EGYPT 49 MIDDLEEAST Egypt Unveiled Imaginative Facts Tour code: ETEU • Activities: Donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings, Red Sea snorkelling • Accommodation: 7 nights tourist class hotels, 7 nights on board Nile cruise boat, 1 night sleeper train • Transport: Private air- conditioned transport, 4WD, private Nile cruise boat, first class sleeper train, hydrofoil, horse- drawn carriage and donkeys, local boats • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of Egyptologists • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Add our ' Petra Extension' DAY 1: CAIRO- Arrival day. DAY 2: CAIRO - FAIYOUM- See the treasures in the Egyptian Museum and visit the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. Later we continue to the Faiyoum Oasis - once known as the ' Garden of Egypt'. Overnight in a resort overlooking Qarun Lake. ( BD) DAY 3: FAIYOUM- Enjoy a full day excursion visiting Qarun Palace temple and the protected area of Wadi El Rayan, site of the only waterfall in Egypt! After a picnic lunch we continue to the UNESCO protected site of ' The Valley of Whales', famous for the fossils of the first whales to exist on the planet. Enjoy sunset in this spectacular site before heading back to Faiyoum. ( BLD) DAY 4: FAIYOUM - CAIRO- Today we explore Faiyoum Oasis. We have the chance to take horse- drawn carriages through local farms to visit the famous water wheels. We then visit the ancient ptolemaic city of Karanis before driving back to Cairo to board the overnight sleeper train to Luxor. ( BD) DAY 5: LUXOR - ESNA- We transfer to M/ S Melodie, our Nile cruise boat. Take horse-drawn carriages to the great Temple of Karnak. In the afternoon we begin cruising along the Nile to overnight at Esna. ( BLD) DAY 6: ESNA - KOM OMBO- Sail south to the riverside temple of Kom Ombo. ( BLD) DAY 7: KOM OMBO - ASWAN- We sail to Aswan. Perhaps take a felucca ride around the beautiful Temple of Isis, situated on Philae Island in the Nile or ride camels to St Simeon's monastery in the desert. ( BLD) DAY 8: LAKE NASSER- Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Nasser and visit the Kalabsha Temple - one of the famous temples of Nubia - and Crocodile Island. ( BLD) DAY 9: ASWAN - EDFU- A free morning to visit the famed temple of Abu Simbel before we cruise up the Nile towards Edfu. ( BLD) DAY 10: EDFU - LUXOR- Visit the temple of Horus at Edfu before sailing to Luxor. ( BLD) DAY 11: LUXOR- We get up before sunrise to ride donkeys to the Valley of the Kings. Our route back offers magnificent views of the Nile Valley and passes the Colossi of Memnon. The afternoon is free. ( BLD) DAY 12: ABYDOS - DENDERA- A full day excursion to the beautifully preserved temples at the sacred city of Abydos and the tombs of Dendera, lying evocatively on the isolated desert edge. ( B) DAY 13: LUXOR - RED SEA- Travel to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada. ( B) DAY 14: RED SEA- Cruise in local boats to nearby coral reefs for a day of snorkelling. ( BL) DAY 15: CAIRO- We drive via the Red Sea coast on our return journey to Cairo. ( B) DAY 16: CAIRO- Tour ends after breakfast. ( B) Egypt's highlights - and best kept secrets! • Visit ancient Egypt's most inspirational sightsas well as some hidden gems • Cruise the Nile on our private boat and sail on Lake Nasser to Crocodile Island • Hop on a donkey through the Valley of the Kings and snorkel the Red Sea • Discover the Faiyoum Oasis, ' The Valley of Whales'and Egypt's only waterfall • Enjoy the peaceful, lesser known temple sitesof Abydos and Dendera Nile Safari DAY 1: CAIRO- Arrival day. DAY 2: CAIRO- See the treasures in the Egyptian Museum and visit the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. Overnight sleeper train to Luxor. ( BD) DAY 3: LUXOR- Arrive in Luxor and transfer