The Eagle of Saladin – Best Egypt Tours

The tour will start at the hotel in Cairo. After freshening up, you shall meet our local representative.  He will share information on Egypt’s life and go through all the essential information you need to know. He’ll go through your itinerary for the next fifteen days and answer the questions you may have. You will learn more about your tour, and if you are with the group, you shall familiarize yourself with your egypt travel companions.
If you have a get-up-and-go feel, you can stroll down Muizz Street. You can see the Mosque of Al-Hakim bi Amr Allah (1013), the Mosque of al-Qamar (1125), the Complex of Qalawun (1285), the Madrasa of Al-Nasir Muhammad (1304), Qasr Bashtak (1339), the Madrasa of Barquq (1386), the Mausoleum of Sultan Al-Ghuri (1505), and many, much more remarkable structure of historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance. Return to your hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, our exploration of Ancient Egypt starts. Depart Our first stop shall be at Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid of 3rd dynasty pharaoh, Djoser, the oldest monument we visit from the Old Kingdom. We can enter the Pyramid of the king Unas to see the initial pyramid texts.
Post lunch break, we see the mastaba of Mereruka, the Museum of Imhotep, and the New Kingdom temple-tombs of Maya. Throughout the reign of Pharaohs of Tutankhamun,  Ay and Horemheb of the Eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt, Maya was the overseer of the treasury.  We also see the Serapeum, originally known as the Apis bull tombs, where ancient civilizations would mummify and bury bulls in vaulted tombs. We return to our hotel for an overnight stay.

After an early breakfast, during the first half, explore the monuments of the 4th dynasty in Giza, the Great Sphinx, Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) and The Khufu ship (the Solar Boat Museum), which was sealed into a pit at the Great Pyramid of Giza around 2500 BC. Post lunch break, we travel to Dahshur to visit the Red and Bent Pyramids. The red Pyramid, which also called North Pyramid, is the third-largest Pyramid. Both the pyramids were built by the pharaoh Sneferu. The Red Pyramid, completed at the beginning of the 26th century BC, was the first successful effort to construct a true pyramid. It was the inspiration for the 4th Dynasty pyramids at Giza. “South Pyramid or “Sneferu Shines in the South”  or The bent Pyramid was the first unsuccessful try at a smooth-sided pyramid.  This Pyramid rises from the desert at a 54-degree inclination up to 47 meters, but the section is built at the angle of 43-degrees, which visibly looked “bent”. Archaeologists now are sure that the Bent Pyramid represents an intermediate form between step-sided and smooth-sided pyramids. Immediately afterwards, by the same pharaoh, Red Pyramid was built at an angle of 43 degrees from its base.

After breakfast,  we depart for an excursion trip to Alexandria. Our first halt shall be at t Pompay’s Pillar. Between 298-302 AD, this pillar was set up in honour of the Augustus Diocletian of the 4^th Century. The giant Corinthian column first supported a colossal porphyry statue of the emperor in armour. This single column symbolises the site of what was once a massive and intricate temple built from marble and decorated with expensive metals on the interior.

Later we drive to the Catacombs, which has the largest Roman Cemetery consisting of three levels cut in the rock. The post we proceeded to visit the Qaitbay Citadel was built on the site of the ancient pharaohs (Light House) of Alexandria, then to Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Later in the evening, proceed back to Cairo.

After leisurely breakfast, we visit The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Museum of Cairo or the Egyptian Museum.  The museum has an enormous collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. It has 120000 items on display with a representative amount. The collection includes mummies, coffins, stones, ancient possessions, and even nourishment types that used to be buried to use in the afterlife.
Post lunch break, we visit the museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of Islamic art and artefacts, the Museum of Islamic Art. This museum considered as one of the greatest in the world.
The rest of the evening is at your disposal to visit the sites of your subject of interest. Later you board the train for Aswan. .

