Egypt Treasures & Pleasures

Cairo • Giza • Sakkara • Luxor • Aswan

This holiday includes 11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 10 evening meals and 4 nights aboard the Radamis II
Our journey takes us back to a civilisation three thousand years older than Christ. Our comprehensive tour of this uniquely beautiful country includes a cruise along the idyllic waters of the River Nile from Luxor to Aswan, visiting the great temples, the Valley of the Kings and the unfinished obelisk in Aswan. You will be accompanied by an experienced Egyptologist who will be able to bring to life the day-to-day life of this ancient civilisation.DAY 1 LONDON • CAIRO
We begin with Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service™ to London Heathrow Airport and your direct scheduled EgyptAir flight to Cairo. On arrival our coach transfers us to the Sofitel El Gezirah or similar located close to the city centre.

DAY 2 SAKKARA AND PYRAMIDS
Today we visit the impressive ruins of Memphis, the old pre-Christian capital destroyed by Islamic conquerors in the first century A.D. At Sakkara, we see the stepped pyramid and a tomb dating back almost 3,000 years before Christ. This afternoon we take a short drive to Giza for a close-up view of the Great Pyramid and the two smaller ones outlined against the blue sky. Our guide will escort us to the best viewing points amidst the colourful scene of camels, horses and brightly costumed Arabs. Nearby is the Sphinx, the beard of which is at the British Museum in London. We return to our hotel for dinner.

DAY 3 CAIRO
This morning we set off for a half day tour of Old Cairo where Christians, Muslims and Jews have lived peacefully together for centuries. We continue to the impressive Citadel of Mohammed Ali, a fortress from within whose walls we can see the beautiful Alabaster Mosque. We proceed to the famous Khan el Khalili Bazaar, with its hundreds of shops and shopkeepers who love to barter. Later we visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities housing all the treasures of Tutankhamun.

DAY 4 CAIRO • LUXOR
We fly to Luxor and on arrival we are transferred to the Sofitel Karnak Hotel Luxor or similar. Remainder of the day is at leisure.

DAY 5 LUXOR
A day at leisure to relax and enjoy our hotel’s facilities. Alternatively you may wish to explore this enthralling city and enjoy its colourful bazaars or perhaps visit the Museum of Mummification..

DAY 6 NILE RIVER
Today we will transfer to the waiting Mövenpick cruise ship, the Radamis II, our home for the next four nights. We will be served lunch onboard before going ashore. The East Bank is our afternoon excursion where we see the Temple of Luxor with its great courts and colonnades, built to the glory of Amun-Ra, King of the Gods followed by the temple of Karnak with its great Hippostyle Hall. We return to our ship to enjoy dinner this evening.

DAY 7 NILE RIVER
We disembark and transfer to the West Bank, visiting the Valley of the Kings and Queens where there may be the opportunity to enter the site of the tomb of King Tutankhamun, the entrance to which was discovered in 1922. This is followed by a visit to the temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Lunch is served whilst the Radamis II sails to Edfu and you are free this afternoon to enjoy the ship’s facilities. Dinner is served on board.

DAY 8 NILE RIVER
This morning we go ashore to visit the spectacular Temple of Horus in Edfu, one of the best preserved in Egypt and dedicated to the Sun God. We rejoin the Radamis II and lunch is served onboard while she sails to Kom Ombo. On arrival we will see the famous temple shared by the two gods Sobek and Haeroris, which is renowned for its mummified crocodiles. Rejoining our vessel we sail to Aswan. Dinner is included on our ship this evening.

DAY 9 NILE RIVER
Today we disembark to discover the Philae Temple and to visit the High Dam, a feat of modern engineering inspired by former President Nasser and financed largely by the Russians. We also see the unfinished obelisk, abandoned because of a flaw in the stone from which it was cut. After lunch there will be time to take a pleasant felucca ride on the Nile before another dinner is served to us on the Radamis.

DAY 10 ASWAN
We enjoy our final breakfast on board before we disembark and transfer to the Mövenpick Elephantine Island Resort, Aswan. Today you may have chosen to take the optional excursion by air to Abu Simbel; a wonderful experience. The temples were removed stone by stone to higher ground when the Valley of the Nile was flooded on creation of the Aswan High Dam. This excursion must be booked with your holiday. We return to our hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure.

DAY 11 ASWAN • CAIRO
Today we transfer to Aswan airport for our flight to Cairo where we have a short transfer to the Iberotel Heliopolis Cairo Hotel and Casino. OR EXTEND YOUR STAY - CALL FOR DETAILS

DAY 12 CAIRO • LONDON
We transfer to Cairo Airport for your direct, scheduled EgyptAir flight to London Heathrow Airport. On arrival our staff will greet you and transfer you to Titan HiTours transport for the return journey home to your own front door.

CHRISTMAS DEPARTURE
Departs: 16th December 2010 It is traditional in Egypt for Christmas to be celebrated on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. We will therefore be joining in with the Christmas festivities on Day 9 whilst aboard the Radamis II. After our morning excursion to the Philae Temple we will return to the ship for a special lunch. After which there is time to take a pleasant felucca ride on the Nile before enjoying dinner aboard the ship. On Christmas Day you are free to enjoy Aswan or you may wish to take the optional excursion to Abu Simbel, which is prebookable with your main holiday.Duration 12 days, 7 nights in hotels - 4 Cairo, 2 Luxor, 1 Aswan and 4 nights on Radamis cruise ship.

VIP Home Departure Service™ from your front door to London Heathrow Airport and from London Heathrow Airport to your front door.

Check-in service by Titan staff.

Scheduled EgyptAir flights. Internal flights as detailed in the itinerary

Services of an experienced Titan HiTours tour manager, plus Egyptologist.

First class air-conditioned coaching with experienced drivers

Accommodation as specified in brochure or of a similar standard

Four nights full-board on Nile cruise ship the Radamis II.

Excursions, tours and entrances as detailed in the itinerary

Hotel porterage (1 bag per person).

All airport taxes, security charges and the UK Air Passenger Duty and applicable fuel surcharges.

Meals: Breakfast on days 2-12, Lunch on days 6-9 & Dinner on days 2-11 (2009) 6-9 (2010)

Celebration offer - free bottle of wine or room upgrade (Valid for 2010 departures only)