RMC's Adelphi Intersession Egypt January 2011

RMC Travel & Adelphi University's Center for International Education present:

Hosted and escorted by Dr. Lina Beydoun, Ass’t Professor – Sociology Department

Journey back through time to glimpse the glory and the mystery that was ancient Egypt.

Experience the timeless wonder of the pyramids, and stand before the silent, watchful sphinx. Feast your eyes on pharonic gold and the priceless treasures of Tutankhamun.

Walk in the majestic Valley of the Kings and in the teeming streets of Cairo, where ancient trades and customs endure amidst the clamor of modern commerce. Shop for silk and spices as you wander through the aromatic passageways of a Nubian bazaar.

Visit the healing temple at Kom Ombo, the sacred temples of Isis and Horus, the falcon-headed god and the most magnificent of them all, the temple of Queen Hatshepsut.

Visit wonderful Alexandria, with its magnificent history. At Sharm-el-Sheikh where you climb Mt Sinai to visit St Catherine's Monastery, the most important religious site in Sinai at the base of the mountain where Moses was supposed to have received the Ten Commandments.

Depart early evening for Cairo via your non-stop EgyptAir flight from New York’s JFK Airport

Arrival at Cairo International Airport to meet your local tour representative, who will assist you in obtaining your Egyptian tourist visas. Continue through Immigration and gather right outside where your local tour personnel will gather the luggage off the carousel. Clear Customs and transfer to your reserved accommodations. Time to settle into your room and rest. You are really here in this ancient land of mystery!! Dinner this evening at your hotel. Overnight in Cairo.

An early departure for your sightseeing of Egypt by visiting the Salah El Din Citadel which was constructed by Salah El Din on the Moqattam hills in 1183 AD to defend Cairo from the armies of Crusaders. After that visit it’s to the Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque which was designed by the architect Yousif Boushnaq, a Turkish man who especially came from Istanbul to build this great mosque for Mohamed Ali, the ruler of Egypt. You also visit the famed Ibl Toulon mosque. Your morning sightseeing tour concludes with two visits to the Hassan El-Rifai mosques – both the older mosque and the newer one across the way. After lunch at a nearby local restaurant, you focus on Old Cairo where you will enjoy the Hanging Church. Known in Arabic as al-Muallaqah ("The Suspended"), the Hanging Church is the most famous Coptic Church in Cairo. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is thus also known as Sitt Mariam for Cairo or St. Mary's Church. Ben Ezra Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Cairo if not Egypt, is near the spot where pharaoh’s soldiers found the infant Moses. Visit the Church of St. Barbara and the Church of Abu Serga before returning to your hotel for the evening and dinner on your own. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 4, Tuesday, January 11: In Cairo – To Giza. Afternoon Excursion to Memphis & Sakkara (B/L)

This morning, it’s on to Giza and into the nearby desert for a spectacular camel ride to the area near the Sphinx, one of the enigmatic and ageless wonders of the ancient world. Continue on to the Great Pyramid and other pyramids on the Giza Plateau. As you gaze in wonder at these magnificent structures - some of the oldest in the world - you ponder on their influences upon the Egyptian civilization as your Egyptologist gives you detailed historical information and examines some of the controversial theories surrounding these amazing structures. Who will ever really know the truth behind the building and construction of these timeless monuments? Who will ever uncover all their hidden secrets? These questions and more will offer you an interesting and exciting time among these ancient ruins. After lunch, you depart for Memphis as you drive along a picturesque canal to Badreshein and Mt Rahina to see the granite statue of Ramses II and the alabaster Sphinx of the same King. Then continue to the ruins of the Temple of Ptah, where the Apis Bull was kept and worshipped. Proceed on to magnificent Sakkara with King Zoser's Step Pyramid, the earliest of the major pyramids followed by careful exploration of important Old Kingdom noble tombs with their vivid symbolic reliefs and visits to other Sakkara sites, including the Pyramid of Unas with its pristine hieroglyphic texts and Scrapeum, the underground tomb of the sacred bulls. Return to Cairo for dinner on your own. Overnight in Cairo.

Meet early in the lobby to start a full day of touring in Alexandria about 3 hours away from Cairo. Alexandria is known as the “The Pearl of the Mediterranean". It is the most important city in Egypt after Cairo (it’s also called the second capital) and is also one of the most popular summer resorts in the Middle East. Your first visit is to Pompey's Pillar, constructed in honor of the Emperor Diocletian at the end of the 4th century. Originally from the temple of the Serapes, it was once a magnificent structure rivaling the Soma and the Caesareum. Your morning tour concludes at the famed Alexandria Library. After lunch at a local seaside restaurant, you proceed to Qaitbay Citadel which was built on the site of the ancient pharohs (lighthouse) of Alexandria. Enjoy Montazah Palace and then spend time at the Coptic Church of St. Mena where you will meet with a local church member for some discussions before returning to Cairo for dinner on your own. Overnight in Cairo.

