Egypt Adventure
December 27th , 2024 to January 4th, 2025
Egypt Site Features:
Section 1 - Basic Demographics of Egypt
Section 2 - Giza/Pyramids Overview
Section 3 - City of Cairo Overview
Section 4 - Nile River Cruise Overview
Section 5 - Trip Itinerary
*Scroll down to access above features
Section 1 - Basic Demographics of Egypt
Size 386,000 square miles (same as Texas/New Mexico Combined)
Population
Total 112 million (US 334 mil)
Cairo 22 mil metro area (NYC 20 mil metro)
Luxor 1.3 mil (Twin Cities 3.7mil)
Aswan 379,000 (same as MPLS)
Official Language Arabic (English & French widely understood)
Religion 90% Musliim 10% Christian
Per Capital Income = $17,000 (US $64,000)
Currency Egyptian Pound (Current Exchange Rate $1 USD = .02 Egyptian Pounds)
Population Center 95% of people live on 5% of land (Narrow strip of fertile land along Nile River)
Nile River Longest River on Earth @ 4,160 miles (Mississippi 2,340 miles)
Section 2 - Giza/Pyramids
Egypt's most famed destination is Giza. The home to the Great Pyramids, ancient tombs, the Sphinx & various archaeological wonders. Geographically, the area is known as the Giza Plateau, which is situated on the edge of the Western Desert & located just 10 miles from downtown Cairo. FYI - Giza is not some “outpost” in the desert…it is literally across the street from the bustling Giza streets & many restaurants & hotels line up for a view of the Pyramids.
Highlights…
1) Pyramid of Khufu “Great Pyramid” (Cheops) - 481ft tall & 755ft wide at base
Notes: built between 2551 - 2528 BCE, World’s Tallest building unil 1889 Eiffel Tower, 2,500,000 blocks of stone & each stone weight apporx 5,500lbs, present day “step” appearance due to removal of white tura limestone Arab Period, built by/for the Pharaoh Khufu
2) Pyramid of Khafre - 471ft tall & 705ft wide at base
Notes: notable feature of this pyramid is that it still has part of limestone covering near top
3) Pyramid of Menkaure - 213 ft tall & 340ft wide at base
Notes: smallest of Great Pyramids & once was covered in pink granite
4) Sphinx - 66ft tall & 187ft long (head is 16ft)
Notes: body of a crouching lion “regal power” & face of Pharaoh Khafre
Click any image below to enlarge!
Section 3 - City of Cairo
1) The Egyptian Museum WEB LINK
Must See…
Tutankhamun Collection
3,500 artifacts from the tomb of King Tutankhamun, including his famous golden mask, his coffin, and his golden throne.
Rosetta Stone
This granite stone has inscriptions in three different scripts that helped scholars learn how to read hieroglyphs.
Royal Mummy Room
This room displays the mummies of some of Egypt's most famous pharaohs, including Ramses II and Seti I.
Djoser statue
This painted limestone statue is the oldest known life-sized Egyptian statue.
CLICK HERE For Walking Direction from Hotel to Museum
2) Khan El-Khalili Souk/Market/Bazzaar WEB LINK
Note: heart of Islamic Cairo, near the Medieval walled city of the Saladin Citadel FYI - “Sauk” is an Arab Market
Must see…
Explore the market: The bazaar is a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways. You can also check out the dedicated districts for gold, copper, and spices.
Take a break: Visit one of the many old cafes for a cup of tea or coffee. You can also try traditional Egyptian food.
Visit historic mosques: Explore the intricate Islamic architecture.
Visit a traditional coffee house: Experience the ritual of Egyptian coffee brewing.
CLICK HERE for Walking Directions to Khan El-Khalili Souk
3) Koshary Abou Tarek Restaurant
CLICK HERE for Walking Directions to Koshary Abou Tarek
Section 4 - Nile River Cruise
Day One:
Start your ancient Egypt exploration in the beautiful city of Aswan. Your guide will pick you up from your Aswan hotel to escort you to Philae Temple. Known as the “Pearl of Egypt”, Graeco-Roman temples and colonnades, kiosks, and sanctuaries rise proudly against the skyline. Afterward, you’ll be dropped off at your cruise ship in time to enjoy lunch and the rest of the day to relax onboard.
Day Two:
Early in the morning, you have the option to take an optional guided tour to Abu Simbel or enjoy a free morning. The mighty temple built by Ramses II is a marvel of ancient engineering and also has a fascinating modern history. Enjoy lunch onboard as you begin sailing to Kom Ombo. Discover the temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon-headed god, with your guide. The layout combines two temples in one with each side having its gateways and chapels. After your tour of Kom Ombo, return to the ship for dinner and a relaxing evening as you sail overnight to Edfu.
Day Three:
After enjoying breakfast, your guide will meet you to visit the hidden gem in Edfu, Horus Temple, As the largest temple dedicated to Horus, one of Egypt’s most important historic deities, statues of the falcon-headed god are found throughout the complex. The temple’s extensive wall carvings have provided valuable information to historians about the Hellenistic period of Egyptian history, and the exquisite reliefs give us insight into the religion, mythology, and way of life during the era.
