Egypt Private Expedition

TRAVELER FAVORITE

11 DAYS FROM $5,595

based on a private group of 6 people traveling together

• Explore legendary pyramids from Giza to Saqqâra with an Egyptologist. • Discover extraordinary temples and tombs from Luxor and the Valley of the Kings. • Venture to the magnificent rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel with a private guide.

Private Expedition Light/Moderate

DAY 1 I CAIRO, EGYPT Arrive in Cairo and settle into your elegant hotel on the banks of the Nile. Nile Ritz Carlton | Meals: 1D

DAY 2 I MEMPHIS, SAQQÂRA, AND DAHSHÛR/CAIRO Begin your journey at the 5,000-year old city of Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt. You’ll explore the ruins with your private guide, an Egyptologist who accompanies you throughout your trip. Then head to Saqqâra to see Djoser’s step pyramid, one of the oldest known cut-stone buildings. Continue to the Dahshūr necropolis, home to some of Egypt’s oldest and most well preserved pyramids, including the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid— said to be a first attempt at the flatsided pyramid. Nile Ritz Carlton | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 3 I GIZA/CAIRO Get a close-up look at the fabled Pyramids of Giza, constructed some 4,500 years ago as gateways to the afterlife for Egypt’s pharaohs. The Pyramids are the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World— and the only ones that still stand today. At the Solar Boat Museum, see a restored wooden vessel built to transport Pharaoh Khufu to the afterlife. After lunch overlooking the pyramids, head to the Egyptian Museum to see legendary artifacts such as the gold mask of King Tutankhamun and the treasures recovered from his tomb. Nile Ritz Carlton | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D DAY 4 I CAIRO Delve into the colorful chaos of Cairo today. Explore to the 12th-century Citadel of Saladin and see the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Meander the winding streets of Coptic Cairo, and visit the Coptic Museum; the intriguing Hanging Church, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. This evening, immerse yourself in the labyrinthine alleys of Khan el-Khalili, an enchanting souk in the heart of the old city. Nile Ritz Carlton | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 5 I LUXOR Fly to Luxor, known in antiquity as Thebes. Explore the breathtaking Karnak temple complex; then visit the Luxor Museum. After free time to explore Luxor on your own, meet your guide for an evening visit to Luxor Temple. With its soaring colonnades and largerthan-life statues, this complex is particularly mystical when lit up after dark. Steigenberger Resort Achti | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 6 I WEST BANK OF THE NILE Venture to the famed Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of Egypt’s New Kingdom chose to build elaborate underground tombs instead of the pyramids typical of the Old Kingdom. Descend into the tomb of

Tutankhamun—discovered intact by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922, and see the remains of the boy-king. Admire vivid murals and hieroglyphics in the tomb of Seti I; then visit the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Board your riverboat this evening and set sail on the Nile. M.S. Farah or M.S. Tulip | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 7 I WEST BANK OF THE NILE/ ISNÂ LOCK Step ashore to explore the Ramesseum, Ramses II’s mortuary temple. In the Valley of the Queens, wander through the stunning tomb of Queen Nefertari, Ramses II’s favorite wife. Then visit the funerary complex of Ramses III. Return to the boat for lunch and a cooking class on board. Navigate Isnâ Lock on your way south. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 8 I KAWM UMBŪ/ASWÂN Pass sugarcane fields, riverside villages, and date palm oases as you cruise to Kawm Umbū. This unusual temple houses twin sanctuaries— one dedicated to falcon-headed Horus, god of the sky; and the other to Sobek, the crocodileheaded god of the Nile. At the Kawm Umbū Crocodile Museum, see the mummies of crocodiles once kept captive at Sobek’s temple. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D DAY 9 I ASWĀN Originally perched on the island of Philae, the elegant temple of Isis was relocated to Agilkia island to protect it from flooding when the Aswān Dam opened. Explore the temple, and later sail the Nile in a traditional felucca sailboat. Round off the day with a visit to the lively souk in Aswān town. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 10 I ABU SIMBEL/CAIRO Fly to extraordinary Abu Simbel, where four nearly 70-foot-tall statues of Ramses II guard the entrance to a cliff-side temple. The Abu Simbel temples were also dismantled and rebuilt at a higher elevation to make way for the Aswān High Dam—a feat of engineering to rival Ramses II’s original construction. After lunch, catch a flight to Cairo via Aswān and relax at your hotel. IntercContinental Citystars Cairo Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 11 I CAIRO After breakfast, transfer to the airport and catch your flight home. Meals: 1B

YOUR EXPEDITION TEAM

Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on your trip, and you will meet other local experts as described in the itinerary.

INFORMATION

Dates: This expedition is offered from October through April. You may request any dates during those months that are convenient for you. Please note: The itinerary shown describes departures that start on Wednesdays. The order of visits and activities may differ when arriving on different days. Please call for details. Prices are per person; based on double occupancy, group size, and selected dates; and subject to availability. Single supplement applies; please see our website. Airfare is not included in the price. Internal flights are an additional $650 per person. All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change. This itinerary is for informational purposes only and is subject to change at any time without notice.

ADD TO YOUR EXPERIENCE

Jordan Post-trip Extension | 5 days from $3,595

Visit website for complete details and dates.