of the Kings which is home to the magnificent tombs of Egypt's Pharaohs.
  • Luxor: Visit Luxor Temple, constructed approximately 1400 BC. Look to the top of the remaining Pylon of Ramses II and step into the ancient monument.
  • Kom Ombo: Visit the unique temple as it is the only double temple in Egypt.
  • Aswan: Visit Aswan's High Dam and Granite Quarries to ponder why the Unfinished Obelisk has been left in mid-creation for thousands of years.
  • Philae Island: Travel by motorboat to Philae Island and witness the majestic Temple of Isis rising from the waters.
  • Aswan: On a traditional Nile felucca, meet a sailor and learn the art of sailing this ancient Nile craft. Visit the High Dam and Granite Quarries.
  • Aswan: Enjoy your short flight back to Cairo for your final night.
  • Giza: With your Egyptologist, meet the enigmatic Sphinx and venture deep inside one of the pyramids, to the chambers where the pharaohs went to meet their Gods in the afterlife.
  • Memphis: Visit this famous capital of the ancient world to see the statue of Ramses II and the Great Alabaster Sphinx.
  • Saqqara Necropolis: View the oldest pyramid in the world, the Step Pyramid of Zoser I, existing for over 4,500 years.
  • Cairo: With your Egyptologist, gaze upon Tutankhamun's treasures at the Egyptian Musuem, gaze upon the most recognisable symbols of ancient Egypt: the full-faced funeral mask, gold coffin, gilded throne and precious jewellery - all treasures of Tutankhamun.
  • Cairo: Guided by your Local Expert, explore the Cairo Citadel and see the Great Alabaster Mosque.
  • Giza: Be mesmerised by the Sound & Light Show at the Great Pyramids.

Authentic Dining
  • Luxor: Get to know your fellow travelers over a delightful Welcome Drink followed by dinner.
  • Cairo: Join the fun at an Egyptian dinner and galabeya party, dressed in traditional Egyptian attire.
  • Aswan: Follow in the footsteps of Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie as you enjoy high tea at Aswan's famous Old Cataract Hotel, as the sun begins to set.
  • Dining Summary: 8 Breakfast (B), 4 Lunch (L), 1 Dinner with Wine (DW), 3 Dinner (D), and 1 Afternoon Tea (AT)

Insight Experiences
  • Luxor: Enjoy listening to stories of village life from local residents, when you visit a family home for a tasting of authentic Egyptian sun bread.

Make Travel Matter
  • Cairo: Cruise to Qursaya Island by boat and meet the members of VeryNile, the first large scale initiative to clean the Nile. The project supports residents with low income, most of them being fishermen and their family, through employment opportunities such as collecting, sorting, compacting, and creating products out of collected recyclables. Through their cleaning, and prevention campaign, the ensures the preservation of the local biodiversity. This experience advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and 14: Life Below Water. Alternatively, choose to explore Cairo Citadel and see the Great Alabaster Mosque.

