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Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only one still exists today . . . the Pyramids. There they stand, just outside the enormity of Cairo, Africa's largest city. And that is just the beginning of your incredible journey. A true crossroad of many ancient civilizations, Egypt is known today around the world as the land of the Sphinx and pyramids, and the cultural center of the Islamic world. On this tour, you will explore Egypt's ancient temples, from the mysterious Sphinx to the inspiring Temple of Kom Ombo. Sail up the Nile River on a 5-star deluxe "floating hotel", visit the unforgettable Temple of Luxor and the treasure-filled tombs of the Valley of the Kings. Spend an afternoon at leisure in Cairo. Named the "Mother of the World" by its 16 million inhabitants, Cairo is a great city of contrasts: ancient and modern, and not to be missed!
| *EgyptAir Flight Schedule from New York JFK to Cairo CAI: |
| MS 986 |
March 27 |
JFK/CAI |
6:30 PM |
12:15 PM +1 |
| MS 985 |
April 5 |
CAI/JFK |
10:10 AM |
3:15 PM |
Exclusively for Women
- Round-trip regularly scheduled air transportation on above Egypt Air flights from JFK to Cairo. Fuel surcharges included (valid at time of printing).
- Three additional flights within Egypt: Cairo/Luxor and Aswan/Abu Simbel/Cairo.
- Roundtrip Airport/Hotel/Ship transfers in Egypt based on the group air schedules.
- Four nights accommodations at the 4-star Ramses Hilton Hotel in Cairo (2 nights pre- and 2 nights post-cruise), including full breakfast daily, all taxes and service charges.
- Four nights Nile River cruise on the 5-star Mirage I in an outside stateroom.
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner daily aboard ship.
- All cruise tours led by experienced Egyptologists.
- Half-day Giza Pyramids and Sphinx tour.
- Visit to the famed temples of Abu Simbel
Not included:
- Airport transportation outside of our main group transfer each way.
- Other meals in Cairo – 3 lunches, 3 dinners and cocktails – and all Beverages aboard ship – water, coffee, soft drinks and cocktails are extra expense (refer to the codes B, L, D in the itinerary to see what’s included).
- Personal incidentals.
- Optional activities not included in the itinerary.
- Tips to the bus drivers and tour guides.
- U.S. Airport taxes, government fees and September 11th security fee.
Egypt Entry Requirements:
*** Valid passport required. U.S. citizens do not need Inoculations***
You must present a valid passport, valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay. Passports must be in good condition and not damaged in any way. On arrival in Cairo, you are required to purchase a tourist Visa at the airport for $20 USD (bring exact change, cash only). For citizens of other countries, please check your specific entry requirements. See separate entry requirements for extension travel.
Note on Luggage Restriction: Inter-Egypt flights have a luggage restriction of 44 lbs per person. The airline will impose a surcharge for exceeding this limit on each flight.
Our Accommodations
 Hilton Ramses Hotel, Cairo
 Located on the East bank of the Nile, near the Sphinx and the famous Pyramids. Guests can watch the lights come up over Cairo while dining at this riverfront hotel's elegant restaurants. Unwind in the pool or health club, then enjoy city or river views from your private balcony. Amenities: Restaurants, bars, casino, swimming pool, tennis courts, health club, massage, Jacuzzi, wireless Internet access, room service.
 Mirage I
 The Mirage I is newly built, modernly designed, comfortable 5-star deluxe Nile Cruise boat. Length: 72 m [236.22 ft] Width : 14.4 m [74.24 ft] Height: 11.1 m [36.42 ft]. Facilities include: Swimming pool with Jacuzzi, large shaded sundeck to watch the world pass serenely, comfortable lounges and reading areas, disco, library, salon, laundry service, boutique and gift shop, Main Restaurant: Variety of menus and buffets to satisfy the palette, Sundeck bar: Serving refreshing drinks and cocktails. The Mirage features 62 cabins, comfortably furnished and with extra large windows. All cabins feature side by side beds, air conditioning with individual control, private bathroom with shower and hair dryer, mini bar, safe deposit box, telephone with international line, satellite TV with music channel.
Day 1 – Friday, March 27: Depart the U.S. on overnight flights to Cairo
If connecting to our flights, be sure to allow a minimum of 3 hours for check-in coming and going.
Day 2 – Saturday, March 28: Welcome to Egypt!
Upon arrival in Cairo, you will be met by WTC Tour Host who will assist you in obtaining your Visa, and then transferring you to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of day and evening is at leisure. Depending on interest, we will organize optional activities while you are in Cairo to include a tour of the Egypt Musuem, the Sound and Light Show at Giza, a visit to a Souk, etc., with cost based on count.
