 A
CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR OF EGYPT
A cultural tour of Egypt
The history of history, Egypt is where
we witness evidence of time before time. From 20 millions
years ago to present day, our journey will cover ruins,
unprecedented architecture, natural wild life, amazing
discoveries and the physical evidence of influential
people, cultures and religion. From the view from the
bottom of the pyramids, to the coast lines of the Nile
to the top of Mount Sinai, each city, each stop will
offer a unique angle to one of the oldest regions of
the world. Enjoy this 19 day journey into Egypt and
visit countless number of historic sites including
the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Historic Cairo,
Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis, Memphis, Nubian
Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae , Saint Catherine
Area and Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley).
Day
1 Arrival in Cairo
“
Salaam” and welcome to Egypt! Upon arrival we
are warmly received and taken to our hotel. Relax,
unwind
and prepare for the unforgettable cultural adventure
through time. Check in time starts from 1400 hrs.
Overnight: Safir Hotel Dokki (4 nights)
 Day 2 Cairo
The capital city and the face of Egypt, Cairo is a
city of dichotomies. Sitting in the midst of the Sahara,
Cairo
emerges as an unusual oasis in the desert. Offering
a substantial helping of both, the old and the new,
gives
this metropolitan city an interesting skyline. Touring
through the city we come across several mosques, madrasas
and fountains, making the historic Cairo on the among
Egypt’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites (1979). Today,
we will satisfy our travel desires with a visit to
the famous, ever so ancient and ever so present, pyramids.
We drive into the dessert, towards the old town of
Giza,
located on the banks of the River Nile. We approach
a plateau were we immediately find the Giza Necropolis,
a complex of ancient monuments. Standing at a height
of 20 metres, our first encounter of ancient Egypt
is
with a statue of a reclining lion with a human head.
The Great Sphinx of Giza is the oldest monumental sculpture
and is commonly believed to have been built in the
3rd millennium BC. We continue our exploration of the
necropolis
and the many other monuments. The Great Pyramid of
Giza sits under the never ending desert sky. It is
the oldest
and largest of the three pyramids in Giza and is the
only remaining monument of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World. Our first day of sightseeing also includes
Egyptian
Museum. Inside, we walk through the many show rooms
and view the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian
antiquities in the world including remains of many
famous
Pharaohs and the tomb King Tutankhamen. (B)
Day 3 Cairo
With a full day of exploration, we start our day early
with a short drive south of Cairo to the UNESCO World
Heritage Site of Memphis (1979). This city has seen many
great Dynasties come and gone and has served as the capital
and administration centre of Lower Egypt. Sources say
the city has existed since the unification of Egypt some
5100 years ago. Today, we will visit the city of Memphis
and tour Sakkara the necropolis for its Pharaohs. Excavated
only in the last 100 years, Sakkara is still a very important
site for archaeologists as many tombs have yet to be
discovered. Sitting on the west bank of the Nile is Dahshur,
home to the oldest pyramids. Here, we witness the transitions
early Egyptians made, as the oldest of the pyramids is
built without steps. At an angle of 53 degrees, it is
evident why there was a transition to building steps
to the peak. (B)
Day 4 Cairo
Today, we move through Cairo experiencing the chaos
and commotion that so rightfully describes the city.
Cairo
has more to offer than the pyramids in its vicinity;
the beautiful mosques tell stories from old civilizations
and leave us in a state of awe. On the agenda today,
we visit the Sultan Hassan Mosque. An epitome of Mamluk
architecture, this 14th C mosque one of the largest
in the Islamic world. As we walk through the mosque,
we
see the large domes, recessed porches, fountains and
courtyards and experience the overwhelming majestic
beauty a massive structure can offer. Set right next
to a busy
bazaar is the 17thC Beit el Suhaymi. A well preserved
masterpiece, the Beit El Suhaymi is an example of a
private home of the wealthy. Designed with climatic
considerations,
its shaded courtyards, balconies, thick walls, cool
marble floors, kept citizens of this 30 chamber home
cool under
Cairo’s scorching sun. We continue our tour of
Cairo with a visit to the Mosque of Sultan Hassan.
A strikingly beautiful structure, with an interior
that
includes carefully carved marble and wood that has
been carved, gilded and painted along with domes and
arches.
We also visit the Old Gates of Cairo. One of many fortified
entrances to the gated city of Cairo, the gates not
only served as a safety precaution but also for management
and administration. We head back to the hotel and have
a free evening to enjoy our last night in Cairo. (B)
Day 5 Cairo / Abu Simbel
Sitting on a morning flight to Abu Simbel, we wave
goodbye to Cairo from our plane window. Some 850km
south of Cairo,
is the archaeological site of Abu Simbel, situated
on the west bank of Lake Nasser. We break for lunch
on a
cruise on the lake, admiring the view from the water.
