OUR APRIL 2011 DEPARTURE TO EGYPT CAN BE COMBINED WITH OUR TOUR TO THE GREEK ISLANDS FOR A 28 DAY TOUR: Egypt & the Greek Islands: April 21- May 18 2011

OUR APRIL 2011 DEPARTURE TO EGYPT CAN BE COMBINED WITH OUR TOUR TO JORDAN, EILAT & SINAI FOR A 20 DAY TOUR: Syria, Jordan, the Sinai & Egypt: April 15- May 4 2011

Please call our office for these detailed itineraries.

See our slide show of Egypt - follow this link

"A Thank you so much for the great planning and excellent value you provided on our trip though Egypt. I’ve already recommended Royal Heights to 2 of my friends.” M&B, Coldstream, BC Egypt Oct 2004

“Everything was top notch. The hotels were all excellent. Our tour leaders were excellent hosts – very friendly, helpful and enjoyable. Our Egyptian guide was delightful, helpful and educational.” J.G., Surrey, BC. Egypt April 2005.

This afternoon we fly from North America overnight via Europe to Cairo.

This morning we visit Old Cairo (also known as Coptic Cairo) where we will explore the narrow streets and visit some of the Coptic (Egyptian Orthodox) churches found within the city walls. One of the churches is reputed to be built over a cave where the Holy Family rested during their flight to Egypt. We also visit the Ben Ezra Synagogue. This afternoon we visit the Egyptian Museum with it's collection of thousands of priceless artefacts from Ancient Egypt. Of course, the most famous pieces in the museum are those which were found in the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun, including the solid gold death mask. [The English version of the sound & light show at the Pyramid & Sphinx [which is very near the hotel] is offered this evening as an optional tour.] Second of 3 nights in Cairo. Meridien Pyramids Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

This morning we have a relaxing start before we take a guided tour of the Old Kingdom capital of Memphis where we will see a gigantic statue of Pharaoh Ramses II At the Old Kingdom burial site of Saqqara we will see the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, a precursor of the Great Pyramids. Third of 3 nights in Cairo. Meridien Pyramids Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

This morning we visit the Pyramids and Sphinx. Built around four and a half thousand years ago, the Pyramids are the only monuments of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World which are largely intact today. This afternoon we drive north through the desert to the Mediterranean coast and enter Egypt's second largest city - Alexandria. Today Alexandria is a city principally of 19th and 20th century buildings but it is built over what was one of the most important cities in the Greco-Roman world. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, the city grew in size and stature under the Ptolemies - the Greek-speaking rulers of Egypt for the next 300 years. Alexandria was a famous centre of learning and housed the most important library in the Ancient World. First of 2 nights in Alexandria. Helnan Palestine Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner

Today we tour Alexandria’s important sites from the Greek and Roman eras. We include visits to the Catacombs which descend three levels underground and include some beautifully decorated tombs which combine Roman and Egyptian decorations in a unique way as well as the Roman Amphitheatre which dates from the 2nd century AD. We visit the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina library, a 21st century version of the great classical Library of Alexandria, in the lower level of this beautiful building we shall visit the Antiquities Museum. We drive by Pompey's Pillar near the modern harbour which was the site of the Pharos or great lighthouse - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The afternoon is free for you to explore Alexandria Second of 2 nights in Alexandria. Helnan Palestine Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner

This morning we drive back to Cairo where we enjoy a barbecue lunch at an outdoor Egyptian restaurant. This afternoon we visit Islamic Cairo including the Citadel and the Mosque of Mohammed Ali. This high point affords commanding views across the sprawling city of Cairo. This evening we fly from Cairo to Aswan, deep in the south of Egypt. Here the graceful Felucca sailboats glide among the islands of the Nile First of 3 nights in Aswan. Isis Island Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Lunch.

