Mysteries of Ancient Egypt

February 16 - 27, 2011

With a 5-Night Optional Post-Tour to Jordan
February 27 - March 4, 2011

Pathway of the Pharaohs, Egypt is the gift of the River Nile. A visit to Egypt today is a visit to a living museum. Get up close to the pyramids and the eternal Sphinx, walk through ancient temples, marvel at bygone dynasties, get lost in the labyrinthine bazaars and meet the friendly people of today’s Egypt.

Your 12 day journey begins in Cairo, the bustling capital, before flying south to the Nile River where daily life has changed little in thousands of years. As a tourist destination, modern Egypt offers comfort and safety, and PES has planned a spectacular itinerary! You also have the option to continue your journey to Jordan to visit Petra and the Dead Sea!

Click here for a printable detailed itinerary

Click here for a printable brochure

Click here to register

Click here for Nile Cruise Ship Details

Highlights

See the best of Egypt's famous antiquities including the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
Visit nearby Sakkara, a necropolis containing hundreds of Egyptian tombs and home to the world's finest pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Zoser
Spend time in the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities housing innumerable riches- 3,300 year old treasures from the tomb of King Tutankhamen with his elaborate gold coffin
Explore the Khan El Khalili Bazaar shopping area housing treasures such as gold, silver, antiques, spices and famous Egyptian cotton
Marvel at the Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple
Explore the East Bank with visits to the incredible Temple of Karnak and the massive Luxor Temple
Travel to the Valley of the King and Queens and descend into ancient tombs hidden beneath the desert sand
See the West Bank with its fabled Colossi of Memmon and the Temple of Hatshepsut
Stroll through the rural temple towns of Edfu and Kom Ombo
Cruise around Kitchener's island aboard an authentic felucca sailboat
Tour the Aswan High Dam, an engineering miracle with the aim of preventing the Nile River's flooding
Visit the colossal Sun Temples of Abu Simbel cut into solid rock. The façade of the great Temple of Ramses II is dominated by four enormous statues of the pharaoh, each over 60 feet high

Itinerary at a Glance

Wednesday, Feb. 16:
Depart New York / Cairo
Overnight non-stop flight out of JFK on Egypt Air

Thursday, Feb 17:
Arrive Cairo
Overnight at the Mena House Oberoi Hotel

Friday, Feb 18:
Cairo / Giza / Memphis
Full day visit to the Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx, Sakkara Step Pyramid & Memphis.
Overnight at the Mena House Oberoi Hotel (B, L, D)

Saturday, Feb 19:
Guided visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities followed by the Khan El Khalili Bazaar with time to explore.
Overnight at the Mena House Oberoi Hotel (B, L)

Sunday, Feb 20:
Cairo / Luxor
Fly to Luxor. Evening Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple.
Overnight at the Sonesta St. George Hotel (B)

Monday, Feb 21:
Nile Cruise: Luxor
Visit the East Bank including The Temples of Karnak and Luxor.
Overnight aboard the Sonesta St. George (B, L, D)

Tuesday, Feb 22:
Nile Cruise: Luxor to Edfu
West Bank visits to the Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens.
Overnight aboard the Sonesta St. George (B, L, D)

Wednesday, Feb 23:
Nile Cruise: Edfu to Kom Ombo
Travel by horse drawn carriage to the Temple of Edfu; afternoon at leisure.
Overnight aboard the Sonesta St. George (B, L, D)

Thursday, Feb 24:
Nile Cruise: Kom Ombo / Aswan
Visit the Temple of Kom Ombo. In Aswan visit the High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae.
Overnight aboard the Sonesta St. George (B, L, D)

Friday, Feb 25:
Aswan / Abu Simbel / Aswan
Roundtrip flight to the Sun Temple of Abu Simbel. Lunch on a typical Egyptian Felucca.
Overnight at the Movenpick Elephatine Island Resort (B, L)

Saturday, Feb 26:
Aswan / Cairo
Fly to Cairo. Festive Farewell Dinner.
Overnight at the Cairo Marriott Hotel (B, D)

Sunday, Feb 27:
Depart Cairo / Arrive New York