 Day 3 – Sunday, March 29: Cairo
After breakfast at the hotel, take a half-day tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza with an Egyptologist, near the ancient city of Memphis. The largest pyramid served as a tomb for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu. These three Pyramids are the last surviving of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. See the Sphinx, the best-known monument in the world, which dates back over 4,500 years to the Old Kingdom. The remainder of the day is on your own. (B)
Day 4 – Monday, March 30: Cairo/Luxor
After breakfast, fly to Luxor and board our Nile River Boat, your floating hotel for the next 4 nights. All meals are included during your Nile Cruise. All cabins are outside staterooms with luxury amenities. This afternoon visit the East Bank, the temples of Karnak and Luxor. (B, L, D)
Day 5 – Tuesday, March 31: Sailing the Nile/Edfu
This morning cross to the West Bank of the Nile to explore the Necropolis of Thebes, the Tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatsbepsut at Deir el Bahri and the Colossi of Memnon. (B, L, D)
Day 6 – Wednesday, April 1: Sailing the Nile/Edfu
This morning in Edfu, tour one of the best-preserved major temples in Egypt, the 2,000-year-old Temple of Horus. Later cruise to Kom Ombo to visit the temple shared by the gods Sobek and Haroeis divided by an imaginary line each with its own chapel. Note: Edfu stop is subject to river conditions. (B, L, D)
Day 7 – Thursday, April 2: Sailing the Nile/Aswan
Today you will visit the High Dam, the Old Dam, the Granite Quarries and the Unfinished Obelisk and the Philae Temple. Overnight onboard in Aswan. (B, L, D)
Day 8 – Friday, April 3: Disembark Ship/Aswan/Cairo
This morning after breakfast, view Elephantine Island and the Botanical Gardens as you sail on the Nile in a felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailing vessel. Later, fly to Abu Simbel to visit the famed temples of Ramses II. The first, and largest of the temples, is dedicated to the sun god Ra-Harakhte, while the second, dedicated to his favorite wife, Nefertari. When you arrive at Abu Simbel, a bus will drive you to the temple entrance where local Egyptologists will be available to give you a brief narrative history of the temples. Enjoy free time to explore and take photographs before returning to the bus to transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairo. Transfer to your hotel in Cairo for overnight. (B)
Day 9 – Saturday, April 4: Cairo
Today is at leisure to explore Cairo on your own. (B)
Note: Those taking the extensions depart Cairo this day. See following itineraries.
Day 10 – Sunday, April 5: Cairo/U.S.
After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the U.S. (B)
EGYPT DELUXE EXTENSIONS
Visa Entry Requirements:
Since you will be entering Egypt twice, be prepared to obtain a multiple-entry visa. All U.S. citizens require a tourist visa to enter Jordan, which can be obtained at the airport on arrival in Amman. The cost for this visa is $16.50, and is accepted in U.S. currency.
Jordan Extension
Accommodations
Marriott Hotel, Petra – 1 night
 Overlooking the dramatic Petra valley, the Petra Marriott Hotel combines the warmest Arabian hospitality with the splendor of an ancient city carved into rose-red cliffs. Petra, the Red-Rose city, Showback Castle and Wadi Rum are close by. Guest rooms boast spectacular valley views. Amenities: Restaurants, concierge, housekeeping, evening turndown service, laundry/dry cleaning, limited room service, bookstore, gift/newsstand, outdoor pool, Turkish bath, sauna, massage.
Radisson SAS Hotel, Amman – 1 night
 Located between Jebel Amman and Shmeisani, the Radisson SAS Hotel is close to the Citadel and the Roman amphitheatre, and is a 45-minute drive to the Dead Sea. Amenities: Restaurants, lounge, bar, valet service, laundry, daily newspaper, 24-hour room service, fitness room, swimming pool, whirlpool, massage, car rental desk, gift shop, newsstand.
Le Passage Hotel (Movenpick), Cairo – 1 night
 Formerlly called the Movenpick Hotel & Casino. Located at Heliopolis area, the most elegant business and residential district in Cairo, 5 minutes away from Cairo International Airport where a free shuttle bus service is available. The hotel boasts 7 restaurants and bars, disco and a very elegant casino,2 heated swimming pools ,Children' s playground, tennis courts, volleyball court , a jogging track and fully equipped health club is also available.
Day 9 – Saturday, April 4: Cairo/Amman
Today, depart for Amman. On arrival at Queen Alia International Airport, meet the Jordan Circle Tours Representative who will assist you with all formalities and customs. Transfer to the hotel in Amman for overnight. (B)
Day 10 – Sunday, April 5: Amman/Petra
After breakfast, depart Amman via Desert Highway for a full day tour of Petra. The soul-stirring, rose-red city of Petra is a Jordanian national treasure and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra was an ancient Nabataean capital and was settled by these industrious Arab traders more than 2,000 years ago. Petra’s unique location enabled the Nabataeans to dominate the ancient Arabian trade routes, and the city became wealthy from the tolls it levied on the caravans that sheltered there with their precious cargoes of spices, silks, ivory and animal hides.
