Compare Cairo & Alexandria Escape with 3- night Nile cruise by Globus vs Egypt in 13 days - Pyramids, Alexandria and Nile on board. - SUPERIOR by Exoticca

Day 1: ARRIVE IN CAIRO, EGYPT

Welcome to Cairo. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (Dinner)

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Day 2: CAIRO. EXCURSION TO GIZA

Secrets of the Sphinx CAIRO Guided sightseeing includes the Egyptian Museum.
GIZA Take pictures of the Sphinx and of the Great Pyramids. (Breakfast)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORY & MYSTERY Get up close and personal with The Pyramids of Giza - one of the World’s Seven Wonders. Ponder the enigmatic secrets of the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza. Marvel at the massive monument of Cheops, the most colossal pyramid ever built with an original height of 496 feet.

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Day 3: CAIRO–WADI EL NATRUN–ALEXANDRIA

The Mediterranean Pearl WADI EL NATRUN [LF] Visit a Coptic Monastery before returning to Cairo.
ALEXANDRIA Free time to explore the city at your own pace. (Breakfast) 137 mi / 220 km

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURE & TRADITIONS In Arabic, Wadi El Natrum means “Valley of Nitrates,” due to the presence of eight different lakes containing nitrates in the surrounding area. In Coptic, the region is also known as Shi-Hyt, which can be translated as “balance of the heart” or “measure of hearts.” The monasteries of Wadi el-Natrun are the source of indispensable data for the study of the Coptic heritage, and especially for Coptic literature, art, and architecture.

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Day 4: ALEXANDRIA

Feel like royality in the Montazah gardens ALEXANDRIA Guided sightseeing includes the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey’s Pillar, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, that commemorates the ancient Library of Alexandria, and the 15th-century Qaitbay Citadel. Visit the Montazah Garden. (Breakfast)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORY & CULTURE Originally founded by Alexander the Great, Alexandria was once one of the wealthiest cities in the world and the Montazah Palace gardens are a true testimony of this wealth. Designed to be a place of relaxation and recreation for the Khedive and his guests are filled with flowers, trees and shrubs.

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Day 5: ALEXANDRIA–WADI EL NATRUN–CAIRO

A Drive Through the Red Land Drive through the El Beheira desert.
CAIRO Dinner at your hotel. (Breakfast,Dinner) 155 mi / 250 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDARY LANDSCAPES In ancient times, the Egyptians called the desert the "red land," distinguishing it from the flood plain around the Nile River, called the "black land". These reflect the fact that the desert sands have a reddish hue and the land around the Nile turned black when the annual flood waters receded. Over thousands of years, the Nile River evolved into its present shape, surrounded by the Eastern and Western deserts.

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Day 6: CAIRO–ASWAN (EMBARKATION)

The Inspiration of Isis CAIRO Fly to Aswan
ASWAN Embarkation and lunch on board. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ANCIENT WONDERS The temple at Philae honors the deity Isis—goddess of the moon, health, and fertility, as well as the gods of Horus and Osiris. Learn how in the early 1970s, after the inauguration of the Aswan High Dam, raging floods risked the submersion of Philae. The rescue of these Nubian monuments is thanks to the joint effort between the Egyptian government and UNESCO, who then moved the sanctuary to higher ground. How did they do it? They dismantled the structures into 40,000 blocks and transferred them brick by brick to their new home, Agilkia Island.

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Day 7: CRUISING: ASWAN–KOM OMBO–EDFU

Egyptian Gods & Gowns Free time this morning
KOM OMBO Guided walking tour includes the Temple dedicated to the crocodile and falcon gods. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE Explore captivating Kom Ombo with a walking tour of its bluff-top twin temples. Gaze at the spellbinding temples dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek-Ra and the falcon god Horus.

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Day 8: CRUISING: EDFU–ESNA–LUXOR

Legendary Luxor EDFU Visit the Temple of Horus
LUXOR Visit the Temple. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
OF GODS AND PILGRIMAGES Step back in time and wander through the magnificent temple dedicated to Horus, one of the most important gods in Ancient Egypt. Learn how this became the setting for many important festivals which resulted in huge pilgrimages. With time the temple suffered the elements and got buried underneath the sand where it remained until 1860!