Breakfast on board. On Arrival at Aswan Station, you will be received by a local guide, who will take you around Aswan. Aswan, a city on the Nile river. Aswan is a much enjoyable place with its great market, connection to Nubian people and culture.
We shall visit The Philae Temple complex on Agilkia Island near the landmark Aswan high Dam & Nasser Lake. Philae’s ruins include the columned Temple of Isis, which was built to honour the goddess Isis. This temple was the last built in the classical Egyptian style. The Construction began around 690 BC, and it was one of the last outposts where the goddess was worshipped. Goddess Isis’s cult subsequently spread worldwide, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan.
Later we drive to the east side of the Nile to board our cruise. The rest of the evening shall be at leisure.

Rise & shine at very early hours, depart for Ramses II and Nefertari’s magnificent temples at Abu Simbel. We shall carry a breakfast box prepared by our cruise ship. We shall start this tour by leaving Aswan at 04:00 hrs in the morning.
The Abu Simbel is one of the greatest identifiable ancient sites of Egypt. For 3000 plus years, it was on the west bank of the Nile river. However, the temple complex was dismantled and rebuilt following the decision to build a high Dam at Aswan in 1960. The temple was dismantled and re-assembled in 1968 on the plateau 200 feet above and 600 feet west of the original place.
After our visit, we start our return journey to the cruise ship. Our arrival should be at around 0200 hrs in the afternoon. Post lunch on board and begin to sail along the Nile, arriving at the Kom Ombo Temple in the evening,  one of the images of Egypt which will stay with you for life. We shall visit an unusual double temple Kom Ombo dedicated to the Crocodile God Sobek (southern side) and the falcon God Haroeris (Northen side). Later, return to the cruise to continue sailing towards Edfu, where we’ll drop anchor to enjoy dinner and spend the night on board

After breakfast, Visit the Edfu temple by horse carriage from the cruise to the temple. The Edfu temple is the best preserved and the 2nd biggest Temple in Egypt, dedicated to the Falcon God Horus.  You will definitely enjoy the beautiful scenes of ancient Egyptian culture. Later back again to the cruise, and we’ll continue sailing towards Luxor. On its way, we’ll cross the famous Esna Lock floodgate. The lock is a scenic photo spot for the Nile travellers while crossing onboard their Nile cruises. Enjoy all the natural views and take unique photos of the islands and the natural life.

On arrival at the Majestic city of Luxor. Here, we explore two of the most remarkable temples in the country, the Luxor and Karnak temples, parted in antiquity by the Sphinxes’ Avenue of three kilometres long.

We will start our first tour to visit the largest temple globally, The Karnak temple. Luxor’s vast temple complex is dedicated primarily to Amun and dating from as early as 2000 BCE. The Hypostyle Hall of this complex is the largest of any temple in the world, covering an area of 5356 sq. meters. Its roof blocks are supported by 134 colossal columns 70 feet high. It is a remarkable sight, and in popularity, it is second only to the Great Pyramids.
Continue your tour and visit the beautiful Luxor Temple; it was built approximately 1400 BCE. In the Egyptian language, it is known as ipet resyt, “the southern sanctuary”. Later we visit the wonderful Luxor Museum, which houses a great collection from the Old Kingdom times to the Mamluk period, including a famous statue of Thutmose III. After the incredible east bank tour of Luxor, back to your cruise. At night, you have an opportunity to visit the famous old market of Luxor. Spend the night anchored in Luxor.

After breakfast, we disembark on the western bank. Our tour starts from Ancient Theban Necropolis.  First, visit the Valley of Kings, where more than 60 Egyptian Pharaohs have their resting place, which is carved out of the mountain cliffs. We sightsee some of the 63 known tombs constructed for the pharaohs and nobles of the New Kingdom and visit the place where Howard Carter lived during his hunt for Tutankhamun’s tomb. It has been reinstated with pictures and tools from the excavation. After the lunch break, we visit the tomb of the favourite wife of Rameses II, Queen Nefertiti. (subject to permission)  This place has high-quality pulsating decorations beautifying every surface. The last stop will be at the three New Kingdom tombs of a queen and princes in the Queens Valley. Returning to the East Bank by coach and boat, the evening is at leisure. 
Visit time needed for sites.
Valley of the Kings – 3 hours.
Howard Carter House – Around 1 hour
Queen Nefertiti –  Around 1 hour
Three New Kingdom tombs –  Around 1-2 hour

