EGYPTIAN SPLENDOR (WAL2010)

A 10-Day Avalon Waterways tour starting from $2,211

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Starting Price: $2,211 Printer Friendly Page
Tour Length: 10 Days
Countries Visited: Egypt
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More Information About This Tour:
Tour Type:
 River Cruise
Tour Category: RIVER CRUISE
Tour Operator: Avalon Waterways
Tour Code: WAL-2010
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An E-Brochure is available - click to view

Cities Visited:
See Description


Vacation Overview
This captivating Nile river cruise vacation offers an exciting voyage through the Kingdom of the Pharaohs. In Cairo, marvel at King Tutankhamun’s treasures, visit the enigmatic Sphinx, and see the Great Pyramids of Giza. Then, fly to Aswan for a 4-night Nile River cruise to Luxor. Along the way, visit the Aswan Dam, the Temple of Isis, the Valley of Kings and Valley of Queens, and Luxor Temple. You’ll also ride through Edfu to the Temple of Horus, visiting colorful local bazaars and exploring the stunning monuments of Karnak.

 

Ship
Royal Lotus

City Highlights


Cruise:
Deluxe 4-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor in an outside stateroom with private facilities

Cairo:
Guided sightseeing, visit Tutankhamun’s Tomb in the Egyptian Museum, Ramses II & Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis, the “stairway to the sky” at Sakkara, the Great Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza

Cairo-Aswan:
By air, including airport transfers

Aswan:
Sail by felucca to Kitchener Island; visit the Botanical Gardens; excursion to Old Dam & High Dam; cruise to Agilika; visit Temple of Isis and ancient granite quarries

Edfu:
Visit the Temple of Horus

Luxor:
Guided sightseeing, visit the Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, Deir el-Bahri, and the Luxor Temple; picture stop at Colossi of Memnon

All Daytime Shore Excursions


Luxor-Cairo:
By air, including airport transfers Notes:All arrangements in Egypt are under the management of the official government tourist organization Misr Travel. As traffic conditions and the water level of the Nile are not always predictable, slight changes to the day-by-day itinerary cannot be excluded.Intra-tour flights included in both land-only and air-inclusive prices.

 


Hotels


Cairo
Oberoi Mena House (Garden view) (D) or Fairmont Heliopolis (D),

Aswan
Mövenpick Resort Aswan (SF),

Nile Cruise
Royal Lotus

Meals
Welcome drink, 4 buffet breakfasts (B), 4 full breakfasts (B), 4 lunches (L), 5 dinners (D)
 
Day 1:
(Fri.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Cairo, Egypt. (Sat.) A welcome drink awaits you at your hotel; settle in and start soaking up the atmosphere of this exciting city.

Day 3:
Cairo. The Pyramids. (Sun.) Meet your Egyptologist and traveling companions at 8am. Sightseeing in and around Africa’s largest metropolis starts at the EGYPTIAN MUSEUM with Tutankhamun’s fabulous treasures, an exciting first encounter with the splendor of three millennia of Egyptian civilization. Then, leave for ancient MEMPHIS to admire the 40-foot statue of Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. On to SAKKARA’S “stairway to the sky,” the oldest of all pyramids. At GIZA, take a close-up look at the enigmatic SPHINX and the daunting Great Pyramids. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built. A suggestion for tonight: enjoy an optional dinner cruise on the Nile River. (B)

Day 4:
Cairo–Aswan. (Mon.) Enjoy time this morning for independent activities or join an optional excursion to walled Old Cairo. Saladin’s 12th-century Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque, and the labyrinthine bazaar are well worth a visit. In the afternoon, fly 500 miles up the Nile Valley to the lovely resort town of Aswan. (B,D)

Day 5:
Aswan (Embarkation). (Tue.) Morning at leisure in Aswan. You may want to join an optional flight (weather permitting) to the huge sandstone temples of Abu Simbel. Then, check into your elegant river cruise vessel in time for lunch. In the afternoon, a special treat: board a felucca and sail right across the blue waters of the river. En route, see the ancient “nilometer” on Elephantine Island, Kitchener Island’s lush BOTANICAL GARDENS, and the splendid Aga Khan Mausoleum on the left bank. (B,L,D)

Day 6:
Aswan–Kom Ombo. (Wed.) Take a morning excursion to the turn-of-the-century OLD DAM—to this day the widest dam in the world—and to the gigantic Aswan HIGH DAM, completed in 1970. Board a motor launch to the island of Agilika between the two dams and visit the TEMPLE OF ISIS, transplanted from the submerged island of Philae. Also stop at the ancient GRANITE QUARRIES to see the famous unfinished obelisk. Before lunch, start your leisurely cruise down Egypt’s river of destiny. Dock at KOM OMBO for a short walk to its bluff-top temple dedicated to the crocodile and falcon gods. Haggle for bargains in the local market before returning to the boat. (B,L,D)

Day 7:
Edfu. (Thu.) Board a horse-drawn carriage for the drive through Edfu to the TEMPLE OF HORUS with its menacing black stone statue of the falcon god. Built in the time of Cleopatra about 2,000 years ago, it is recent by Egyptian standards and beautifully preserved. See white-clad farmers with their donkeys, camels, and water buffaloes work lush, green fields; and ever present on the horizon beyond the palm trees is the desert. Tonight, dock at Luxor and take advantage of the optional sound and light show at Karnak. (B,L,D)