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Day 9: LUXOR (DISEMBARKATION)

Palace of Life LUXOR Disembarkation. Visit the Temple of Karnak. Free time this afternoon (Breakfast)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PHARAONIC LIVES Known as Ipet-Isu by the ancient Egyptians which means “The Most Select of Places” and built over 2000 years, for some uneducated ancient Egyptians the temple of Karnak was the place of gods. Dozens of pharaohs added their own constructions to this site making this one of the most impressive open- air museums in the world.

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Day 10: LUXOR–CAIRO

Cairo Bound LUXOR Morning at leisure. Fly to Cairo.
CAIRO Free time this afternoon. (Breakfast)

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE Join an optional excursion to the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens on the West Bank of the Nile where generations of pharaohs and nobles were entombed in cliffside crypts. See where 62 royal tombs have thus far been discovered, of which one was virtually intact—the splendid tomb of Tutankhamun discovered in 1922.

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Day 11: CAIRO

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

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Day 1: US - Night on board

It's time to unearth the secrets of Ancient Egypt and get to know the vibrant culture of Egypt's most emblematic cities and sights. Arrive at your departure airport ready to check-in for a flight to Cairo *. Night on board. If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Cairo

Touch down in Cairo and transfer to the hotel. Once you've settled in, the remainder of the day is free at your leisure to get to know the sights and sounds of Cairo, in the shadow of the Great Pyramids! Go shopping at the local souk or sample the national cuisine. Overnight stay in Cairo.

Day 3: Cairo

Breakfast in the hotel. Visit the only remaining ancient Seven Wonders of the World Today. Head to the Giza plateau, home of the three Great Pyramids, built over 4,500 years ago and dedicated to the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt! Explore the pyramids and learn about their fascinating history as you walk in the footsteps of the pharaohs. Afterwards, continue to the amazing Great Sphinx, the symbolic guardian of the pyramids. The afternoon is free at your leisure to explore Cairo at your own pace. We recommend an optional excursion to Memphis and the necropolis of Sakkara.* Overnight stay in Cairo. * Optional excursion to Memphis and Sakkara: Visit Memphis, once the place of residence of the Egyptian pharaohs. See the stepped pyramid, built by Imhotep and explore the complete funeral complex of Mastabas. Continue to Mit Rahina to visit the open-air museum and explore the necropolis of Sakkara. Alternatively, for a full experience of Egypt, you can choose one of our optional excursion packages to add 3/4 optional excursions to your trip! Important: The order of the optional excursions may vary depending on your departure day.

Day 4: Cairo

Breakfast in the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure in captivating Cairo, exploring its atmospheric streets, or opt for an optional visit to the legendary Egyptian Museum where you can trace the history of Egypt's ancient civilization. In the afternoon, we recommend taking an optional excursion to the Saladin Citadel,* home to the breathtaking Alabaster Mosque. Overnight stay in Cairo. * Optional Saladin Citadel excursion: Visit the Alabaster Mosque and medieval fortification of Saladin Citadel, perched atop a hill in central Cairo and dating back to the 12th-century. Learn about the importance of the site to Egypt's Islamic heritage and walk through the Coptic Neighborhood. Alternatively, for a full experience of Egypt, you can choose one of our optional excursion packages to add 3/4 optional excursions to your trip! Important: The order of the optional excursions may vary depending on your departure day.

Day 5: Cairo - Alexandria - Cairo

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off on an excursion to Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. Once the capital of New Egypt is is one of the most historically important cities in Egypt. An array of civilizations, such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Ottomans, have each left their mark on this Mediterranean city. On arrival, enjoy a panoramic tour of Alexandria to see its most emblematic sights such as the Pompey Column and the 2000-year-old Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa. Travel along the Corniche to see the Citadel of Qaitbay, on the site of the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World! End the day with a visit to the famous Library of Alexandria, before returning along the desert highway to Cairo. The remainder of the day is free at your leisure. Overnight stay in Cairo.