In the afternoon, we make our way to the twin temples,
Abu Simbel’s main attractions. Carved out of the
mountainside, the imposing structures are lasting monuments
Pharaoh Ramesses II and his Queen Nefertari from the
13th C BC. The complex was relocated from its original
site in the 1960s to avoid submerging into the lake.
The Abu Simbel temples are part of UNESCO World Heritage
Site’s (1979) series of Nubian Monuments In the
evening we enjoy a sound and light show in Abu Simbel.
Tonight, we step on the boat once again with our hungry
stomachs and bags for a delicious dinner on the lake
and good night’s rest in the cabins!
Overnight: On Board M/S Nubian Sea (3 nights) (B, L,
D)
 Day
6 Abu Simbel / Amada / Wadi El Seboua
Waking up on Lake Nasser, we have a morning cruise
to Qasr Ibrim. This Egyptian fortress was once
on a cliff top standing at the edge of the Nile,
in a region known as Lower Nubia. Today it is a
tiny
unusual island on Lake Nasser, created by the
construction of the Aswan High Sam. It is the only
archaeological
site that has survived the flooded area. We hop
back
aboard our boat and enjoy a delicious lunch as
we sail to Amada. The Temple of Amada is considered
the oldest Egyptian temple in Nubia. It was constructed
by the 18th-dynasty Pharaoh Thutmose III and
dedicated to the god Amun. As we walk towards the
temple,
its
exterior does not offer too much in detailed
carvings and architectural amazement, however,
do not be
fooled, the temple’s interior makes up for it
with walls and columns that are decorated with finely
cut, vibrantly colored scenes of the pharaohs making
offerings to the gods. In the evening we begin
our
departure for Wadi es-Sebua. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Wadi es-Sebua / Aswan
Cruising along Lake Nasser we star our day with
a morning visit to the temples of Wadi es-Sebua
and Dakka. Like
many other monuments of Lower Nubia, the temples
were both dismantled and relocated when the threat
of flooding
arose during the construction of the Aswan Damn.
The temple of Wadi es-Sebua was originally built
in the
14th C BC and then restored in the 13th C BC. At
its entrance, are a line of monuments, known
as the Avenue
of Sphinx, that corridor the pathway to its doors.
The temple of Dakka was dedicated to Thoth, the
god of wisdom, and is considered a Greco-Roman
temple.
Initially, the temple consisted of a small one-room
shrine, however over time, specifically during
the Roman period, the temple was enlarged and
was transformed
into a temple fortress. Like many other monuments
in that region, both the temples of Wadi es-Sebua
and
Dakka were converted into Christian Churches, resulting
in covering the walls with plastic to hide the
Egyptian reliefs. At night, we stare into the
sky and enjoy
our last night on the boat. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Aswan
Surrounded by many other significant temples, today
we begin our day with a visit to the Kalabsha Temple.
Located on a granite headland that can be seen
from the top of the Aswan Damn, the Kalasha temple
was originally
located some 50km south of Aswan. Historical accounts
date the temple back to 30 BC, however inscription
in the walls of its interior indicate the temple
may have built much before that. Just a few steps
away,
we visit the Beit El Wali, a 13th C BC rock cut
temple dedicated to Ramesses II and the gods of
Amun and Anukis.
After checking into to our hotel, we make our way
to the beautiful temple complex of Philae. This
3rd C
BC temple,\ is dedicated to the goddess Isis and
is one of the last fortresses of ancient Egyptian
religion
and hieroglyphic usage. Today the complex sits
some 500 metres away from its original location.
The construction
of the High Dam in 1960 resulted into the total
submerge of the island. Egypt made an international
appeal through
UNESCO to salvage the monument. Finally a project
was approved to dismantle the temple and re-erect
it at
the near-by island of Agilka Meanwhile the shape
of the island was re-formed by adding more stones
in imitation
of
the original island.
Overnight: Basma Hotel Aswan (1 night) (B)
Day 9 Aswan/Luxor
We begin our day with an early morning flight to
Luxor. The city of Luxor has been known as an open
air museum.
The number and preservation of monuments in the
Luxor area are unparalleled. In fact, the city
has a great
history of tourism, going as far back as to the
ancient times of the late Dynasties of the Greek
and Roman
periods. Once a thriving centre of religion, political
supremacy and wisdom, Luxor, originally known as
Thebes and was renowned for its high social status.