Insight Tour Itinerary

Day 1Arrive in Cairo
Welcome to the timeless land of the pharaohs. On arrival at Cairo International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Visits: Cairo
Accommodation: Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino.
Day 2Fly to Luxor, Cruise the Nile
In the morning, fly to Luxor and visit the huge temple complex of Karnak. Walk through the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes to stand among the columns of the Hypostyle Hall. Later, transfer to your cruise ship, your home for the next four nights. After lunch on board, take a walk through the Luxor Museum, witness ancient artefacts and see two royal mummies. This evening, get to know your Travel Director, a professionally trained Egyptologist, as well as fellow guests over a welcome drink followed by dinner. The rest of the evening is yours at leisure, enjoy dinner on the ship before relaxing in its lounge or in the comfort of your room.
Visits: Cairo, Luxor
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: MS Medea or MS Miriam (or similar).
Day 3Valley of the Kings to Edfu
This morning travel by coach to the west bank of the Nile. See the Colossi of Memnon and visit both the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings, where many pharaohs were buried, including Hatshepsut, Amenhotep I and Tutankhamun. Experience the renowned local hospitality of Egyptians during a visit to the village of Geziret Bahirat. Connect with the community and share bread with the Bahirat family, whilst they regale guests with their fascinating stories of daily life. Visit Luxor Temple which was unearthed by Mariette in the 1860s, before returning to your cruise ship and sail via the Esna Lock to Edfu, for your overnight stay.
Visits: Luxor, Edfu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: MS Medea or MS Miriam (or similar).
Day 4Kom Ombo to Aswan Relaxed Start
In the early morning sail to Kom Ombo to visit the only double temple of Egypt dedicated to two gods: the crocodile-headed Sobek and falcon-headed Horus the Elder. In the evening, enjoy a fun-filled Egyptian dinner and galabeya party on board your ship.
Visits: Kom Ombo, Aswan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: MS Medea or MS Miriam (or similar).
Day 5Aswan’s High Dam and Nile Felucca
In the morning, visit the Aswan High Dam and granite quarries, to see the enormous unfinished obelisk. Travel by motorboat to the Temple of Isis. Rising from the waters of the Nile on the Island of Philae, it was the last temple built in the classical Egyptian style. Later, on a traditional Nile Felucca, meet a sailor and about traditional sailing practices. As the sun starts to fade, enjoy high tea at the historic Old Cataract Hotel. The likes of Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie stayed at this pretty venue, and Christie supposedly wrote “Death on the Nile” from the hotel itself.
Visits: Aswan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner
Accommodation: MS Medea or MS Miriam (or similar).
Day 6Aswan and Back to Cairo Relaxed Start
In the morning, disembark your cruise ship and enjoy time at leisure in Aswan. Why not join an Optional Experience and travel by air to the magnificent Temples of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel? These temples overlook Lake Nasser and are made up of the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Temple of Hathor. Otherwise, spend the morning as you wish. Perhaps soak up the African atmosphere in the Nubian bazaar or visit one of the many points of interest nearby, such as the Botanical Gardens, Elephantine Island and the Aga Khan Mausoleum. Later, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo for the night.
Visits: Aswan, Cairo
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino.
Day 7The Egyptian Museum and Citadel
Begin your city sightseeing with your Egyptologist at the world-famous Egyptian Museum*. Starring among its attractions is the amazing treasure recovered from Tutankhamun's tomb. Explore Cairo with Insight Choice. Choose to explore Cairo Citadel and see the Great Alabaster Mosque. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on Qursaya Island, home to the first large scale initiative to clean the Nile. ​Later, you will have free time to enjoy as you wish. In the evening, take your seats at the magical Sound and Light Show at the Great Pyramids which literally illuminates the history of Giza - an unforgettable introduction to the world of ancient Egypt.
Visits: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino.
Day 8The Great Pyramids of Giza
Gain a deeper understanding of the last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, during a visit to Giza with your Egyptologist. Meet the enigmatic Sphinx, crouching at the foot of the Chephrenís Causeway and venture inside one of the magnificent Pyramids. Nearby lies Memphis, capital of the Old Kingdom, where you can see the colossal statue of Ramesses II and the great Alabaster Sphinx. Continue to Sakkara to view the Step Pyramid of Zoser, which dates back 2686 B.C., making it the oldest pyramid in the world. Enjoy free time in the afternoon.
Visits: Cairo, Giza
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino.
Day 9Depart Cairo
Your wonderful journey ends with transfers to Cairo International airport.
Visits: Cairo
Meals: Breakfast


Available Room Types: Single, Twin
Child: ages 5 to 17

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Insight Tour Dates


Guaranteed Departure  indicates Guaranteed Departure
*Tour StartRetailRequest
Wed 05/08/24 $3,525.00
Wed 06/12/24 $3,525.00
Wed 07/10/24 $3,525.00
Wed 08/14/24 $3,525.00
Wed 09/11/24 $3,595.00
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