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 These ancient desert lands will be a source of constant fascination as this tour gives you the opportunity to explore everything from towering pyramids, past civilisations, cuisine, to the waters of the River Nile. Take a peaceful cruise down the River Nile in luxury, see the burial chamber of Tutankhamun, wander the temples at Abu Simbel, wander the labyrinth of the Khan el Khilili bazaar, and try the delicious foods and sweet tea of the Middle East.
 • Day 1 to 1 Arrive Cairo
• Day 2 to 2 Cairo
• Day 3 to 3 Aswan
• Day 4 to 4 Abu Simbel - Nile Cruise
• Day 5 to 6 Nile Cruise
• Day 7 to 7 Luxor
• Day 8 to 8 Cairo
• Day 9 to 9 Cairo
• Accommodation:
4 nights in hotels (4 star hotels), 2 nights on overnight trains, 2 nights on luxury Nile River Cruiser M/S Mojito
• Meals:
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 6 dinners
• Excursions:
All excursions mentioned as per the itinerary
• Luxury Nile Cruiser
• Transport:
Private car, private air-conditioned coach, train, luxury Nile cruiser, taxi, on foot
• Group Size: Maximum 20
• Staff: Yellow Brick Road Tours tour leader, local guides
• International flights and departure taxes
• Tips on included excursions, visas, travel insurance, personal items
• Departure transfers
• Spending money - allow approximately US$30 - $40 per day to cover snacks, meals not included, drinks, souvenirs, laundry, tips etc
• Optional excursions
• Pre & post tour accommodation
Day 1 - Friday, April 13, 2012
 • Your trip starts in Cairo. • This is an arrivals day and no activities are planned so you may arrive at any time. Rooms are generally available after midday. • If you have not confirmed your arrival transfer details with Yellow Brick Road Tours for your free hotel transfer, you will find taxis available on arrival at Cairo Airport. Make sure you agree the price before you set off into town! • Your tour leader will be staying at the hotel and will meet you at the pre departure meeting taking place at 18:00, however, should you wish to make contact earlier please do so. • After the pre departure meeting we have a welcome dinner where you can try the local Egyptian food, and get to know your fellow travellers.
Day 2 - Saturday, April 14, 2012
 • Cairo is the 'King' of all cities, a massive, sprawling metropolis of some 26 million people including the outer ring. • We set out early for a truly extraordinary day to the edge of the desert to explore the pyramids and the nearby sphinx. Gazing upon these magnificent feats of engineering for the first time will leave you in awe. • After lunch, we drive out to the Citadel for a talk on understanding the Muslim religion, watch midday prayers, and enjoy the wonderful views. • We also visit the beautiful Valley Temple of King Chephren, an excellent example of old kingdom engineering.  • In the afternoon, there's time for further exploration of the bustling Khan el Khalili bazaar, an amazing mix of shops and stalls that have traded goods and gossip since the Middle Ages. The bazaar is like a labyrinth with each corner even more interesting than the last. You can haggle for crafts and carpets, or sip sweet tea and watch Egyptian life go by.
• In the evening, we are transferred to the station for the night train to Aswan. Our air-conditioned sleeper carriages have large, comfortable beds (similar to business class reclining seats on a plane), with a simple dinner and breakfast served on board. There is a toilet located at the end of the carriage.
Day 3 - Sunday, April 15, 2012
 • On arrival in Aswan we transfer to our hotel, check in and relax before venturing out to explore the Nubian bazaar. This is a long and winding colourful street that snakes through the centre of town where Egyptian and Nubian people sell their wares. • Following this, we transfer to the stunning Temple of Isis on Philae Island by felucca, a small traditional open air sailing boat dating back thousands of years. • After a break for lunch, we sail to the west bank and meet our camels who shepherd us to the Monastery of St. Simeon - a great way to spend the afternoon! • The rest of the afternoon is at leisure before venturing out and strolling along the cornice to our evening meal.
Day 4 - Monday, April 16, 2012
 • Rising early, we have the option of travelling by road (not included) to Abu Simbel, one of the most impressive temples and dedications of love ever built, and one of the highlights of our visit to Egypt. • We follow the shores of Lake Nasser and arrive at the temple just after sunrise, a perfect time for photographs and to beat the crowds. • We enjoy a tour of the site, with free time inside, later returning to Aswan, arriving around midday, where we board our Nile Cruise boat, the M/S Mojito. • After lunch, the rest of the day is free to explore the area or to relax on the sundeck aboard the vessel, moored along the banks of the river Nile.
Day 5 - 6 - Tuesday, April 17 - Wednesday, April 18, 2012
 • Cruising along the Nile is a magical experience, sitting on the sundeck, watching timeless scenes as we glide over the dark waters. • We stop at Komombo to visit the Temple of Sobek, a Greco-Roman temple that overlooks the river, and at Edfu we explore the well-preserved Temple of Horus, considered one of the finest examples of temple construction. • All meals are included and served in the comfortable dining room. • On arrival in Luxor, we transfer to our hotel and check in with some free time to relax, before boarding horse-drawn carriages to the massive complex at Karnak for our guided tour, built over a period of some 2000 years, and one of the most impressive temples ever constructed.
Day 7 - Thursday, April 19, 2012
 • An early sunrise has us boarding the feluccas and crossing the Nile to the west bank where our donkeys are waiting to take us into the Valley of the Kings (those wishing to travel by taxi can do so). • After matching donkeys to each rider we head off, just as the sun begins to rise in the eastern skies. • It's a great experience and one of the highlights of our visit to Egypt. We have the chance to view three burial tombs, including that of Tutankhamun, some still so beautifully and colourfully decorated inside. • We return to the east bank where the afternoon is left free to explore the bazaar, Luxor Temple, or Luxor Museum. • In the evening, we take the overnight sleeper train back to Cairo, with dinner served on board.
Day 8 - Friday, April 20, 2012
 • Arriving back in Cairo, we are met by our private transport and transfer directly towards the Sinai Desert. • The Sinai is an untamed desert wilderness of extreme and ever changing beauty, with massive jagged pink granite mountains reaching into clear blue skies. • We drive east from Cairo, and spend the night in a hotel at the base of Mt. Sinai, Egypt's most holy mountain. • For those who do not want to walk, you can either sleep through sunrise back at the hotel, or take a camel up! • There's a cool and refreshing pool to relax in after the long drive from Cairo.
Day 9 - Saturday, April 21, 2012
• Your trip ends today, after breakfast. • Check-out time is usually around midday.
• The tour leader is available for any assistance for your onward journey. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Cairo.
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Egypt Explored
