Ancient Egypt and Nile Splendours
For many, the scope of Egypt's history is difficult to comprehend. Its history spans some five millenniums, and encompasses the origin of civilization, the rise of the Greeks and Romans, the establishment of the Jewish, Christian and Islamic religions. Visit the spectacular wonders of the ancient world. Experience the meeting point of Arab culture with Nubia and Black Africa.
Prices effective:
06 November 2010 - 19 November 2010
Package: CAD $6821.00 (Per Person - sharing)
Single Supplement: CAD $1611.00 (Per Person - single occupancy)
PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE – Subject to a minimum of 15 participants.
David Skillan's Escorted Wonders of Egypt & Jordan Tour - November 2010
Join seasoned world traveller David Skillan to see the best of Egypt and Jordan with the security and the assurance of a worry-free, relaxing escorted holiday. David has in excess of 30 years in the Travel and Tourism industry and has successfully organized and led well over 100 tours abroad. This tour is a high quality, first-class excursion, offering extremely good value.
Saturday November 06 - BL
CAIRO
After breakfast at the hotel we will drive to Memphis, capital of the ancient kingdom, one of ancient Egypt's most important cities. Most of its ancient splendours have been destroyed, but the Alabaster Sphinx built in the 18th Dynasty still remains, as does a beautifully carved statue of Ramses II. You will continue to Sakkara for a visit and also visit the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephran and Mycerinus which were thought, by the Greeks, to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A single one of the 2,300,000 blocks weighs an average of two and one-half tons. In the face of such immensity, one cannot help but feel the wonder and awe that so many writers and artists have sought to convey over the centuries.
The Cheops Pyramid is especially interesting since its interior burial chambers are open to the public for an extra ticket that you can pay for if you choose the option of going inside. The additional cost is US$8.00.
We will continue with the tour and visit the Pyramids of Giza. We will also visit the imposing figure of the Sphinx, which dates from the time of Chephren (2620 BC). Hewn from natural limestone and standing 65 feet high and 187 feet long, this unforgettable statue combines the head of a pharaoh with a lion's body. Legends and superstitions abound about this relic of antiquity. Lunch is included at Caviar restaurant. After the tour we will return to Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel for overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.
Sunday November 07 - BL
CAIRO
After breakfast at the hotel we will be taken on a tour to explore Islamic Cairo, including the Alabaster Mosque and the medieval citadel of Salah Al Din. The Citadel and Khan el Khalili is situated on a spur of the Muqattam Hills. The Citadel dominates Cairo's skyline and was the heart of the city and Egypt for almost 700 years. Its construction was initiated in 1176 by Saladin and completed by Muhammed Ali. Mameluke sultans and Turkish governors later made it their residence, building palaces and mosques within the Citadel walls. Facing the citadel is the Mosque of Sultan Hassan, built between 1356 and 1363 and is perhaps the most majestic monument of Arab architecture in Egypt. The tour also includes a visit to Khan el Khalili, a famous Cairo bazaar dating back to the late 14th century, where shopping is an exotic as well as a rewarding experience.
After enjoying lunch at Mahfouz Restaurant we will visit the Egyptian Museum, which is the most important depository of Egyptian antiquities anywhere in the world. It features artifacts from the Pharaonic and Graeco-Roman periods, including the celebrated mummies of ancient Egypt's kings and Tutankhamun treasures.
Overnight at Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.
Monday November 08 - BLD
CAIRO - LUXOR
Today we will be transferred to Cairo Airport in time for our flight to Luxor. Luxor stands where ancient Thebes, the "City of the Thousands Gates" once stood. Luxor, which means in Arabic, the Palaces, reflects its name with a rich array of magnificent temples and tombs.
On arrival we will be met and transferred to the M/Y Mirage 1 Nile Cruise for lunch.
You can leisurely cruise the Nile enjoying the comfort of a first class, five star ship. The Mirage features 60 comfortably furnished cabins all with side by side beds, air conditioning with individual control, private bathroom with shower and hair dryer, mini bar, safe deposit box, telephone with international line, satellite TV with music channel. There is a main restaurant (one seating), daily changing menu and buffets, comfortable lounges and reading areas, discotheque, swimming pool with jacuzzi, large shaded sundeck with bar, boutique and gift shop, library, hairdresser, and laundry.
After lunch we will visit Karnak and Luxor Temples. In an unforgettable excursion we will be driven to the Luxor Temple, which was built by two great pharaohs, Amenhotep III, and Ramses II. After touring the temple, we travel along an avenue of ram headed Sphinxes, extending for about 2 miles, which link Luxor Temple with the Karnak Temple, the main centre of worship in ancient Egypt. No site in the world makes a more overwhelming and lasting impression than this "Temple of all Temples."
