PORT SAID (CAIRO) , EGYPT
CLASSIC CAIRO
Duration approximately 11 hours
including lunch
Depart from Port Said in luxury a/c motor coaches en route to Africa’s
largest city, the teeming metropolis of Cairo. Your first stop will be at Tahrir
(Liberty) Square, the heart of down town Cairo. Visit the National
Archaeological Museum and acquaint yourself with Egypt’s ancient history,
spanning a period of over 50 centuries. The Museum is the repository of the
world’s largest and richest collection of Egyptian Antiquities, amongst them the
priceless collection of King Tutankhamen.
Enjoy a sumptuous international
buffet at a leading 5* deluxe hotel near the pyramids. After lunch drive to the
Giza Plateau where the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, the Great
Pyramids of Giza still stand. Visit the Pyramids and enjoy panoramic views from
the Western Plateau, then continue down the valley where the guardian of this
mortuary complex, the mighty Sphinx lies.
Visit a Papyrus Institute where
the art of paper making from reeds, discovered by the Ancient Egyptians, will be
demonstrated for you. You will also have time for souvenir shopping before you
commence the return drive to Port Said.
This tour is suitable for elderly and
assisted, physically challenged persons. Unassisted persons with walking
difficulties will be inconvenienced only in the museum, but they can set their
own pace within the time allocated for visiting the museum. Less taxing for them
at the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Comfortable walking shoes and sun hat
recommended. Although there’s an elevator in the museum at times is not in
operation but employees carry wheelchairs upstairs.
Visit inside a Pyramid is
not included in the program, neither recommended for persons suffering from
claustrophobia, breathing, knee or back problems. Only 15 persons are allowed at
a time inside a very narrow, low ceiling corridor where not only they stoop, at
times they have to bend their knees as well and the main chamber of the Pyramid
is totally empty. It is very humid and dark inside. Entrance fee to Cheops is LE
100, Chephren’s LE 25 and Mycerinus LE 20
With the exception of the hall
housing the Royal Mummies and the treasures of Tutankhamen, the Museum is not
air conditioned. Natural ventilation produces cooling breezes. Visitors go
through 2 security check points before they enter the Museum.
Soft drinks and
bottled water available on the bus payable directly to the driver at €1 for
sodas and €½ for water. No cameras or videos allowed in the museum.
No
camera fees for pyramids.
THE PYRAMIDS AND THE RIVER NILE IN STYLE
Duration approximately 11
hours including lunch
The journey to Africa’s largest city lasts approximately 3hours, a drive
through reclaimed, cultivated desert, and modern industrial towns.
Arriving
in Cairo, Africa’s largest city, your first stop will be the Citadel of Saladin
and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali. Admire the exquisite interiors of the
Mosque and view the fascinating skyline of Old Cairo from the top of the
hill.
At the banks of the River Nile downtown, a luxurious cruise boat awaits
to sail you on the same timeless waterway traversed by Pharaohs, Queens and
Nobles thousands of years ago. Sit back, relax and enjoy a sumptuous buffet
lunch in cool interiors as you glide past Cairo’s waterfront landmarks. A
folkloric presentation and belly dancing will be performed during
lunch.
Continue to the Giza Plateau where the only remaining Wonder of the
Ancient World, the Great Pyramids of Giza are found. A panoramic view of the
three Pyramids from the Western Plateau affords great opportunities for
photographs, before your coach parks near the Pyramid of Chephren where time
will be allocated to explore the site on your own. Drive down the valley to
visit the guardian of this mortuary complex, the mysterious Sphinx. It is
watching the passage of time and men in eons of silence its expression an enigma
yet to be unraveled.
Visit a Papyrus Institute where the art of paper making
from reeds will be demonstrated and limited time for souvenir shopping will be
allocated before you return to Port Said.
Suitable for elderly and assisted,
physically challenged persons.
**NOTES**
Bottled water and sodas available on the bus payable directly to
the driver at €1 for sodas and € ½ for water.
Shoulders and knees must be
covered while visiting the Mosque and shoes must be removed. We supply each
person with a plastic bag to store and carry their shoes.
A flight of 30
stone stairs lead to the entrance grounds of the mosque at the citadel. No
cameras or video fees at the Citadel. No Professional video allowed .
There are 15 marble stairs to reach the pier at Nile Crystal for the lunch cruise.
Passengers wishing to ride a camel at the Pyramids must negotiate price with
camel driver. Passengers must not pay until back down on the ground. Agreed fee
for a short ride must not exceed €2. Lean forward when animal goes up and lean
back when animal kneels down. Listen to driver’s instructions for a safe
ride.
Visit inside a Pyramid is as follow: Cheops: 100 L.E. Chephren 25 and
Mycerinus: 20 L.E. each. Only 15 people each time are allowed inside the Pyramid
of Cheops, maximum 150 for the day on a first come basis. Not recommended for
people suffering from claustrophobia or have back and/or knee problems. The
corridor is dark and low and at most of the time visitors have to stoop or bend
their knees while they walk. The main chamber is totally empty. Very humid and
dark inside. Cameras and videos not allowed inside. No limitations to a visit in
the other 2 Pyramids, their interiors are also empty and same conditions prevail
as the first one.
A lot of vendors sell all sorts of souvenirs at the
Pyramids, especially at the Western Plateau. What is being sold as papyrus at
extremely cheap prices are nothing but painted banana leaves, not real papyrus.
Warn passengers to be aware of great bargains at great prices! Please consult
and seek the advice of your guide when not sure.