DETAILS

FULL LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
Not only does two days allow you the luxury of covering most of the amazing highlights of Cairo and Giza, but this overnight excursion also offers the opportunity to meet Egypt's Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and director for the Giza Pyramids, Dr. Zahi Hawass.

DAY 1 – Alexandria/Port Said to Cairo
After an approximate 3-hour ride from Alexandria/Port Said, you arrive in Cairo and begin with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Exhibiting over 120,000 objects in its 107 halls, this outstanding museum comprises the world’s greatest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts. Marvel at the many rooms filled with golden treasures extracted from the world-famous tomb of King Tutankhamun. Your tour includes a chance to enter the Mummies Room, a specially built area dedicated to the well-preserved mummies of 11 Royal Kings and Queens of Ancient Egypt, including the Great Ramses II, Egypt’s longest ruling pharaoh.

Drive to your hotel, where lunch will be served. After lunch, check into your room and have time to freshen up before your evening visits. Leaving your hotel, drive to Giza, where you will have a short stop to browse for local souvenirs before attending the fabulous Sound & Light Show at the foot of the Pyramids. Your dinner tonight will be onboard a cruising restaurant on the River Nile. A buffet dinner will be served while folkloric entertainment and a Belly Dancer show are performed.

DAY 2 – Cairo to Alexandria/Port Said
After breakfast served at your hotel, enjoy a lecture by Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egypt's Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and director for the Giza Pyramids. He is credited with major discoveries, such as the unusual double statue of Ramses II at Giza and the tombs of the Giza pyramid builders. His findings have contributed significantly to our knowledge of how the Pyramids were built. After the lecture, you will head out to visit the Step Pyramid of Sakkara. The Step Pyramid, the oldest known of Egypt’s 107 pyramids, was built by Imhotep, one of the world’s most famous historical figures. This architect of the world’s first freestanding stone structure is also often recognised as the world's first doctor, as well as a priest, sage, poet, and astrologer.

After lunch at one of the leading hotels in Giza, you proceed to visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Built for the Pharaohs Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus, the Pyramids were constructed about 2500 BC with blocks of limestone from the plateau and the Turah hills on the outskirts of Cairo. The Great Pyramid of Cheops alone, the only present-day survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, required over 2,300,000 blocks of stone, each weighing about 2½ tons. At its base, it covers 13 acres of land. Millions of visitors come each year to ponder the fascinating mystery of their existence and explore the ancient burial chambers within.

Proceed to visit the mysterious Sphinx, located in what was once a quarry to the east of Chephren’s pyramid. One theory suggests this Pharaoh’s workers shaped the body into a lion and gave it their king’s face, as a guardian of the necropolis. Almost a thousand years after its construction, King Thutmose IV placed a stela between the front paws. It describes how the Sphinx had spoken to the then prince in a dream, promising him kingship if he cleared away the desert sand that was choking the Sphinx. Conclude your visit with the drive back to Alexandria/Port Said, where you rejoin your vessel.
 
SHORT LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
An extended stay in Cairo gives you the chance to marvel at the old history of Egypt illustrated in the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities and the Pyramids of Giza and Sakkara. You will also have the chance to enjoy a lecture by Dr. Zahi Hawas, Egypt's Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and director for the Giza Pyramids.
 
TIMING BREAKDOWN ALEXANDRIA
DAY 1
00:00 Drive from Alexandria to the outskirts of Cairo
03:00 Visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities including Mummies Room
05:00 Drive to your hotel
05:30 Buffet lunch at one of the hotel’s nicest restaurants
06:45 Hotel check-in with the assistance of Tour Coordinator
08:00 Drive to one of the local souvenir shops located in Giza
08:45 Short stop to browse for local souvenirs
09:15 Drive to Giza Plateau
09:30 Attend the Sound & Light Show, English performance
10:45 Drive to the River Nile Bank
11:30 Buffet dinner onboard while sailing down the River Nile, with Folkloric Entertainment and Belly Dancer show
13:30 Return to your hotel
Overnight at hotel in Cairo

DAY 2
00:00 Wake Up Call
00:15 Luggage Down
00:15 Buffet breakfast at the hotel
01:15 Lecture by Dr. Zahi Hawas at one of the hotel banquet rooms
02:15 Complete check-out procedures with the assistance of Tour Coordinator
02:30 Drive to the Step Pyramid of Sakkara
03:30 Visit the Step Pyramid of Sakkara
04:30 Drive to one of the leading hotels in Giza
05:00 Buffet Lunch at one of the hotel banquet rooms
06:15 Drive to the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
06:30 Visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
08:00 Drive back to Alexandria
11:00 Arrive at port and rejoin your vessel

Approximate duration: 2 days / 1 night

TIMING BREAKDOWN PORT SAID
DAY 1
00:00 Drive from Port Said to the outskirts of Cairo
03:00 Visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities including Mummies Room
05:00 Drive to your hotel
05:30 Buffet lunch at one of the hotel’s nicest restaurants
06:45 Hotel check-in with the assistance of Tour Coordinator
08:00 Drive to one of the local souvenir shops located in Giza
08:45 Short stop to browse for local souvenirs
09:15 Drive to Giza Plateau
09:30 Attend the Sound & Light Show, English performance
10:45 Drive to the River Nile Bank
11:30 Buffet Dinner onboard while sailing down the River Nile, with Folkloric Entertainment and Belly Dancer show
13:30 Return to your hotel of accommodation
Overnight at hotel in Cairo

DAY 2
00:00 Wake Up Call
00:15 Luggage Down
00:15 Buffet Breakfast at your hotel
01:15 Lecture by Dr. Zahi Hawas at one of the hotel banquet rooms
02:15 Complete check-out procedures with the assistance of Tour Coordinator
02:30 Drive to the Step Pyramid of Sakkara
03:30 Visit the Step Pyramid of Sakkara
04:30 Drive to one of the leading hotels in Giza
05:00 Buffet Lunch at one of the hotel banquet rooms
06:15 Drive to the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
06:30 Visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
08:00 Drive back to Port Said
11:30 Arrive and rejoin your vessel

Approximate duration: 2 days / 1 night
 
OPERATIONAL NOTES

• A Maximum of 40 persons in a new 49-seater A/C bus for maximum seat choice and comfort
• Red carpet on the pier for guests’ arrival
• Roses given to all ladies upon disembarkation of the ship
• Immediate pre-clearance through all customs and immigration formalities in all ports
• Uniformed escorts available to assist Egyptologist and guests at all times
• The service of the most experienced and knowledgeable Egyptologist
• Advance team to ensure smooth operations throughout
• Back–up bus traveling behind the other buses at all times
• A box of local sweets available on each coach for guests to sample
• One post card provided to each guest with pre-paid postage
• Mineral water on buses at all times
• Wet hand tissues provided to each guest after a day of sightseeing
• Pre-purchased entrance tickets at the sights wherever possible
• Top Security arrangements for groups
• 1 night accommodation in standard rooms at one of the 5 star hotels in Cairo
• Dinner on a chartered Nile Cruising Restaurant
• Minimum required to serve buffet meals is 80 Guests. Should group participants be less than 80, set menu meals may be served instead
• Timing, tour sequence and duration of visits may vary from tour to tour depending on the ETA, ETD and time of the ship’s call
• Tour cost includes the Honoraruim of Dr. Zahi Hawas
• Should the Sound & light show be cancelled under any circumstances or the call date fall on a date where there is no English performance, an adequate replacement will be arranged
• The above tour time table is not applicable should the call date fall into the Holy month of Ramadan, as all sites close earlier than normal forcing some changes in the tour sequence, meal times and duration of visits

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