to our Nile cruiseboat, M/ S Melodie. There are a few hours free to explore the town before an afternoon ride to Karnak Temple by horse- drawn carriage for a guided tour. Overnight in Luxor. ( BLD) DAY 4: NILE CRUISE- Rising early we cross the Nile to ride donkeys to the Valley of the Kings. After lunch we set off on our Nile cruise to Esna. ( BLD) DAY 5: ESNA - EDFU - KOM OMBO- Sail south to Edfu where we visit the Temple of Horus before continuing our cruise to Kom Ombo where we visit the beautiful riverside temple. Overnight Kom Ombo. ( BLD) DAY 6: KOM OMBO - ASWAN- Continue to Aswan. On arrival the day is free to explore. Perhaps take a felucca ride around the beautiful Temple of Isis, situated on Philae Island in the Nile or haggle for souvenirs in the bazaars. ( BLD) DAY 7: ASWAN- This morning there is the opportunity to visit the famed temple of Abu Simbel. This afternoon we board the first class sleeper train for our return journey to Cairo. ( BD) DAY 8: CAIRO- Transfer to the hotel where the tour ends on arrival. ( B) An impressive trip - all the best sites in just 8 days • Enjoy guided tours of the Pyramids and Sphinxnear Cairo • Take a relaxing Nile cruisebetween Luxor and Aswan on our private boat • Chance to see Abu Simbel or take a feluccato Philae Island • Ride a donkey into the Valley of the Kings • Visit the magnificent Kom Ombu, Edfu and Karnak temples Imaginative Facts Tour code: ETNI • Activities: Donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings • Accommodation: 1 night tourist class hotel, 4 nights on board Nile cruise boat, 2 nights 1st class sleeper train • Transport: Private air- conditioned transport, private Nile cruise boat, 1st class sleeper train, donkeys and horse- drawn carriage • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of Egyptologists • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Add our ' Alexandria Extension' • Seasonal Supplement £ 30 Single Supplement £ 60 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 6.33 * Price includes tour price of £ 449and local payment of US$ 170All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 535pp Land Only * • Seasonal Supplement £ 30 Single Supplement £ 115 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 6.33 * Price includes tour price of £ 735and local payment of US$ 220All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 849pp Land Only * traveller traveller Tour duration 8 days Tour duration 16 days Starts SunEnds Sun CairoCairo 2009 04- Jan- 0911- Jan- 09 11- Jan- 0918- Jan- 09 18- Jan- 0925- Jan- 09 25- Jan- 0901- Feb- 09 01- Feb- 0908- Feb- 09 08- Feb- 0915- Feb- 09 15- Feb- 0922- Feb- 09 22- Feb- 0901- Mar- 09 01- Mar- 0908- Mar- 09 08- Mar- 0915- Mar- 09 15- Mar- 0922- Mar- 09 22- Mar- 0929- Mar- 09 29- Mar- 0905- Apr- 09 05- Apr- 0912- Apr- 09 • 12- Apr- 0919- Apr- 09 • 19- Apr- 0926- Apr- 09 26- Apr- 0903- May- 09 03- May- 0910- May- 09 10- May- 0917- May- 09 17- May- 0924- May- 09 24- May- 0931- May- 09 02- Aug- 0909- Aug- 09 09- Aug- 0916- Aug- 09 16- Aug- 0923- Aug- 09 23- Aug- 0930- Aug- 09 30- Aug- 0906- Sep- 09 06- Sep- 0913- Sep- 09 13- Sep- 0920- Sep- 09 20- Sep- 0927- Sep- 09 27- Sep- 0904- Oct- 09 04- Oct- 0911- Oct- 09 11- Oct- 0918- Oct- 09 18- Oct- 0925- Oct- 09 25- Oct- 0901- Nov- 09 01- Nov- 0908- Nov- 09 08- Nov- 0915- Nov- 09 15- Nov- 0922- Nov- 09 22- Nov- 0929- Nov- 09 29- Nov- 0906- Dec- 09 06- Dec- 0913- Dec- 09 13- Dec- 0920- Dec- 09 20- Dec- 0927- Dec- 09 • 27- Dec- 0903- Jan- 10 • • Seasonal supplement applies Starts SunEnds Sun CairoCairo 2010 03- Jan- 1010- Jan- 10 10- Jan- 1017- Jan- 10 17- Jan- 1024- Jan- 10 24- Jan- 1031- Jan- 10 31- Jan- 1007- Feb- 10 07- Feb- 1014- Feb- 10 14- Feb- 1021- Feb- 10 21- Feb- 1028- Feb- 10 28- Feb- 1007- Mar- 10 07- Mar- 1014- Mar- 10 14- Mar- 1021- Mar- 10 21- Mar- 