EGYPT & DUBAI

Visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities to see the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic artifacts. Then drive to Old Cairo to visit Al Moallaka Church (Hanging Church). In the afternoon, visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic Sphinx. (B,L)

Transfer from your hotel to Cairo International Airport for your morning flight to Aswan. Upon arrival you will be escorted to your Nile cruise ship. Accommodations onboard consist of outside cabins with private facilities. In Aswan, you will visit the High Dam, the Granite Alexandria Quarries with the Unfinished Obelisk, and the Temple of Isis at Philae. Sail on board a felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailboat and view Kitchener’s Island Botanical Garden and the Agha Khan Mausoleum. After lunch, sail to Kom Ombo, where you will visit the Ptolemaic Temple of Sobek and Haroeris before continuing to Edfu. (B,L,D)

This morning, travel by horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Horus, the falcon god. Dating from 237 B.C., it is considered the best preserved temple in Egypt and the second largest after the Temple of Karnak. Later this afternoon, sail to Esna, passing through the Esna Lock, and continue sailing towards Luxor. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, visit the West Bank necropolis including the Valley of the Kings, the Funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Enjoy an optional sound and light show at Karnak Temple this evening. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, visit Karnak and Luxor temples, a centuries old city of pylons, hypostyle halls, colossal statues, shrines and obelisks. Disembark and transfer to the airport for your afternoon flight back to Cairo. Upon arrival, you will be met and escorted to your hotel. This evening enjoy an optional sound and light show at the Pyramid. (B)

After breakfast, transfer to Cairo International Airport for your departure flight to Dubai. Arrive at Dubai International Airport. After clearing customs, you will be met at the exit by our representative and transferred to your hotel for check-in. (B)

After breakfast, you will start your tour of Dubai, the Gulf’s most enchanting and cosmopolitan city. Start with a visit of the magnificent twin minaret Jumeirah Mosque, a spectacular example of modern Islamic architecture. Pass by the Palastquater “Zabeel” and Skyline at the Dubai Creek and continue towards Bastakiya, the wind towered houses of old merchants. After a visit of the Dubai Museum, housed in the 180 year old Al Fahidi Fort, you will cross the Dubai Creek with an “Abra” (water taxi) to reach the other side for a visit of the Spice Souk and Gold Souk. Return to Dubai for lunch at a local restaurant and a visit to the Burj Khalifa Tower. (B,L)

Today, take a half day tour to Sharjah, the “Pearl of the Gulf”. Our tour starts at the monumental Culture roundabout before heading off to the Natural History Museum in the desert. Returning to the city, we head for the Corniche, with the golden Al Majara Souk and into the heart of the heritage district, where the Al Naboodah House and the Al Arsa souk provide a glimpse of how life used to be lived. The tour ends at the fabulous Central Souk, with its typical Arab architecture and if you’re looking for souvenirs, then the vast selection of carpets, antiques and curios will surely satisfy the most determined shopper. In the afternoon, Land Cruisers (6 person to a Vehicle) will pick you up for a Desert Safari Drive through the fantastic high sand dunes. Take unique pictures from the Arabian Sunset in the desert. After the sun disappears behind the golden dunes, we drive to our Desert Safari Camp. The smell of freshly grilled kebabs and lamb, campfires, the scent of traditional water pipes and the relaxing sounds of Arabian music invite you for an unforgettable evening complete with a performer who will demonstrate the ancient art of belly dancing. Sandboarding and henna painting are also included. Return back to Dubai. (B,D)

After breakfast, we will enjoy a full day tour of Abu Dhabi. The excursion takes you two hours from Dubai, passing the Jebel Ali Port, the largest man-made seaport in the world, to the capital of the UAE. Stop for pictures at Jazirra Residence, the former home of Shaikh Zayed, the previous president of UAE and the father of the nation. Admire Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the third biggest in the world, and visit Shaikh Zayed’s gravesite. Drive on Al Maqta Bridge and pass by one of the richest areas in Abu Dhabi with its impressive villas. Further along, proceed to the Corniche Road and stop for pictures at the glamorous Emirates Palace Hotel with its own marina and helipad. The tour continues to Al Bateen, where the palaces of the Royal Family are located. Stop for a shopping break in Marina Mall then enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Return back to Dubai late this afternoon. (B,L)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight back home. (B)