Welcome to Europamundo! Upon arriving at the airport, we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.

Cairo.-

Note: In summer temperatures are higher, so visits to archaeological sites are made earlier in the day to avoid the hottest hours of the day. It is recommended to wear sports shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat or cap for these visits.

Breakfast.

07:00 hrs.-: We will visit the esplanade of the Pyramids, the most famous of which are those of the pharaohs Cheops, Kephren and Mykerinos (entrance to the interior of the pyramids not included), as well as the enigmatic Sphinx. Afterwards we will visit the Papyrus Institute for about 30 minutes, where we will see how the papyrus is handmade.

11:30 hrs.-: Visit the Coptic Quarter, which is nowadays one of the meeting places of the Egyptians and one of the oldest areas of the city. Visit the Hanging Church.

12:30 hrs.-: Visit the Citadel, built by order of Saladin in 1176 and completed in 1182. From 1218 until the 19th century it was the official seat of the Egyptian government. The history of this area is full of palace intrigues, assassinations, overthrows and massacres such as that of the Mamluks in 1811. Representative buildings include the Muhammad Ali Mosque, also known as the Alabaster Mosque, built on the model of Istanbul´s Hagia Sophia.

13.45 hrs.-: Lunch included in a local restaurant.

15:00 hrs.-: Visit the Egyptian Museum, which is about 10 km from the Pyramids and contains one of the most important and impressive archaeological exhibits in the world. The jewel of this exhibition is the treasure of Tutankhamun which occupies the entire upper floor. Remember that it takes at least a week to visit it in its entirety.

17:00 hrs-: Departure from the Egyptian Museum and return to the hotel.

18:00 hrs.-: Arrival at the hotel and accommodation.

Cairo - Abu Simbel - Aswan.-

Transfer to the airport first thing in the morning to depart by flight (included) to ASWAN airport. From the airport we continue directly by road towards ABU SIMBEL. The drive to Abu Simbel takes 3.5 hours one way and 3.5 hours return. We include a boat trip on Lake Nasser and from the lake we will contemplate its impressive architecture. Lunch included in a typical Nubian restaurant. We will visit the temples of Abu Simbel carved into the western cliff of the desert by Ramses II in the 12th century BC, with 20-meter-high statues, dedicated to the god Amon Ra, as well as visit the Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor. In the middle of the afternoon we return to ASWAN, overnight in our excellent hotel.

Aswan.-

After breakfast at around 07.00 a.m. we start our full day in Aswan.

08.00 hrs.- We will visit the beautiful Temple of Philae dedicated to the goddess Isis and located on a small island that is only accessible by boat.

10.30 hrs-: Including a visit to the city and the Red Granite Quarry, where the famous Unfinished Obelisk is located. We´ll observe the ingenious procedure used by the ancient Egyptians for the extraction of granite blocks.

12:00 hrs.-: Lunh included.

13:30 hrs.- we´ll enjoy a felucca ride along the river, typical fishing boats.

14:15 hrs..-: In the afternoon (including arrival on felucca and a stretch of camel ride!) we will visit the Monastery of SAINT SIMEON, it was a large monastery in Roman times, then it was transformed into a caravanserail. We also pass by the modern Coptic church and the mausoleum of the Aga Khan (not visited).

16:45 hrs.-: We will visit the picturesque village NUBIAN VILLAGE, with its colorfully painted houses, its tourist and commercial life.

Afterwards, free time in our excellent hotel, where you can enjoy its large swimming pool and its facilities.

Note: the order of the views may be changed depending on the time of year.

Aswan - Kom Ombo - Edfu - Esna - Luxor.-

After breakfast, around 07.00 hrs. We start our beautiful road stage following the Nile valley. Beautiful landscapes with the presence of the Nile, its immense palm groves, its small and very active populations.

08.30 hrs.-: We stop next to the temple of KOM OMBO, overlooking the Nile River, dedicated to two deities: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god. The temple is symmetrical and is divided into two identical parts, one dedicated to Sobek and the other to Horus. The temple is famous for its reliefs and hieroglyphs depicting daily life in ancient Egypt, as well as mythological and medical scenes. We also visit the impressive museum of the Crocodiles (several of them mummified).

09.30 hrs.-: Departure from Kom Ombo.

11.00 hrs.-: We continue to EDFU, we visit here one of the best preserved and most impressive temples in all of Egypt: the Temple of Edfu, also known as the Temple of Horus. Built 2300 years ago dedicated to Horus, the God of the sky.

13.00 hrs.-: Departure from the Temple of Edfu.

