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Egypt – Day 3
Today we visited the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). The museum presents a modern aesthetic while incorporating elements that reflect ancient Egyptian culture. Its shape is inspired by the pyramids, symbolizing the connection between past and present. The museum will house all of King Tutankhamen’s (King Tut’s) artifacts, but as of this writing the golden mask
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Egypt – Day 4
Today was another jammed packed day. We started with the Salah el-Din Citadel, also known as the Citadel of Cairo, which is an historic Islamic fortification built in the 12th century by Saladin to defend against the Crusaders. It features impressive architecture, including the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, which is renowned for its striking Ottoman-style
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Egypt – Day 5
Farewell for now, Cairo; hello, Aswan! We were up bright and early at 4 AM, departing from the Hilton Cairo Grand Nile for our flight to Aswan. Upon arrival, we boarded our cruise ship, the MS Royal Beau Rivage bound for Luxor. We spent one night on the ship in Aswan, where we had the
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Egypt – Day 6
Day 6 was such an exhilarating adventure! We were picked up from the ship at 6 AM to catch an Egypt Air 30 minute flight to Abu Simbel. Abu Simbel is famous for its two massive rock temples built during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC. Located near the Nile
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Egypt – Day 7
We made a quick stop in Edfu to visit the Edfu Temple before passing through the lock and arriving in Luxor. Luxor turned out to be the highlight of our journey along the Nile, with the Luxor Temple and the Boulevard of Sphinx exceeding our expectations. Luxor Temple is an ancient Egyptian temple located on
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Egypt – Day 8
We rose early to a stunning Saturday in Luxor. After enjoying a hearty breakfast, we bid farewell to the Beau Rivage cruise ship and made our way to the Valley of the Kings. The Valley of the Kings, located near Luxor, is an ancient burial ground for pharaohs and nobles of the New Kingdom (1550–1070
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Egypt – Day 9
Beneath the starry night, a few members of our group embarked on a hot air balloon adventure over Luxor. They were rewarded with a breathtaking sunrise, while the rest of us enjoyed the stunning sight of about 30 balloons illuminating the sky. The hot air ballooners gathered with us for breakfast featuring traditional Egyptian dishes.
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Egypt – Day 12
Alas, today marks our last day in Egypt. We flew from Hurghada along the Red Sea to Cairo, where we were greeted at the airport and taken on our final tour of Coptic Egypt. Coptic Egypt refers to the period when Christianity flourished in Egypt, particularly after its introduction in the 1st century AD by