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As we don't provide just a small selection of ready-made tours, you may still need examples of what we can do. This is one of our latest tours for a group of thirty people - and we hope it can give some ideas to what you can do when you are given the freedom to choose.
Be aware that some elements of this tour include certain visits important for first time visitors. If you or your group has been here before, then Egypt and MyWay Travel got nearly unlimited alternative options.
Arrival to Egypt
The international flight arrived at Cairo International Airport, entry visa and passport check was arranged with the help of our representatives. Apart from hand luggage, our guests would not have to carry their luggage. From arrival to departure, all luggages were taken care of by MyWay operations.
Outside the airport they got the first feel of the Cairo air, and from here the tour went in our bus to the Nile Hilton Hotel. This hotel is located in the real downtown centre of Cairo (we often recommend Nile Hilton or Mena House in Cairo, as the first is as downtown as you can get and the last has the grand Giza pyramids as closest neighbour).
Upon arrival to the hotel it was time to get to the rooms and freshen up before we had a gathering where we shortly went through all that would happen the coming two weeks - and answer all the questions people already had. Wine, beer or soft drinks was included at this meeting.
As many was tired after a long flight, dinner was not included this evening. Those who needed sleep could enjoy this, others ordred food to their good rooms or had a dinner in a restaurant of their choice.
Day 2 & 3 - pyramids, museum and old Cairo
Having arrived to Cairo - had an relaxing night on a good hotel with refreshing breakfast, then time was ripe to start the tour by going to Zakkara. This is where much more than just a tour started, as this is where Pharaoh Zoser (or Djoser) got his pyramid built as the world’s first large monument in stone. Not a traditional pyramid, but a step pyramid as a centre of a grand complex surrounded by walls.
Here our travellers visited a mastaba (old kingdom tomb complex) and the remains of a smaller pyramid. The mastaba gave a first glimpse into the daily life of people who lived here over four thousand years ago. This daily life of ancient Egypt we met again in the workers village in Luxor and a tomb in Hermopolis, close to Minya.
From Zakkara the tour went on to what many calls the "real pyramids", and the largest of them is located on the Giza plateau. The highest pyramid is 147 meters (482 ft.) high and the only remaining of the ancient wonders of the world. Important at this visit is as much the unfortunately less visited sun boat museum with an astonishingly beautiful ship that is the oldest remaining ship we have on this planet. 47 meters (147 ft.) and found buried by the Kufu (Cheops) pyramid. Last we visited the valley temple to the Khefren pyramid, said hello to the sphinx before we had a good lunch after a truly pyramidal day.
Third day the journey went to the Egyptian Museum. The museum contains the largest collection of ancient Egyptian art and artefacts (see photos from the Egyptian Museum), and is as much a huge storeroom as museum. So the way we normally visit the museum is to give a guided tour around the museum and after that include time to go back and see parts of the collection each found extra interesting.
From the museum the tour went to Old Cairo where the visit started by walking through the old streets here to the Jewish synagogue and the Abu Sarga church which is built over a crypt where the tradition say the holy family lived a period during their journey in Egypt. From Abu Sarga to Sultan Hassan mosque, one of the largest mosques, with a grandeur which match the largest cathedrals in Christianity. The day ended with a visit to the largest bazaar area in the Middle East.
Day 4 to 6 - Wadi Natron & Alexandria
The forth day the tour went towards the Mediterranean city Alexandria on the road called the "desert road". Yes, once it cut through the desert below the delta edge, but today it's irrigated and planted all around the road, so it looks more like an endless green oasis.
Half way to Alexandria we took a small road away from the desert road, leading us to Wadi Natron. This is a valley known in ancient Egypt for its natron resources that was used in the embalming process. In addition, the Holy Family came this way some two thousand years ago and the Jesus child is said to have blessed the Natron valley.
Whether it was the said blessing or not, Christian desert fathers soon came here and established several monasteries. The monasteries served as viagra to religious celibacy in this 50 km long valley, and many monasteries grew up. Today four monasteries is active and when we visited we had arranged so one of the monks meet us and took us around this ancient compound - in the country who once gave monasticism to Christianity.
Before continuing to Alexander's city we had lunch along the desert road. In Alexandria we went to the historical Metropole hotel. Italian architects designed the hotel and it opened its doors for the first time in 1902. Even the original elevator was there to take us up to our rooms.
Fifth day it was time for a walk down into the catacombs of Alexandra, a visit to the Roman theatre and the birdhouse. Last got its name from the beautiful mosaic filled with many images of birds. In the end it was time to visit the exiting Greek-Roman museum, and a lunch here by the south Mediterranean coast had of course to be at a excellent fish restaurant.
The sixth day in Egypt was the last day in Alexandria, and it was time to visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. This library that was the successor to the great ancient library of Alexandria, came to life through a unique cooperation between Egypt, UNESCO and the Norwegian architect firm Snøhetta. A guided tour with good extra time gave the ability to see and feel this grand library and monument.
Around six o'clock in the evening we took the sleeper train all the way from Alexandria to the southern city of Aswan. The train tour included a dinner in the evening and a breakfast before we arrived Aswan the next morning.
Go to the next page
Day 1 to 6 - Arrival, Cairo and Alexandria
Day 7 to 11 - Aswan and Nile Cruise
Day 11 to 14 - Luxor to Minia & departure
Day 1 to 14 - The Accommodation we used
turer - hotell - ekspedisjoner
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Text & photo, Arnvid Aakre
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