Egyptian Odyssey

With Smithsonian Journeys

Departures:

Dec 26 – Jan 2, 2012
Jan. 08 – 19, 2012
March 14 – 25, 2012
Sept. 17 – 28, 2012
Oct. 8 – 19, 2012
Nov. 26 – Dec. 07, 2012 

Study Leader: Randa Baligh

Click here for further details about the 2012 journeys

Along the Nile River’s fertile plains one of the earliest civilizations gave rise to an intriguing culture—the ancient Egyptians. Delve into the mysterious realm of the pharaohs to discover their colossal monuments and elaborate tombs, many of which are World Heritage sites. Our Egyptologist offers insight into the magnificent temples at Karnak and Luxor, the extraordinary Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Nobles, Abu Simbel, and the Great Pyramids. Explore cities full of architectural gems and important museum collections, and experience life along the Nile as you cruise aboard a comfortable riverboat. You’ll also learn about the Nubian people and traditions while visiting the Nubian Museum in Aswan, and come to understand modern Egyptian life during an engaging discussion with local women.
.

Tour Highlights

• This tour is one of our Smithsonian Journeys Signature tours and is designed for small groups of 16 to 24 Smithsonian travelers. Throughout the tour, you will be accompanied by one of our exceptional Smithsonian Study Leaders, all top experts in their fields. This tour represents outstanding travel value, featuring included international airfare.
• Throughout this tour, travel in the company of an exceptional Smithsonian Study Leader. Randa Baligh is an Egyptologist who earned her Ph.D. at Yale University and lectures on Egyptian culture and civilization. She will accompany an autumn departure.
• Enjoy the ever-changing scenery of the Nile Valley on a relaxing four-night cruise.
• Participate in an engaging panel discussion with Egyptian women about life in modern Egypt.
• Marvel at the gigantic temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, saved from the rising water of Lake Nasser by a team of forty nations.
• Take an in-depth tour led by your Smithsonian Expert at the Egyptian Antiquities Museum

Itinerary

Days 1-2 — Depart New York for Cairo on a group flight
Upon arrival the next day, transfer to the Sofitel Hotel in downtown Cairo. Gather this evening for an introductory lecture followed by a welcome dinner. (D)

Day 3 — Cairo
Begin your Cairo stay at the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, a renowned repository of treasured artifacts from all over Egypt. After lunch at the Khan El Khalili Restaurant, enjoy a tour of Cairo’s most famed bazaar—Khan El Khalili. (B,L)

Day 4 — Cairo
Today, gain insight into Cairo’s religious past and present on a tour of the “hanging church” (possibly the oldest Christian church in Egypt dating to around the 4th century), the Ibn Ezra synagogue, and the Alabaster Mosque, which was built for the 19th-century ruler Mohammed Ali Pasha. (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Cairo and Luxor
For a fascinating perspective on the recent revolution in Egypt, and U.S. interests in the region, return to the neighborhood of the Museum of Antiquities for a morning on the now famous Tahrir Square. Meet men and women who participated in the revolution as it unfolded January 25-February 11, 2011 and hear of their continued hopes and aspirations for their country. Continue to the U.S. Embassy and engage U.S. officials in conversation about their experiences during the revolution and explore U.S. historic ties to Egypt and the continued role in the region. In the afternoon, board a flight to the ancient city of Thebes, now known as Luxor. Check into your hotel, then explore the beautiful Luxor Museum which possess some of the most striking art and artifacts in all of Egypt. (B,L)

Day 6 — West Bank
The pharaohs of the 18th dynasty concealed their burial sites in elaborate catacombs near Thebes. Spend the morning on the Nile’s West Bank among the painted tombs of the Valley of the Kings. Also visit the three-tiered temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt’s first female ruler. Veer off the beaten track to the Valley of Nobles, where lively depictions of everyday life provide an interesting contrast to the formal scenes found in the tombs of the pharaohs. Stop by the Colossi of Memnon then return to Luxor and board the M.S. Tulip, your home for the next four nights. After sundown, visit the imposing Temple of Luxor. (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Luxor and Esna
At daybreak, enter the magnificent temple of Karnak and imagine its massive colonnades painted in garish colors and its halls filled with worshippers at festival time. Return to the M.S. Tulip and glimpse village life on the Nile as you float south toward Esna for the lock crossing. (B,L,D)

Day 8 — Edfu and Kom Ombo
In Edfu, view the Temple of Horus, where intricate carvings portray the legend of Horus, god of the sky, and his wife, Hathor. Cruise to Kom Ombo to visit the twin sanctuaries of Sobek and Haroeris, located high on a dune overlooking the river. (B,L,D)

Day 9 — Aswan
Cruise onward to Aswan, where spices, leather, ivory, and crocodiles were traded with the ancient African kingdoms of Kush (Nubia) and Axum. Visit the Nubia Museum of Aswan then board a felucca, a traditional sailboat, and circle Elephantine Island. Conclude the day at the Philae Temple of Isis, transported to its present location when the Aswan Dam was built. (B,L,D)

Day 10 — Abu Simbel and Cairo
Disembark the M.S. Tulip and stop at a site overlooking the Aswan High Dam. Then fly to Abu Simbel to visit the colossal temples of Ramses II and his queen, Nefertari. Carved out of a mountainside and carried uphill to save them from flooding from the Aswan dam, the temples are also a marvel of modern engineering. Return to Cairo by plane and check into the Meridien Pyramids hotel, which sits opposite the mighty Giza pyramids. (B,L)

Day 11 — Sakkara and Giza
Conclude your stay by traveling to the necropolis of Sakkara. The most significant of its treasures is the step pyramid designed by Imhotep, reportedly the oldest stone building in the world. After lunch, experience the splendors of Giza, including the great pyramids and the ever-mysterious Sphinx. At the Solar Boat Museum, see the phenomenal wooden vessel found buried at the base of the Great Pyramid which is thought to have ferried Cheops from Memphis 4,500 years ago. This evening at the hotel, participate in an engaging panel discussion about modern Egypt with Egyptian women. Celebrate your journey at a festive farewell reception and dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 12 — Cairo and the U.S.
Depart Cairo for New York on your group flight. (B)