The Pyramids, Lake Nasser & Nile Highlights 2012: Kasr Ibrim
12 days from Cairo to Cairo or 13 days incl. travel (WSU)
Egypt-known for its ancient civilization, hieroglyphs, mummies, and pyramids-is a must for travelers wanting to experience new cultures and ancient wonders. On this marvelous vacation, experience the highlights of what Egypt has to offer. In Cairo, marvel at King Tutankhamun's treasures and masterpieces of ancient art, stand in awe at the Great Pyramids of Giza, see the enigmatic Sphinx, and visit the statue of Ramses II in Memphis. Then fly to Lake Nasser and embark your 4-night cruise on this man-made lake created when the Aswan High Dam was built. On this cruise, visit the magnificent temples built by Ramses II, the temples of Amada and Derr, as well as the temples of Dakka and Meharakka. On the way to Aswan, sail across the Tropic of Cancer.
Disembark your cruise in Aswan and see the granite quarries that supplied ancient Egypt with its hard stones for the pyramids. You'll also visit the Aswan High Dam and the Temple of Isis, the most romantic of Egypt's monuments. Then board your vessel for your 3-night Nile cruise. Cruise highlights include a walk among the pillars of the colossal Temple of Amun-Ra and along the Avenue of the Sphinxes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; sailing across the waters by felucca; and a visit to the temple of Horus, built in the time of Cleopatra roughly 2,000 years ago. Before flying back to Cairo for the conclusion of your trip, visit the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, where generations of pharaohs and nobles were buried in great splendor.
All of this and more await you on this fabulous vacation highlighting some of the best sites Egypt has to offer!
Highlights & Sightseeing
CRUISE:
Deluxe 4-night cruise from Abu Simbel to Aswan on Lake Nasser and 3-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor on the Nile River in an outside stateroom with private facilities
CAIRO:
Guided sightseeing, visit Ramses II and Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis, the "Stairway to the Sky" at Sakkara; visit Tutankhamun's Tomb in the Egyptian Museum; Sound & Light show at the Pyramids; visit the Great Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza; see Saladin's citadel and visit the Alabaster Mosque in Old Cairo; see the Hanging Church and Cairo's oldest synagogue in Coptic Cairo; visit the Khan el-Khalili souk; farewell dinner
ABU SIMBEL:
Visit the rock temples
KASR IBRIM:
See the citadel
AMADA:
Visit the Temples of Amada and Derr; visit the Tomb of Penout
WADI EL-SEBOUA:
Visit the temples of Dakka and Meharakka
CROSS THE TROPIC OF CANCER
ASWAN:
Visit Kalabsha Temple, Beit el-Wali, and Kiosk of Kertassi; visit the souk; sail by felucca to Kitchener Island; visit the Botanical Gardens; excursion to High Dam & Old Dam; cruise to Agilika; visit the Temple of Isis and the ancient granite quarries with the unfinished obelisk; see the Mausoleum of the Aga Khan
KOM OMBO:
Visit the twin temples, see man's first calendar; lecture on board; galabya party
EDFU:
Visit the Temple of Horus
LUXOR:
Visit Luxor Temple, the Avenue of the Sphinxes, monuments of Karnak, Temple of Amun-Ra, Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, Deir el-Bahri, and the Colossi of Memnon
ALL DAYTIME SHORE EXCURSIONS
ALL INTRA-TOUR FLIGHTS
Meals
Welcome drink; 4 buffet breakfasts, 7 full breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners including farewell dinner in Cairo
Hotels
CAIRO Oberoi Mena House (garden view) (D), LAKE NASSER CRUISE MS Kasr Ibrim, NILE CRUISE MS Mayfair, CAIRO Fairmont Heliopolis (D)
Notes:
It's about you. You are the reason we've used our 80-plus years of travel expertise to design the very best small-ship cruise experience. Inspired by you, we've taken everything special about small-ship cruising and made it even better. Here are some of the features and amenities you'll experience with Avalon.
Day 1 Arrive in Cairo, Egypt
A welcome drink awaits you at your hotel; settle in and start soaking up the atmosphere of this exciting city.