In the ancient world, Petra was renowned for its refined culture, massive architecture, and ingenuous system of dams and water channels. In the years following the Emperor Trajan’ annexation of Petra, the city declined and slipped into obscurity until it was “discovered” in 1812 by a Swiss traveler. Excavations that revealed the astounding workmanship and the incredible ruins at Petra did not begin until 1924, and continue to reveal more information about the Nabataean Kingdom.
Petra still forms part of the domain of the Bedouin, and you will see them with their horses and camels as you begin your unforgettable trip into this cultural landmark. After passing tombs outside the city, you come to the “Siq”, an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone almost one half mile long. This winding fissure separates overhanging cliffs that appear to meet 300 feet overhead.
Near the end of the passage, the Siq makes one last turn with great style, and out of the gloom Petra’s most impressive monument Al Khazneh (The Treasury) appears in the towering brightness. One of the most elegant remains of antiquity, out of the, Al Khazneh is nearly 140 feet high and was carved from the mountain’s solid rock in the First Century B.C. Originally used as a Namataean king’s tomb, scholars believe Al Khazneh was later used as Nabataean temple. Film buffs will recognize it from its starring role in the final scenes of the movie “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”
Beyond el Khazneh you are surrounded on both sides by hundreds of Petra’s curved and built structures, soaring temples, elaborate royal tombs, a curved Roman theater (seating 3,000), large and small houses, burial chambers, banquet halls, water channels and reservoirs, bathes, monumental staircases, cultic installations, markets, arched gates public buildings and paved streets. After the tour, the group will be transferred back to the hotel in Petra for overnight. (B)
Day 11 – Monday, April 6: Petra/Amman/Cairo
Depart the hotel, then proceed via the Desert Highway to the North of Amman to the best preserved example of Roman civilization, the city of Jerash; part of the Decapolis (the ten big Roman cities of the East) has been called the Pompeii of the East for its unique state of preservation. The city features theaters, churches, temples (Zeus and Artemis), a Nymphaeum and colonnaded streets. After the visit, proceed to Queen Alia International Airport for your flight to Cairo. Arrive in Cairo for overnight. (B)
Day 12 – Tuesday, April 7: Cairo/Departure
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight home. (B)
Mount Sinai-St. Catherine Extension
Accommodations
Sheraton Sharm Hotel (or possibly the Marriott Hotel)
The bright azure sea, warm sun, and 800 meters of clean white sandy beaches come together to create the paradise that is Sheraton Sharm Hotel, Resort, Villas & Spa. The resort is nestled on the east shore of the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula on one of the world’s most beautiful coral reefs. Located at Al Pasha Coast, we are just four kilometers from the nightlife of Na'ama Bay and 10 minutes from Sharm El Sheikh International Airport. The 835 spacious guest rooms and suites are a haven of comfort and relaxation. Take in the view from your private terrace, order room service, or connect with home using the High Speed Internet Access. Relax on a chaise alongside the heated outdoor swimming pool. Enjoy some great fun with a choice of water activities. Spend a night out on the town right in the hotel’s nightclub, Star Studio. Pamper yourself in the 1,600-square meter Sheraton Sharm Spa. The beautiful setting offers complete seclusion, allowing all treatments to be administered in a quiet and peaceful ambience inspired by indigenous natural treasures that ensure the ultimate spa experience.
Days 9 & 10 – Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5: Cairo/Sharm el Sheikh
From Cairo, depart for the resort town of Sharm el Sheikh. Spend two days at leisure to indulge in a modern oasis featuring world-class nightlife, take an excursion to one of the famous sites in the vicinity, or enjoy superior diving and snorkeling in the surrounding azure waters of the Red Sea. (B)
Day 11 – Monday, April 6: Sharm el Sheikh/Mount Sinai/Cairo
This morning, depart for St. Catherine’s Monastery, one of the oldest continuously functioning monasteries in the world. It was constructed by order of the Emperor Justinian between 527 and 565. It is built around what is thought to be Moses’ Burning Bush, which has a chapel built atop it. It is a spectacular natural setting for priceless works of art, including Arab mosaics, Greek and Russian icons, and Western oil paintings. But of perhaps even greater significance is that it is one of the largest and most important collections of illuminated manuscripts in the world (The Vatican has the largest). The collection consists of some 4,500 volumes in Greek, Coptic, Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew, Slavic, Syriac, Georgian and other languages. Late afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Cairo. Transfer to the hotel and the remainder of the evening is at leisure. (B)
Day 12 – Tuesday, April 7: Cairo/Departure
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight home. (B)
Suggestions on What to Pack for Egypt, Jordan and Mount Sinai: Sunscreen, insect repellant, sunglasses, rimmed hat, stomach medicine, comfortable walking shoes, dust mask and allergy medicine if needed for this type of environment, and rain jacket. Pack lightweight comfortable clothing, layered for temperatures ranging from mid 70s to high 90s. Ladies need a scarf for visiting Mosques and any other holy places.
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