Egypt
Yesterday & Today

October 14 - 26, 2008

Escorted by Lee Sandstead:
Your small group of curious travelers will be escorted by Lee Sandstead. Art Historian Lee Sandstead is host of “Art Attack” on the Travel Channel. He has studied Egyptology at the Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology in the University of Memphis’ Art-History graduate program. Widely known for his knowledge and passion, he has lead numerous tours through the priceless collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. His Egyptian tours not only develop a deep visual understanding of Egyptian art and hieroglyphs, but they also discuss in-depth the cultural forces that produced this very distinctive art. His lectures on art history and art appreciation have been heard nationally and internationally at over 30 universities and institutions. His art-historical photography has been published in numerous books and publications, including: The New York Times, Fortune, Ms., Preservation Magazine, Style 1900, The New York Post, and American Cemetery Magazine.

Step back in time as you enter the ancient world of Egypt. Walk in the steps of the Pharoahs themselves as you visit the temples of Luxor, Karnak, Edfu, and Denderah. View up close one of the Seven Great Wonders of the World, the Pyramids of Giza, and their ever-vigilant guardian, the Sphinx. In Cairo, see the vast treasures of King Tut at the Egypt Museum of Antiquities and experience the spiritual side of Egypt when you tour the mosques and hear first hand the Muslim’s call to Prayer. See the day-to-day life of the Nile as you float lazily along on a deluxe Armaco Cruise Ship.



Experience and learn not only about Egypt's ancient traditions and culture, but also gain insights into the contemporary local customs and the current social, economic and political situation of Today's Egypt.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
Memphis and its Necropolis, Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel

People to People Experiences
:
Meet the Egyptian people as you wander through the fabulous Khan El Khalili bazaar and barter for local goods, antiques and crafts.

Sample Lectures: “Introduction to Egyptian Hieroglyphs,” “Ancient Egyptian Mythology,” “Religions of Ancient Egypt,” “The Old Kingdom and the Pyramid Age,” “Contemporary Egyptian Art,” “Pharaonic Egypt.”


Day 1 - October 14th - Tuesday
USA / Cairo
Depart on a regularly scheduled flight to Cairo, Egypt.

Day 2 - October 15th - Wednesday
Cairo
Arrival at Cairo Airport and transfer to hotel.
Deluxe Ramses Hilton Hotel

Day 3 - October 16th - Thursday (B, L)
Cairo
After breakfast, explore the world-famous Egypt Museum of Antiquities. With its relics dating back to 4,000 B.C., this museum experience will provide you with an excellent background in the various periods of Egyptian history. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit some of Cairo's finest mosques (Muhammed Ali and Sultan Hassan), the Medieval Citadel of Salah El Din, and the colorful bazaars of Khan El Khalili. The narrow picturesque lanes are lined with items such as copperware, gold and silver, jewelry, gems, spices, and silks.

Deluxe Ramses Hilton Hotel

"Mohammed Shata - what a great guide and teacher! He taught us everything about the deities of ancient Egypt in a way we could understand, and challenged us to think about how the temples, tombs and pyramids were built.
He also gave us valuable insight into life in Egypt today, especially the Islam religion and its influence. Everything from the time we landed in Cairo was taken care of in a 1st Class manner."

Egypt - R. &J. Lund, IL

Day 4 - October 17th - Friday (B, L)
Cairo / Memphis / Sakkara
Breakfast at your hotel. Enjoy a pleasant drive across typical Egyptian countryside to Memphis, the capital of the old Kingdom of Egypt. Stop at the colossal statue of Ramses II, then proceed to the Necropolis Sakkara to visit the world's first great stone structure, the Step Pyramid of King Zoser. A late lunch will be provided and the afternoon will be at leisure. Lecture / seminar on "Contemporary Egypt."
Deluxe Ramses Hilton Hotel

Day 5 - October 18th - Saturday (B, L, D)
Cairo / Luxor
Board your flight in Cairo to Luxor. Take a tour of two of Egypt's finest temples, the Temples of Luxor and Karnak. The Temple of Luxor was built by Amenophis III and extended by Ramses II. Travel along the Sharia El Bahr to Karnak Temple with its Hypostyle hall covering 50,000 square feet and containing 134 columns that once supported an enormous roof. Check-in to your hotel. 
Deluxe Le Meridien Luxor Hotel

Day 6 - October 19th - Sunday (B, L, D)
Luxor - Denderah
This full-day program will start with a visit to the Temple of Denderah, constructed during the time of the Roman emperors. In front are six dramatic columns with capitals in the shape of the cow-headed goddess, Hathor. Reliefs on the walls show the empress Cleopatra, and there are sculptures of the gnomelike, Bes. Return from Denderah. After lunch you may wish to pay a visit to the new Luxor Museum on your own. In the evening attend the Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple.
Deluxe Le Meridien Luxor Hotel

