Highlights of Egypt 2012: Mayfair
9 days from Cairo to Cairo or 10 days incl. travel (WUA)
Sail through 5-thousand years of history on this incredible Nile river cruise getaway. In Cairo, marvel at King Tutankhamun's treasures and masterpieces of ancient art, visit the enigmatic Sphinx, and see the Great Pyramids of Giza. Drive to the ancient capital of Memphis to see the 40-foot statue of Ramses II. Fly to Luxor, one of the greatest cities of ancient Egypt, and embark your 4-night Nile River cruise to Aswan. Along the way, visit the Luxor Temple, Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of Kings and Valley of Queens, the Temple of Isis, and Aswan Dam. Ride through Edfu to the Temple of Horus, built in the time of Cleopatra roughly 2,000 years ago. Sail across the water on a felucca, visit colorful local bazaars, and enjoy an exclusive lecture on this ancient civilization by your Egyptologist. Return to Cairo for a final overnight and the conclusion of your trip-it's a trip of a lifetime!
Highlights & Sightseeing
CRUISE:
Deluxe 4-night cruise from Luxor to Aswan in an outside stateroom with private facilities.
CAIRO:
Guided sightseeing, visit the Great Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza, Ramses II and Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis, and the "Stairway to the Sky" at Sakkara; Sound & Light show at the pyramids; visit Tutankhamun's Tomb in the Egyptian Museum; see Saladin's citadel and visit the Alabaster Mosque in Old Cairo; see the Hanging Church and Cairo's oldest synagogue in Coptic Cairo; visit the Khan el-Khalili souk
LUXOR:
Visit Luxor Temple, the Avenue of the Sphinxes, monuments of Karnak, Temple of Amun-Ra, Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, Deir el-Bahri and the Colossi of Memnon; galabya party on board
EDFU:
Visit the Temple of Horus
KOM OMBO:
Visit the twin temples; lecture on board
ASWAN:
Sail by felucca to Kitchener Island; visit the Botanical Gardens; excursion to the High Dam; cruise to Agilika; visit Temple of Isis and ancient granite quarries
ALL DAYTIME SHORE EXCURSIONS
ALL INTRA-TOUR FLIGHTS
Meals
Welcome drink; 4 buffet breakfasts, 4 full breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Hotels
CAIRO Oberoi Mena House (garden view) (D), NILE CRUISE MS Mayfair, CAIRO Fairmont Heliopolis (D),
Notes:
It's about you. You are the reason we've used our 80-plus years of travel expertise to design the very best small-ship cruise experience. Inspired by you, we've taken everything special about small-ship cruising and made it even better. Here are some of the features and amenities you'll experience with Avalon.
Day 1 Arrive in Cairo, Egypt
A welcome drink awaits you at your hotel; settle in and start soaking up the atmosphere of this exciting city.
Day 2 Cairo
Meet your Egyptologist and traveling companions at 8 am. Sightseeing in and around Africa's largest metropolis starts with a close-up look at one of the Seven Wonders of the World: the guardian of the great pyramids, the enigmatic SPHINX, and the daunting GREAT PYRAMIDS of Giza. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built. Then, drive to the ancient Egyptian capital of MEMPHIS, where you can admire the 40-foot statue of RAMSES II and the ALABASTER SPHINX. On to Sakkara, a vast desert necropolis built for kings and nobles, and its "STAIRWAY TO THE SKY," the oldest of all pyramids. Tonight, enjoy a SOUND & LIGHT SHOW at the pyramids that will put these wonders of the ancient world into an easily understandable historic context. (Breakfast)
Day 3 Cairo-Luxor (Embarkation)
Today, fly 300 miles up the Nile Valley to Luxor, where your elegant river cruise vessel awaits your arrival. After lunch on board, see the stunning monuments of LUXOR and KARNAK, the greatest cities of ancient Egypt that had a combined population of more than one million. To walk among the pillars of the colossal TEMPLE OF AMUN-RA and along the AVENUE OF THE SPHINXES is an experience you will treasure the rest of your life. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4 Luxor-Edfu
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. For a little fun tonight, take part in a GALABYA PARTY on board. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5 Edfu-Kom Ombo-Aswan
This morning, visit 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 Old Egyptian standards and beautifully preserved. After lunch, dock at KOM OMBO for a short walk to its bluff-top twin temples. The right side is dedicated to the crocodile god, Sobek-Re, while the left side is dedicated to the falcon god, Horus. Later, sail on to Aswan and enjoy an exclusive lecture on this ancient civilization by your Egyptologist. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6 Aswan
This morning, consider an optional flight (weather permitting) to the huge sandstone temples of Abu Simbel. Return to your ship in time for lunch. This afternoon, 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. Haggle for bargains in the local souk before returning to your ship for a final night. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7 Aswan (Disembarkation)-Cairo
Sightseeing today starts at the GRANITE QUARRIES that supplied ancient Egypt with its hard stones for the pyramids in Giza. Then, see the famous unfinished obelisk, still in the quarry. Next, visit the gigantic Aswan HIGH DAM, completed in 1970. Board a motorlaunch to the island of AGILIKA, situated between the two dams, and visit the TEMPLE OF ISIS, transplanted from the submerged island of Philae. Later today, fly back to Cairo. How about our optional Nile River dinner cruise tonight to celebrate your Egyptian adventure? (Breakfast)
Day 8 Cairo
On your last day in Egypt, drive to the now-famous Tahrir Square and visit the EGYPTIAN MUSEUM with Tutankhamun's fabulous treasures and many other masterpieces of ancient Egypt. Continue to walled Old Cairo, with Saladin's 12th-century citadel, and the ALABASTER MOSQUE OF MOHAMMED ALI. In Coptic Cairo, see the Hanging Church where the Virgin Mary and Jesus stayed while in Egypt, then walk to see Cairo's oldest synagogue, founded in the 9th century. There is still time for a visit to the labyrinthine Khan el Khalili SOUK before returning to your hotel. (Breakfast)
Day 9 Cairo
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
Details
- Cruise Line
- Avalon Waterways
- Offer
- Offer valid through 3/31/2012
- Duration
- 9 Days
- Cruise Ship
- MS Mayfair
Click for more information on this ship.
