Excursion Mid voyage land adventure: treasures & mysteries of egypt tour at Safaga

Visit to intriguing Luxor , one of the oldest cities in the world . Known as Thebes in antiquity , it flourished as political and religious center of Egypt throughout the New Kingdom period. Explore various worldwide famous attractions that have been in place for more than 7000 years and still remain well preserved.

Experience the famous Karnak Temple and the remote Valley of the Kings, where ancient Egypt's illustrious rulers found their final resting place. Venture off the beaten path and explore sites the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut perched at the head of a valley overshadowed by the peak of the Thebes, and the Colossi of Memnon. Then after a short flight to Cairo, take the great opportunity of visiting The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization that includes the Mummies room hall. In addition, visit the Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque, the Egyptian Museum, Sakkara area including the step Pyramid of Zoser and one tomb ending by visiting the Pyramids and Sphinx including Cheops Pyramid entry & camel ride.

03MIDSAF-N Treasures & Mysteries of Egypt

Duration: 4 Days/ 3 Nights

Departs from: Safaga

Re-join ship: Alexandria

Reserve: At least 90 days prior to sailing

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This Land Adventure is a small group luxury tour, providing bespoke cultural and sightseeing experiences. We limit the tour to a small group in order to ensure your experience is a high-quality one. Spots are available on a first come, first serve basis. If the program fills up, you'll be accommodated on a space-available basis. Advanced booking is required at least 90 days prior to sailing date via Silversea Reservations. We suggest booking early to secure your spot(s). Please be advised that a minimum number of participants is required for this program to run as described. In rare cases when the minimum number of participants is not met, Silversea reserves the right to offer the program at an increased rate based on private arrangements or to cancel your specific departure for a refund. The self-cancellation fee, unless otherwise advised, is 90 days or sooner to initial sailing date at the rate of 100% program fare per person. The payment for your Land Adventure is due in full on the same date as your final payment due for your cruise. Per Silversea's general payment terms, bookings made within 120 days of sailing require full payment within seven days of booking or sooner. All Land Adventures are non-transferable and non-refundable within 120 days of sailing, with the exception of cancellation by Silversea. Our family-friendly land programs require adult accompaniment of any guests under the age of 18. All Land Adventures are owned by independent contractors, and Silversea makes no representations and assumes no responsibility for the services provided by these operators. Silversea and our local operators make every effort to ensure your land program runs as described. Our local operators reserve the right to modify tour sequence, sites visited and venues mentioned due to operational reasons.

VISA INFORMATION:

Please check with your travel professional for details regarding visa requirements for Egypt. It is the responsibility of each guest to obtain all appropriate visas before cruising.

LOCAL CURRENCY:

The local currency is Egyptian Pound; however Euros and US dollars are well-accepted by most vendors; local ATMs are available in some locations visited. (There is no shopping stop planned during the program.)

DAY ONE - Safaga / Luxor

From the Port of Safaga, a 3.5-hour journey takes you to Luxor via the Eastern Desert and the Nile valley. Upon arrival, lunch will be served.

After lunch, you will start your exploration adventure by visiting the Karnak temple. This grand temple was built, enlarged and decorated over a period of nearly 1,500 years. It was the most important sanctuary of the cult that worshipped the sun god Ra-Amun. The entrance and main axis are lined by ram-headed sphinxes leading to the first Pylon and into the Great Court. This is the largest single area of the Karnak temple, highlighted by 134 huge columns. Your visit will cover the most important parts of this magnificent temple complex.

Following the Karnak temple, you will be visiting the Luxor temple, located in the centre of Luxor town. The grandeur of this temple and its excellent state of preservation never fail to amaze visitors. The original temple was built on the site of an older sanctuary. Over the centuries, various rulers made additions and Ramses II added a statue of himself and two obelisks; one of them stands today in Paris.

After visiting Luxor temple, Proceed to your hotel. Check in. Afternoon tea will be served. Spend the remaining afternoon at leisure or shopping with your guide.