Day 7- October 20th - Monday (B, L, D)
Luxor
In the morning you will cross the Nile to the west bank to visit the Necropolis of Thebes, burial ground of the great pharaohs. Visit the Colossi of Memnon, the twin statues of Amenhotep III; the Valley of the Nobles; the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of the most handsome monuments in Egypt; and the fabulous Valley of the Kings, including the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Afternoon at leisure for shopping or relax on the ship.
Deluxe Amarco Cruise Ship

Day 8 - October 21st - Tuesday (B, L, D)
Luxor / Esna
Full day sail to Esna. The ship will proceed through a lock and continue sailing while enjoying the view of every day life along the Nile. Farms and villages are on both sides of the Nile River.
Deluxe Amarco Cruise Ship

Day 9 - October 22nd - Wednesday (B, L, D)
Edfu / Kom Ombo / Aswan
In the morning you will visit Edfu Temple, one of the Egypt's best-preserved temples dedicated to Horus, the god of sun and planets. The falcon is a prominent decoration. It isone of the last Ptolemaic temples, finished only a few decades before the rise of Anthony and Cleopatra. Continue your sail to Kom Ombo. Arrive at Kom Ombo, where you will visit the Temple of the crocodile-headed god Horus. 
Deluxe Amarco Cruise Ship

Day 10 - October 23rd - Thursday (B, L, D)
Aswan
Visit the High Dam, the Granite Quarries and Unfinished Obelisk, and the Temple of Philae. Return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon Felucca sail around the granite islands. 
Deluxe Amarco Cruise Ship

Day 11 - October 24th - Friday (B)
Aswan / Abu Simbel / Cairo
After breakfast, transfer to Aswan airport for your flight to Abu Simbel. Visit the famous rock temples of Abu Simbel, built3,500 years ago by Ramses II, which rank among the most colossal monuments of Ancient Egypt. Both temples at Abu Simbel, weighing more than 40,000 tons, were moved 90 feet higher to prevent them from being inundated when the Aswan High Dam created Lake Nassar. Fly back to Cairo and transfer to your hotel.
Deluxe Meridien Pyramids Hotel

"Everything was superb. The guide's explanations made one feel as though you were living at the time of the ancient Egyptians (especially) and the other eras. The felucca sail was tremendous...hearing the call to prayer while peering at the granite quarry in Aswan. Being awed by the size of the Temples
of Ramses II and wonderful Horus."

Egypt - E. Conzett, OH


Day 12 - October 25th - Saturday (B, D)
Cairo
Lecture/seminar on "Pharaonic Egypt." Visit the famous pyramids of the pharaohs at Giza and the mysterious guardian, the Sphinx. You will also view one of the greatest finds in the history of Egyptology - the 142-foot Solar Boat of the Pharaoh Cheops, nearly 4,600 years old. Afternoon will be at leisure. Special farewell dinner is planned for the evening.
Deluxe Meridien Pyramids Hotel

Day 13 - October 26th - Sunday (B)
Cairo / USA
Early morning transfer with assistance to Cairo Airport for your flight to the USA. 


View the MS Amarco

PROGRAM FEATURES

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In Cairo, Deluxe hotels - Meridien Pyramids and Ramses Hilton - including meals as indicated, and service charges.
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Deluxe Nile river cruise featuring outside air-conditioned cabin and private bathroom on the deluxe Amarco cruise ship. Three meals each day on the cruise.
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Air excursion to Abu Simbel.
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Specially selected Egyptologists for sightseeing excursions. Lecture/seminars on ancient and contemporary Egypt.
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All sightseeing and entrance fees, and tips and taxes normally added to your hotel bills.

 

PROGRAM PRICE
$2,795 p. p. double occupancy Land Only - Plus Airfare
(does not include international airfare, giving you the flexibility to use frequent flyer miles or search the internet for the best airfares available.)
$595 single-room supplement

NOTE: Visas are required for all U.S. citizens. We can process these visas for a $25 fee per person (subject to change).

B - Breakfast
L - Lunch
D - Dinner
Drinks are not included.

Monthly Weather in degrees Fahrenheit
Average rainfall in inches
Cairo, Egypt

Month J F M A M J J A S O N D
Average High 65 68 73 82 89 93 93 92 90 85 75 67
Average Low 49 50 54 59 64 70 72 72 69 65 58 51
Average rain .2 .2 .1 .1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .1 .2

Luxor, Egypt
Month J F M A M J J A S O N D
Average High 70 74 83 93 100 104 104 102 99 93 81 73
Average Low 45 49 56 65 71 76 78 77 74 68 56 48
Average rain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Aswan, Egypt
Month J F M A M J J A S O N D
Average High 70 74 82 92 99 103 103 102 99 93 80 72
Average Low 52 55 61 72 77 81 83 82 79 74 63 55
Average rain .2 .2 .1 .1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .1 .2