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Mummies & Pharaohs (Family)


Enjoy the highlights of the Nile Valley and relax on the Red Sea coast




We begin our Egypt adventure in Cairo, where we see the treasures of Tutankhamun and the royal mummies, including Ramses II. Later we visit the pyramids and Sphinx before a sleeper train takes us to Aswan. Here we ride camels, sail in a traditional felucca and explore the Nubian bazaar. Boarding our riverboat we cruise to Luxor, visiting the temples of Komombo and Edfu along the way. We explore the massive temple complex at Karnak and cross the Nile to visit the celebrated Valley of the Kings and the beautiful Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Driving to the coast we have a couple of days by the beach, including a fun boat trip with fantastic snorkelling. We then head back to Cairo and spend a final morning in the Khan el Khalili bazaar.



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Tour Highlights

  • World-leading snorkelling and scuba diving on the Red Sea
  • The Great Pyramids and Sphinx
  • The Valley of the Kings
  • UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cairo
  • Nubean Aswan
  • Nile cruise
  • Cairo Museum
  • Edfu and Komombo temples
  • Luxor's open air museum

Inclusions

  • • Peregrine’s expert English-speaking local leader throughout the tour, and professional local guides at some sites.

    • Sightseeing (including entrance fees where applicable: Cairo's Egyptian Museum, the pyramids, Sphinx and Khan El Khalili bazaar; Aswan's Nubian bazaar; Komombo; Edfu; Valley of the Kings; Temple of Hatshepsut; and Colossi of Memnon.

    • 3 night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor. Accommodation onboard Peregrine’s comfortable vessel, with sightseeing stops along the way.

    • Traditional felucca boat excursion on the Nile.

    • Camel ride towards St. Simeon's Monastery in Aswan.

    • Horse-drawn carriage ride to Karnak Temple.

    • 2 days in Hurghada on the Red Sea coast - local boat trip with snorkelling and a seafood lunch, and time to relax on the beach.

    • Overnight air-conditioned sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan. Accommodation in private cabins (linen provided) with an ‘airline-style’ dinner included.

    • Free time to explore Aswan, Luxor and Cairo.

    • Arrival transfer.

  • Boat
  • Camel
  • Felucca
  • Private vehicle
  • Riverboat
  • Sleeper train
  • 11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners

Mummies & Pharaohs (Family)

