Farafra
- Western Desert of Egypt containing massive chalk rock formations
- Formations are the result of occasional sandstorms
Sharm El Lui (Marsa Alam)
- Remote sandy beach and lagoon
- #22 of the top 25 beaches in the world
Shunet El Zebib
- Large mudbrick mortuary temple
- Dates back to 2700 BC
- One of the oldest buildings in the world
- Built by the Ancient Egyptian pharaoah Khasekhemwy
Pyramid of Djoser
- Burial built in the 27th century BC
- Was once clad in polished white limestone
- One of the oldest buildings in the world
Meidum
- Archaelogical site containing a large pyramid and several mud-brick mastabas (flat-roofed ancient Egyptian tombs)
- Built in 2580 BC
- One of the oldest buildings in the world
Bent Pyramid
- Tomb that dates back to 2600 BC
- Built under the Old Kingdom Pharaoh Sneferu
- One of the oldest buildings in the world
Red Pyramid
- Tomb built in 2580 BC
- Named for the reddish hue of its red limestone stones
- Believed to be Egypt’s first successful attempt at constructing a true smooth-sided pyramid
- During the Middle Ages much of the white Tura limestone was taken for buildings in Cairo, revealing the red limestone beneath
- One of the oldest buildings in the world
Islamic Cairo
- One of the world’s oldest Islamic cities
- The old walled city is characterized by hundreds of mosques, tombs, madrasas, mansions, caravanserais, and fortifications dating back to the Islamic era (641-969 AD)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Saint Catherine’s Monastery
- Eastern Orthodox monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai at the mouth of a gorge
- Built from 548-565
- One of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world
- Contains the world’s oldest continually operating library
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Abu Simbel Temples
- Twin rock temples carved out of the side of a mountain in 1264 BC
- Completed under the rein of Pharaoah Ramesses II to commemorate the Battle of Kadesh
- Was relocated in 1968 as necessary to prevent being submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Karnak
- Complex of decayed temples, chapels, and pylons
- Part of monumental city of Thebes
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hathor Temple
- Temple dedicated to Hathor
- One of the best preserved temples in all Egypt
- Includes depictions of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar
Great Pyramid of Giza
- The oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
- Built in 2560 BC
- Was the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years at 481 ft originally
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Medinet Habu (Temple)
- Mortuary temple for Ramesses III
- Best known for being the source of inscribed reliefs depicting the defeat of the Sea Peoples during the reign of Ramesses III
Costs
all flights $1,957
food $9/day x 18 days = $153
hotel $19/day x 17 days = $323
tickets (all attractions) $41
TOTAL for whole itinerary $2,474