1028- Mar- 10 28- Mar- 1004- Apr- 10 • 04- Apr- 1011- Apr- 10 • 11- Apr- 1018- Apr- 10 18- Apr- 1025- Apr- 10 25- Apr- 1002- May- 10 02- May- 1009- May- 10 09- May- 1016- May- 10 16- May- 1023- May- 10 23- May- 1030- May- 10 30- May- 1006- Jun- 10 06- Jun- 1013- Jun- 10 13- Jun- 1020- Jun- 10 20- Jun- 1027- Jun- 10 27- Jun- 1004- Jul- 10 04- Jul- 1011- Jul- 10 11- Jul- 1018- Jul- 10 18- Jul- 1025- Jul- 10 25- Jul- 1001- Aug- 10 01- Aug- 1008- Aug- 10 08- Aug- 1015- Aug- 10 15- Aug- 1022- Aug- 10 22- Aug- 1029- Aug- 10 29- Aug- 1005- Sep- 10 05- Sep- 1012- Sep- 10 12- Sep- 1019- Sep- 10 19- Sep- 1026- Sep- 10 26- Sep- 1003- Oct- 10 03- Oct- 1010- Oct- 10 10- Oct- 1017- Oct- 10 17- Oct- 1024- Oct- 10 24- Oct- 1031- Oct- 10 31- Oct- 1007- Nov- 10 07- Nov- 1014- Nov- 10 14- Nov- 1021- Nov- 10 21- Nov- 1028- Nov- 10 28- Nov- 1005- Dec- 10 05- Dec- 1012- Dec- 10 12- Dec- 1019- Dec- 10 19- Dec- 1026- Dec- 10 • 26- Dec- 1002- Jan- 11 • Starts SatEnds Sun CairoCairo 2009 03- Jan- 0918- Jan- 09 10- Jan- 0925- Jan- 09 17- Jan- 0901- Feb- 09 24- Jan- 0908- Feb- 09 31- Jan- 0915- Feb- 09 07- Feb- 0922- Feb- 09 14- Feb- 0901- Mar- 09 21- Feb- 0908- Mar- 09 28- Feb- 0915- Mar- 09 07- Mar- 0922- Mar- 09 14- Mar- 0929- Mar- 09 21- Mar- 0905- Apr- 09 28- Mar- 0912- Apr- 09 • 04- Apr- 0919- Apr- 09 • 11- Apr- 0926- Apr- 09 • 18- Apr- 0903- May- 09 25- Apr- 0910- May- 09 02- May- 0917- May- 09 09- May- 0924- May- 09 16- May- 0931- May- 09 23- May- 0907- Jun- 09 01- Aug- 0916- Aug- 09 08- Aug- 0923- Aug- 09 15- Aug- 0930- Aug- 09 22- Aug- 0906- Sep- 09 29- Aug- 0913- Sep- 09 05- Sep- 0920- Sep- 09 12- Sep- 0927- Sep- 09 19- Sep- 0904- Oct- 09 26- Sep- 0911- Oct- 09 03- Oct- 0918- Oct- 09 10- Oct- 0925- Oct- 09 17- Oct- 0901- Nov- 09 24- Oct- 0908- Nov- 09 31- Oct- 0915- Nov- 09 07- Nov- 0922- Nov- 09 14- Nov- 0929- Nov- 09 21- Nov- 0906- Dec- 09 28- Nov- 0913- Dec- 09 05- Dec- 0920- Dec- 09 12- Dec- 0927- Dec- 09 • 19- Dec- 0903- Jan- 10 • 26- Dec- 0910- Jan- 10 • • Seasonal supplement applies Starts SatEnds Sun CairoCairo 2010 02- Jan- 1017- Jan- 10 09- Jan- 1024- Jan- 10 16- Jan- 1031- Jan- 10 23- Jan- 1007- Feb- 10 30- Jan- 1014- Feb- 10 06- Feb- 1021- Feb- 10 13- Feb- 1028- Feb- 10 20- Feb- 1007- Mar- 10 27- Feb- 1014- Mar- 10 06- Mar- 1021- Mar- 10 13- Mar- 1028- Mar- 10 20- Mar- 1004- Apr- 10 • 27- Mar- 1011- Apr- 10 • 03- Apr- 1018- Apr- 10 • 10- Apr- 1025- Apr- 10 17- Apr- 1002- May- 10 24- Apr- 1009- May- 10 01- May- 1016- May- 10 08- May- 1023- May- 10 15- May- 1030- May- 10 22- May- 1006- Jun- 10 29- May- 1013- Jun- 10 05- Jun- 1020- Jun- 10 12- Jun- 1027- Jun- 10 19- Jun- 1004- Jul- 10 26- Jun- 1011- Jul- 10 03- Jul- 1018- Jul- 10 10- Jul- 1025- Jul- 10 17- Jul- 1001- Aug- 10 24- Jul- 1008- Aug- 10 31- Jul- 1015- Aug- 10 07- Aug- 1022- Aug- 10 14- Aug- 1029- Aug- 10 21- Aug- 1005- Sep- 10 28- Aug- 1012- Sep- 10 04- Sep- 1019- Sep- 10 11- Sep- 1026- Sep- 10 18- Sep- 1003- Oct- 10 25- Sep- 1010- Oct- 10 02- Oct- 1017- Oct- 10 09- Oct- 1024- Oct- 10 16- Oct- 1031- Oct- 10 23- Oct- 1007- Nov- 10 30- Oct- 1014- Nov- 10 06- Nov- 1021- Nov- 10 13- Nov- 1028- Nov- 10 20- Nov- 1005- Dec- 10 27- Nov- 1012- Dec- 10 04- Dec- 1019- Dec- 10 11- Dec- 1026- Dec- 10 • 18- Dec- 1002- Jan- 11 • 25- Dec- 1009- Jan- 11 • Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243 Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