Day 2 Cairo
Meet your Egyptologist and traveling companions at 8 am. Sightseeing in and around Africa's largest metropolis starts at the ancient Egyptian capital of MEMPHIS, where you can admire the 40-foot statue of RAMSES II and the ALABASTER SPHINX. On to Sakkara, a vast desert necropolis built for kings and nobles, and its "STAIRWAY TO THE SKY," the oldest of all pyramids. In the afternoon, drive south to the now-famous Tahrir Square and visit the EGYPTIAN MUSEUM with Tutankhamun's fabulous treasures and many other masterpieces of ancient Egypt. Tonight, enjoy a SOUND & LIGHT SHOW at the pyramids that will put these wonders of the ancient world into an easily understandable historic context. (Breakfast)
Day 3 Cairo
Today, visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Take a close-up look at the daunting GREAT PYRAMIDS of Giza. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built. A little farther away you find the mystic guardian of the pyramids, the enigmatic SPHINX. Drive back to Cairo to Saladin's 12th-century citadel, whose robust walls and towers were constructed with stones stripped from the pyramids at Giza. Visit the ALABASTER MOSQUE OF MOHAMMED ALI, built completely in Turkish style and making no attempt to incorporate the Egyptian architecture of the time. In Coptic Cairo, see the Hanging Church where the Virgin Mary and Jesus stayed while in Egypt, then walk to see the oldest synagogue in Cairo, founded in the 9th century. There is still time for a visit to the labyrinthine Khan el Khalili SOUK before returning to your hotel. How about an optional Nile River dinner cruise tonight? (Breakfast)
Day 4 Cairo-Abu Simbel, Lake Nasser (Embarkation)
This morning, fly up the Nile Valley to Lake Nasser, created in the 1960s when the Aswan High Dam was built. The lake was named after Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egypt's President from 1956-1970. At Abu Simbel, on the southern end of the lake, your elegant cruise vessel awaits your arrival. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5 Abu Simbel-Kasr Ibrim
A special experience this morning (weather permitting): watch the sunrise over Abu Simbel. Later, visit the magnificent TEMPLES built by Ramses II, the mightiest of the pharaohs. In 1968, the temples were dismantled and raised higher up an artificial hill to save them from submersion in Lake Nasser due to the construction of the High Dam. This afternoon your ship docks in Kasr Ibrim in sight of the ancient citadel, the only Nubian monument that still exists in its original location. Entrance to the citadel site is not permitted. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6 Amada-Wadi el-Seboua
This morning, sail to Amada to visit the Temples of AMADA and DERR, as well as the TOMB OF PENOUT, the viceroy of Nubia under Ramses VI. Over lunch, sail to Wadi el-Seboua, which means "Valley of Lionesses" and is named for the sphinxes guarding the rock TEMPLE built in honor of Ramses II. Nearby is the Temple of DAKKA, where, if you are feeling energetic, you can climb the Pylon for an amazing view over the surrounding area, as well as the smaller MEHARAKKA Temple. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7 Aswan
On your way to Aswan today, sail across the Tropic of Cancer. In the afternoon, visit KALABASHA TEMPLE, the rock-cut temple of BEIT EL-WALI, where several reliefs detailing the Pharaoh's victory over the Nubians can still be seen, and the tiny Roman KIOSK OF KERTASSI. Arriving in Aswan, there's time to visit the SOUK. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8 Aswan, Lake Nasser (Disembarkation)-Aswan Nile River (Embarkation)
After breakfast, say goodbye to your Lake Nasser cruiser. In store for you today: the GRANITE QUARRIES that supplied ancient Egypt with its hard stones for the pyramids in Giza. Then, see the famous unfinished obelisk, still in the quarry. On to the turn-of-the-century OLD DAM-to this day, the widest dam in the world-and the gigantic Aswan HIGH DAM, completed in 1970. Board a motor launch to the island of AGILIKA, situated between the two dams, and visit the TEMPLE OF ISIS, the most romantic of Egypt's monuments, transplanted from the submerged island of Philae. The crew of your Nile cruiser now welcomes you, with time to freshen up and enjoy lunch on board. Later, board a FELUCCA and sail across the blue waters of the river. En route, see the ancient "nilometer" on Elephantine Island, Kitchener's lush BOTANICAL GARDENS, and the splendid Aga Khan Mausoleum on the left bank. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9 Aswan-Kom Ombo-Edfu
Today, dock at KOM OMBO for a short walk to its bluff-top twin temples. The right side is dedicated to the crocodile god, Sobek-Re, while the left side is dedicated to the falcon god, Horus. This is where you will also find man's first calendar. Later, while sailing to Edfu, learn more about this ancient civilization during an exclusive lecture by your Egyptologist. After dinner tonight, it's time for some fun and an onboard GALABYA PARTY. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 1 0Edfu-Luxor
This morning, visit the TEMPLE OF HORUS with its menacing black stone statue of the falcon god. Built in the time of Cleopatra about 2,000 years ago, it is recent by Egyptian standards and beautifully preserved. Sail on to Luxor and visit the stunning monuments of LUXOR and KARNAK, the greatest cities of ancient Egypt that had a combined population of more than one million. To walk among the pillars of the colossal TEMPLE OF AMUN-RA and along the AVENUE OF THE SPHINXES, is an experience you will treasure the rest of your life. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 1 1Luxor (Disembarkation)-Cairo
After breakfast, disembark and set out to visit the VALLEY OF KINGS and VALLEY OF QUEENS on the west bank of the Nile, where generations of pharaohs and nobles were buried in great splendor in crypts cut into the cliffs. Sixty-two royal tombs have been uncovered so far, of which only the tomb of Tutankhamun was nearly inviolate when discovered in 1922. Visit DEIR EL-BAHRI, Queen Hatshepsut's monumental rock temple. Stop for pictures at the two COLOSSI OF MEMNON guarding the valleys. Later today, fly back to Cairo and enjoy a special FAREWELL DINNER. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 1 2Cairo
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
Call (800) 849-0345 for more information or to book today! Mention code 10573945
- Cruise Line
- Avalon Waterways
- Offer
- Offer valid through 3/31/2012
- Duration
- 12 Days
- Cruise Ship
- MS Mayfair
Click for more information on this ship.