It is
for that reason that many of the sites in Luxor
from the period of the Middle & New Kingdoms are among
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (1979). Today, we visit
Karnack, a complex with a vast conglomeration of
ruined temples, chapels, pylons and other buildings.
The temple
of Karnack is famous for the 134 massive columns
that are arranged in 16 rows. The architraves on
top of
these columns weigh an estimated 70 tons. The temples
of Luxor and Karnak are separated by three kilometres
with the sacred lake between them. Since inception,
the Temple of Luxor has been a sacred site. Founded
in 1400BC, the temple has been converted through
the ages from a Christian Church and Monastery to
a Muslim
Mosque in the 13th C AD. For thousands of years,
the temple was buried beneath the streets and houses
of
the town. Eventually the mosque of Sufi Shaykh Yusuf
Abu al-Hajjaj was built over it. This mosque was
preserved when the temple was uncovered and forms
an integral
part of the site today.
Overnight: Iberotel Luxor Hotel (2 nights) (B)
Day 10 Luxor
The West Bank at Luxor is one of the most important
archaeological sites in the world. The area is
often known as the Valley of Kings and is home
to about
500 years of ancient tombs that were constructed
for kings,
powerful nobles and their families. West Bank is
where archaeologists discovered King Tutankhamun’s
tomb. Our tour of Luxor also includes a visit to
the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of the most successful
Pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of
an
Egyptian dynasty. Built into a cliff in the valley
basin of Deir el-Bahri, the temple sits atop of a
series of colonnaded terraces, reached by long ramps
that
once were graced with gardens. Tonight, take an evening
to relax and unwind or explore Luxor on your own!
(B)
 Day 11 Luxor / Sharm El Sheikh
The stories of Luxor are not done! We continue our
tour of the city with a visit to the Valley of
the Queens. The site is filled with over 70 tombs
of the
queens from the 18th, 19th and 20th Dynasties.
We continue on to the ancient Egyptian village of
Deir el-Madin.
Home to the artisans who built and decorated the
tombs of the Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings,
the craftsmen
of this region passed down their skills and trades
from father to son over many generations. The square
grid design of their village shows great skill
and a modern view on urban design. Today we also
visit
the Mediet Habu, also known as the Mortuary Temple
of Ramesses III. Aside from architectural and artistic
importance, the temple is best known for the inscriptions
reliefs depicting the advent and defeat of the
Sea Peoples. Later, we take an evening flight to
Sharm
El Sheikh where we are transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Sheraton Sharm Hotel (3 nights) (B)
Day 12 Sharm El Sheikh / St. Catherine
After 11 days of great site seeing, we have a full
day to relax and unwind. Take the time to enjoy
the hotel, or venture out to the sea to watch the
blue
water or try some water sports. We take a night
ride to St. Catherine. (B)
Day 13 St. Catherine / Sharm El Sheikh
We arrive at St. Catherin early in the morning
and immediately begin our ascend up Mount Sinai.
We reach
the top of the mountain to catch the breathtaking
morning sunrise against the multicoloured sky. Mount
Sinai
is the highest point in Egypt and is known to be
the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
With
the panoramic view in our minds, we descend down
the mountain and enjoy a breakfast at a local restaurant.
Today we visit the Monastery of St. Catherine.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site (2002) lies in
the Sinai
Peninsula and is one of the oldest working Christian
Monasteries in the world. The monastery has been
one
of the world’s great centres of religious
pilgrimage for over fifteen centuries. Within its
imposing walls
rests a citadel like no other, incredibly rich
in important religious and historical structures.
Among
its treasures
includes a library of ancient manuscripts second
only to the Vatican's itself, and a 6th century
church reputed
to lie directly on the site of the Burning Bush.
In the afternoon, we make our way back to Sharm
El Sheikh. (B)
Day
14 Sharm El Sheikh / Cairo
After four days in the Sharm El Sheikh region,
we wave goodbye on our morning flight to back to
Cairo.
After
checking into our hotel, we embark on a half
day tour of the Egyptian capital. Set against Cairo’s
bright blue sky, stands a mosque built with only
the finest of well-fired red brick. The Mosque of
Ibn Tulun
is one of the few mosques that have survived in almost
its original form. Its domes, archways, courtyards,
fountains, minarets and terrace overlooking the town,
offering a peaceful and serene environment for our
imaginations to travel back to the 9th C AD. Today,
we also visit the Gayer Anderson Museum. Adjacent
to the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, the museum is within
the historic
17th C home, offering one of the finest examples
of domestic architecture in Cairo. It consists of
two
houses built using the outer wall of the Mosque of
Ibn Tulun as support. The unique location of the
museum offers more than just an experience of viewing
historical
artefacts, it allows visitors to feel apart of the
history.
