TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY, JULY 27 & 28: OLD CATARACT HOTEL
THURSDAY, JULY 29: TRANSFER TO SHIP

• Tuesday: Transfer from Cairo to Aswan (not included in the trip cost)
• Tuesday: Check in at Old Cataract Hotel (slide show)
• Tuesday: Cocktail Party and Introduction from our Tour Leaders
• Wednesday: Nubian Museum (morning) (images)
• Wednesday: Cocktail Party and Introduction from our Egyptologist
• Thursday (before dawn): Check out of Old Cataract Hotel
• Thursday: Bus to, and visit, Abu Simbel (IMAGES)
• Thursday: Bus back to Aswan, transfer to ss Misr
• Thursday: Board our ship, ss Misr (slide show), in Aswan
• Thursday: Briefing by Egyptologist
• Thursday: Welcome Aboard Dinner
• Thursday: Overnight in Aswan

After two days on the ground (mostly!), we check-out of the Old Cataract Hotel (slide show) and then board the incredible ss Misr (slide show) — King Farouk’s private yacht.

Prior to boarding we’ll visit one of the most recognizable symbols of Egypt, the Temples of Abu Simbel. Here, Ramses II (aka Ramses The Great and quite likely the Pharoah who let the Jewish slaves leave Egypt) reminds his contemporaries — and history — of his might and power. The Temples of Abu Simbel were relocated in 1968 to escape the rising waters when Lake Nasser filled behind Aswan Dam.

The Great Temple is dedicated to the Gods Re-Hor-Akhty, Amon, Ptah … and Ramses II as a god. It commemorates Ramses II’s victory at the Battle of Kadesh. The original and relocated Temple is oriented so sunlight reaches the deep sanctuary twice a year, on February 22 and October 22.

You’ll visit the nearby Temple of Queen Nefertari (Ramses II’s principal wife), dedicated to the Goddess Hathor. Gain a perspective into the human nature with the inscription on a main temple buttress: “for the Great Royal Wife Nefertari Meryetmut, for whose sake the (very) sun does shine”.

General Info / Wikipedia

»» Wikipedia: Abu Simbel (village) »»

»» Wikipedia: Cataracts of the Nile »»

»» Wikipedia: Egypt »»

»» Wikipedia: Aswan »»

»» Wikipedia: Aswan Dam »»

»» Wikipedia: Lake Nasser »»

»» Wikipedia: Nile »»

»» Wikipedia: Nubia »»

»» Wikipedia: Sudan »»