Legends of the Nile

From $3795.00, per person, plus airfare and V.A.T., based on double occupancy

Operated by Alumni Holidays International (AHI)

Journey to exotic Egypt, a land whose history stretches many millennia into the past. In Cairo, view royal mummies in the prestigious Egyptian Museum, shop the vibrant Khan el-Khalili bazaar and discover the religious heritage of Coptic Cairo. Journey to Sakkara, site of an ancient burial ground, and marvel at the Step Pyramid of Zozer. Admire the iconic Pyramids and enigmatic Sphinx of Giza.

Embark on a cruise of the Nile River to the Luxor and Karnak temple complexes and the seemingly endless Valley of the Kings and Queens. Continue to the Temple of Horus in Edfu, impressive Kom Ombo and the Philae Island temple complex in Aswan. Sail on a felucca boat around Kitchener’s Island, and visit the massive monuments of Abu Simbel.

ITINERARY

Day 1
Depart your gateway city for Cairo, Egypt. (Flight provided for Air Program participants only.)

Day 2
Upon arrival, transfer to the Semiramis InterContinenal Cairo. (Transfer provided for Air Program participants only.)

Day 3

Excursion: Egyptian Museum. Tour the Egyptian Museum and see the world’s richest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. Marvel at the articles from the tomb of Tutankhamen and an exhibit of mummies that date back several thousand years!
Tonight, attend a Welcome Reception and Dinner.

Day 4

Excursion: The Pyramids at Giza and Sakkara. Visit Giza to see the Great Pyramids, the mysterious Sphinx and the Solar Boat Museum. Continue to Sakkara, site of the oldest cemetery in Egypt, and home to the Step Pyramid of Zozer. Lunch is included.

Day 5

Excursion: Islamic and Coptic Cairo. Experience Cairo’s Islamic and Coptic heritage. See the Hanging Church and the Ben Ezra Synagogue before visiting the Royal Mosque of Al Rifai. Then
enjoy free time to explore the Khan el Khalili bazaar. Lunch is included.

Day 6
Transfer to Cairo’s airport and fly to Luxor. Check into the Sonesta St. George Hotel.

Excursion: Luxor’s West Bank—The Valley of the Kings and Queens. Travel to the legendary Valley of the Kings and Queens, where tombs were designed to resemble the passage to the underworld. Then, view the impressive Colossi of Memnon. Lunch and dinner are included.

Day 7

Excursion: Luxor Museum. Visit the Luxor Museum to see its historic treasures. After your excursion, embark the Five-Star Sonesta St. George I river cruiser. All meals are included aboard the ship.
Excursion: The Temple of Karnak and the Temple of Luxor. Journey to the amazing Karnak Temple and marvel at this complex. The, tour the Luxor Temple. Begun in 1414 B.C. by Amenhotep III, additions were added by Tutankhamen, Horemheb, Ramses II and Alexander the Great until 323 B.C.

This evening, attend a festive Captain’s Welcome Reception.

Day 8
After breakfast, sail from Luxor to Edfu. Upon arrival in Edfu, the afternoon will be at leisure.

Day 9

Excursion: The Temple of Horus at Edfu. Go ashore at Edfu to visit the Temple of Horus. Recognized by archeologists for its unique roof, the temple had been completely buried until its excavation in the mid-19th century.

Excursion: Kom Ombo Temple. See the double Temple of Kom Ombo, unique in its unusual ground plan unifying two adjacent temples.

Day 10
This morning, sail to Aswan.

Excursion: The Temple of Philae and the Aswan High Dam. Visit the High Dam. This engineering marvel provides irrigation and electricity for the whole of Egypt. See the island temple complex of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis. These beautiful and impressive structures were dismantled and
re-assembled on higher ground about 500 m from their original site, which was threatened by the rising waters of the High Dam. Continue to the granite quarries.

Excursion: Felucca Cruise. This afternoon, drift peacefully on the Nile River, powered only by gentle breezes in the graceful sails of a felucca boat.

Tonight, enjoy a Farewell Reception and Dinner.

Day 11
This morning, disembark the ship and transfer to Aswan’s airport for the flight to Abu Simbel.

Excursion: Abu Simbel. Experience the Temple of Ramses II, a massive monument commemorating triumphs over the Nubians, Hittites and Syrians. Equally fascinating is the neighboring Temple of Hathor, which honors Queen Nefertari. Lunch is included.

Return to the airport for the flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, check into the Holiday Inn City Stars.

Day 12
Transfer to the Cairo airport for the return flight to your gateway city. (Transfer and flight provided for Air Program participants only.)

Your Northwestern Host

Jay Mastin

Jay Mastin is the senior director of alumni education and travel for the Northwestern Alumni Association and has been at Northwestern since October 2000.   Working closely with the deans and faculty from Northwestern’s various schools; he develops educational programming for Northwestern alumni and oversees the NAA travel program. Jay’s career also includes 20 years of not-for-profit programming and event planning, first for an international relief and development agency, and then for a genetic kidney disease research foundation. He is an alumnus of the University of Rochester and Southern Nazarene University, where he earned a BA in political science in 1988.