Early this morning we sail on a Felucca across the river to meet the bus that will take us from Aswan through the desert to Abu Simbel. At Abu Simbel we take a guided tour of the two huge temples which were built in the 13th century B.C. and dedicated to Ramses II and his favorite wife, Nefetari. The four enormous seated statues of Ramses are among the most famous images of ancient Egypt. The interior of the Ramses temple is also fascinating being decorated with images of the Battle of Kadesh fought between the Egyptians and the Hitites of what today is Turkey. The two temples are carved out of the solid hillside and so the task of cutting them up, moving them piece by piece and reassembling them in the 1960's is considered one of the marvels of modern engineering. After returning to the hotel for dinner, we still have time to explore the African-style night markets of Aswan. Second of 3 nights in Aswan. Isis Island Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner

After Breakfast this morning, board a small motor boat and make our way up the Nile through the famous cataracts where the water’s surface is broken by numerous boulders and stones. Some stretches are punctuated by white water where others, the water flows smoothly. This area is populated by tall grass and is rich with water fowl and other wild life. After arriving at the village, we visit a Nubian family and are treated to tea and freshly baked bread. Some choose to have the local Nubian women decorate their leg or arm with a henna tattoo. We have time to wander around the village and experience the Nubian way of life first hand. There will be time this afternoon to explore Aswan’s shops for some of the wonderful bargains in gold, Papyrus paper, cotton, leather and other unique Egyptian souvenirs., take one of the many horse-drawn carriage rides or, perhaps, visit the spectacular Nubian Museum [optional expense]where artefacts recovered during the building of the High Dam are on display. Third of 3 nights in Aswan. Isis Island Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner

This morning, we visit one of the ancient quarries to see the Unfinished Obelisk, a monument abandoned in situ when it broke while being carved out. We take a guided excursion to the Aswan High Dam which was started by the Soviets but finished with Western aid in 1964. The dam has drastically affected many aspects of Egyptian life by controlling the flow of the Nile and creating the enormous Lake Nasser. We will also cross the Old Aswan Dam built by the British in the 1890's. From the very earliest times Aswan has been the source of a special pink granite used in statues for thousands of years. Also this morning we take a motorboat out across a lake for a guided tour of the beautiful island Temple of Philae. This afternoon we board our cruise ship, have lunch, settle into our cabins. The afternoon is free and may be used to visit the beautiful Nubian Museum located not far from the cruise boat dock. First of 3 nights on our deluxe cruise ship Radamas II or similar. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

We cruise this morning, as we make our way along the Nile to the famous temple of Kom Ombo. This is an unusual temple in that it is dedicated to two Egyptian gods - Horus the falcon god and Sobek the crocodile god. One interesting frieze shows ancient birthing and other medical techniques. Our guided tour also includes the Nilometer, a well-like structure used to measure the bounty of the Nile and as a way of setting tax levels. Re-boarding our cruise ship we set sail again. During our afternoon cruise to Edfu, our guide will give us a lecture and answer questions about modern Egypt. We spend tonight on board with the lights of along the Nile twinkling all around. Second of 3 nights on our deluxe cruise ship Radamis II or similar. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Early this morning, we leave the ship before breakfast and take horse-drawn carriages for a guided tour of the gigantic Temple of Edfu, the most perfectly-preserved temple in Egypt. Although built by the Greek-speaking Ptolemies between 237 BC and 57 AD, the temple building and decorations are in the ancient Egyptian style. We return to the ship for breakfast and continue cruising down the Nile. This afternoon, we have a guided tour of Luxor Temple. As with most Egyptian temples, this temple is really a series of buildings begun by one pharaoh (in this case the 13th century BC pharaoh Amenhotep III ) and added to by several subsequent rulers. Later we have a guided tour of the Temple of Karnak. This is a vast complex of buildings added to and rebuilt over thirteen centuries but reaching its apex during the New Kingdom period when the capital of Egypt was located in Thebes (today's Luxor) and the temple's main god Amun-Ra was made the state god. One of the most impressive sections of the temple is the Great Hypostyle Hall with its 137 huge columns. Third of 3 nights on our deluxe cruise ship Radamis II or similar. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning may begin with the optional early morning balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings and Egyptian countryside (optional expense) After breakfast, we disembark and travel across the Nile to the West Bank, the location of the tombs of the great pharaohs of the New Kingdom. We visit several of the most important tombs in the Valley of the Kings. On the way we stop to view the gigantic Colossi of Memnon statues. We also have a guided tour of the funerary temple of the first woman to rule as a pharaoh, Queen Hatshepsut. Some of the most interesting painted scenes in the temple are of a trading expedition she mounted to the Land of Punt on the Red Sea coast. After lunch, we make our way to the airport for the afternoon flight back to Cairo. Overnight in Cairo. Fairmont Heliopolis Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

PLEASE NOTE: Slight changes might occur in the timing due to cruise conditions and lock transition times.