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Step back in time as you enter the ancient world of Egypt. Walk in the steps of the Pharoahs themselves as you visit the temples of Luxor, Karnak, Edfu, and Denderah. View up close one of the Seven Great Wonders of the World, the Pyramids of Giza, and their ever-vigilant guardian, the Sphinx. In Cairo, see the vast treasures of King Tut at the Egypt Museum of Antiquities and experience the spiritual side of Egypt when you tour the mosques and hear first hand the Muslim's call to Prayer. See the day-to-day life of the Nile as you float lazily along on a deluxe Ti-Yi Cruise Ship.

Sample features: "Introduction to Egyptian Hieroglyphs," "Ancient Egyptian Mythology," "Religions of Ancient Egypt," "The Old Kingdom and the Pyramid Age," "Contemporary Egyptian Art," "Pharaonic Egypt," "Biblical Egypt," "Napoleonic Egypt, " "Mohammed Ali and the Modernization of Egypt."

Escorted by George Cohan
George Cohan is a lecturer on Middle Eastern and Asian History, politics, and religion for the Division of Educational Outreach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He has visited the Middle East numerous times and has participated in archaeological explorations in Egypt and Israel. He has been a student of the Quar'an for more than thirty years and has written and spoken widely about understanding Islam and the cultures of the troubled Middle East. Mr. Cohan is teaching a course on the Middle East for University of Nevada, Las Vegas' OSHER Lifelong Learning Program in the fall of 2005.

People to People Experience: Meet the Egyptian people as you wander through the fabulous Khan El Khalffi bazaar and barter for local goods, antiques and crafts.

Day 1: USA/Cairo
Depart on a regularly scheduled flight to Cairo, Egypt.

Day 2: Cairo
Arrival at Cairo Airport and transfer to hotel. 
     Deluxe Ramses Hilton Hotel

Day 3: (B, L) Cairo
After breakfast, explore the world-famous Egypt Museum of Antiquities. With its relics dating back to 4,000 B.C., this museum experience will provide you with an excellent background in the various periods of Egyptian history. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit some of Cairo's finest mosques (Muhammed Ali and Sultan Hassan), the Medieval Citadel of Salah El Din, and the colorful bazaars of Khan El Khahh. The narrow picturesque lanes are lined with items such as copperware, gold and silver, jewelry, gems, spice, and silks.
     Deluxe Ramses Hilton Hotel

Day 4: (B, L) Cairo/Memphis/Sakkara
Breakfast at your hotel. Enjoy a pleasant drive across typical Egyptian countryside to Memphis, the capital of the old Kingdom of Egypt. Stop at the colossal statue of Ramses II, then proceed to the Necropolis Sakkara to visit the world's first great stone structure, the Step Pyramid of King Zoser. A late lunch will be provided and the afternoon will be at leisure. Lecture / seminar on "Contemporary Egypt."
     Deluxe Ramses Hilton Hotel

Day 5: (B, L, D) Cairo/Luxor
Board your flight in Cairo to Luxor. Take a tour of two of Egypt's finest temples, the Temples of Luxor and Karnak. The Temple of Luxor was built by Amenophis III and extended by Ramses II. Travel along the Sharia El Bahr to Karnak Temple with its Hypostyle hall covering 50,000 square feet and containing 134 columns that once supported an enormous roof. Check-in to your hotel.
     Deluxe Meridien Luxor Hotel

Day 6: (B, L, D) Luxor/Denderah
This full-day program will start with a visit to the Temple of Denderah, constructed during the time of the Roman emperors. In front are six dramatic columns with capitals in the shape of the cow-headed goddess, Hathor. Reliefs on the walls show the empress Cleopatra, and there are sculptures of the gnomelike, Bes. Return from Denderah. After lunch you may wish to pay a visit to the new Luxor Museum on your own. In the evening attend the Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple.
     Deluxe Meridien Luxor Hotel

Day 7:  (B, L, D) Luxor
In the morning you will cross the Nile to the west bank to visit the Necropolis of Thebes, burial ground of the great pharaohs. Visit the Colossi of Memnon, the twin statues of Amenhotep III; the Valley of the Nobles; the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of the most handsome monuments in Egypt; and the fabulous Valley of the Kings, including the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Afternoon at leisure for shopping or relaxing on the ship.
     Deluxe Ti-Yi Cruise Ship

Day 8:  (B, L, D) Luxor/Esna
Full day sail to Esna. The ship will proceed through a lock and continue sailing while enjoying the view of every day life along the Nile. Farms and villages are on both sides of the Nile River.
     Deluxe Ti-Yi Cruise Ship

Day 9:  (B, L, D) Edfu/Kom Ombo/Aswan
In the morning you will visit Edfu Temple, one of the Egypt's best-preserved temples dedicated to Horus, the god of sun and planets. The falcon is a prominent decoration. It is one of the last Ptolemaic temples, finished only a few decades before the rise of Anthony and Cleopatra. Continue your sail to Kom Ombo. Arrive at Kom Ombo, where you will visit the Temple of the crocodile-headed god Horus.
     Deluxe Ti-Yi Cruise Ship

