OVERVIEW

Delve into the mysteries of antiquity at Giza, site of the Great Pyramids and the enigmatic Great Sphinx. A leisurely drive will bring you to the famed Giza Plateau where these iconic monuments rise above the desert floor. The three pyramids were royal tombs, each built for a different pharaoh. Over the centuries, the pyramids have been looted of their treasures and stripped on their white limestone outer casings. Even so, they are so fabulous and historically and architecturally important that UNESCO has deemed them worthy of a World Heritage site designation. The nearby Great Sphinx is also included in that recognition. This colossal statue is a single block of limestone carved out of the bedrock. Traces of pigment suggest that the sphinx’s face may have been painted. You will also visit the nearby Papyrus Institute to watch papyrus plants being crafted into writing materials and other products using traditional methods.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic Great Sphinx.
• Discover why UNESCO declared these iconic monuments a World Heritage site.
• Watch papyrus being made into a paper-like material using an ancient technique.
• Enjoy a lavish buffet lunch at a 5-star venue.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours relaxing however you please at a waterfront resort overlooking a gorgeous stretch of sand on the Gulf of Suez at the north end of the Red Sea. It won’t take long to reach the 5-star resort, giving you all the more time to enjoy its amenities. The venue will be at a 5* resort in El Sokhna , where you will be free to do anything that suits your mood. The grounds are spacious and immensely inviting so it will be easy to find your own slice of paradise. You might lie back in comfortable lounger and bask in the sun, take a refreshing swim in the typically calm gulf if you prefer saltwater. A leisurely walk along the beach will offer the most sweeping view of the rugged mountains behind the resort. With no schedule to follow other than your own, it will be easy to completely unwind.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Relax for hours on end at a 5-star waterfront resort.
• Stretch out in a lounge chair and do nothing more ambitious than bask in the sun.
• Swim in the large freshwater pool and in the Gulf of Suez, if you wish.
• Enjoy spectacular views of the gulf on one side and soaring mountains on the other.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, hat, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Travel deep into the desert to the Monastery of Saint Anthony, where Christian monks have continuously lived in a self-sustaining community for nearly 1,700 years. Although it will take more than two hours to reach the remote monastery, it will be well worth the time. Saint Anthony founded the monastery in the 3rd century and it is among the world’s oldest. He lived to be 105 and spent much of his life as a hermit in a nearby cave. Although the monks have adapted to a more modern way of life, they are still dedicated to a life of prayer, contemplation and humility. Over the centuries, the monastery has expanded into a large walled complex with multiple churches. The earliest monastic cells were recently unearthed beneath the Church of the Holy Apostles. Artifacts found inside those cells are displayed in the monastery. You may also see original frescoes adorning the interior walls.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive deep into the Eastern Desert to a 3rd-century monastery built around an oasis.
• Learn about the life of Saint Anthony, who established the monastery.
• Get a glimpse into the daily lives of the monks who currently live in the monastery.
• See ancient monastic cells that were once buried beneath a church on the property.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Become immersed in the architectural wonders of ancient Egypt, many of them UNESCO World Heritage sites. Just south of Cairo, you will explore the Sakkara necropolis whose Step Pyramid was the world’s largest building when constructed about 4,600 years ago. Legendary architect Imhotep designed it. Continuing to Memphis – the capital of ancient Egypt – you will see the massive Colossus of Ramses II. Incredibly, the granite statue of the pharaoh wasn’t discovered until 1962 and was in pieces buried in the sand. You may also view a spectacular alabaster sphinx and the ruins of a temple dedicated to the high priest Ptah. On the Giza Plateau, you will behold the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World. It was once entirely covered with a limestone casing, parts of which are still visible. The Great Sphinx, sculpted from a single piece of limestone around 2500 B.C., stands nearby.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the massive step pyramid at the center of the necropolis in Sakkara.
• Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic Great Sphinx.
• Discover why UNESCO declared these iconic monuments World Heritage sites.
• Watch papyrus being made into a paper-like material using an ancient technique.
• Enjoy a lavish buffet lunch at a 5-star venue.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

See a remarkable variety of ancient attractions, each one offering a unique perspective of Egyptian life through the centuries. Browsing the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization will offer an overall look at the culture, rituals and beliefs from prehistoric times to the present day. The royal mummies on display are especially captivating. During a lunch cruise down the Nile, you will see Cairo as the pharaohs once did while sailing the timeless waterway. An onboard belly-dancing performance will add texture to the experience. The most iconic attractions rise above the river’s west bank, where you will behold the Great Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. These colossal monuments are as inspiring today as they were when constructed in the desert millennia ago. Back in Cairo, you will watch the ancient art of papyrus-making and see works of art on this paper-like material. Echoes of the past will also follow as you walk through a bustling bazaar.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold royal mummies and other ancient artifacts at a museum.
• Enjoy a lavish lunch while cruising the Nile River
• Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic Great Sphinx.
• Watch papyrus being made into paper-like material using an ancient technique.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore iconic attractions in and around Cairo and come away with a deeper understanding of Egypt’s illustrious past. While browsing the Grand Egyptian Museum, you will see exhibits from prehistoric times through the Roman periods, although most of the artifacts focus on the era of the pharaohs. The collection includes sarcophagi and the treasures of King Tut, which will provide an engaging introduction to the timeless wonders awaiting on the Giza Plateau. There, you will behold the Great Pyramids and spend free time at the base of the Chephren or Mykerinos pyramid. As you will discover, the nearby Great Sphinx is equally breathtaking. The scale of this half-human, half-lion monument is staggering and the details of its construction are still unknown. The ancient Egyptians also developed papyrus as the first writing material and you will see how at a papyrus-making demonstration. Time to shop at a bustling bazaar will offer a glimpse into modern life.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See rare Egyptian artifacts in a museum, including those from King Tut’s tomb.
• Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and spend free time at the base of one of them.
• Behold the enigmatic Great Sphinx, which likely dates to around 2500 B.C.
• Watch papyrus being made into a paper-like material using an ancient technique.
• Enjoy a lavish buffet lunch at a 5-star venue.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Visit icons that reveal the influence of early Coptic Christianity in Egypt and get a glimpse into Cairo’s medieval past. The origins of the religion in Egypt can be traced to Saint Mark’s visit to Alexandria in the 1st century. Within the Coptic Museum, you will see the world’s largest collection of Coptic artifacts, including frescoes from ancient monasteries and beautifully decorated manuscripts. A look at the Hanging Church that perches atop the gatehouse of the Babylon Fortress will offer more insight into Coptic Christianity. The focus will turn to medieval architecture at the Citadel of Saladin, which is home to the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Its soaring twin minarets are the highest in Egypt. Later, you will pass through Bab al-Futuh – Cairo’s oldest surviving gate – which leads to atmospheric al-Muizz Street and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. While meandering through the warren of shops, you will see an astonishing array of goods.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse a museum with the world’s largest collection of Coptic Christian artifacts.
• Stop at the Hanging Church, a Coptic icon with a roof shaped like Noah’s ark.
• Be awed by the medieval Mosque of Muhammad Ali that stands within a walled citadel.
• Pass through an 11th-century gate into Cairo and shop at an ancient bazaar that lies within.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.