Overnight: Safir Hotel Dokki (1 night) (B)
 Day 15 Cairo / Bahariya Oasis
Today we will be travelling some 300 kilometres
south of Cairo to Bahariya Oasis. Known historically
as the
Northern Oasis, the town of Bahariya Oasis is
rather unique and the people of the town have
clung to their
traditional beliefs and customs quite strongly.
Its inhabitants are a mixture of the original
oasis dwellers,
the Bedouin tribes from Libya and the north coast,
and other people from the Nile Valley. Our drive
from Cairo will begin in the flat and dry desserts
but change
as we approach the oasis where trees and greenery
begin line the roads of the town. Our tour of
the area begins
in the afternoon and includes the Oasis, Hot
Springs and the English Mountain. We also visit
a local museum
that houses the recently excavated Golden Mummies.
Overnight: Qasr El Bawiti Hotel (2 nights) (B,
D)
Day 16 Black & White Desert
Starting our day bright and early, we explore
the surrounding area of Bahariya Oasis. Today,
we visit
the Black & White
Desert and the Crystal Mountain. A region of
volcano-shaped mountains with large quantities
of small black stones,
the Black Desert lies across the orange-brown
ground, giving it a spotted look. The White Desert,
in contrary,
has massive formations and against the pale yellow
sand, stands out dramatically. The unusual rock
formations were the result of sandstorms and
have given this
area an arctic snowy look. We also visit Crystal
Mountain,
a sub-volcanic vault in between Bahariya Oasis
and Farafra Oasis. Right at the very edge of
White Desert,
Crystal Mountain has a small natural arch in
the rock and its glittering calcite crystal walls
make
it a
perfect place to pose for pictures. (B, D)
Day 17 Bahareya
/ Fayoum
We start our day with a drive to, Fayome Oasis.
En route, we stop in a large depression at
Wadi El Rayyan.
Once an arid dry land, the area has became
a hydrological project and as result two artifical
lakes were created.
A protected area by the government Wadi El
Rayyan is now a park that sees various types
of migrating
aquatic
birds in the winter. We also visit the famous
waterfalls and the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s
(2005) Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley). Also known
as Zeuglodon
Valley,
the valley produced considerable evidence of
submerged basin of water some 40-50 millions
years ago. Today,
the area is occupied by a number of excavated
sites, that revealed whale fossils from the
earliest types.
We continue our drive to Fayome Oasis.
Overnight: Auberge El Fayoum (1 night) (B, D)
Day 18 Fayoum / Cairo
We have an early start to our day and complete
our tour of Fayoum. Today, we visit some of
the oldest
archeologically ruins in the area. Karanis,
also known as “Lord’s town”,
is home to the remains from the Greco-Roman
times. The architectural,
material and papyrological records preserved
by the excavators provide us with more than
a glimpse of
life
from 2500 years ago. Situated on the edge of
the Western Desert, above the lush green fields
at Meidum,
is a
tower shaped structure some sixty-five meters
high. The Pyramid at Meidum is said to have
been built
with steps and then later turned into a true
pyramid. We
take a break and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon we make our way back to Cairo.
Overnight: Safir Hotel Dokki (1 night) (B)
Day 19 Depart Cairo
We say ‘Ma'a Salama’ (Goodbye)
and Shukrun to Egypt (Thank you) for sharing
her many stories
of civilizations past as we are transferred
to the airport
for our flight home. Check out time is by 1100
hrs. (B)
Departure
Dates |
| 2010
English Speaking Departures
Mar 08 & Jun 28, 2010
|
Inclusions |
| Tour
Price Includes |
Tour
Price Does Not Include |
| Hotel
Accommodation/Cruise as mentioned or similar,
including hotel taxes |
International
Airfare |
| Meal
Plan as mentioned (B=Breakfast
L=Lunch D=Dinner) |
Insurance
/ Visas |
|
Domestic air tickets required |
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 Tombs in the Valley of Kings,
Nefertari’s Tomb in the Valley of
the Queens. These may be paid locally if
open at times of visit. |
| Entrance
Fees to Museums and Sites |
|
| 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 |
| Mar
08, 2010 |
US
$ 3695 |
US
$ 695 |
Jun
28, 2010
|
US
$ 3360 |
US
$ 595 |
|
Estimated
International Airfare - International
airfare is NOT included in this tour |
| Canada
- West Coast |
N/A |
USA
- West Coast |
US
$ 1600 |
| Canada
- East Coast |
N/A |
USA
- East Coast |
US
$ 1400 |
|
Participants |
| This
tour operates on a minimum of 02 persons |
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. |
|
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