15.00 hrs.-: We continue to ESNA, its great temple is one of the few Egyptian temples that still retains its original roof, providing a unique view of the ancient architecture and original colors. The temple was buried under sediment and mud from the Nile for centuries, which helped preserve it from erosion and degradation. It was rediscovered in the 19th century. In Esna we can also see the restored caravanserai and from the outside we can see the floodgates on the Nile

16.00 hrs.-: Departure from the temple of Esna and continue our route to LUXOR, arriving at the end of the afternoon. Night at hotel.

Important remarks: On this day the lunch included will be picnic lunch provided by the hotel in Aswan. There are no toilets on the route between Edfu and Luxor.

Luxor.-

Luxor, the city of 100 gates is located in ancient Thebes where it was the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom for 1500 years. Luxor, Arabic for ‘palaces’ is considered ‘the best open-air museum’ in the world with immense cultural and architectural heritage.During our stay in Luxor we will get to know one of the most impressive ancient cities on the planet (tickets included to the places mentioned). Early in the morning (around 06.00 hrs.), from our hotel we will take a private boat to cross the Nile River, with its peace and impressive views early in the morning, we go to the west bank.

07.00 hrs.-: We stopped in front of the Colossi of the Memnon, two impressive statues of Amenhotep II. After that, we visit the fantastic temple of Medinet Habu, the temple of Ramses II, large and magnificently preserved, its scenes of wars will surprise us.

08.30 hrs.-: We visited the "Valley of the Artisans" Deir el-Medina, a little-visited place, here they lived and are the tombs of great builders and craftsmen who built and decorated the royal tombs of ancient Egypt. We will visit three tombs, their paintings show scenes of daily life at that time

10.30 hrs.-: We will visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Deir el Bahari) is located, considered the first woman to occupy the position of pharaoh.

11.30 hrs.- We also visit the famous VALLEY OF THE KINGS where the tombs of the main pharaohs are hidden. Among these tombs, composed of several rooms and corridors leading to the corresponding burial chambers (we include, in addition to the general admission, a ride in an electric cart to access the enclosure and tomb of Ramses -which requires additional entry-). Return to the east bank of Luxor. Free time for lunch.Lunch not included.

15.00 hrs.-: We visit KARNAK, it housed the most important religious complex in Ancient Egypt, highlighting the immense temple of Amun-Ra, our guide will take us to the little-crowded temple of Khinsu.

17.00 hrs.- visit the LUXOR MUSEUM, which shows us an impressive collection of objects and mummies found in this area.

18.30 hrs.- After sunset we include entrance to the Temple of Luxor, its illumination makes it magical at this hour. Time to stroll in the commercial area (souk) near the temple.

Note: The order of the visits will vary based on climatological factors and procuring to visit the different locations at times of less affluence.

Luxor – Dendera - Hurghada

Distance: 330 km
Landscapes: Arid deserts between mountains traveling towards the Red Sea. Free time in the morning to stroll on your own, shop or visit some other point in Luxor if you wish. Around 09.00 hrs. we will continue our trip.

10.30 hrs- Dendera, arrival at one of the best-preserved Egyptian temples thanks to the fact that it remained buried by sand and mud until it was discovered in the mid-nineteenth century. Entrance included. This impressive enclosure of 40,000 square meters, surrounded by a burly brick wall eight to ten meters high was dedicated to Hathor, goddess of love and fertility and mother of Horus, celestial god in Egyptian religion. We are surprised by its walls, its immense monumental doors and the quality and perfection of its details. After the visit lunch included.

14.30 hrs- Continuation to the Red Sea. Our highway crosses desert mountain ranges, interesting landscapes.
17.30 hrs- Hurghada, arrival in the late afternoon. We are located in an area with the most popular of Egypt´s resorts, its hotels stretch over a strip of almost 50 kilometers. Hotel accommodation on an all-inclusive basis.

Hurghada- El Gouna- Hurghada.-

Distance: 70 km

Full day in Hurghada. Free time in the morning to relax in the hotel facilities or to go on your own to visit the great aquarium or the museum of Hurghada.
15.30 hrs.- After lunch (included), an excursion to learn more about the area.

16.15 hrs.-: El Gouna. A short distance from Hurghada, we can find the most luxurious holiday resorts in Egypt where numerous canals and lagoons were opened to access most of the residences by yacht. Free time to stroll through this exclusive place.

16.45 hrs.-: From El Gouna, we return to Hurghada.

17.30 hrs.-: Hurghada- In the center of Hurghada, we visit its mosque (entrance included) and walk to the marina, a very touristic area full of life, shops and restaurants.

19.30 hr.-: After a free time in the Marina, return to our hotel. Stay on an "all included" basis.

Hurghada – Saint Anthony – El Galala – Cairo.-

Distance: 555 km
Landscapes: Desert, following in many sections the Red Sea.
Notes: Please dress appropriately for the visit of the monastery. On certain religious festivals monasteries may remain closed to tourist visits.

