Day 1) El Quseir – Cairo Tour – Fly to Luxor
Our two days tours will start in the early morning with pick up from your hotel in El Quseir. Then you will be transferred to Hurghada airport to fly to Cairo, where you will be accompanied by your Egyptology expert guide to visit the great Pyramids of Giza are the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt. These massive stone structures were built around 4500 years ago on a rocky desert plateau close to the Nile. But the intriguing Egyptian Pyramids were more than just tombs for kings. The mysteries surrounding pyramids symbolism, design and purpose have inspired passionate debate. It is likely that many of these mysteries will never be solved. You will visit the three famous Pyramids of Khufu (great Pyramid of Cheops), Khafre (middle pyramid of Chephren) and Menkaure (little Pyramid of Mykerinos) who ruled through 2589-2504 BCE. Then you will pay a visit to the mysterious Sphinx, a mythical creature with a lion's body and a human head) that stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza. Cairo trip also includes a visit to the Valley Temple facing the statue of the Sphinx. Lunch meal will be served at a high quality restaurant during Cairo tour.
Then you will proceed to the famous Egyptian Museum at the Tahrir Square where the Egyptian Revolution indulged January 2011 against Mubarak and his regime. The Egyptian museum comprises many sections arranged in chronological order for Tutankhamon's treasures, the pre-dynasty and the Old Kingdom monuments, the Middle Kingdom monuments, Modern Kingdom, late period and the Greek and Roman periods, papyrus and a section for sarcophagi and scrabs. The last stop in Cairo will be for a shopping opportunity at the famous bazaars of Khan El Khalili. Free time at your own to choose among a number of optional Cairo trips either to attend the sound and light show at the Pyramids or to have your dinner cruise while sailing in the River Nile with belly dance show, then you will be transferred to Cairo airport to fly down to Luxor, with direct transfer to your hotel in Luxor for overnight stay.
Day 2) Luxor Tour – Back to El Quseir
Luxor tour starts with pick up from your hotel after breakfast. In our Luxor trip you will visit the following sites with your professional Egyptologist private guide:
Karnak Temple TourClose to the city on the East Bank of the Nile you will visit the spectacular Temples of Karnak. In ancient times, Karnak was known as Ipet-isut, 'The most venerated place. Work began on Karnak temple complex in the 16th century BC with construction continuing over the next 2,000 years as each successive pharaoh added to the site’s epic scale. The temple complex of Karnak was the most important place of worship in ancient Egypt. Karnak Temple is famous for its Hypostyle Hall in the Great Temple of Amun. Lunch meal will be served during Luxor tours.
Luxor West Bank TourCross the Nile to the West Bank of the city to find the necropolis of ancient Thebes. Because there is so much to see and so much ground to cover, guided tours usually enter 3 tombs at the major archeological sites.
The Valley of the Kings Tour:This is where the pharaoh's were buried and hoped to meet their Gods in the afterlife. The Valley of the Kings contains many of the tombs of pharaohs from the New Kingdom including Tutankhamun's tomb discovered in the 1920's almost untouched is perhaps the best known to most of us non-archaeologist. Most of the tombs are cut into the limestone and follow a pattern of three corridors, an antechamber and a sunken sarcophagus chamber.
Hatshepsut Temple Tour:The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is located beneath the cliffs at Deir el Bahari in the west bank of the Nile near the Valley of the Kings. Designed by the architect Senemut, the mortuary temple is dedicated to the sun god Amon-Ra and is located next to the mortuary temple of Mentuhotep II, which served both as an inspiration, and later, a quarry. It is considered one of the incomparable monuments of ancient time.
The Colossi of Memnon TourTwo giant statues make up the Colossi of Memnon. Most visitors get a glimpse of them on their way to the Valley of the Kings but it is worth a stop to see them up close. Before leaving for El Quseir you will stop for a shopping opportunity at the famous bazaars where you may wish to pick up a few good quality souvenirs. Drive back to El Quseir with direct transfer to your hotel in El Quseir. (End of
Cairo Luxor two days tours)