MIDDLEEASTEGYPT 50 " Highlights included the donkey ride, cruising along the Nile, wandering around the back-streets of Cairo and seeing the day to day life of the ordinary people." Joanna Boraston middle east Treasures of the Nile Valley Imaginative Facts Tour code: ETTV • Activities: Donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings • Accommodation: 9 nights tourist class hotels, 3 nights on board Nile cruise boat, 1 night overnight sleeper train ( Note: Sometimes we may spend an extra night on the boat rather than in a hotel) • Transport: Private air- conditioned transport, private Nile cruise boat, overnight sleeper train, donkeys and horse- drawn carriage • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of Egyptologist • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Add our ' Petra Extension' DAY 1: CAIRO- Arrival day. DAY 2: CAIRO- In the morning we enjoy a guided tour to the Egyptian Museum followed by the magnificent Pyramids & Sphinx at Giza. ( B) DAY 3: SAQQARA - MEMPHIS - DASHUR - FAIYOUM- Today we visit the ancient capital of Memphis and the Step Pyramid of Saqqara. Continue to the Bent and Red Pyramids at Dashur then on to the Faiyoum Oasis, once known as the ' Garden of Egypt'. ( BD) DAY 4: FAIYOUM - MAIDUM - MINYA-Continue on to Maidum where we visit the first man- made pyramid. From there we head to Minya to spend the night. ( BD) DAY 5: MINYA - SOHAG- Today we visit the Middle Kingdom necropolis of Beni Hassan and Tell el Amarna, the ancient capital of the heretic king Akhenaten. Later we drive to Sohag. ( BD) DAY 6: SOHAG - LUXOR- Visit the amazing temples of Ramses II at Abydos and the beautiful Temple of Hathor at Dendara before moving on to Luxor. ( B) DAY 7: LUXOR - ASWAN- Transfer to Aswan where we check in to our Nile cruise boat. A free day to explore this vibrant Nubian city. Overnight on board the boat. ( BLD) DAY 8: EDFU- Optional morning excursion to Abu Simbel before we start cruising up the Nile towards Luxor. We stop en route at Kom Ombo where we will visit the riverside temple, before we continue to Edfu. ( BLD) DAY 9: LUXOR- In the morning, we visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu before we continue sailing to Luxor. ( BLD) DAYS 10 & 11: LUXOR- Disembark from the boat and transfer to our hotel. Afternoon guided tour of Karnak Temple. The next day there is an early start to ride our donkeys to the Valley of the Kings and Medinat Habu. In the evening we board the overnight train to Cairo. ( Day 10 - B, Day 11 - BD) DAY 12: CAIRO - ALEXANDRIA- Arrive in Cairo and drive to Alexandria, the jewel of the Mediterranean. Later we enjoy a guided tour of the National Museum, the Catacombs and Pompey's Pillar. ( B) DAY 13: ALEXANDRIA - CAIRO- Transfer to Cairo. The rest of the day is free to relax and explore the city. There is plenty of time for further sightseeing or shopping at the famous Khan el Khalili Bazaar. ( B) DAY 14: CAIRO- Tour ends. ( B) Combine the best of the ancient sites with a relaxing Nile cruise • Visit the famed sights of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Alexandria • Cruise the Nile on our private boatvisiting Kom Ombo and Edfu temples • Explore the hidden treasures of Middle Egyptincluding the Faiyoum Oasis • Chance to see the amazing site of Abu Simbel • Ride donkeysinto the Valley of the Kings Egypt Treasures of the Nile Valley Nile Rover River & Reef Alexandria Cairo Faiyoum Minya Sohag Hurghada Luxor Edfu Kom Ombo Aswan Single Supplement £ 110 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 6.33 * Price includes tour price of £ 770and local payment of US$ 220All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 885pp Land Only * traveller Tour duration 14 days © Imaginative Traveller Starts SunEnds Sat CairoCairo 2009 01- Feb- 0914- Feb- 09 15- Mar- 0928- Mar- 09 26- Apr- 0909- May- 09 30- Aug- 0912- Sep- 09 11- Oct- 0924- Oct- 09 22- Nov- 0905- Dec- 09 Starts SunEnds Sat CairoCairo 2010 03- Jan- 1016- Jan- 10 14- Feb- 1027- Feb- 10 28- Mar- 1010- Apr- 10 09- May- 1022- May- 10 20- Jun- 1003- Jul- 10 01- Aug- 1014- Aug- 10 12- Sep- 1025- Sep- 10 24- Oct- 1006- Nov- 10 05- Dec- 1018- Dec- 10 There are over 90 identified pyramids in Egypt. amazing fact ... We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243