Day 6: Cairo - Luxor

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Luxor. On arrival, transfer to the port to board your Nile Cruise Boat, your home for the next four nights on a full-board basis. Get settled in your cabin and enjoy lunch and the views of the river Nile. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Karnak, a huge complex of ruined temples, columns and other buildings. On the way back to the ship, stop at the impressive Temple of Luxor, dedicated to Amun-Ra, Mut and Khonu and built by Amenophis III and Ramses II. Back on the ship, enjoy the remainder of the evening at your leisure. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 7: Luxor - Esna

Full-board on board. Begin the day with a visit to the legendary Valley of the Kings, the burial site of the Pharaohs between the 18th and 20th Egyptian dynasties and the famous site of the tomb of Tutankhamun. After exploring the valley, head to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, set on large terraces beneath the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. Continue to the Colossi of Memnon, two imposing stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III. In the afternoon the cruise will set sail towards Esna where you will cross the famous Esna Lock that allows the boat to sail up the Nile towards the Nile cataracts rapids. Overnight on board. Please note: The excursion to the Valley of the Kings includes visits to three tombs. Entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun is not included but, if you are interested in visiting, you can buy a ticket to see this tomb at the site during your visit.

Day 8: Esna

Full-board on board. Today, disembark the boat in Edfu to experience a private buggy ride to the legendary Temple of Horus, located on the west bank of the Nile. The temple itself is dedicated to the worship of the Egyptian god Horus, one of the most revered and important gods in Ancient Egypt. After discovering this ancient temple, return to the ship and set sail to Aswan. Overnight on board.

Day 9: Esna - Aswan

Full board on board. This morning, we recommend an optional excursion to the ancient temples of Abu Simbel.* Later in the day, enjoy a tour of Aswan to discover the famous granite quarry, to uncover the ingenious techniques used to extract the building blocks of Ancient Egypt. Also, see the unfinished Obelisk and the monumental engineering works of the Old and New Dams. Overnight on board. * Optional Excursion to Abu Simbel: Travel by bus to visit these amazing temples, carved on the western cliff of the desert by Ramses II in the Xl century BC. See the iconic 20-metre high statues, dedicated to the god Amon Ra, and the Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor. * Optional Island of Philae Excursion: Discover the historic island of Philae, in the reservoir of the Old Aswan Dam. It is home to the ancient ruins of the Temple of Isis and offers a fascinating insight into life and beliefs in Ancient Egypt. Please note: If you take the optional excursion to Abu Simbel, you will depart from the ship at approximately 3 a.m. to make the most of the coolest and quietest part of the day. This way, you can fully experience Abu Simbel without the crowds and avoid sightseeing in high temperatures. Alternatively, for a full experience of Egypt, you can choose one of our optional excursion packages to add 3/4 optional excursions to your trip! Important: The order of the optional excursions may vary depending on your departure day.

Day 10: Aswan

Full board on board. Enjoy a morning at your leisure to soak up the views of the Nile. In the afternoon, take a felucca ride, a traditional fishing boat. Cruise along the Nile and discover the impressive Nile Falls, Elephantine Island and the Aga Khan Mausoleum. Return to the boat and overnight stay on board. Alternatively, for a full experience of Egypt, you can choose one of our optional excursion packages to add 3/4 optional excursions to your trip! Important: The order of the optional excursions may vary depending on your departure day.

Day 11: Aswan - Kom Ombo

Full-board on board. Set off for Kom Ombo. Upon arrival explore the twin Temples of Haroeris and Sobek and see the amazing Nilometer, used to measure the rising and falling levels of the Nile, an important source of life in Egypt. Overnight on board.

Day 12: Kom Ombo - Luxor

Full board on board. Enjoy some free time this morning to explore the city of Edfu before boarding the boat and navigating to Luxor. Disembark and explore this ancient city, known as Thebes in antiquity. Stroll along the Nile Corniche and see the famous Souk of Luxor. Why not stop in a local cafe to sample the traditional hookah water pipes? Overnight on board.

Day 13: Luxor - Cairo

Breakfast on board. At the indicated time, disembark the ship and transfer to Luxor airport for a short flight back to the capital of Cairo. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon free to enjoy a wander around the bazaar to pick up some last-minute souvenirs, indulge in delicious Egyptian cuisine or simply relax at your own pace. Overnight stay in Cairo.

Day 14: Cairo - US

Breakfast at the hotel.* At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US. Arrive in the US and end your trip.** * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day. ** Depending on the choice of flight, you may arrive back in the US the following day.