After breakfast, we assemble for our Guide / Historian’s brief talk on today’s itinerary. The first stop shall at Deir el-Medina, the village of the workers who built the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. The two eighteen-metre-high stone statues making Colossi of Memnon represent the Pharaoh Amenhotep III and once guarded his deifying temple.
We then travel to Deir el-Bahri and the majestic Memorial Temple of Hatshepsut. Deir el-Bahri is a complex of tombs and mortuary temples. The first monument built here was the mortuary temple
of Mentuhotep II of the Eleventh Dynasty. This is a part of the Theban Necropolis. A large ramp leads to the two upper terraces. The best-preserved reliefs are on the middle terrace. The upper deck, restored by a Polish-Egyptian team over the last 25 years, had 24 colossal Osiris statues, some of which are left.
After lunch, we head to Medinet Habu and the well-preserved Memorial Temple of Rameses III. Apart from its architectural importance and sheer size, the temple is covered in reliefs depicting Rameses’s conquests of foreign invaders from Crete, Libya, and elsewhere. We also visit the Ramesseum, with its fallen colossus of Rameses II, which was built over 30 years. We finish our day by visiting the Nobles’ Tombs, where we see three interesting tombs of high ranking 18th Dynasty officials.
Deir el-Medina – Around 1-2 hour
Temple of Hatshepsut – Around 1-2 hour
Medinet Habu & The Ramesseum

After breakfast, Our Guide / Historian will give a brief talk on today’s visiting sites. Later, we proceed to Dendera to visit the Temple of Hathor, also known as the Dendera temple complex; the temple is one of Egypt’s best-preserved temple. The temple is visually astonishing, with a majestic entrance, hieroglyphs and detailed carvings. Here there are three temples to visit.  Recent cleaning has revealed the lively and accurate enormous painted reliefs on the ceiling.
After the lunch break, we visit the spectacular Temple of Seti I,  also known as the Great Temple of Abydos. After a certain amount of restored work, the temple is one of the most beautifully decorated temples, a most complete and unique temple in Egypt. Devoted to Osiris, a major feature is a long list of cartouches known as the Abydos Kings List. Later return to Abydos overnight in Abydos.

Our Guide / Historian will give a brief talk on today’s visiting sites. We depart for Minya, stopping at Tuna el-Gebel, a necropolis with tombs dating mainly to the Greco-Roman Period. Here we see Akhenaten’s rock-cut boundary stela, the catacombs which stored sacred mummies of baboons, falcons, ibises and the unique temple-tomb of Petosiris, a high priest.

After breakfast, Our Guide / Historian will give a brief talk on today’s visiting sites. Later, we shall drive to the City of Akhetaten at Amarna; Amarna is a large Egyptian archaeological site that speaks of remains of the capital city established nearly 1346 BC and built by the Pharaoh Akhenaten under his vision for a society dedicated to one god cult.
Our full-day visit here allows us to thoroughly explore the city and its suburbs, including the Palace of Nefertiti, Temple of Aten, and tombs decorated in the ‘Amarna-style’ of art.

After breakfast, we explore the Middle Kingdom Provincial Governors or Nomarchs’ exquisitely painted tombs at Beni Hasan. Egyptian archaeological site lying on the eastern bank of the Nile. The site is noted for its rock-cut tombs of 11th- and 12th-dynasty and a beautiful panoramic view of the Nile Valley. Later we will proceed to Cairo; On the way, we have our lunch break. On arrival in Cairo, check-in into the hotel and the rest of the evening at leisure. Overnight in Cairo.

Stay: Minya

Tour concludes.