Day 10:  (B, L, D) Aswan
Visit the High Dam, the Granite Quarries and Unfinished Obelisk, and the Temple of Philae. Return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon Felucca sail around the granite islands.
     Deluxe Ti-Yi Cruise Ship

Day 11:  (B, L) Aswan/Abu Simbel/Cairo
After breakfast, transfer to Aswan airport for your flight to Abu Simbel. Visit the famous rock temples of Abu Simbel, built 3,500 years ago by Ramses II, which rank among the most colossal monuments of Ancient Egypt. Both temples at Abu Simbel, weighing more than 40,000 tons, were moved 90 feet higher to prevent them from being inundated when the Aswan High Dam created Lake Nassar. Fly back to Cairo and transfer to your hotel.
     Deluxe Meridien Pyramids Hotel

Day 12: (B, D) Cairo
Lecture/seminar on "Pharaonic Egypt." Visit the famous pyramids of the pharaohs at Giza and the mysterious guardian, the Sphinx. You will also view one of the greatest finds in the history of Egyptology - the 142-foot Solar Boat of the Pharaoh Cheops, nearly 4,600 years old. Afternoon will be at leisure. Special farewell dinner is planned for the evening.
     Deluxe Mericlien Pyramids Hotel

Day 13: (B) Cairo/USA
Early morning transfer with assistance to Cairo Airport for your flight to the USA.
     View the MS Ti-Yi

B - Breakfast
L - Lunch
D - Dinner
Drinks are not included.

PROGRAM FEATURES

• In Cairo, Deluxe hotels - Meridien Pyramids and Ramses Hilton - including meals as indicated, and service charges for seven nights.
• Deluxe Nile river cruise featuring outside air- conditioned cabin and private bathroom on the deluxe Ti-Yi cruise ship. Three meals each day on the cruise.
• Air excursion to Abu Sirnbel.
• Specially selected Egyptologists for sightseeing excursions. Lecture/seminars on ancient and contemporary Egypt.
• All sightseeing and entrance fees, and tips and taxes normally added to your hotel bills.

PROGRAM PRICE:  TBA
New York to Cairo on EgyptAir. Call for details. Add-ons are available for some US cities.

NOTE: Visas are required for all U.S. citizens. We can process these visas for a $25 fee per person (subject to change).

JORDAN - PETRA OPTIONAL EXTENSION
Day 13:  (B, L) Cairo/Aqaba, Jordan
Travel by motorcoach to the port of Nuwaiba. This full day excursion will take you on the Cairo-Suez road through large, colorful rock mountains. Crossing the Suez Canal through the Ahmed Handy Tunnel you will stop to view the ships in the canal and have box lunch. Continue on to Nuwaiba to arrive early evening. You will have time to have a light dinner and do a little shopping before boarding the "fast boat" to the Jordanian port of Aqaba. Upon arrival in Jordan you will be issued your Jordanian visa and transferred to your hotel for the night.
     Radisson or Movenpick Hotel

Day 14:  Aqaba/Wadi Rum/Petra
After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of the port of Aqaba and continue on the Wadi Rum. Along the way, take a jeep ride across the desert to visit a Diseh Camp. Arrival Petra late afternoon.
     Petra Plaza or Movenpick Hotel

Day 15:  (B, L) Petra
Enjoy a full day visit to the ancient ruins of Petra after breakfast. Beginning with a horseback ricle to the entrance of the siq leading to the magnificent Khazneh, explore the sacred hall, the amphitheatre and the royal tombs. Enjoy a light lunch before beginning your way back through the rose colored walls of the siq.
     Petra Plaza or Movenpick Hotel

Day 16:  (B, L, D)  Petra/Dead Sea/Am
Begin your journey to the Dead Sea. Enjoy floating in the salty waters of the sea or resort pool or relish in the "healing powers" of an all body Dead Sea mud pack. Lunch at the Dead Sea Resort, and then on to Amman
     La Meridien Hotel

Day 17:  (B, L) Amman
Visit the ancient ruins of Jerash. Lying in the Gilead Hills, Jerash is the best Middle East example of a Roman provincial city. Continue through small pine forests and olive groves to Aijun, where you will visit the Qala'at ar-Rabad. Built by the Arabs as protection from the crusaders, this castle is an example of Islamic military architecture. Enjoy a magni:ftcent view of the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee from Umm Qais. Back to Amman for the evening.
     La Meridien Hotel

Day 18:  (B, L, D) Amman
Take a city tour of Amman, the hub of all roads in Jordan. Visit St. George's Church in Madaba and view the ancient mosaic map of Palistine and lower Egypt. On to Mt. Nebo, a celebrated memorial to Moses. End the day with a farewell dinner at the Kan Zaman.
     La Meridien Hotel

Day 19:  (B) Amman/Cairo
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairo. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.
     Sheraton Heliopolis Airport Hotel

Day 20:  (B) Cairo/USA
Transfer with assistance to Cairo Airport for your flight to the USA.

EXTENSION PRICE:  (TBA)
Does not include a Jordan visa, Egypt visa, or departure taxes.