Cairo, Luxor and
Valley of the Kings with Alex Veit
1-4 January 2004
Thursday, January
1 - FLY EL-AL FROM TEL-AVIV TO CAIRO.
Evening flight to
Cairo with EL-AL Israel Airlines, departing in the
evening.
Transfer to
5 Star hotel.
Friday,
January 2 - MEMPHIS, SAKKARA PYRAMIDS.
After a buffet
breakfast drive south to Giza. Explore the Pyramids considered by the
Ancient Greeks to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Pyramids are
also the world's oldest tourist attraction. Visit the "Solar Boat", one
of the ancient wooden vessels and possibly the oldest in existence. Next, the
"Sphinx" that resembles the mythical winged monster with a women's head
and lion's body. Continue south to Memphis once the glorious Old Kingdom
capital of Egypt, see the partly open-air museum that contains a prone, colossal
lime-stone statue of Ramses II. Next, Saqqara that used to be the
necropolis of Memphis. Explore the ancient site with it's tombs , Temples and
Pyramids.
Overnight:
5 Star
hotel.
Saturday,
January 3 - VALLEY OF THE KINGS - LUXOR & KARNAK.
Early flight to
Luxor.
Depart Luxor airport for the Valley of the Kings. We shall cross the Nile to
explore the West Bank, which was the necropolis of ancient Thebes. We shall
explore the tombs in the "Valley of the Kings" including the Tomb of
Tutankhamen, discovered by Howard Carter, its great treasures we will see in
the Cairo Museum. We shall view the Temple of Hatshepsut. We plan to
visit also the two of the Tombs of the Nobles or Workers and the
temple complex of Medinat Habu. Afternoon: We shall visit the Luxor
Temple, see the colossal statues of Ramses II, walk through the avenue of
Sphinxes that led to Karnak and more. Continue to the Temples of Karnak.
Among the amazing remains we shall explore, we shall enter the awesome Great
Hypostyle Hall. The Hall contains 134 lavishly decorated monstrous columns,
which rise 23 meters from the ground, and more.
Over night in
Luxor at a
5 Star
hotel.
. Dinner at
the hotel.
Sunday, January 4
- EGYPTIAN MUSEUM, OLD CAIRO AND MORE.
Morning flight to
Cairo to be announced.
Visit the Egyptian Museum, more than 100,000 relics are housed there.
Among the most important exhibits we shall see: the amazing Tutankhamen
Galleries, especially the astounding collection of jewellery that was found
among the wrappings of the kings body, and the legendry exquisite mask of beaten
gold. We shall also see the Royal Mummy Room and plenty more. Continue to
Coptic Cairo which is the heartland of Egypt's ancient Christian
community. Among the sites we shall visit will be the "Hanging Church" -
Al Muallaqa, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, its the most famous, the most
beautiful and oldest church in Cairo. Next, the Ben Ezra Synagogue (
Egypt's oldest synagogue). Traditionally known as the site where Moses was
lifted out from the banks of the Nile by Pharaoh's daughter. Visit the
Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan which is rated as the finest piece of early
Mamluk architecture in Cairo. End the day with "off the beaten track walking
tour of exciting " Fatamid Cairo". Some free time for shopping at
Khan al Khalil Bazaar which is located in Islamic Cairo. Transfer to the
airport for evening flight with EL-Al.
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