Itinerary Sacred Sites of Egypt October 1st - October 13th 2010 (12 Days)
Fri Oct 1: Depart USA
Board your international flight to Cairo and begin your journey back in time to this charming, ancient land.
Sat Oct 2: – Cairo
Arrive at Cairo International Airport, where our tour coordinator will assist us with all customs and visa formalities. Transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel in Giza and check in. Afterwards we visit the Giza Plateau to attune to the energies around the pyramids and Sphinx this is a good time to charge a crystal or two for the journey ahead. Welcome/Get Acquainted Dinner at hotel.
Sun Oct 3: – Cairo
After breakfast at the hotel we will visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities in Cairo, exhibiting over 120,000 objects in its 107 halls; it comprises the world’s greatest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts. Marvel at the many rooms filled with golden treasures extracted from the world-famous tomb of boy king, Tutankhamen. We will stop for lunch at a local restaurant and then return to the Giza Plateau to visit the Solar Boat Museum, and enjoy a late afternoon camel ride in the desert behind the pyramids. This evening we will have dinner at the hotel. Optional Sound and Light show at the pyramids for those interested.
Mon Oct 4: – Cairo
After buffet breakfast at hotel we will visit stepped pyramid of Sakkara, built by the high priest, architect, physician and magus, Imhotep. Sakkara is said to be the oldest known of Egypt’s 107 pyramids. Although the original structure was a burial chamber 28 meters underground, Imhotep enlarged it several times to eventually reach a six tiered rectangle 60 meters high. Sakkara seems to have been the first area where limestone was employed, not only for the outer casing of the pyramid but also to cover interior walls. We will also visit the newly opened Imhotep Museum, which houses rare and mysterious artifacts from the Old Kingdom capital of Memphis. We will do a group meditation in the area just outside of the temple complex, to set the intentions for building the “new world”. We will then enjoy lunch at the oasis-like Sakkara Palm Club which has an amazing view of the stepped pyramid and Saqqara village. After lunch, a visit to the Dashur and Medun pyramids, followed by a visit to one of the village carpet schools famous for its silken weavings and traditional handicrafts. Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.
Tue Oct 5: – Cairo
We will checkout after breakfast and then morning visits to a Perfume Palace and Papyrus gallery then return to the hotel. Today lunch on one’s own. Afternoon visit to Coptic Cairo and the Citadel. Enjoy shopping and window shopping in the area.
Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.
Wed Oct 6: - Aswan, Cruise
After breakfast we will fly to Aswan and transfer to our Cruise Ship. Have lunch on board ship. You will visit the High Dam, the Granite Quarries with the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae; view of Kitchener’s Island botanical garden and the Agha Khan Mausoleum by felucca, after lunch, sail to Kom Ombo where you will visit the Ptolemaic Temple of Sobek & Haroeries. Then sail to Edfu and overnight.
Thu Oct 7:- Edfu, Luxor
Travel by horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Horus, the falcon-god, (237 B.C.) considered the best-preserved temple in Ancient Egypt and the second largest after the Temple of Karnak. Sail to Esna, passing through Esna Lock, and continue sailing towards Luxor and overnight.
Fri Oct 8: - Luxor (Optional Sound & Light Luxor)
Visit the West Bank necropolis including the Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. (Evening optional Sound & Light Show at the Karnak Temple), overnight in Luxor.
Sat Oct 9: - Luxor
After breakfast, visit Karnak and Luxor Temples, a centuries-old city of pylons, hypostyle halls, colossal statues, shrines and obelisks. Disembarkation and transfer to your hotel Steinberger Dinner and overnight.
Sun Oct 10 – Luxor
Breakfast at the hotel we will visit Dendera & Abydos (Box lunch provided).
EARLY wake-up call for our 2 hour drive to Dendera to visit the beautiful Ptolemaic Temple dedicated to Hathor, Goddess of beauty, love, music, and astrology. In her chapel of the New Year, dedicated to the star Sirius, we will see one of the most beautiful depictions of the sky Goddess Nut, the Galactic Mother.
Inscriptions at Dendera speak of the original site being built at a time “when the gods walked on Earth”, and Dendera housed one of the most important healing centers of ancient Egypt. We also have time to explore the initiation crypts and tunnels beneath the temple. We then continue on to the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, the “mecca” of ancient Egypt and the necropolis for pre-dynastic kings and Pharaohs dating back to the fourth millennium BC. This magnificent 19th Dynasty Temple has some of the most exquisite artwork in all of Egypt. Abydos is the site of the enigmatic monument, known as the Osirion
Overnight: At the hotel.
Mon Oct 11 – Luxor, Cairo
Check out: We transfer to Luxor Airport for Cairo flight.
Upon arrival in Cairo we will transfer by air-conditioned coach to the hotel, check-in at our hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at the Pyramids and Sphinx on the Giza Plateau, the Great Pyramid being the only survivor of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World". We will view the gorgeous panorama of the Giza plateau, as well as the Valley Temple of the Sphinx. After dinner we will have a pyramid initiation. Overnight Le Meridien Pyramids.
Tues Oct 12 – Cairo
Pre-dawn wake-up call for special Private initiation time inside Great Pyramid and the paws of the Sphinx. ( Free afternoon to explore the Giza plateau. Farewell dinner and overnight at the hotel
Wed Oct 13 – Departure
Check-out of hotel and transfer to Cairo International Airport grateful for all that we experienced.
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Purchase 12 Day Tour October 1st - October 13th 2010
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