Educational Resources Journey to the Land of the Pharaohs
January 11–23, 2010 • Hosted by Dr. Steven Derfler
Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, great hotels, transfers, meals, touring & more!
To travel to the land of Egypt is to feel profoundly touched by history. The glory and greatness, mystery and mystique that was once Egypt, beckons alluringly. Come and explore an ancient land of temples, tombs, and hieroglyphs as we visit a civilization shaped by the mighty Nile River.
Detailed Itinerary
Monday, January 11: USA/Egypt. Depart from New York on the first leg of our overnight flight to Egypt via Egypt Air jet service.
Tuesday, January 12: Cairo. Arrival in Cairo, where we are warmly greeted by our guide, assisted through customs formalities, and then escorted to our private touring coach to transfer to our Cairo hotel. Accommodations: Sofitel El Gezirah or similar. Dinner provided.
Wednesday, January 13: Cairo. Today's visits include the Cairo Museum, regarded as one of the most prominent in the world, where we can view remarkable treasures dating back 5,000 years. Here we'll visit the priceless antiquities of King Tutankhamen's tomb and the intriguing Mummy Room.
Thursday, January 14: Memphis/Sakkara/Giza/Overnight Train. We drive along the Nile this morning to the ancient capital of Memphis. Though most of the city has been destroyed by time, the magnificent Alabaster Sphinx and the mammoth statue of Ramses II remain. We continue to the Necropolis of Sakkara, City of the Dead, where we view the famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser, Pyramid of Teti, Mastaba of Mereruka and the Wall of Cobras. We continue to Giza where we see the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus, the Solar Boat, and the mysterious Sphinx and Valley Temple. Continue to the railroad station in Giza to board our overnight train to Aswan.Our accommodations are in private sleeping compartments, and dinner will be served on board. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided.
Friday, January 15: Aswan. After breakfast aboard the train, we'll begin our touring in Aswan. Our visits include the High Dam and the lotus shaped monument to Soviet-Egyptian cooperation, where it is possible to enjoy a wonderful view of Lake Nasser. We continue to the unfinished obelisk. Fractured during cutting and abandoned, this work of art shows how these magnificent monuments were painstakingly hewn by hand and polished to a glassy smoothness. On to Philae Island, one of Egypt's most impressive sights before being flooded after the first Aswan Dam was built. The new site represents a complete restoration of the original. Take advantage of an optional camel ride to San Simeon Monastery and Qubbet el-Hawa Tombs, then transfer to our cruise ship for embarkation and dinner. Accommodations: MS Tulip. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided.
Tuesday, January 19: Luxor/Esna. This morning we visit the Temples of Karnak and Luxor. Karnak is possibly one of the most overwhelming monuments of the Pharaonic legacy, with work carried out on the temples over a period of 1500 years. The Luxor Temple is strikingly graceful and was added to over the centuries by Tutankhamun, Ramses II and others. This afternoon we'll enjoy a change of pace as we take a carriage ride into the countryside and visit the Coptic Christian village of Ngaa el Syagh. We'll return to our ship to continue sailing to Esna. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided.
Thursday, January 21: Aswan. Sail to Aswan this morning. Visits this afternoon by felucca include Elephantine Island, where we find the ruined Temple of Khnum, the work of many pharaohs down to the Ptolemies and even the Romans. We'll also view the Agha Khan Mausoleum and the botanical gardens of Kitchener Island. Enjoy our final night aboard our Nile cruise. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided.
Friday, January 22: Aswan/Cairo/Roda & Gezira Island. This morning, disembark from our cruise and transfer to the airport for the short flight to Cairo. Our touring in Cairo begins with a visit to Roda Island, which contains on its northern reaches the Manial Palace. On to Gezira Island with its parks and El-Borg, a 600-foot tower offering a marvelous view of Cairo and the Nile from its observation deck. Later we'll visit Sadat's Tomb. End the day with a visit to the fascinating Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided.
Saturday, January 23: Cairo/USA. Say a reluctant goodbye to Egypt as we transfer to the airport early this morning to board our return flight to the USA, arriving in New York later this afternoon. Breakfast provided.
Destination FAQs
Included Features
- Round trip flights from New York via EgyptAir, including airport departure taxes from the USA & Egypt (flight schedule)
- Accommodations in 5-star hotels and Nile Cruise with private bath
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner daily
- Sightseeing in private touring coach escorted by Egyptologist/guide, including all entrance fees to places visited and all domestic transportation within Egypt
- Air tour to Abu Simbel
- Transfers, hotel taxes and porterage at airports and hotels
- Tips and visa fees
- Specially prepared Study Guide including comprehensive bibliography
- Comprehensive travel insurance
Tour Prices
Per person prices from New York (JFK), for payments by check:
| Double occupancy: | $3950 |
| Single Occupancy: | + $760 |
| Payment by credit card: | + $100 |
Reservations
Please download the reservation application and fax or mail it to us, together with your $300 per person deposit. Fax to: 215-572-9803. Mail to 500 Old York Road, Suite 200, Jenkintown, PA 19046.
For additional information, please contact:
Dr. Steven Derfler
Educational Resources
1691 Highland Parkway
St. Paul, MN 55116
Tel: 651-592-3688
Fax: 651-690-2188
About your tour host, Dr. Steven L. Derfler
Dr. Derfler is associated with institutions both in the Midwest and Israel. In the Upper Midwest, he teaches as a professor at the University of Wisconsin River Falls. International institutions include Tel Aviv University's Institute of Archaeology, the Israeli Antiquities Authority, and The Negev Museum of Beersheva. In addition, he has served as a scholar-in-residence at Oxford University, England.
His commentaries can be found in such publications as the St. Paul Pioneer Press and The American Jewish World. His research has been published by the Israel Exploration Journal, Tel Aviv Journal of Archaeology, Hadashot Archaologiot, Atiqot, Middle East Review, The ARAM Journal of Oxford University, The University of Minnesota Press and the Edwin Mellen Press. He has developed educational tools, including videos and CD ROMs, that are widely used throughout North America and the Middle East.
Dr. Derfler directs study tours to Egypt, Morocco, Greece and Turkey, and Israel/Jordan.
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