Day 01 - 07 April
Depart Kuala Lumpur at 1925H on MH158. Arrive at 2325H in Cairo. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in the Cairo Marriott (with the famed gardens)

Day 02 - 08 April
Tour of Giza, Sakkara and Memphis to see the many pyramids lying to the West and South of Cairo. Overnight in Cairo Marriott.

Day 03 - 09 April
Early morning flight (MS245) departing Cairo at 0430H to Aswan, arriving at 0550H. Board the Pyramisa Champollion I river cruise boat. Spend morning walking independently around the small town of Aswan, including its colourful souq (market). Lunch on board the cruise. Afternoon tour of Aswan with stops at the unfinished obelisk, the High Dam of Aswan and the famous Philae Temple. Dinner on board the cruise.

Day 04 - 10 April
Early morning departure (0400H) from Aswan for a 3-hour overland journey to Abu Simbel to visit the monumental temples of Rameses II and Nefertari. Return to cruise in time for lunch at 1300H. Cruise set sail from Aswan for Kom Ombo at 1400H. On arrival at Kom Ombo at sunset (about 1830H), visit of the temple. Dinner under the stars and sky at 20H on the roof-deck of the cruise while it sails from Kom Ombo towards Edfu.

Day 05 - 11 April
Wake up with the cruise docked in Edfu. Early morning visit of the Temple of Horus at 0630H and then return to the cruise for breakfast while it sets sail for Esna. Arrive in Esna at 1230H. Lunch and then visit the Temple of Khnum. Return to the cruise at 1530H while it queues to cross the lock of Esna.

Day 06 - 12 April
Wake up in Luxor. Morning, tour of the Valley of the Kings (see also this), visiting three tombs (Rameses IX, Rameses V/VI and Rameses III). Then visit the Temple of Hatshepsut before stopping for a quick view of the Colossi of Memnon. Lunch before visiting the two landmarks on the East Bank of Luxor: the Temple of Karnak and the Temple of Luxor. At the end of a very long day of visits, check out of the cruise and check into the Sheraton Luxor Resort, located just south of the city.

Day 07 - 13 April
Free day to explore Luxor on our own. After breakfast, took the hotel’s 1030H shuttle service into the town. Visit the Luxor Museum. Then wandered the streets and shops in Luxor. Returned to the hotel after lunch. Lazed about in the room and swimming pool. Evening, took the hotel’s 1900H shuttle service into town again to catch the night-time sound and light show at the Karnak Temple.

Day 08 - 14 April
After a late breakfast, walked around the quaint (and touristy) shops near the hotel. Then a late lunch before checking out and taking the 1815H flight (MS234) from Luxor to Cairo, arriving at 1920H. Check into the Nile Hilton Hotel in Cairo, located almost literally next door to the Cairo/Egyptian Museum.

Day 09 - 15 April
After breakfast, visit the Coptic quarters of Cairo. Return to the hotel to rest. In the (late) afternoon, visit the Egyptian Museum. Dinner at Felfela Restaurant (recommended by many guide books).

Day 10 - 16 April
Morning visit the Citadel, then walked about the old (Islamic) quarters next to the Citadel, visiting the Sultan Hassan Mosque and the Mosque of Ibn Toulon. Return to hotel to rest. Dinner at the Fish Market Restaurant, serving some of the most delicious mezze I’ve ever had.

Day 11 - 17 April
After breakfast, visit Al-Azhar Mosque. Then roam about the Khan Al-Khalili bazaar/market, with a stop for (Turkish) coffee at the famous El-Fishawi Cafe. Taxi over to the leafy (upmarket) residential suburb of Zamalek to drop by a few fair-trade shops before strolling through tree-lined walkways along the Nile River back to the Nile Hilton Hotel. Rest in hotel, a light meal, and then it’s off to the airport for a late flight out of Cairo (MH159, scheduled to depart at 0055H, but was delayed by an hour).

Day 12 - 18 April
Arrive back at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 1745H. Home sweet home!

…more detailed reports to follow…

  

Posted on April 20th, 2004 by jl
Filed under: The Egypt Holiday