| Day | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Day 1 | Cairo | ||
| Day 2 | Cairo | ||
| Day 3 | Cairo | ||
| Day 4 | Abu Simbel | ||
| Day 5 | Kasr Ibrim | ||
| Day 6 | Wadi el-Seboua | ||
| Day 7 | Aswan | ||
| Day 8 | Aswan | ||
| Day 9 | Edfu | ||
| Day 10 | Luxor | ||
| Day 11 | Cairo | ||
| Day 12 | Cairo |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
Prices shown are "starting at" prices and do not include airfare.
Supplement for single room on land and single stateroom on cruise:
$1228 (January 5 - April 19 & September 27 - December 13), $817 (April 26 - September 20), $1446 (December 20 & December 27).
Triples not available.
Extra nights per person in Cairo (start vacation):
Departures January 5 - March 29 & April 19 - August 30: in single room $300, in twin room $225
Departures April 5, April 12 & September 8 - December 20: in single room $355, in twin room $245
Departures December 27: in single room $480, in twin room $315
Supplement per person per night night for Pyramids view - start vacation - on tour and extra nights:
Departures January 5 - March 29 & April 19 - August 30: in single room $176, in twin room $86
Departures April 5, April 12 & September 8 - December 20: in single room $192, in twin room $109
Departures December 27: in single room $213, in twin room $122
Extra nights per person in Cairo (end vacation):
Departures January 5 - April 12 & September 20 - December 6: in single room $250, in twin room $150
Departures April 19 - September 13: in single room $200, in twin room $125
Departures December 13 - December 27: in single room $325, in twin room $210
US$ Price DetailsApplicable taxes and fees (Land-Only or Cruise-Only Vacation)
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-We may be able to provide you with flight arrangements from your gateway city.
-Additional accommodations before or after your vacation may be available at our low prices.
Additional Information:
-Departure/arrival taxes and fares from other cities will be advised at the time of booking.
-Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
Guaranteed air-inclusive prices:
Air is only available to passengers traveling from the United States and only available when booked in conjunction with a land vacation. An additional $250 non-refundable deposit is required for air booked in conjunction with any land vacation (i.e., air-inclusive vacation.) However, once your airfare is confirmed and Avalon Waterways has received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed.
We also accept your reservation on a land-only basis:
While booking your vacation air-inclusive gives you various advantages, you can also choose the land-only option. But remember, airlines' special fares generally apply to very brief periods. (Our low air-inclusive fares apply throughout the year.) Plus, to get these "deals" you often are required to pay full fare at the time of booking.
Taxes & fees
Taxes and fees are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full land and air deposit are received.Applicable Taxes and Fees (Airfare & Charges Not Included in the Price)
Air-Inclusive Vacations
Air-inclusive prices provided online include a September 11th fee up to $10, passenger facility charges of up to $18, Federal domestic flight segment fees of up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government imposed fees between $200-$375 depending on your itinerary. The total airfare price, the base airfare price, and the applicable government taxes and fees are broken-out line-by-line and shown while booking online and on the invoice after your travel is booked.
Not Included In Your Vacation Price (Air-Inclusive, Land-Only or Cruise-Only)
Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities: port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ships' crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); additional excursions and activities not listed as 'included' in the itinerary; airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection premiums; excess baggage fees; and all other items of a personal nature.
