bench international tours - best of egypt tour

Best of Egypt Tour

Luxor, the former capital of the ancient Egyptian Kingdom of Thebes, is a city rich in myths and mysteries and abounds with cultural monuments just waiting to be discovered. The 5 star Sonesta St George Hotel is only minutes away from the historic sites so the ideal base for your journey into history. A luxurious contemporary property, it is situated on the banks of the Nile. The hotel offers 224 rooms and suites, with the majority having glorious views of the famous river, outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, and superb restaurants featuring local and international menus.

Itinerary

Day 1 CAIROOn arrival into Cairo you will be met and guided through immigration and customs, then transferred to the hotel. Overnight: Sonesta Hotel.
Day 2 PYRAMIDS, MEMPHIS & SAKKARAAfter breakfast your Egyptologist accompanies you on a full day tour starting at the Pyramids of Giza and the inscrutable Sphinx, followed by a trip to Memphis, Egypt’s capital city during the Old Kingdom. You will also visit the royal burial ground at Sakkara and the Step Pyramid, the oldest pyramid in the world. Lunch is included. Overnight: Sonesta Hotel.
Day 3 CAIRO TO LUXORTransfer to Cairo airport for your flight to Luxor, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Your Egyptologist will then take you on a tour of the East Bank starting with the graceful Temple of Luxor dedicated to the god Amun. From here visit the Temple of Karnak, built over a period of more than a thousand years by generations of Pharaohs. There is an optional “Sound and Light” tour at Karnak subject to availability. Overnight: Sonesta St George Hotel
Day 4 VALLEY OF THE KINGSThis morning you will visit the West Bank of the Nile to explore the ancient Valley of the Kings. Here, magnificent tombs were carved into the desert rock, richly decorated, and filled with treasures by generations of Pharaohs. A highlight is Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple, which rises out of the desert in a series of terraces that merge with the surrounding limestone cliffs. On the way back to Luxor you will pass the huge Colossi of Memnon. Overnight: Sonesta St George Hotel.
Day 5 LUXOR TO CAIROTransfer to Luxor airport for your flight back to Cairo, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure. Overnight: Sonesta Hotel.
Day 6 EGYPTIAN MUSEUM & OLD CAIROThis morning your Egyptologist guide will accompany you to the Egyptian Museum, which houses the world’s most spectacular collection of ancient treasures and antiquities. This afternoon explore old Cairo where you will visit the Citadel of Saladin, built in the 12th century AD. The fortress contains the beautiful Mosque of Mohamed Ali, which is modeled on the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and offers spectacular panoramic views of Cairo. Nearby are the famous Sultan Hassan Mosque and the vibrant Khan El Khalili Bazaar where the inhabitants of Cairo have shopped through the centuries. Overnight: Sonesta Hotel.
Day 7 CAIROToday you will be transferred to Cairo airport for your departing flight.

INCLUDED:

• Airport transfers

• accommodation for 4 nights in Cairo with breakfast and 2 full days of sightseeing with lunch

• Economy Class domestic flights

• 2 nights in Luxor with breakfast and 2 half day sightseeing tours.

PER PERSON – 7 DAYS/6 NIGHTS TWIN
Dec 09 – Apr 10 $1250
May – Sep 10 $1155