Egypt plus Istanbul including a 4 night Nile River Cruise with Mike Nolan

Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flight.

We are met and assisted at the airport. Transfer to our hotel for a well-deserved night of rest. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Cairo. (D)

Following breakfast, which is included each morning, we begin our tour of Cairo. Our visit focuses on Egypt’s often overlooked, rich Christian history. Our guide will take us on a tour of Old Coptic Cairo, including the Hanging Church, the Apparition Church, the Holy Crypt, and the Abu Serga Church. We also visit the monastery of St. Simon el Mokkattam. In the afternoon, we have time for browsing in the local Bazaar. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Cairo. (B.D)

Following check-out, we transfer to the airport for our flight from Cairo to Luxor where we have lunch and then visit the Temple of Karnak, the world’s second-largest ancient religious site after Angkor Wat. The Great Hypostyle Hall is comprised of columns in 16 rows that soar 80 feet into the air. As we wander among the 134 Columns, we’ll be astounded at the details of carved hieroglyphs visible after thousands of years! Continue on to the Temple of Luxor, where it is said that many of the Kings of Egypt were crowned. The boy King Tutankhamun and Ramses II built parts of the temple—later this afternoon, we board our riverboat, our home for the next four nights on our 4-night cruise on the Nile. We are docked in Luxor overnight, so we might choose to explore the city of Luxor and the markets lining the Nile. Dinner and overnight on the ship. (B.L.D).

This morning, we visit the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile, then proceed to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and on the way back to the ship stop at the Colossi of Memnon, the two famous statues at the entrance of the temple of Amenhotep III. Our ship sails to Esna, where we watch as the ship passes the magnificent Dam on the Nile. Overnight on board the ship. (B.L.D)

The ship sails to Edfu this morning, and upon arrival, we visit the Temple Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Dedicated to the falcon god Horus, it was buried under nearly 40 feet of drifting sand over the centuries. In 1860, a French Egyptologist began the work of freeing Edfu, resulting in it being nearly intact! Return to the boat and sail to the temple of Kom-Ombo, a unique double temple. Half is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, and the other to the falcon god Horus. Continue our Nile cruise sailing to Aswan. Dinner and overnight on the ship. (B.L.D)

Visit the High Dam of Aswan and the Temple of Philae. The Dam of Aswan was built during the 1960s. Before being built, the Nile River overflowed its banks yearly, and the dam protects the area from the flood/drought cycle and generates hydroelectric power. We then visit Philae, an island downstream from the Aswan Dam. Relocated before the dam was completed, the Temple of Isis was flooded for six months every year and was disassembled stone by stone and reconstructed. Return to the boat for lunch. Later this afternoon, sail the Nile on a traditional felucca used for centuries by the Nubian people of Egypt. Enjoy a visit to the Aswan Spice market this evening after our farewell dinner onboard the ship. (B.L.D)

This morning, we say goodbye to the ship’s crew, who took excellent care of us. Today, we enjoy a tour of the temples of Abu Simbel before we board our flight to Cairo, where we check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B.L.D)

Morning visit Sakkara, the home of Egypt’s oldest pyramid, constructed around 2650 BC. Admire this incredible, stepped structure as you learn how it was built for the Pharaoh Djoser, and enjoy time to explore at leisure. Lunch in a Restaurant. Visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, an archaeological site on the Giza Plateau on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. This complex of ancient monuments includes the three pyramid complexes known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, several cemeteries, a workers’ village, and an industrial complex. Mass will be celebrated in St. Joseph’s Church. We have a dinner cruise on the Nile River tonight and see Cairo from the water. Dinner and overnight in Cairo. (B.L.Special dinner.)

After breakfast, we drive to Wadi Natron; we visit ancient monasteries with beautiful frescos and icons, meet with monks and explore the traditions of Egyptian monasticism. Have lunch in the area and drive back to the hotel. We enjoy the Sound and the Light Show at the Pyramids in the evening. Dinner and overnight in Cairo. (B.L.D)

Early this morning, we are transferred to the airport for the short flight to Istanbul or Constantinople, as Christians prefer to call the city. Upon arrival, we are greeted by our local guide and assisted to our hotel. Following our check-in, we have time at leisure to explore the center of Istanbul or visit the Grand or Spice Bazaars for shopping. Dinner and overnight in Constantinople. (B.D)

Following breakfast, we have a city tour, including a visit to St. Sophia Church, Chora Church, and the Church of the Protection of Mother of God. In the afternoon, explore the magnificent Topkapi Palace, where we see the former home of the Turkish sultans, the Harem, and the place where the St. John the Baptist relics are housed. Mass will be celebrated. Tonight, we have a farewell dinner river cruise. Overnight in Constantinople. (B. Special dinner)

This morning, we are transferred to the airport for our non-stop flight home. (B)