Dinner on board with an overnight in Luxor.
Tuesday November 9 – BLD
LUXOR - EDFU
For our tour of the West Bank we cross the Nile from Luxor and visit the Valley of the Kings, which includes the tombs of the Thebian rulers. Next we can tour the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, the only woman pharaoh to reign in ancient Egypt (in the new Kingdom). Her temple, with its impressive architecture, is traditionally associated with the goddess of love and joy - Hathor. It was formerly surrounded by tropical gardens with plants imported from Somaliland. Later, we continue to the famous Colossi of Memnon, which once guarded the entrance to the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. An earthquake destroyed the temple but the Colossi still remain.
We sail to Esna with lunch on board. We continue sailing to Edfu with dinner and overnight in Edfu.
Wednesday November 10 – BLD
EDFU - ASWAN
After breakfast on board we visit Horus Temple in Edfu. Edfu lies 100 kilometres south of Luxor, and is the site of one of the greatest and best preserved temples of ancient Egypt. The temple, which is dedicated to Horus, has provided a wealth of information through its inscriptions that describe the founding and construction methods of similar temples, as well as various daily rituals and myths of ancient times. The temple of Horus was completed during the Ptolemic age (305-30 B.C.)
We then sail for Kom Ombo with lunch on board. We will visit the Temple of gods Sobek and Haroeris in Kom Ombo. Kom Ombo is 40 kilometres north of Aswan and since earliest known times has been receiving visitors who have travelled through the Libyan and Arabian deserts from Sudan caravan routes. The town of Ombos gained administrative importance during the Ptolemic age as it protected the southern border of Egypt. In the Roman period it was a military station. The temple has a double sanctuary and is dedicated to two divinities, Haroeris (Horus the Elder), and Sobek, the Crocodile-god.
We sail to Aswan with dinner on board and overnight in Aswan.
Thursday November 11 – BLD
ASWAN
After breakfast we will tour the high dam, the Temple of Philae and unfinished Obelisk. On the island of Philae, now situated between the High Dam and the "old" dam, was the sacred complex of monuments built for the cult of Isis and Osoris. Philae was built under the Ptolemies and finished in Roman times.
This afternoon we will sail on the Nile in a traditional felucca to visit the Botanical Gardens. Dinner will be on board with an overnight in Aswan.
Friday November 12 – B
ASWAN
After breakfast we will be transferred to the airport and fly to Abu Simbel. We will visit the temples in Abu Simbel, King Rameses II and his wife Queen Nefertari. Threatened by the waters rising behind the High Dam, an international effort raised these huge monuments from their original site. After the tour we will fly back to Aswan and transfer to the Basma Aswan Hotel for overnight on a bed and breakfast basis. A visit to the Nubian Museum has been included today.
Basma Hotel is perched on Aswan's highest hill, commanding a breathtaking view of the city and the Nile. Landscaped & decorated by two of Egypt's leading artists, the hotel incorporates lush tropical gardens, a beautiful swimming pool and a rich collection of contemporary Egyptian artwork. The hotel facilities include a restaurant, as well as a splendid terrace with a panoramic view of Aswan. The hotel has 179 rooms and suites. Each room features a colour T.V. with in-house movies & satellite dish, radio & in-house music, balcony, private bath & shower, mini-bar, telephone with direct international dialling and individually controlled air-conditioning. Guest services include 24-hour room service, same-day laundry service, bank, travel agency, beauty salon, clinic, shopping arcade, courtesy bus & free parking facilities.
Saturday November 13 - B
ASWAN - AMMAN
After breakfast we will be transferred to Aswan Airport in time for our flight to Amman via Cairo. On arrival at Queen Alia Airport we will be transferred to the Marriott Amman Hotel for overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.
The Amman Marriott is a city center hotel that is close to the business district and tourist attractions. In this Amman Hotel you will be just steps away from the allure of this modern yet ancient city. A stay in this hotel in Amman ensures that you don't miss anything that Amman has to offer, with area attractions such as the Citadel and Jerash only minutes away. The hotel has 293 rooms featuring a safe, mini-bar, individual climate control, hair dryer, iron, and high-speed Internet access available with a fee. The hotel has an Oasis Health Club, featuring 2 pools, fitness center and saunas.
Sunday November 14 – B
AMMAN
After breakfast we will have a city tour of Amman and proceed to Jerash for a visit. This largest and best-preserved ancient Roman city in the world is found a mere 48 km North of Amman. The city, so well preserved, shows one the exact construction of what a city used to look like and gives one the sensation of what life used to be like 2000 years ago.