Your morning sightseeing will be to the world renowned Egyptian Museum, with its collection of relics dating back to 4000 B.C. It features artifacts from the Pharaonic period. The museum displays a rare collection of 5000 years of art which is considered the largest, most precious collection of Egyptian art in the world. Over 250,000 genuine artifacts are presented, including an exhibit dedicated to Tutankhamen’s collection of treasure, gold and jewelry which was enclosed in his tomb for over 3,500 years before it was discovered in the 1920s when his tomb was excavated. The morning tour will conclude with a visit to the Mummy Room. (awaiting price for this as it is expensive) Afterwards, transfer to the airport for your flight to Aswan, one of the world's most beautiful resorts, noted for nature, peace and quiet. Arrive. Aswan is located on the First Cataract of the Nile and is the gateway to Nubia. With its colorful bazaar, laid-back atmosphere, warm and welcoming people, Aswan is a favorite city in Egypt for many visitors. For dinner on your own, try one of the many exciting local restaurants. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 7, Friday, January 14: In Aswan – Excursion to Abu Simbel. Touring Aswan & start Cruise (B/L/D)

Some time in the morning to relax or go to the nearby newly opened Nubian Museum. Before noon, you depart for a special Volunteer Program. Afterwards, you have a late lunch followed by your afternoon tour of Aswan including the relocated temples on the Island of Agilkia, which were formerly on the Island of Philae, but were moved piece by piece to their present location when the Aswan High Dam was built. The name Philae comes from the ancient Egyptian word Pilak, meaning “the remote place”. During the Greco-Roman period, Philae was a sacred island and an important cult center dedicated to Isis, Goddess of Healing and Magic, and wife/sister of Osiris. Among the other temples here we will explore the delicately elegant and feminine Temple of Isis. On the way to your cruise ship you stop at the Unfinished Obelisk for a gander at this gigantic block of Aswan granite. Dinner and overnight this evening on your Nile cruise ship.

Day 8, Saturday, January 15: Nile Cruise – Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna (B/L/D)

Quiet time on deck before breakfast and your departure. You arrive at your first stop, Kom-Ombo, the temple of two gods. The Temple dates to the Ptolemies and is built on a high dune overlooking the Nile. The actual temple was started by Ptolemy VI Philometor in the early second century BC. Ptolemy XIII built the outer and inner hypostyle halls. The Temple has scant remains, due first to the changing Nile, then the Copts who once used it as a church, and finally by builders who used the stones for new buildings. Continue to Edfu where you take a carriage ride to and from the best preserved temple in Egypt, the fabulous Temple of Horus - the falcon god. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy the solitude of a peaceful afternoon sailing the Nile. You will arrive for a late afternoon stop at Esna. Then as you are dining, you will moor for the night.

After breakfast, you depart the ship to visit the fabulous Luxor Temple where R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz developed his revolutionary Symbolist interpretation of ancient Egypt over the course of fifteen years work on the site. Understood as embodiments or representations of cosmic and organic principles, the "gods" of Egypt (all those bizarre animal headed figures) finally became comprehensible. Return to your ship for lunch. In the afternoon, it’s to the colossal Temple of Karnak with its two-mile-long Avenue of Sphinxes, still partially intact. Karnak is dedicated to Amon-Ra, the Power of Creation. The Temple of Amon is the largest columned temple in the world; the gigantic size of these columns is literally overwhelming. Return to your ship for dinner. Relax this evening, or take an optional ride back to Karnak Temple for a Sound & Light performance that gives a completely different view of the site. Dinner and overnight on your cruise ship.

After breakfast you will ferry across the Nile to the West Bank to visit the Valley of the Kings, where the great and mysterious funerary texts ("The Books of the Dead") are exquisitely painted or carved into walls. You visit selected tombs of the Nobles, vibrant with scenes of ancient daily life. You experience Queen Hatshepsut's (Fathy says it is pronounced "hot chicken soup") magnificent temple to Amon at Der el Bahari (called by the Egyptians themselves "The most splendid of all"). You will honor this woman who would be King (she sort of invented woman's lib!). You can almost see her in real life tending to the construction of her graceful and elegant buildings and administering lovingly to her subjects. You also take a gander at the immense Colossi of Memnon. Disembark your cruise ship and transfer to the airport for your connecting flights to the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Dinner and overnight in Sharm el-Sheikh.

A full day to enjoy the sun, sea and sand. All around are Bedouins, colorful tents, mountains and sea. You are free to have lunch and dinner at some of the delightful local restaurants. This evening around midnight you depart for Mount Sinai. It’s a long ride, so you will have plenty of time to snooze on your luxury air-conditioned motor coach.

Early morning arrival and where you will start your climb to visit St. Catherine's Monastery, the most important religious site in Sinai. Situated at the base of the mountain where Moses was supposed to have received the Ten Commandments, St. Catherine's Monastery is one of the most famous Monasteries in the world. Built between 527 and 565 AD, it is believed to be built around Moses' Burning Bush. The Monastery is named after St. Catherine who was tortured and beheaded for her Christian beliefs. During your visit we will see the Greek Orthodox Church, the icons of worship and the famous Mosaic of Transfiguration. Return to Sharm el-Sheikh to freshen up and relax. End the day with a fantastic Bedouin desert dinner.

Breakfast and a free morning for a last minute swim. Then transfer to the airport for the flight back to Cairo. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. In the late afternoon, it’s to the famous medieval bazaar, Khan El Khalili, and time to shop for souvenirs and explore the many local shops. Afterwards, it’s to the river bank where you have your “Farewell to Egypt” dinner at a restaurant onboard a Nile River boat.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your non-stop flight to JFK with a same day arrival.

NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.

Location	Dates	#Nights	Hotel/Cruise Ship Name
Downtown Cairo	Jan 9 - 13	4	Ramses Hilton
Aswan	Jan 13 - 14	1	Basma Hotel
Nile Cruise	Jan 14 - 17	3	Al Nabilatan
Sharm El-Sheikh	Jan 17 - 20	3	Hyatt Regency
Cairo Airport	Jan 20 - 21	1	Meridien Heliopolis

Land & Air Package, per person, per itinerary, from NYC based on double room $3,370.00