Pharaoh's & Pyramids
September 12 - 28, 2023
For MANY years I've wanted to visit the ancient pyramids and sail the Nile River. When I first became serious in the fall of 2018 I discovered all 76 itineraries on Viking cruises for 2020 - yes two years in advance - were sold out. Then in early 2019 Disney Adventures announced they were beginning tours to Egypt in 2020. Kim and I were very interested and asked our travel agent to contact them on the day dates opened. We could not get a 2020 trip but had one for 2021. But like all trips during the global pandemic, the trip was cancelled. Then January 2020, Viking launched a new ship on the Nile and opened dates in 2023. We jumped in - and one benefit to the Viking itinerary is SEVEN nights on the ship AND a post extension to Jordan and the amazing ruins of Petra! CHECK OUR THE HIGHLIGHT VIDEOS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE! Check out a summary of our adventure HERE.
September 12-13: Day 1 - Travel To Cairo
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From our ultra-comfort / travel in style air transportation to our arrival in our Cairo hotel with our room overlooking the Nile River with the pyramids in the distance. All HERE on the first day's journal.
September 14: Day 2 - Cairo
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Just a stunning day as we toured the Cairo Citadel and then one of the highlights of the trip - a visit to the Egyptian National Museum with King Tut's exhibition!
September 15: Day 3 - The Saqqara Pyramid / The Pyramids of Giza
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Today was yet another amazing day - probably the most anticipated as EVERYONE associates "Egypt" with "Pyramids." And today we visited the first pyramid, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara; got to explore DOWN INTO a pyramid; then visited the three big pyramids on the Giza Plateau - saw the Sphinx AND rode camels.
September 16 - Day 4: Luxor
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After an early morning flight to Luxor from Cairo we had two excursions to two massive temples and moved into our stateroom on the ultra-impressive Viking Osiris!
September 17: Day 5 - Qena / Dendera
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Today we visited what MAY be the best temple we'll see in Dendera. Just amazing. AND got to "meet" Cleopatra so that I could have a photo with my two most favorite females in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD! Also got to sail the Nile this morning and today I provide a photographic tour of our most fabulous ship, the Osiris.
September 18: Day 6 - Luxor
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On our adventure today we came face-to-face with King Tut! Went far, far below the ground to explore three other tombs, including a "privileged access" visit to Queen Nefertari's tomb in the Valley of the Queens.
September 19 Day 7 - Esna
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Tonight was "Egyptian Night!" We had a walk through the markets of Esna and saw how everyday Egyptians live; sailed all day long AND I got a BIG surprise!
September 20: Day 8 - Aswan
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Spent the day in Aswan - saw the big dam, floated on a boat, went to a market....check it out.
September 21: Day 9 - Aswan
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Another AMAZING WOW day! The morning, hour-long motor boat ride on the Nile was SO COOL, and so enjoyed sharing it with our new friends! Visited two temples, had a second boat ride AND got our own Egyptian art done on authentic papyrus with our names etched into the cartouches on either side. Seriously, WOW!
September 22: Day 10 - Edfu
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This morning we rode in a horse carriage to the LAST temple we'll see on our Egypt adventure. The Temple of Edfu is the MOST restored temple in the ancient world (not just Egypt).
September 23: Day 11: Luxor
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A whirlwind day! Luxor to Cairo; toured the National Museum of Egyptian Antiquities; Farewell Dinner and then off to bed for a pre-dawn departure for our extension to Jordan!
September 24: Day 12 - Cairo & Dead Sea
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After an early morning flight we arrived in Jordan to begin our post extension. Today we got up close and personal to the Dead Sea!
September 25: Day 12 - Dead Sea & Petra
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Today was a very "personalized" experience as we met Rain's brother and a good friend's daughter....then climbed high HIGH up onto the Shouback Castle before driving to Petra.
September 26: Day 13 - Petra
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This morning we walked the "Lost City of Petra" - AMAZING! And this evening we visited a local family for dinner - really cool.
September 27: Day 14 - Jerash & Amman
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The final stop of an exceptional adventure in the ancient Roman city of Jarash. Long bus ride today as well.
September 28: Day 15 - Amman
This morning we left the hotel at 12:25 am....our flight left at 3:30am and all went smoothly. This is the sunrise as we approached our connection in Frankfurt. Twenty-five hours after we left Jordan we arrived home in South Florida. An EPIC adventure!