After breakfast, leave hotel and drive to Fayoum to visit the Meidum Pyramid which is known as the False Pyramid. It is thought to have been begun by King Huni and completed by Senefru(father of King Cheops, the owner of the Great Pyramid at Giza). It was originally a seven-step pyramid, but another story was probably added prior to the smooth, limestone revetment which made it a true pyramid. Continue to the Pyramid of Hawara which was the second pyramid built by Amenemhat III. It is second only to the pyramid of Dahshour in size, and was the last of the great pyramids built in Egypt. Continue your drive to Medinet Fayum and see the seven water wheels and Ein El Seleen. Have lunch while enjoying a Lake Qaroun view. Return back to Cairo.
St. Catherine Monestary ... 2 days/1 night
Day 1: Leave your hotel towards the St. Catherine and Mount of Sinai. It was on this mountain that Moses received the Ten Commandments. It lies south of St. Katherine's Monastery and rises to a height of 7,497 feet. Once on top, witness the most beautiful and spectacular sunrise you have ever seen. (B/D) ... This hike is only for people who are very fit and are experienced in hiking.
Day 2: Descend and have breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Monastery of St. Katherine, which sits at an altitude of 5,150 feet on the reputed site of the "Burning Bush." Commissioned by Emperor Justinian, the monastery was built between the years 527 and 565 and is named for St. Katherine, an Alexandrian martyr who died in 307. The first thing you see as you approach the monastery are the gardens surrounded by cypress trees and the monastery's impressive walls. Return back. (B/L)
Buffet breakfast at hotel, then transfer from Cairo to Alexandria ( about 3 hrs ride ). Upon arrival, start your sightseeing by visiting the Greco-Roman Museum, which contains status, bas reliefs, pottery, jewelry, marble pieces and other artifacts, all of which give you a picture of the grandeur of Alexandria in its Greek and Roman days. Then visit the Roman Amphitheater, which is the only known Amphitheater from the Roman Era in Egypt. Continue your tour to the Catacombs of Kom-El-Shouqafa, these tombs are remarkable for their unusual mixture of art styles, sculpture, and reliefs which are images of Egyptian gods. Continue your tour to visit Pompey's Pillar which is a column 98 feet high and 7 feet thick, made of Aswan rose granite erected in 297 A.D. In the evening transfer back to Cairo to your hotel. (B/L)
Alexandria ... Overnight ...
Day 1: Buffet breakfast at hotel, then transfer from Cairo to Alexandria ( about 3 hrs ride ). Upon arrival, start your sightseeing by visiting the Greco-Roman Museum, which contains status, bas reliefs, pottery, jewelry, marble pieces and other artifacts, all of which give you a picture of the grandeur of Alexandria in its Greek and Roman days. Then visit the Roman Amphitheater, which is the only known Amphitheater from the Roman Era in Egypt. Continue your tour to the Catacombs of Kom-El-Shouqafa, these tombs are remarkable for their unusual mixture of art styles, sculpture, and reliefs which are images of Egyptian gods. Continue your tour to visit Pompey's Pillar which is a column 98 feet high and 7 feet thick, made of Aswan rose granite erected in 297 A.D. Return to your hotel. (B/L)
Day 2: Today you will explore old and gracious Montazah Palace, built on a low plateau east of Alexandria and overlooking a beautiful beach and set amongst gardens and woods, the palace comprises a number of buildings, the most important of which are Al-Haramlek and Al-Salamlek, the summer residence of the former royal family. Continue to the Royal Jewellery Museum, this museum is considered a magnificent architectural piece of art, its halls comprise several paintings, decorations and rare status. The museum houses collection of Mohamed Ali family's jewellery, all are invaluable and rare pieces. Then to Fort of Qaitbay, Erected on the northern tip of the Eastern Port on the site of the ancient Pharos of Alexandria, the fort design is influenced by both medieval architecture and by the lighthouse original layout. The fort also houses the Naval Museum. Return back to Cairo. (B)
Extension Oases of Western Desert ...Siwa Oasis
Day (1): Leave hotel through the newly reclaimed desert and along the Mediterranean coast, stopping en rout at El -Alamein we will visit the war memorials and continue our way to Siwa Oases and the new Safari Siwa Hotel, located on the village. afternoon we will begin our touring at the ancient town of Aghurmi, site of the Temple of the Oracle, already famous in the 26th Dynasty and consulted by many great men before Alexander. We will also visit 30th Dynasty temple at Umm Ubayda and the spring know locally as Cleapatra's Bath. (B/D)
