To travel to the Land of Egypt is to feel profoundly touched by history. The glory and greatness, mystery and mystique, that was once Egypt beckons alluringly. Come and explore an ancient land shaped by temples, tombs and heiroglyphs as we visit a civilization shaped by the mighty Nile River.

Yet at the same time, Egypt is a modern land in transition, as it seeks to take its place in re-shaping the people and politics of the Middle East, re-asserting its role as the leader of the Arab world. Discover a land with one foot firmly planted in its glorious past, while stepping with the other into an exciting future.

JANUARY 10-22, 2011

This journey is all inclusive at $3975 - RT from NYC/JFK, full room and board in 5 star accomodations, 7 night Nile Cruise, all internal transportation, all entries, private Egyptologist as guide, study guide, visa, tips, taxes and trip insurance. (you just buy the bottled water!)

DAY 1- Depart from USA on the first leg of our overnite journey to Egypt.

DAY 2- Arrive in Cairo, proceed through customs and transfer to the hotel. Cairo Sheraton and Towers.

DAY 3- Today’s visits include Coptic and Jewish Cairo: El Muallake and Abu Serga Churches, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. We then travel to the Citadel of Mohamed Ali Pasha, Sultan Hassan Mosque, and Khan el Kalili Bazaar.Later we transfer to the Giza Train Station for the overnite sleeper to Aswan.

DAY 4- We arrive in Aswan. This morning we transfer to our cruise ship, M/S Tulip, and get settled in. This afternoon, we will visit the High and Low Dams of Aswan, the granite quarries and unfinished obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Temple of Isis on Philae Island.

DAY 5 - This morning, we will fly to the mortuary temple of Ramses II and Nefertari at Abu Simbel. On our way to Luxor by our cruise ship, we will visit the Ptolemaic Greek sites of Edfu and Kom Ombo- temples that date to the 3rd-1st Centuries BC.

DAY 6 - Our visit to the West Bank of the Nile takes us to the Valley of the Kings and Queens, Tombs of the Nobles, The mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el- Bahari, and the Ramesseum. We end at the Colossae of Memnon.

DAY 7 - Today we will visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak at sunrise, dated to the New Kingdom, when Egypt ruled the East over 2500 years ago. We will tour the Egyptian countryside by horse-drawn carriage, on our way to the Coptic Christian village of Ngaa el- Syagh.

DAY 8- Full day of sailing towards Aswan, with on-board lectures and leisure time.

DAY 9 - The felucca, or Nile sailboat, is a main mode of travel as we visit Kitchener and Elephantine Islands, archaeological and botanical parks.This afternoon, there is an optional camel ride/tour on the West Bank to the San Simeon Coptic monastery, and visit to the Nubian village.

DAY 10- Fly back to Cairo. Visit Gezira Island with its parks and the el-Borg Tower, affording a 600 ft. high panoramic view of Cairo. We continue on to a visit in the Cairo Museum (2 Mummy Rooms are included!).

DAY 11 - We drive along the Nile, south to Memphis, the first capital of Egypt, and the unfinished granite statue of Ramses II. Then proceed to Sakkara, the necropolis of the III and VI Dynasties, visiting the Stepped Pyramid of Zoser and Pyramid and Causeway of Unas. After lunch, we head to the Giza Complex of the IV Dynasty, and the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinos, as well as the Sphinx.

DAY 12- Return Home, flying out in the morning back to the USA.

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