| Day | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Day 1 | Cairo | ||
| Day 2 | Cairo | ||
| Day 3 | Luxor | ||
| Day 4 | Edfu | ||
| Day 5 | Aswan | ||
| Day 6 | Aswan | ||
| Day 7 | Cairo | ||
| Day 8 | Cairo | ||
| Day 9 | Cairo |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
Prices shown are "starting at" prices and do not include airfare. Supplement for single room on land and single stateroom on cruise:
$730 (January 6 - April 20), $596 (April 27 - September 21), $799 (September 28 -December 14), $899 (December 21 & December 28).
Triples not available.
Extra nights per person in Cairo (start vacation):
Departures January 6 - March 30 & April 13 - August 31: in single room $300, in twin room $225
Departures April 6, September 7 - December 21: in single room $355, in twin room $245
Departure December 28: in single room $480, in twin room $315
Supplement per person per night night for Pyramids view - start vacation - on tour and extra nights:
Departures January 6 - March 30 & April 13 - August 31: in single room $176, in twin room $86
Departures April 6, September 7 - December 21: in single room $192, in twin room $109
Departure December 28: in single room $213, in twin room $122
Extra nights per person in Cairo (end vacation):
Departures January 6 - April 20 & September 28 - December 14 in single room $250, in twin room $150
Departures April 27 - September 21 in single room $200, in twin room $125
Departures December 21 & December 28: in single room $325, in twin room $210
US$ Price Details- Applicable taxes and fees (Land-Only or Cruise-Only Vacation)
Our Volume Buying Power Saves You Money!
-We may be able to provide you with flight arrangements from your gateway city.
-Additional accommodations before or after your vacation may be available at our low prices.
Additional Information:
-Departure/arrival taxes and fares from other cities will be advised at the time of booking.
-Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
Guaranteed air-inclusive prices:
Air is only available to passengers traveling from the United States and only available when booked in conjunction with a land vacation. An additional $250 non-refundable deposit is required for air booked in conjunction with any land vacation (i.e., air-inclusive vacation.) However, once your airfare is confirmed and Avalon Waterways has received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed.
We also accept your reservation on a land-only basis:
While booking your vacation air-inclusive gives you various advantages, you can also choose the land-only option. But remember, airlines' special fares generally apply to very brief periods. (Our low air-inclusive fares apply throughout the year.) Plus, to get these "deals" you often are required to pay full fare at the time of booking.
Taxes & fees
Taxes and fees are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full land and air deposit are received.Applicable Taxes and Fees (Airfare & Charges Not Included in the Price)
Air-Inclusive Vacations
Air-inclusive prices provided online include a September 11th fee up to $10, passenger facility charges of up to $18, Federal domestic flight segment fees of up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government imposed fees between $200-$375 depending on your itinerary. The total airfare price, the base airfare price, and the applicable government taxes and fees are broken-out line-by-line and shown while booking online and on the invoice after your travel is booked.
Not Included In Your Vacation Price (Air-Inclusive, Land-Only or Cruise-Only)
Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities: port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ships' crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); additional excursions and activities not listed as 'included' in the itinerary; airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection premiums; excess baggage fees; and all other items of a personal nature.- Applicable taxes and fees (Land-Only or Cruise-Only Vacation)
Cruises
Highlights of Egypt 2012: Mayfair
From $2,606.00 (USD)
Destination: Africa
Sail through 5-thousand years of history on this incredible Nile river cruise getaway. In Cairo, marvel at King Tutankhamun's treasures and masterpieces of ancient art, visit the enigmatic Sphinx, and see the Great Pyramids of Giza.