Day (2): SIWA: This morning we will concentrate on sites in eastern Siwa, Including the painted tombs at Gebel el -Mawta, and the Ptolemaic stone - built tomb chapels of Abu Awwaf. The last inhabited hatiya on the eastern side of Siwa is El -Zaytun, constructed around a stone temple. This land was given to the Senussis and was worked by their former slaves. The village that we will visit is now abandoned, but remains of interest for its intact houses, mosque and mill. After lunch, this afternoon's touring will be to sites west of town. In Hatiyat Khamisa, one of the most fertile parts of Siwa, we find a small stone temple and a ridge of over 100 rock- cut tombs. Many treasure hunters have ravaged the area looking for valuables that the Queen of Khamisa is said to have buried here. Nearby is the hunters have ravaged the area looking for valuables that the Queen of Khamisa is said to have buried here. Nearby is the famous Doric-style temple and tomb at Bilad el-Rum. As all of these sites are situated amidst small villages, our presence will provide great entertainment for the community. Our last stops of this full day will be at the new Siwa House Ethnographic Museum and the medieval fortress of Shali, the deserted central village of the oasis founded in 1203 AD and built of salty lake mud. (B/L/D)
Day (3): SIWA/CAIRO: After breakfast start our way back to Cairo. Visit Monasteries of Wadi El Natrun. Check in at your hotel. (B)
Great Adventure in the Western Desert ... Bahariya Oasis
Day (1): BAHARIYA: This morning we drive from Cairo to Bahariya Oasis (365 Km/4 hours). Although Bahariya is only 225 miles from Cairo, it has been the least touched by the modern world and survives today on its date palms and hot springs. Several villages occupy the Bahariya depression, but the main one is el - Bawiti. We will overnight in this lovely setting at the new Bahariya Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day (2):BAHARIYA: today we will visit the newly opened archaeological sites in Bahariya Oasis, including the temple dedicated to Alexander the Great, the 26th Dynasty temple of Ain el - Muftilla,the tomb of the 19th Dynasty Governor Amenhotep, and the 26th Dynasty tombs of the merchants Bannentiu and his father Djed-Amun-lufankh. A highlight will be a brief stop at the recently discovered "Valley of the Golden Mummies" (pending the required special paermission). (B/L/D)
Day (3): BAHARIYA/CAIRO: After breakfast start our way back to Cairo. If time permite will visit Monasteries of Wadi El Natrun. Return to your hotel in Cairo.
Sharm El Sheikh ... 4 Days/3 Nights
Enjoy four days at leisure in one of the most spectacular spots on earth renowned for its sea treasures. The Red Sea is particularly popular with scuba divers because of the many sea wonders that can be discovered when exploring its waters. Enjoy any of the multiple water sports available or sunbathe and relax on the white sandy beaches. It is a resort area like no other!
Day 1: Transfer to Cairo airport for your flight to Sharm El Sheikh. Arrive Sharm El Sheikh, transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 2: Day at Leisure. (B)
Day 3: Day at leisure. (B)
Day 4: Transfer to Sharm El Sheikh airport for your flight back to Cairo. Arrive Cairo airport. (B)
Many water sports and optional activities are available including diving or snorkeling in the world-famous Red Sea. If you're feeling adventurous, there is horse and camel back riding, water skiing and jeep safaris.
Day 1: Transfer to Cairo airport for your flight to Hurghada. Arrive Hurghada, transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 2: Day at Leisure. (B)
Day 3: Day at leisure. (B)
Day 4: Transfer to Hurghada airport for your flight back to Cairo. Arrive Cairo airport. (B)
Middle Egypt ... Tel El Amarna extension ... 3 days / 2 nights
Day 1: We board our deluxe motorcoach this morning for the scenic ride through the countryside of Middle Egypt to el-Minya where we stay for three nights at the Mercure Etap. This afternoon, Spend a half day in Akhenaten's royal capital, exploring all the features of this ruined but well excavated site. We will visit the Central City, the Northern Palace and the Northern Tombs of the Nobles (Tel El Amarna). (B/D)
Day 2: Morning visit to Tuna el-Gebel, is the setting for one of the best preserved Amarna boundary stelae, as well as a cemetery dating to the 4th century BC, famous for its catacombs of ibis and baboon burials. Ashmunein with a Roman period agora and early Christian basilica completes our day on the west bank of Akhetaten. (B/D)
Day 3 : We begin our day with a side trip to the wondrous Middle Kingdom tombs of Beni Hassan before driving back to Cairo where we check into your hotel.(B)