Overnight at the Marriott Amman Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.
Monday November 15 – B
AMMAN - PETRA
After breakfast we will transfer to Madaba, Mount Nebo and Kerak for a visit. We will then proceed to the Rose City of Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We will check into the Marriott Petra Hotel for overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.
Overlooking the dramatic Petra valley, the Petra Marriott Hotel combines the warmest Arabian hospitality with the splendor of an ancient city carved into rose-red cliffs. Our hotel is a haven for comfort and luxury. Our 100 spacious rooms, most of which have spectacular views of the valley, feature mini-bar, safe, hair dryer, individual climate control and satellite TV. There are several culinary choices; At Dushara, start your day with an elaborate breakfast buffet or enjoy Middle Eastern specialties for lunch or dinner. Feast on homemade pizza and pasta at L'Affresco, our Italian restaurant. For relaxation, our hotel offers many amenities. Swim in the outdoor pool and enjoy the breathtaking views. Rejuvenate your body during a Turkish bath, sauna or massage.
The giant red mountains and vast mausoleums of a departed race have nothing in common with modern civilisation, and ask nothing of it except to be appreciated at their true value - as one of the greatest wonders ever wrought by Nature and Man. Although much has been written about Petra, nothing really prepares you for this amazing place. It has to be seen to be believed. Often described as the eighth wonder of the ancient world, it is without doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled here more than 2000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.
Entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge, over 1 kilometre in length, which is flanked on either side by soaring, 80 metres high cliffs. Just walking through the Siq is an experience in itself. The colours and formations of the rocks are dazzling. As you reach the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh (Treasury).
This is an awe-inspiring experience. A massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the sheer, dusky pink, rock-face and dwarfing everything around it. It was carved in the early 1st century as the tomb of an important Nabataean king and represents the engineering genius of these ancient people.
As you enter the Petra valley you will be overwhelmed by the natural beauty of this place and its outstanding architectural achievements. There are hundreds of elaborate rock-cut tombs with intricate carvings - unlike the houses, which were destroyed mostly by earthquakes, the tombs were carved to last throughout the afterlife and 500 have survived, empty but bewitching as you file past their dark openings.
There are obelisks, temples, sacrificial altars and colonnaded streets, and high above, overlooking the valley, is the impressive Ad-Deir Monastery – a flight of 800 rock cut steps takes you there. Within the site there are also two excellent museums; the Petra Archaeological Museum and the Petra Nabataean Museum both of which represent finds from excavations in the Petra region and an insight into Petra's colourful past.
A 13th century shrine, built by the Mameluk Sultan Al Nasir Mohammad to commemorate the death of Aaron, the brother of Moses, can be seen on top of Mount Aaron in the Sharah range. Inside the site, several artisans from the town of Wadi Musa and a nearby Bedouin settlement have set up small stalls selling local handicrafts, such as pottery and Bedouin jewellery and bottles of striated multi-coloured sands from the area.
Tuesday November 16 - B
PETRA
After breakfast at the hotel we will have a full day guided visit of Petra including a horse ride up to the Siq. Overnight at the Marriott Petra Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.
Wednesday November 17 - B
PETRA – DEAD SEA
After breakfast we will transfer to Wadi Rum for a 2 hour Bedouin jeep ride inside Wadi Rum.
We will then proceed to the Marriott Dead Sea Hotel for overnight on a bed and breakfast basis. The lowest point on earth, only 55 km southeast of Amman is the Dead-Sea. The only water on earth where you float, due to the high contents of salts and minerals, making it a sea with curative qualities for the body and skin.
The Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa is tucked between the mountains and the Dead Sea near ancient, sacred sites such as Mount Nebo and the Jordan River. This Dead Sea Hotel offers you the best in 5 star luxury. Our 251 deluxe hotel rooms are spacious with individual climate control, mini-bar, in-room safe, hair dryer, iron, and views of the Dead Sea from almost every room. This Resort has three outdoor pools and whirlpools.
Thursday November 18 - B
DEAD SEA
The day is at leisure to enjoy the Dead Sea. Overnight at the Marriott Dead Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.
Friday November 19
AMMAN – FRANKFURT - VANCOUVER
Early this morning we will be met at our hotel and transferred back to Amman Airport in time for our Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt. On arrival we will transfer to our day room at the Holiday Inn Express Frankfurt Airport. Later we will transfer back to the airport in time for our onward Lufthansa flight to Vancouver.