Day Four:
After breakfast, you can leave your luggage at reception while you spend the day exploring Luxor. Start your tour on the West Bank at The Valley of the Kings where you will visit the royal tombs of pharaohs of the new kingdom. Wander through passageways decorated with reliefs and hieroglyphs and learn about the ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife. The next stop is the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. A keen admirer of Mentuhotep II’s temple, Hatshepsut had her own designed to mirror it but on a much grander scale and, just in case anyone should miss the comparison, ordered it built right next to the older temple. Stop for a quick visit to the massive colossi of Memnon before enjoying a break for lunch in a local restaurant in Luxor. Then it’s time to explore Luxor’s East Bank. Start your tour with the biggest temple in Luxor, the impressive Karnak Temple. Home to three main temples, several smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples, UNESCO-listed Karnak combines the achievements of many generations of ancient builders over 1500 years. Your next destination is the temple of Luxor, this beautiful temple was the main function during the annual Opet celebrations. Started by Amenhotep III and completed by Tutankhamun, Luxor Temple has a fascinating history throughout the ages. After your day in Luxor, your driver will drop you off at your accommodation in Luxor.
Nice Tours Nile Tours WEB LINK
Highlights…
1) Nile River: World’s LONGEST river and traverses Egypt south to north towards the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, Egypt. This ancient waterway has been the main artery of transport for North Africa for thousands of years. The Nile River has two main sources, the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The White Nile flows from Lake Victoria as its primary known sourca nd The Blue Nile flows from Lake Tana in Ethiopia. On its way north to Egypt, the Nile flows through the counties of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
2) City of Aswan: Ancient name = Syene and it’s defining geo characteristic is Elephantine Island in the middle of the Nile as it travels through this location.
3) Philae Temple “Pearl of Egypt”: an island based temple dedicated Isis Isis was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion, and is known for her roles as a protector, healer, and mother. Temple was built during the 3rd Century (200s), but between 1972 & 1980 all the buildings/structures of this temple were moved “brick by brick” to higher ground due to the flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam.
4) Abu Simbel: located on the shores of Lake Nasser (reservior created by the construction of the Aswan High Dam) and is most famous for the four colossal statues that flank the entrance. Abu Simbel is a temple built by Ramesses II (c. 1279-1213 B.C.E.) in ancient Nubia, where he wished to demonstrate his power and his divine nature. In the 1960’s, the Abu Simbel hostorical site was moved to its present day location due to the rising waters caused by the Aswan Dam. Note: the four huge statues are of Ramesses
5) Temple of Kom Ombo “City of Gold”: (Kom = heap in Arabic and Ombo = gold in the ancient Egyptian language) Kom Ombo is a double temple (architectual dualism) and built for the conflicting deities of Sabek (crocodile god) and Horus (falcon headed god)…who were conflicting deities who were to cooperate against the forces of darkness. This temple was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty (180–47 BC) and later modified during the Roman period. The temple's stones are unique and the temple's setting is notable for its fertile land, views of the Nile, and granite shore rocks.
6) Edful Temple of Horus: this temple is well known (and well visited) because it is one of the most “intact” temples and one the best examples of the Egyptian temples in Egypt. Built over the course of around 180 years, the Temple of Horus was the work of the Ptolemies, beginning in 237 BC under Ptolemy III and finished around 57 BC. The temple was the largest one dedicated to Horus's cult in all of Egypt and would have hosted many festivals and celebrations held in his honor. FYI - Horus is one of the most significant ancient Egyptian deities who served many functions, most notably as the god of kingship, healing, protection, the sun, and the sky.
7) Valley of the Kings/Luxor: situated on the western bank of the Nile across from the city of Luxor lies the Valley of the Kings. One of the THE most important archaeological sites of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Obviously the popularity of mainly due to the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. (King Tut) These tombs were built for the pharaohs (kings) who ruled from the 1500s bce to the 1000s bce & were placed in this remote (and hidden) location due to fear of safety of riches buried with their owners of tomb raiders. (oh look at that huge pyramid marking the spot of buried treaure)
Section 5 - Trip Itinerary
Friday, December 27th
3:20pm Depart MSP Terminal #1 LH 483 9 (LH = Lufthansa)
Saturday 28th
6:40am Arrive FRA Terminal #1 (Frankfort Germany)
11:05am Depart FRA LH582
4:20pm Arrive CAI Terminal #3 (Cairo, Egypt)
Nighttime Exploration of Pyramids
Overnight = Panorama View Pyramids Hotel Link
Sunday 29th
Giza, Egypt Exploration Day
Overnight = Steigenberger Hotel el Tahrir Hotel Link
Monday 30th
Cairo, Egypt Exploration Day
10pm Depart Bashtil Station, Cairo Google Map
Overnight = Abela Sleeper Train to Aswan, Egypt (Booked Oct. 13th, 2024)
Tuesday 31st - Nile Cruise
9:35am Arrive Aswan Train Station, Abu AR Rish Qebli
10am Board 4 Day Nile Cruise - Aswan to Luxor
Overnight = Cruise Ship
Wednesday January 1st - Nile Cruise
Overnight = Cruise Ship
Thursday 2nd - Nile Cruise
Overnight = Cruise Ship
Friday 3rd - Nile Cruise
Afternoon/Evening Exploration of Luxor, Egypt
Overnight = Nefertiti Hotel, Luxor
Saturday 4th
Morning Exlporation of Luxor
Noon Depart Luxor Air Cairo SM 53
1pm Arrive CAI Terminal #1
5:20pm Depart CAI Terminal #3 LH 583
9pm Arrive FRA Terminal #1
Night Exploration of Frankfort, Germany
Sunday 5th
11:15am Depart FRA Terminal #1 LH 482
1:35pm. Arrive MSP Terminal #1