Passage through Egypt

Passage through Egypt Itinerary:

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• Day 1 - U.S./Fly Overnight to Cairo, Egypt

• Depart this evening aboard an overnight flight to Cairo.

• Day 2 - Cairo

• Arrive late in the day and transfer to the Four Seasons Cairo First Residence.

• Day 3 - Cairo

• After a very long trip across the Atlantic and Mediterranean your first full day in Cairo is purposely left free to allow you to unwind and adjust to the time difference. Take our advice — relax, take advantage of the hotel and its spa and get caught up on your rest. It will enhance your experience throughout your expedition in Egypt. (B)

• Day 4 - Cairo

• The morning is dedicated to a tour of the Egyptian Museum and its seemingly limitless collection of antiquities: mummies of the pharaohs, funerary jewels, and elaborate sarcophagi. Dr. Mohammed Abdel Halim Nur El-Din, Head of the Department of Egyptology of Cairo University, joins us this evening for a presentation and discussion. Then we will have a welcome dinner with fellow travelers at a typical Egyptian restaurant. (B,D)

• Day 5 - Cairo

• Coptic churches, including the Church of Abu Serga and the 4th century “hanging” church, punctuate Old Cairo. Wander through the winding streets to the millennium-old Ben Ezra Synagogue and in Islamic Cairo, see the five domes of Mohammed Ali Mosque. After lunch, stroll through the Khan el Khalili bazaar.(B,L)

• Day 6 - Cairo/Luxor/Embark Triton

• Fly this morning by private aircraft to Luxor, gateway to the Temple of Karnak, a complex of three major temples — Mut, Montu, and Amun — and numerous smaller ones. Embark the Triton, and later explore Luxor Temple and the museum. (B,L,D)

• Day 7 - Luxor

• Luxor’s West Bank is home to the Valley of the Kings. Travel through the desert to this burial ground where four centuries of Egyptian kings — the 18th, 19th, and 20th Dynasties — were laid to rest. Sail for Esna after lunch. (B,L,D)

• Day 8 - Luxor/Dendera/Luxor

• At Dendera see the beautifully preserved Temple of Hathor. Constructed during the time of the Roman emperors this temple was known as a healing center in the ancient world. Its dramatic columns are topped with images of the cow-headed goddess, Hathor, the "Mistress of Heaven." Then, explore the Luxor Temple complex, guarded by massive statues of Ramses VI. (B,L,D)

• Day 9 - Luxor/Edfu

• This morning we view the tombs of the Nobles, decorated with vividly painted scenes of ancient Egyptian life. Then, at Deir El Bahari visit temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's female pharaoh. This mortuary temple lies in a dramatic setting beneath sandstone cliffs and contains wonderful interior reliefs that tell the story of the Queen's expedition to the land of Punt, a fabled site in the Horn of Africa. Later in the day, we sail toward Edfu. (B,L,D)

• Day 10 - Edfu/Kom Ombo

• Edfu's Temple of Horus is considered the best preserved ancient temple in Egypt. Said to have been built on the site of the battle between the gods Horus and Seth, this is the last in a long series of temples built on this location. Because the roof is intact, the play of light and shadow is much as it must have been during Ptolemaic times (from 305 BC to 30 BC.). The art and architecture here are extraordinary. In the afternoon, sail towards Kom Ombo. Strikingly set atop a hill overlooking the Nile, Kom Ombo's temple was built in an unusual double style. One side is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and creator of the world. The other side is dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris. The temple is atypical because everything is perfectly symmetrical along the main axis. (B,L,D)

• Day 11 - Kom Ombo/Aswan

• Watch life along the Nile as we sail toward Aswan where we explore Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess, Isis. Isis was immensely popular in the Roman world and most of the work is from that period. Pilgrims would come from all over the Mediterranean to visit Isis' Temple at Philae. At Aswan we also walk the length of the massive 1,162-ton unfinished obelisk, largest in the ancient world. This roughly dress stone developed a crack during its carving that has caused it to remain horizontal for millennia. Later in the day we sail by felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailboat, along Kitchener's Island. (B,L,D)

• Day 12 - Aswan/Disembark/Abu Simbel/Cairo

• Disembark Triton and board our chartered flight to Abu Simbel, site of the great Temples of Ramses II, which were rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. When the Nile was dammed at Aswan, this entire structure was removed from its original site and raised 200 feet, piece by piece, to where it stands today. The Great Temple of Abu Simbel is hewn out of the side of a sandstone cliff. Just to the north of the Great Temple, is a smaller temple to Hathor, built for his favorite wife, Nefertari. After our visit we fly by private aircraft to Cairo and to the Mena House Oberoi Hotel at Giza. (B,L)

• Day 13 - Cairo, Pyramid & Sphinx

• Among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World only the Pyramids of Giza have survived. The Great Pyramid of Cheops is composed of more than two million blocks of stone and took ten of thousands of workers twenty years to build. Below is the massive Sphinx, carved from a single piece of stone with the head of a man (the Pharaoh Chefren) and the body of lion. A visit to the Solar Boat Museum concludes today's discoveries. In the evening, return to the plateau and attend the Sound & Light performance, which narrates the history of the Pyramids and their builders. (B,L)

• Day 14 - Cairo, Memphis, Saqqara & Dashur

• In the morning visit Memphis, known for its giant toppled statue of Ramses II; Saqqara, site of the Step Pyramid complex; and less visited Dashur, to see the Bent and Red Pyramids. This afternoon is at leisure to explore Cairo on your own, revisit the Egyptian Museum or relax. A farewell dinner ends your expedition. (B,D)

• Day 15 - Cairo/U.S.

• Fly home this morning or extend your expedition to Jordan. (B)

Passage through Egypt Itinerary:

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• Day 1 - U.S./Fly Overnight to Cairo, Egypt
• Day 2 - Cairo
• Day 3 - Cairo
• Day 4 - Cairo
• Day 5 - Cairo
• Day 6 - Cairo/Luxor/Embark Triton
• Day 7 - Luxor
• Day 8 - Luxor/Dendera/Luxor
• Day 9 - Luxor/Edfu
• Day 10 - Edfu/Kom Ombo
• Day 11 - Kom Ombo/Aswan
• Day 12 - Aswan/Disembark/Abu Simbel/Cairo
• Day 13 - Cairo, Pyramid & Sphinx
• Day 14 - Cairo, Memphis, Saqqara & Dashur
• Day 15 - Cairo/U.S.

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

International airfare; passport fees; alcoholic beverages; extensions; personal items; baggage/ accident/ cancellation insurance; and gratuities to ship's crew and Egyptologist (at your discretion).

Egypt's climate is hot and dry most of the year. During the winter months—December, January and February—average daily temperatures stay up around 68°F on the Mediterranean coast and a pleasant 80°F in Aswan. Maximum temperatures get to 88°F and 122°F respectively. Winter nights only get down to 8°C (45°F), a very Egyptian version of chilly.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

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