Day 1
Cairo
Meals Privided:
Upon your arrival you will be transferred to your hotel in Cairo. No activities are planned so you may arrive at any time. Rooms are generally available after 1.00 pm. Your tour leader will meet you tomorrow morning, shortly after breakfast. There will be a message at the hotel giving details.
Day 2
Cairo
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
Our tour briefing today will be held after breakfast, before we start our sightseeing. Our first stop is the Egyptian Museum where we see all the major exhibits. Our guide explains the complexities of Egypt’s many dynastic periods, starting with the Old Kingdom and ending with the Greco-Roman occupation, and we visit the fabulous gold room of King Tutankhamun. This contains many fine pieces including the celebrated Golden Mask. We also make a special visit to the Mummy Room, where we the body of King Ramses II, the greatest pharaoh of all. It is incredible to think that his body is over 3200 years old. After our visit we travel out to the nearby Western Desert to visit the pyramids and the nearby Sphinx. There may be a chance to even to go inside one of the pyramids (entry fee not included – availability of tickets varies). We return to downtown Cairo, where some day use rooms are available until it is time to go to the train station for the overnight sleeper train to Aswan. Sleeping berths (beds and linen) are provided in private cabins and a pleasant ‘airline-style’ dinner is served on board. A toilet is located at the end of each carriage. We suggest that light sleepers bring ear-plugs and eye-shades.
Day 3
Aswan
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Aswan one of our favourite places. Despite the fact that it is Egypt’s third-largest city, it has an easy-going, laid-back atmosphere that belies its size. After checking in to our hotel, we visit the incredible Nubian bazaar, a hive of activity which snakes through the backstreets of town, with an endless number of things to see and buy. In the afternoon we take a traditional felucca boat ride on the Nile, the life-blood of Egypt, sailing around the islands for a relaxing change of pace. This sort of boat has been used on the Nile for thousands of years for trade and travel, and it’s easy to imagine that we are time-travellers returned to another age. The same applies later in the day when we enjoy a fun camel ride towards St. Simeon's Monastery, with great views out over the river. It’s a bit bouncy, but there’s a fairly comfortable saddle. Make sure the camel takes your photo!
Day 4
Aswan-Komombo
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The visit to Abu Simbel will occur this morning for those who booked this option with the tour leader back in Cairo. In the late 1960s the temple was moved, stone by stone, and re-sited in its current position above the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Alternatively, for those staying in Aswan you can have a late start, wander into the Nubian bazaar again and perhaps visit the excellent little Nubian Museum. For greater detail, see the section later in these notes headed Optional Tours. Around midday we are transferred to our cruise boat, our home for the next three nights. After lunch on board we set sail in the afternoon and begin cruising towards Komombo. Dinner is served on the boat, and the sunsets on the Nile are often spectacular. As you sail towards Luxor there will be ample opportunity to relax on board and watch the passing scene - you may want to bring a few small games, cards etc to help you while away the hours. Please refer below to the note below regarding cruise schedules.
Day 5
Komombo-Edfu
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we visit the Temple of Sobek (the crocodile-headed God) that lies, classically ruined, on the edge of the Nile. Its most spectacular view is undoubtedly from the river itself, but a short walk around the temple also provides an interesting insight into the Greco-Roman period. We then continue cruising to Edfu where we visit the Temple of Horus, the falcon-headed God. We also have time to explore the local bazaar in the bustling town centre. Returning to our boat we spend the rest of the day cruising downstream, enjoying views of the desert and everyday life that are almost as timeless as the monuments themselves.
Day 6
Luxor
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We pass through Esna lock, which can sometimes be a slow process, depending on the number of vessels waiting to get through, and continue our journey upstream to Luxor. In the afternoon we head to Karnak Temple, one of the world’s most celebrated temple complexes, built over a period of some 200 years. We return to our cruise boat in the late afternoon and the rest of the day is free to relax, shop in the bazaar (which stays open till quite late), or experience the atmosphere of a local coffee shop.
Day 7
Luxor
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Rising early (very early in summer time!) we drive across to the west bank of the Nile, to the Valley of the Kings. Here our guide explains the funerary rites of the ancient Egyptians and the significance of the many tomb paintings and hieroglyphics which date back thousands of years. We visit three of the more important tombs and then head to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, set in a spectacular natural amphitheatre. Our final stop is at the Colossi of Memnon, giant statues that were once part of an impressive colonnade. Returning to the east bank we check-in to our hotel and the rest of the day is free to relax at the pool or explore further.
Day 8-9
Red Sea
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch
This morning we are transferred to Hurghada by road. The Red Sea coast is renowned for its incredible turquoise waters and splendid coral reefs. We spend two days here there's time to relax on the beach. On our second day we head out on a local boat for a fun day of snorkelling and a fresh seafood lunch.
Day 10
Hurghada-Cairo
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
The morning is free to relax further in Hurghada before making our way back to Cairo. We leave around mid-day and arrive back in the late afternoon/evening.
Day 11
Cairo
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
This morning we visit the Khan El Khalili bazaar – a chaotic jumble of shops and stalls that have traded goods and gossip since the Middle Ages. A chance to pick up some final souvenirs, but be prepared to bargain! The afternoon is free – you may want to visit the child-friendly Pharonic Village, relax at the hotel or undertake some final exploration of other parts of Cairo.
Day 12
Cairo
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Your trip ends today after breakfast. If you have arranged a private airport transfer you will be advised of the pick-up time.

IN A NUTSHELL

12 days
$1,990
15

TOUR INFORMATION

Start End Price
18/12/201129/12/2011 $1,990
18/11/201229/11/2012 $1,990
09/12/201220/12/2012 $1,990
23/12/201203/01/2013 $1,990
06/01/201317/01/2013 $1,990
20/01/201331/01/2013 $1,990
03/02/201314/02/2013 $1,990
03/03/201314/03/2013 $1,990
31/03/201311/04/2013 $1,990
28/04/201309/05/2013 $1,990
26/05/201306/06/2013 $1,990
23/06/201304/07/2013 $1,990
21/10/201201/11/2012 $1,990
23/09/201204/10/2012 $1,990
26/08/201206/09/2012 $1,990
25/12/201105/01/2012 $1,990
08/01/201219/01/2012 $1,990
22/01/201202/02/2012 $1,990
11/03/201222/03/2012 $1,990
01/04/201212/04/2012 $1,990
08/04/201219/04/2012 $1,990
29/04/201210/05/2012 $1,990
20/05/201231/05/2012 $1,990
10/06/201221/06/2012 $1,990
01/07/201212/07/2012 $1,990
29/07/201209/08/2012 $1,990
14/07/201325/07/2013 $1,990
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