Spirit of the Nile (EF)

Flight from Toronto to Cairo.

Upon arrival at Cairo airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

After breakfast, start your sightseeing tour by visiting Saqqara where the famous Unas Pyramid is located, King Zoser Step Pyramid, Mastaba Tomb of TI, Tomb of Ptahotep. In the afternoon, you will visit the great Pyramids of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Nearby is the mysterious Sphinx, a colossal lion with a pharaoh’s head. Overnight at your hotel. (B)

After breakfast, visit the Egyptian Museum, which houses a magnificent collection of Pharaonic antiquities, especially the golden treasures of Tut Ankh Amun. Proceed to Old Cairo to visit Mohamed Ali Mosque and the Cairo Citadel. Continue to the Hanging “Moallaqa” Church and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, the oldest Jewish synagogue in Egypt. For those who wish to browse and shop, your tour will stop at the Khan El Khalili Bazaar displaying and selling all types of oriental goods. Return to your hotel for overnight. (B)

Transfer to Cairo airport for your short flight to Luxor. Arrive in Luxor and transfer to your Nile cruise for embarkation. In the afternoon, you will visit the great Luxor Temple and the magnificent Karnak Temple of Amun with its famous Hypostyle Hall and the 134 huge columns, the Statue of Ramses II, the Obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut and the Scared Lake. Overnight in Luxor. (BLD)

Your sightseeing in Luxor will include the West Bank (Thebes) where there are some of the richest treasures in the world: the Tomb of Tut Ankh Amun and other royal tombs including Ramses VI in the Valley of the Kings. You will be able to visit some of these tombs. Continue to visit Hatshepsut’s funerary temple at Dier El Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Overnight on board the cruise. (BLD)

In the morning, visit the Horus Temple of Edfu, one of the three beautiful temples of the Ptolemaic Period. Sail to Kom Ombo, where you will visit the Sobek Temple, dedicated to the two gods, which offers beautiful murals and reliefs. Sail to Aswan where you will stay overnight. (BLD)

Visit the Old and New Dams, and Temple of Philae. In the afternoon, you will sail in a felucca to view Kitchener’s Island, the Botanical Garden, and the Aga Khan mausoleum. Overnight in Aswan. (BLD)

In the morning, disembark from your cruise and transfer to the airport for your flight to Abu Simbel. Arrival and transfer to your Lake Nasser cruise for embarkation. After lunch visit Abu Simbel Temple, built 3000 years ago to honour Ramses II and his wife Queen Nefertari. This temple which has remained nearly intact over the ages, was rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser when the High Dam was built. Balance of day at leisure or take the optional tour of attending the Sound and Light Show at the temple. Overnight aboard your cruise. (BLD)

Sail in the morning on Lake Nasser towards Kasr Ibrim. Arrival and view the distant past of the Nubian civilization in its original location. View the temple of Kasr Ibrim from the cruise sundeck. Sail to Amada and visit the 18th dynasty temple that was built during the reign of Thotmosis the 3rd and 4th. Continue to visit the hemi-speos of Derr dedicated by Ramses the third to the rising sun and the tomb of Penout, the viceroy of Nubia. Sail to Wadi El Seboua and overnight. (BLD)

After breakfast you will visit the temple of Wadi El Seboua, dedicated by Ramses the third to Gods Amon Ra and Ra Harmakis. Continue to visit the temple of Dakka, dedicated to the God Thot, and the Greco Roman Temple of Meharakka Sail to Aswan, crossing of the Tropic of Cancer. Overnight aboard your cruise in Aswan. (BLD)

After breakfast, disembark from your cruise and visit Kalabsha Temple, with its Pharaonic aspect, remodelled into a Greco-Roman style and dedicated to the God Mandoulis. Transfer in the afternoon to the airport for your flight to Cairo. Arrival in Cairo and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at your hotel. (B)

Day at leisure in Cairo. Overnight at your hotel. (B)

Morning hotel check-out. Day at leisure in Cairo. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Toronto. (B)

Say goodbye to Egypt and board your early morning flight home.