This evening enjoy the visit of Luxor Museum. This marvelous museum overlooks the west bank of the Nile River and has an amazing collection of ancient artifacts. Displays range from magnificent pharaonic art to items used in everyday life, such as pottery and jewelry, including a carefully selected assortment of items from the Theban temples and necropolis.

Following the visit, dinner will be served at your hotel while enjoying a belly dance show. Overnight at Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa - Luxor.

DAY TWO - Luxor

This morning you have the opportunity to go hot air ballooning - an unforgettable experience! (Optional - and at an additional cost - bookable with your Silversea Reservation Agent or with the on board Shore Concierge Team). Pick up time is usually around 4:30 to 5:00 am with an expected return to your hotel at 7:30.

After breakfast depart your hotel toward the West bank of Luxor. Your first visit will be the Valley of the Kings. In this remote area lies the Necropolis of ancient Thebes where the tombs of the great Pharaohs were cleverly concealed deep inside the barren cliffs.

From the coach parking area, it is about a 15-minute walk to the site of the tombs, or you can ride a miniature tram.

Your visit today of the Valley of the Kings will be somehow very special as you will be visiting Seti 1^st tomb which includes the most beautiful paintings in the valley and which is considered the longest tomb in the valley with a length of 137 m. Following Seti I tomb, you will visit the famous King Tutankhamen tomb where you will have the opportunity to see the real mummies of king Tut and if time permitted you can have a quick look on one or two tombs available in the area.

Leaving the Valley of the Kings, a short drive will bring you to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of Egypt's finest and most striking monuments. This extraordinary structure, dedicated to Egypt's only female Pharaoh, rises out of the desert plain in a series of terraces backed by an impressive mountain range.

Following Hatshepsut temple photo stop, few minutes will take you to the Valley of the Queens where you will be visiting the tomb of Nefertari, the great wife of Pharaoh Ramses II which is known to be the most beautiful tomb by its lavishly decoration and colours. Nefertari tomb is called the Sistine Chapel of Ancient Egypt and the word Nefertari means the beautiful companion as she was the favourite King wife.

Finally, before leaving the west bank of Luxor, a photo stop will be made at the Colossi of Memnon. These two giant statues tower above an empty field and are all that remains of the Temple of Amenhotep III. Embark your Dahabeeyah Nile boat where lunch will be served while cruising toward the East bank of Luxor back to your hotel. Free afternoon at leisure followed by an early dinner at your hotel.

After a late check out, a short evening flight for approximate one hour will take you from Luxor to Cairo, Capital of Egypt and considered the most crowded city in Africa.

Late check in at the Four Seasons First Residence. Some nice snacks will be available in your room for a late light dinner.

Overnight in Cairo.

DAY THREE - Cairo

After buffet breakfast served at hotel, enjoy your morning visiting The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization that includes the Mummies room hall. The NMEC is the first of its kind in Egypt and the Arab world. It presents the full range of the richness and diversity of Egyptian civilization throughout the ages, from prehistoric times to the present day by focusing on its continuity and stability as demonstrated by its tangible and intangible heritage. The museum's exceptional collection includes the royal mummies, which are exhibited in a new interactive display using 21st century cutting-edge technology to go beneath the wrappings and reveal their secrets, in addition to shedding light on the rituals and religious beliefs surrounding mummification in ancient Egypt.

Then you will be visiting the Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque. The Mosque of Muhammad Ali is located inside the Citadel of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin) in Cairo. It was built by Muhammad Ali Pasha (1220-1264 AH/1805-1848 AD), the founder of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty (1220-1372 AH/1805-1953 AD), on the site of Mamluk palaces. He had these demolished to make room for his new building, which is also known as the "Alabaster Mosque", in reference to its marble paneling on its interior and exterior walls. The mosque's twin minarets are the highest in all of Egypt, each reaching a height of 84 meters. The outer open court contains a copper clock tower, which was gifted to Muhammad Ali Pasha by Louis Philippe of France in 1262 AH/1845 AD.

