EGYPT LONG STAY
A cultural tour of Egypt

Egypt is known not only for its culture, history, archaeology and people but also for the serene beaches that it offers both on the Mediterranean as well as on the Red Sea – most of which are within close proximity to historical sites thereby allowing people to not only enjoy the beach but also do visits leisurely. One of the best beach resorts is Hurghada, which is located on the Red Sea, that was at one time a simple fishing village. The small town with its oriental bazaars, narrow streets and lively atmosphere reflects typical Egyptian life. Further inland lie the Desert Mountains, ideal for desert tours. Most of all Hurghada offers sunshine and relaxation – with its best season being the winter period in North America.

Day 01: Arrive Cairo
Arrival in the Land of the Pharaohs, at Cairo International airport, our local representative will be waiting for you after you get your luggage and clear customs and will be holding a place card / paging board with your names on it, then escorted to your hotel. Check in time starts from 1400 hrs.
Overnight: Barcelo Hotel (1 night)

Day 02: Cairo / Luxor (Overnight train)
Drive to the Giza Plateau, home of Egypt’s signature attractions, the Great Pyramids, proclaimed by the Greeks to be among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The largest among these is the Great Pyramid of Cheops, probably built more than 2,600 years before the time of Christ. Standing 480 feet tall this is the last of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world that is still standing. Little is known of Cheops, you’ll also see the inscrutable and mysterious Sphinx, known in Arabic as Abu al-Hol ("the Father of Terror") and carved almost entirely from one piece of limestone.
Proceed to the Egyptian Museum, where you’ll be strolling through the halls highlighting each historical period of this ancient land, Marvel at the glittering treasures of King Tutankhamen, unparalleled in their variety, exquisite beauty, and sheer weight in gold. Seeing this treasure of more than 1,700 fabulous items buried with a young and relatively unimportant king, who can even imagine what the tombs of great and long-lived pharaohs must have contained? You may want to enter the Royal Mummies room for an additional fee and view the "sleeping" Kings of ancient Egypt.
End the day with a walking tour of the largest 13th century covered oriental market, the largest traditional shopping bazaar in the world, the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. In the tiny alleyways, there are hundreds of shops where you can watch gold and coppersmiths, brass makers, and fortunetellers at work. Look also for leather goods and woodwork inlaid with camel bone and mother-of-pearl. Bargaining, Arab-style, is the norm here, and practiced as a national pastime. Transfer to the train station for an overnight train ride to Luxor. Dinner & breakfast will be served on board; however, you may want to bring/purchase extra snacks/foods to bring on board as the meals served are very basis. (B, D)

Day 03: Arrive Luxor
This morning you are scheduled to arrive Luxor train station, where you will be met and transferred to visit the West Bank necropolis including the Valley of the Kings, with its many tombs chiseled deep into the Cliffside. From the 18th to the 20th Dynasty, the Memphis area and pyramid-style tombs were abandoned in favor of the West Bank of the Nile in Thebes. Several great leaders as well as many less important rulers are buried here, and more tombs are being discovered even today. This is where Howard Carter discovered the treasures of Tutankhamen and was struck "dumb with amazement" when he beheld its "wonderful things" in 1922.
Proceed to the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari. The mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut is one of the most dramatically situated in the world. The queen`s architect, Senenmut, designed it and set it at the head of a valley overshadowed by the Peak of the Thebes, the "Lover of Silence," where lived the goddess who presided over the necropolis.
Last stop for our morning tour will be at the Colossi of Memnon. Amenhotep III (18th Dynasty) built a mortuary temple in Thebes that was guarded by two gigantic statues on the outer gates. All that remains now are the 23 meter (75 ft) high, one thousand ton statues of Amenhotep III. Though damaged by nature and ancient tourists, the statues are still impressive. Check in at the hotel.
Overnight: Sofitel Kanark Hotel (1 night) (B)

Day 04: Luxor / Hurghada (Drive)
This morning you will be visiting the East bank visit of Luxor, visit Karnak Temple. In ancient Egypt, the power of the god Amun of Thebes gradually increased during the early New Kingdom, and after the short persecution led by Akhenaten, it rose to its apex. In the reign of Ramesses III, more than two thirds of the property owned by the temples belonged to Amun, evidenced by the stupendous buildings at Karnak. Although badly ruined, no site in Egypt is more impressive than Karnak. It is the largest temple complex ever built by man, and represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders. The Temple of Karnak is actually three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples located about three kilometers north of Luxor, Egypt situated on 100 ha (247 acres) of land. Karnak is actually the sites modern name. Its ancient name was Ipet-isut, meaning "The Most Select (or Sacred) of Places". This vast complex was built and enlarged over a thirteen hundred year period. The three main temples of Mut, Montu and Amun are enclosed by enormous brick walls.
Continue to visit the Temple of Luxor, built by the two pharaohs, Amenhotep III and Ramses II. Ancient Thebes was a center of festivals, and the Temple of Luxor was the setting for the most important-the festival of Opet, designed to merge the ruler`s human and divine aspects. The temple was dedicated to Amun-Ra, whose marriage to Mut was celebrated annually, when the sacred procession moved by boat from Karnak to Luxor Temple. Late afternoon drive to Hurghada (approximately 288 km – 4 hrs).
Overnight: Safir Hotel (15 nights) (B, D)

Day 05 – Day 18: Hurghada
Days free at leisure to enjoy the sun & sand. (B, D)

Day 19: Hurghada / Cairo (By flight)
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for a return flight to Cairo. Meet & transfer to the hotel.
Overnight: Triumph Hotel (1 night) (B)

Day 20: Depart Cairo
Check out time is by 1100 hrs. Transfer to Cairo Airport for your departure transfer. (B)

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Departure Dates
2011 English Speaking Departures Daily until Sep 22, 2011
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Hotel Accommodation/Cruise as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes International airfares Meal Plan as mentioned (B=Breakfast D=Dinner) Insurance / Visas Domestic overnight train Cairo/Luxor & air tickets Hurghada/Cairo            Tips / Gratuities All Sightseeing and Transfers            Entrance fees into the Pyramids chambers, visit to the Sun/Solar Boat Museum, Mummies Room at the Egyptian Museum, Tutankhamun & Ramses the 6th’s Tombs in the Valley of Kings, Nefertari’s Tomb in the Valley of the Queens, the Outdoor Museum at Karnak Temple. Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary              Services of Local English speaking guides
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departures Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement until Sept 22, 2011 US $ 1695 US $ 395 Peak season surcharges of USD 365.00 per person will be applied for traveling during Dec 15 – Jan 10, 2011 & Apr 15 – Apr 30, 2011
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast US $ 1800 USA - West Coast US $ 1600 Canada - East Coast US $ 1700 USA - East Coast US $ 1500
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 participants
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.