Cairo

 

Check-in to your hotel and head out into Egypt’s bustling capital for a taste of what’s ahead. This evening, meet up with your Contiki Crew and fellow travellers at the hotel and get the run down on your next 8 days.

 

Chaotic Cairo keeps a mass of experiences coming at you thick and fast. Leap from one time to another in this intense jumble of ancient and new. Uncover the Pharaohs’ glory with your Local Guide in the Egyptian Museum’s amazing collection that includes Tutankhamen’s treasure. Get up close to royal mummies and jewels that were raided from their tombs.

Next stop: the iconic Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. They are the only survivors of the 7 ancient wonders of the world and are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Our Local Guide will crack open the 4600 year old history of these massive monuments, that 20 000-30 000 workers took over 80 years to build. Tonight, go local and board the train for Aswan. (B,D)

 

Pull into Egypt’s ancient frontier town of the south, Aswan. Relax into its laid-back African atmosphere, explore the colourful markets or walk along the Nile. Aswan gives us a look into Egyptian engineering, both ancient and modern. See the unfinished Obelisk(stone pillar), Egypt’s single heaviest piece of rock weighing in at a mind-blowing 1168 tonnes, and learn how the ancients cut this mighty monument. The group also visits the impressive High Dam, the country’s powerhouse for both irrigation and electricity. Hop on board a white-sailed felucca with the group and drift out to the lush Botanical Gardens. Explore the island’s 6.3 hectares, bursting with exotic plants, huge palm trees and birds.

Afterward, board our cruise boat, where you can settle into your cabin and enjoy lunch onboard. This afternoon get a feel for a bit of the local lifestyle. Slowly rummage through the Aswan souk (market), full of fragrant spices, amulets, textiles and souvenirs. Try some hibiscus tea or snack on tahini (sesame dip) and daoud basha (meatballs in tomato sauce). Tonight, get together with some of your travel buddies and unwind with a drink at the boat’s bar. (B/L/D)

 

Kick the morning off with an optional excursion to Abu Simbel, another stunning UNESCO World Heritage site. Fly over the vast desert and one of the world’s biggest man-made lakes, Lake Nasser. Let your jaw-drop as you gape at this overwhelming structure and get the real story on Ramses II from our expert Local Guide. This afternoon, relax on the cruise while floating down the palm-lined Nile River, past timeless monuments, green fields and the Arabian desert. The boat has even got a pool. So pull up a lounge chair, soak up some sun and write a few post-cards. Next up is Kom Ombo, once a busy trading point for gold and elephants. See the town’s unique riverside temple, famous for being perfectly symmetrical and for being shared by two gods. Tonight we dock in Edfu.

We make our way through Edfu to Egypt’s second largest and best-preserved temple, the Temple of Horus the Avenger. Your Tour Manager will tell you about the gods’ history of hostilities, how offerings were made to them and the overall importance of this fascinating Graeco-Roman temple. Cast off and watch Upper Egypt slip away as we cruise to our next port of call, Majestic Luxor – site of the ancient city of Thebes. (B/L/D)

 

Experience the afterlife and the city of the dead with our included tour of the Valley of the Kings. This spectacular site is where Tutankhamen is buried and where you’ll visit some of the 63 royal tombs with our specialist Local Guide. Work your way through the stunning Temple of Karnak – an enormous 2 sq km site crammed full of remains, obelisks and sanctuaries, including the world’s largest religious structure, the Temple of Amun. Our Local Guide takes the group through the monumental timeline, which almost every Pharaoh added to during his reign. Then cross the Nile for a closer look at the Colossos of Memnon, the large scale remains of a once massive temple. Towering above the landscape at 18 metres high, these gigantic stone statues will make your jaw drop. Back on the train tonight, we pull out of Luxor, bound for the capital, Cairo.

 

First up: a journey back in time with a visit to the world’s oldest pyramid, the Step Pyramid. Then leap forward a few thousand years to the Citadel in Cairo, home of Egypt’s rulers for 700 years. We’ll take a stop at the Alabaster Mosque, where you’ll learn about the bumpy reign of the sultan who built it and who came to the throne at just 13 years of age. Later, dive right into the heart of old Cairo with a visit to the ancient Khan El Khalili bazaar with our Local Guide. Smell the spices as you walk through the ancient souk and get pointers on where to go. Back in the 14th century, this place was the center of world trade and today continues to serve up bargains from across the globe, as well as a combination of kitsch souvenirs and real treasures. You could snack on mouth-watering mezzes (plate sized nibbles), Egyptian bread and hummus dip or sip on some shai (tea). Top off your trip with an optional Sound and Light Show and enjoy a final look at the amazing pyramids all lit up. Make the most of your last night and head out with the group into Cairo’s buzzing nightlife. As the sun goes down, people pack the streets, drink coffee and head to their favourite local bars, so get out there among them for a last slice of Egypt.

 

The tour ends after breakfast and it’s time to say farewell to your new friends.