8 Day Tour to Egypt
Departing from Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town South Africa
Day 1: Depart from Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town South Africa
Today we will depart for our flight to Cairo, Egypt . Dinner and overnight aircraft
Day 2: Pyramids-Sphinx-Coptic churches- Khan El-Khalili market in Cairo
After our arrival, we will freshen up and have breakfast. We visit the Famous Pyramids and Sphinx with our private Egyptologist guide. Learn about the history and the mystery of the pyramids and the process of mummification. Later we visit the Egyptian museum. You will be captivated by the most famous and largest art collection in the world. The treasures found in king Tut Ankh Amun tomb are the top attractions among the exhibits.
The next visit will be to the Coptic churches. Start your tour with the 1500-year-old Hanging Church built on top of one of the towers of the fortress of Babylon. You will go next to the Cavern church. It is so called because below the church there is a cave where Jesus the baby and Mary the Virgin were hiding for 3-months escaping King Herod. Go downstairs and have a look at the place where baby Jesus used to sleep. This is one place among 15 more where the Holy family stopped during the journey in Egypt. The journey lasted for 3 and half years. Next, visit the oldest of the synagogues in Egypt. Ben Ezra temple dates back to the 9th century and it is open for tourist visits. Finally, visit Khan El-Khalili market for some shopping . It was originally built on the site of an old mausoleum where local and foreign merchants have been trading since the 14th century. It is Egypt's most famous market.
Day 3: Cairo- Luxor Tour
After having your breakfast in hotel, transfer to Cairo Airport for our domestic flight to Luxor. Check in on your 5 Star Nile cruise then visit the Karnak and Luxor temples. Karnak is not a mere temple; it is a complex of temples. The walls, columns, pylons and murals relate to the glorious history of the Pharaohs. The obelisks. With your private guide, you will be provided with full information of this great place of worship of the cult of Ra. Luxor temple was once connected to the Karnak through the Ram- headed sphinxes Avenue. It is a great and impressive mixture of Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Coptic and Islamic periods.
Day 4: Valley of the Kings
After breakfast we visit the Valley of the Kings, the mortuary temple of queen Hatshbsut and the colossi of Memnon are all located on the West side of Luxor. Start with the Kings’ valley; your guide will explain the most important stories of the place with his recommendation of the best tombs to visit. Next, explore the mortuary temple of queen Hatshbsut. Your guide will explain the history of the temple before giving you free time to explore the temple yourself and spend some time taking pictures of the highlights. Finally, stop at the colossi of Memnon. The two statues represent king Amenhotep III in a seated position. Learn with your private guide why the name of Memnon was given to the statues.
Day 5: Edfu Temple, and Kom Ombo
After breakfast we continue sailing, stop at Edfu temple, and later visit Kom Ombo. The Greek dedicated the temples to Horus at Edfu and another temple for both Horus (the falcon) and Sobek (the crocodile) in Kom Ombo.
Day 6: Tour in Aswan
After breakfast , your Egyptologist will guide you and show you the highlights of Aswan. Your first stop will be at the temple of Philae. Philae temple is a picturesque landmark in Aswan. The temple that was dedicated to goddess Isis, is reached through a short motorboat ride. Then, visit the High dam in Aswan. The dam was built between 1960- 1970. It provided the country with water storage for farming and development. Later, you will visit the Elephantine Island on a local sailboat.
Day 7: Aswan- Abu Simbel-Cairo
After breakfast, we check out from the Nile cruise and fly to Abu Simbel to visit the two temples of Ramses II. There are two massive rock temples of Ramses II. A drive of 4 hours from Aswan and you will explore the big temple of Ramses II dedicated to Ra Hr Akhty. The smaller temple of his wife Nefertari was for Hathor. The temples are carved from the mountainside 1200 B.C. You will hear the story of the relocation of the temple as well as the victory of the king in Kadesh battle. After the end of the tour, you will fly back to Aswan then to Cairo. Overnight in Cairo
Day 8: Cairo-Johannesburg South Africa
After having your breakfast in the hotel, transfer to Cairo Airport for your final departure.