Day 8:
Luxor. (Fri.) Focus on the VALLEY OF KINGS and VALLEY OF QUEENS on the west bank of the Nile, where generations of pharaohs and nobles were buried in great splendor in crypts cut into the cliffs. Sixty-two royal tombs have been uncovered so far, of which only the tomb of Tutankhamun was nearly inviolate when discovered in 1922. Visit DEIR EL-BAHRI, Queen Hatshepsut’s monumental rock temple. Stop for pictures at the two COLOSSI OF MEMNON guarding the valleys. The afternoon is dedicated to LUXOR TEMPLE. (B,L,D)

Day 9:
Luxor (Disembarkation)–Cairo. (Sat.) Experience a grand finale to your sightseeing in the Nile Valley with the stunning monuments of KARNAK, the greatest city of ancient Egypt. To walk among the pillars of the colossal TEMPLE OF AMON RA and along the AVENUE OF THE SPHINXES is an experience you will treasure the rest of your life. Afterward, a late-morning flight takes you from Luxor back to Cairo. An afternoon at leisure lets you catch up on your postcard writing and souvenir shopping. Tonight’s optional sound and light show at Giza might be just the way to top off an exciting touring adventure. (B)

Day 10:
Cairo. (Sun.) Homebound flight. (B)

 

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Airfare Disclaimer
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Royal Lotus

Pure luxury and unrivalled Swiss hospitality await you on the Royal Lotus, built in 2005. This new, modern river vessel offers spacious accommodations and a range of public areas from where you can absorb the ever-changing panorama between Luxor and Aswan. The luxuriously furnished cabins, each with an area of approx. 22 square meters, mirror the colors of the landscape of Upper Egypt and their panoramic windows offer unhindered views of the spectacular ever-changing scenery. The Royal Lotus restaurant serves mouth-watering meals, while the elegantly decorated Crescent Lounge and Bar are the perfect place to relax with a drink after a day of sightseeing. A dip into the refreshing plunge pool may be just what you desire, and the loungers are perfect for sun worshippers. There is also a fully equipped fitness room, bridge tables for card enthusiasts in the Observation Bar, and a dance floor in the Crescent Bar and Lounge. The Royal Lotus accommodates 124 passengers.

Royal Lotus

Staterooms (Click thumbnails to see full size image

Standard Cabin
Standard Cabin

Standard Cabin

Standard Cabin
237 sq. ft.


Ship Facts:

  • Inagurated: 2005
  • Length: 246 ft
  • Width: 46 ft
  • Decks: 5
  • Staterooms: 60 and 2 Suites
  • Passenger Capacity: 124
  • Voltage: 220v/110-120v
  • Onboard Currency: The official currency in the Egyptian pound, but E

Ship Amenities:

Ship Features

  • 2 restaurants, 2 bars
  • Plunge Pool
  • gift shop
  • laundry
  • Fitness Room
  • All English-speaking staff
  • Attentive, personal service
  • Enriching onboard lectures and demonstrations
  • Local evening entertainment
  • Card room and library

    All staterooms feature large closets, individual climate control, telephone, color satellite TV, radio, minibar, safe, hair dryer and modern bathrooms with shower

    • All staterooms are outside and have large picture windows
    • One sitting at mealtimes
    • Relax in the Crescent Lounge or Observation Bar
    • Enjoy the fully equipped exercise room
    • Refresh yourself in the plunge pool or relax in heated Jacuzzi
    • Enjoy personal service from our English speaking staff
    • Internet access available
     


    Price Details US
    Supplement for single room on land and single stateroom on cruise:$696 (0102-0424), $446 (0501-0918), $799 (0925-0226)Extra nights per person in Cairo:in single room $253, in twin room $1602011 departures are subject to itinerary and price modification.

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    *Book a Europe Avalon River cruise vacation to receive the match offer.  Must provide the name and departure date of the competitor cruise in order to qualify.  Must be made, under deposit, and discount applied prior to March 2, 2010 for travel through December 31st, 2010. Offer good in conjunction with other qualifying offers including Journeys Club.  Offer is subject to change and could be withdrawn at any time.  Applies to new 2010 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings.  Offer reliant on space availability.  Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.

     

    Ratings & Reviews:

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    The most recent reviews for this tour:


    Thanks for voting !

    CMK rated this tour a 4 on 11/6/2009 12:52:24 PM and says:

    "Egypt was amazing but very hot! I was there in September/October and it was quite hot in the sun (up to 105 degrees during the afternoons), but tolerable in the shade. Light, comfortable clothing is recommended with good walking shoes. We walked for miles in and out of stuffy tombs, but well worth every minute. Valley of the Kings was a highlight. And not to be missed, the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx! The Nile Cruise was a highlight of our trip. The river boats are luxurious, with comfortable cabins and serving gourmet food. I was so pampered, I felt like Cleopatra floating down the Nile. Not only are the river boats luxurious, but most of the hotels are, as well."

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