Lunch will be served at 5 stars hotel, followed by visiting the Egyptian Museum established by the Egyptian government in 1835. The present museum building was built in 1900 , in the neo classical style by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon. The museum exhibited collections now exceed 12000 objects range from pre historic era to the Greco Roman period. The museum consist of two floors, the museum's ground floor follows the history of ancient Egypt, the second floor consist of thousands of smaller items from the span of Egyptian history.

One of the most important rooms in the Egyptian museum second floor is the room which include the treasure of Tutankhamun the boy-king who ruled Egypt for nine years, although the real power was in the firm hands of others. Beyond his famous treasures, and his god-like golden mask, Tutankhamun appears as a shadowy figure in Egyptian history. The pharaoh is indeed gone, but the mightiness of his treasures still fascinates us to this very day.

Back to your hotel for free time to refresh. In the afternoon/evening enjoy a private lecture by a local Egyptologist.

Overnight in Cairo at the Four Seasons Residence.

DAY FOUR - Cairo / Alexandria

On our last day, after breakfast and check out, you will be visiting Sakkara area, dating from 2700 BC, the Step Pyramid is the oldest stone structure in the world, and was designed by Imhotep for King Djoser. In addition to Djoser's Step Pyramid, there are another 16 pyramids on the site in various states of preservation or decay. Sakkara is also home to an impressive number of mastaba tombs. Because the necropolis was lost beneath the sands for much of the past two millennia, even the sizable mortuary complex surrounding Djoser's pyramid was not unearthed until 1924. As a result, many of the mastaba tombs have been superbly-preserved, with both their structures and lavish internal decorations intact.

After this visit you will have lunch in one of the deluxe hotels located at the Pyramids area followed by the visit of the great Pyramids located 9 miles west of Cairo. The great Pyramids of Giza are considered the most famous of Egypt's attractions and the only monuments left of the ancient wonders, the three main Pyramids at Giza were built as tombs by Cheops, his son Chephren, and Chephren's son Mykiernus to preserve each of the pharaohs' mummified body for eternity. For centuries, these unique structures have intrigued the world while surviving the rise and fall of great dynasties

Ending our journey after lunch at Pyramids area in a sophisticated hotel, will be by visiting the Pyramids and Sphinx including Cheops Pyramid entry. How the Pyramids at Giza were built is one of Egypt's biggest mysteries. Egypt's pharaohs expected to become gods in the afterlife. To prepare for the next world they erected temples to the gods and massive pyramid tombs for themselves-filled with all the things each ruler would need to guide and sustain himself in the next world.

One of the highlights of your visit will be the opportunity to enter Cheops Pyramid through a hole on the north face of the pyramid. To get up to the King's Chamber, you will walk up a ramp through the Grand Gallery until you reach the King's Chamber. In this dark, hot room is the King granite sarcophagus.

Southeast of the great pyramid stands the sphinx carved out of solid rock around 2650 BC. Steeped in legend and superstition, the sphinx was a monument either to the sun god Ra or to Pharaoh Chephren. It has the head of a man and the body of a lion. The monument faces east, probably to greet the rising sun and the return of life each day.

An opportunity to ride a typical Egyptian camel will be offered for those who are interested.

Finally, a quick shopping stop will be made before you start your journey of 3 hours to Alexandria to embark the ship.

Please note: The tour sequence may vary. All sites require extensive walking. At the Valley of the Kings, entrance to the tombs involves negotiating sloping pathways and a flight of steps. Guides are only allowed to provide commentary outside the tombs. Guests are advised to wear lightweight clothing with comfortable, rubber-soled walking shoes. Remember to carry sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a sweater for the evening and to bring your camera.

Program Includes:

One-night stay at Hilton Luxor hotel

Two nights stay at Four Seasons First Residence Cairo hotel

Three breakfasts, four lunches, three dinners, one afternoon tea

All offered meals includes bottled water, soda, a choice of two local alcohol drink either wine or beer, tea and coffee

All sightseeing and transfers as per itinerary

Not Included:

Hot air ballooning, any meals and drinks not specified above, gratuities to drivers and tour guides, laundry, telephone calls, cancellation insurance, and other personal items.