TRIP DETAILS   8 days   Dates: February 27-March 6, 2010 Arrival: February 27 by 4:00 pm in Cairo   Airport Code: CAI   Departure: March 6, anytime of day from Cairo   Price: $2985   Single: $640. Please inquire about private accommodations on the riverboat.   Extras: $308 per night at the Le Riad, Cairo (includes taxes, transfers, and breakfast) For nights beyond the tour dates.   Fitness Level: easy   Accommodations: Movenpick Al Moudira Sandal Boat Le Riad Hotel de Charme Meals: 7 breakfast, 5 lunches, 7 dinners   Includes: 7 nights accommodations All ground transportation and internal flights Entrance fees to sites and museums as per itinerary Gratuities for day guides and drivers Activities as per the itinerary English speaking guide throughout tour Egyptologist escorted tour through most sites Not included: international airfare, travel insurance, personal expenses, alcoholic and soft beverages, laundry, trip leader gratuities, extra activities beyond the itinerary   Egypt: The Classic Tour February 27-March 6, 2010 Step back in time and experience thousands of years of Egyptian history and culture. Starting in Cairo, we explore the Pyramids of Giza and famous Sphinx complexes. In the upper Nile River basin we'll visit Aswan, the point where African and Arabian cultures entwine. On the Nile, we'll sail on a Sandal - a traditional private cruise boat. Along the route we'll take a camel ride, visit sites of antiquity, and enjoy four-star hotels.   Highlights: Visit the great pyramids of Giza Take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise Ride through the desert on a camel Sail the Nile on a private riverboat Enjoy the comfort of 4-star hotels throughout the tour   Eric Monkaba Born and raised in the United States, Eric always knew that there was something missing, so he began traveling. And, he hasn't stopped exploring North Africa and the Middle East since.

FULL ITINERARY:

DAY ONE.   WELCOME TO CAIRO, EGYPT.  After a pick-up at the Cairo airport, we’ll drive into the center of Cairo, one of the world’s largest cities. Cairo doesn’t just appear on the map as the meeting point of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East; it truly is a sprawling metropolis where cultures come together. On the streets you’ll experience huge contrasts, as the mega-rich walk next to the extremely poor and ancient archeology melds into modern architecture. In the evening the group gathers for a welcome cocktail and dinner.
Accommodations: Le Riad Hotel de Charme

DAY TWO.   FULL DAY TOUR OF PYRAMIDS, SPHINX, AND THE EGYPTIAN MUSEUM.  There is no better example of Cairo’s long history than the Pyramids at Giza – the last surviving ancient wonder of the world. This morning, our Egyptologist will guide us through the Pyramid and Sphinx complexes, expounding on the significance of these monuments, then and now. After lunch at a nearby restaurant, we will visit the Egyptian Museum, home of King Tutankhamun’s treasures.
Accommodations: Le Riad Hotel de Charme

DAY THREE.   FLY TO LUXOR, VISIT THE KARNAK TEMPLE COMPLEX, AND AN OPTIONAL BIKING.  A morning flight will transport us to ancient Thebes, now known as Luxor. The city was once the powerhouse of Egypt. Paleolithic tools found in the Theban hills indicate that there have been human settlements in the area for at least a half million years. Thebes became important in the Middle Kingdom period (2055-1650 BC). We will begin with a guided excursion of Karnak Temple - an extraordinary complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons, and obelisks dedicated to Theban gods and the greater glory of the Pharaohs.

Late in the afternoon you will have the option to embark on a bike ride through the local villages, visit the amazing Luxor Museum, or shop at the funky Fair Trade shops. Our hotel is located on the more laid-back west bank, away from the more congested and touristy east bank.
Accommodations: Al Moudira

DAY FOUR.   LUXOR AND SANDAL EMBARKATION.  At dawn, we embark on an optional silent journey high above the city of Luxor in a private balloon. We will then be led on a guided visit of the Valley of the Kings, home of 63 magnificent tombs of the pharaohs. As we walk through the burial grounds of the most notable rulers of Egypt, you will understand the importance of the afterlife to the ancient Egyptians. Following lunch, we’ll travel by private vehicle south along the Nile to Esna, where we will meet our home for the next two nights – an authentic, private Sandal.
Accommodations: Sandal Boat

DAY FIVE.   EDFU TEMPLE AND SAILING.  As we sail along the Nile from Esna, we will eventually reach Edfu. In Edfu, we’ll tour the temple of Horus, a Ptolemaic structure from the 2nd century BC. Walking through its large gloomy rooms will reveal shrines, statues, reliefs, libraries, and laboratories- all testaments to the ancient Egyptian’s sophisticated culture, religion, and engineering. After which we will take some time to explore the village on our own. Then we will return to the Sandal for a full afternoon of sailing.
Accommodations: Sandal Boat

DAY SIX.   CAMELS, ASWAN DAM, AND THE TEMPLE OF ISIS.  After breakfast aboard our Sandal, we will drive to Aswan, the meeting point of Arab and Nubian culture. Upon arrival, we will visit the Aswan High Dam, the magnificent structure that makes the city what it is today. Shortly after, we will transfer to our accommodation on Elephantine Island, where you will be presented with a variety of options for the afternoon – a camel excursion to St. Simeon’s Monastery on the West Bank, shopping in the colorful souks, enjoying a felucca ride through the islands, or simply lounging by the pool. This evening, we will feast on a home cooked meal at a guesthouse on the West Bank and be treated to a Nubian musical performance.
Accommodations: Movenpick

DAY SEVEN.   BACK TO CAIRO.  We will fly back to Cairo where you may have the afternoon to tour the downtown areas, Coptic Cairo, and Islamic Cairo. The afternoon is yours for the taking. As it is our last night together, we will share a farewell dinner to commemorate our experiences.
Accommodations: Le Riad Hotel de Charme

DAY EIGHT.   FAREWELL.  We will arrange transfers to the Cairo airport. Farewell