07.30 hrs.-: Hurghada. Departure. Following the Red Sea we travel to one impressive Coptic monastery, the Monastery of St. Anthony, the oldest in Christendom dating back to the fourth century. St. Anthony monastery is considered the holiest places of the Coptic church in Egypt.

11.30 hrs.-: Lunch included in service area.
13.00 hrs.-: After that we will visit the Monastery of Saint Anthony (entrance included) also walled with its numerous buildings and adobe houses, its atmosphere seems stopped in time. The church of St. Anthony, built over the tomb of the saint, houses magnificent Coptic murals of the thirteenth century.

14.00 hrs.-: We continue our route.

15.00 hrs- El Galala. Arrival at this new city that Egypt is building in the desert that will surprise us. We will go first to the luxury resort located next to the Red Sea, with its marina and water park; from where we include the cable car ride (the highest slope in Africa) to El Galala, a magnificently designed city, its construction began in 2015 and it houses a large university.

16.00 hrs- El Galala, departure.
18.00 hrs- Cairo.- Arrival at the end of the day.-

Cairo – Wadi Natrum – Alexandria

Distance: 280 km

Landscapes: Stretches of deserts and the rich agricultural region of the Nile Delta.
Notes: Please dress appropriately for the visit of the monasteries. On certain religious festivals monasteries may remain closed to tourist visits.

07.30 hrs- We leave Cairo, traveling to the Wadi Natrum region, an area known for its Coptic monasteries since thousands of Christians, fleeing in the fourth century from Roman persecutions, settled in the area. The monasteries, fortified because of the attacks suffered in different historical periods, are places that receive the visit of many pilgrims and will allow us to discover their traditions. Coptic popes are chosen from among the monks of these monasteries.

09.00 hrs- Monastery of Saint Macarius. Entrance included to the monastery, founded in 360, where one of its monks will guide us through the enclosure.

10.00 hrs- Saint Macarius, departure.
10.45 hrs- Anba Bishoy´s Monastery. Entrance included. The fortified tower of this monastery, founded in 340, is accessed by a drawbridge. We will visit - also guided by a monk - the church, the refectory and the fortress, where several Coptic Popes are buried. Time to stroll through the lively area and visit the huge new cathedral.

11.45 hrs- Anba Bishoy, departure. We continue our route to the north of the country.
13.45 hrs- Alexandria, arrival in this port city of more than 5 million inhabitants. Lunch included. We visit this afternoon the great fortress Qaitbey (entrance included), built in 1480 on a narrow peninsula where the Hellenistic lighthouse was located, which was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. After that, by coach we travel the cornice, chaotic, noisy, commercial or elegant according to the areas. Free time. Accommodation.

Alexandria – Rashid- Rosetta – Cairo

Distance: 350 km.
Landscapes: Landscapes of the Nile Delta, with its fertile lands, small towns and thousands of palm trees.
NOTE: The fortress of Rashid is not very visited, sometimes it can be closed (in that case we will see it externally and walk through the picturesque village of fishermen and farmers)

08.30 hrs- We continue our visit of Alexandria, entering the impressive Catacombs Kom Shuqqafa (entrance included) , the largest Roman cemetery in Egypt, we will be surprised by the fusion of Pharaonic and Greco-Roman style. From here we will walk with our guide between narrow, very commercial and bustling alleys to the Pompey Column, an immense column 30 meters high that rises on the ruins of a temple. Afterwards we will stop to photograph externally the new Library of Alexandria, inaugurated in 2002 with a very modern architecture and that reminds us that this city, in the third century BC. was one of the greatest cultural centers in antiquity. The Library of Alexandria at that time guarded more than half a million papyrus scrolls. Lunch included.

13.00 hrs- Alexandria.- departure. Continuation of our route to Rosetta. In this small city, very close to the mouth of one of the tributaries of the Nile, the Rosetta Stone was found, just over a meter high, which was key to deciphering the hieroglyphic writing of the Egyptians since it contains the same text written in hieroglyphics, demotic and ancient Greek.

14.15 hrs- Rashid Fortress, located within walking distance, in a picturesque small village of streets full of local life and with numerous multi-colored fishing boats on the banks of the Nile. Inside its fortress (entrance included) we can see a replica of the Rosetta Stone.

15.00 hrs- Fortress of Rashid- departure
15.30 hrs- Rosetta. Arrival in this pleasant small town next to the Nile where we will walk through the center seeing (externally) the old Ottoman houses with their brick and wood architecture. We will also include a ride on the Nile by boat to admire the views and activity of the fishing boats in the area.

17.00 hrs- Rosetta- Departure.
21.00 hrs- Cairo. Arrival at the end of the day.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and end of our services.