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March 23 - April 6, 2006 This trip has ENDED but here is what we did...
View the photos of this recent astronomical tour. 
Egypt —land of mystique, mystery, and ancient treasures unimaginable
—and home to the 2006 total solar eclipse! Your journey began
in Cairo, where the National Museum, the nearby Pyramids of Giza, and
the mysterious Sphinx take you beyond 5000 years of history.
Witness the total eclipse of the sun in northwestern Egypt near where
the Allied Forces met Rommel —and where once stood one of
the Ancient Seven Wonders: the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The magnificent
Nile River carries you up from Luxor's mighty Karnak temple to the Valley
of the Kings, where once lay buried thirty of the greatest kings of ancient
Egypt.
Our Distinguished Lecturers included...
This Tour Included:
Roundtrip air from the West Coast • Domestic
flights within Egypt • Airport/hotel/port transfers • Astronomical
lectures and sky viewing activities • Land excursions via air conditioned
motor coach • Baggage handling throughout Egypt • Service of
English speaking guides and special Egyptologists throughout the tour
• All entrance fees • On Land: Daily Breakfasts and meals as
mentioned in the itinerary • Acommodations: 9 nights in 4 star hotels
throughout Egypt • Four nights on board the All Suites, 100 passenger,
Monaco
• All Shore excursions with English speaking guides • Meals:
All meals on board the Monaco
• Tea & coffee with each meal on board the cruise • One
bottle of water per cabin daily on cruise • One bottle of water per
person with each meal on cruise • Egyptian entry Visa for US passport
holders. (Holders of other countries should consult their local consular
authority.)
Itinerary
March 23-24, Thursday-Friday—USA - Cairo
The Great Desert Total Solar Eclipse and Nile Voyage began today
as you boarded the flight to Cairo, Egypt. Upon arrival in the land of
the Pharaohs, you were greeted and escorted to the Cairo Grand Hyatt Hotel.
March 25, Saturday—Cairo
You began the adventure with 5000 years of art at the world-famous
Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Your guided tour included the treasures
of the tomb of Tutankhamen and the Mummy Room. Touring continued through
Medieval Cairo, the Citadel of Saladin, Khan El Khalil Bazaar and the
El Rifai Mosque where the Shah of Iran and Egypt's last kings were buried.
Lunch was served at a local restaurant.
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Pyramids
Photo by Melita Thorpe
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March 26, Sunday—Cairo
Today you stepped back to 2686 BC as you visited Memphis, Sakkara, and Zoser
I's Step Pyramid. Afterwards travel to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx
at Giza. (B/L)
March 27, Monday—Cairo -Alexandria
Across the Nile Delta in northern Egypt we headed northwest to Alexandria,
where you explored the Greco Roman Museum, the Catacombs, and Roman Amphitheater.
More items from L'Orient, Napoleon's flag ship, were viewed
at Qayet Bey Fortress, built on the same site of the ancient wonder, the
Lighthouse of Alexandria. (B/L)
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Eclipse
Photo by Karl Bizjak
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March 28, Tuesday—Alexandria -Alamein
Continue to El Alamein, which is rich in WWII history, where you visited
the War Museum of the Battle of El Alamein. This afternoon's astronomical
lectures for tomorrow's total solar eclipse was planned. (B/D)
March 29, Wednesday—ECLIPSE —Marsa
Matruh - Alamein
Preparations for the eclipse will began early as you journeyed to the
center line. A post-eclipse barbeque was enjoyed on Marsa Matruh's
beach at sunset. (B/L/D)
March 30, Thursday—Al Alamein - Luxor
Returned to Cairo for a flight along the green Nile Valley in Upper
Egypt to Luxor (Thebes). Your two-night stay in Luxor was at the legendary
Old Winter Palace, which was the exclusive resort for Egypt's royalty.
Later opened to the public, it
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| Old Winter Place |
served as the gateway to the tombs. Howard Carter's first announcement
of his discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen was posted on the guests' bulletin
board at the Winter Palace.
This afternoon you enjoyed a stroll through Luxor's colorful market. The astrophotography
session was under tonights near new Moon at the Luxor Temple. (B)
March 31, Friday—Luxor
Egypt's Temple of Amon-Ra, still the world's largest religious complex,
beckons today. The majestic avenue of ram-headed sphinxes leads to this
great temple of Karnak.
This afternoon's lecture was on the Astronomy & Alignment of
Ancient Egypt. (B)
April 1, Saturday—Luxor, Board the MONACO
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Obelisks
Photo by Melita Thorpe
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Today you toured the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings
and Queens, including the tombs of Ramses and the boy king, Tutankhamen's,
and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut.
This afternoon, you boarded the elegant Monaco, home for the next
4 nights. (B/L/D)
April 2, Sunday— Edfu & Kom Ombo
Sail past Esna upstream to Edfu where a "caleche" ride took you through the town to the Temple of Horus. Return to our ship
to set sail for Kom Ombo. (B/L/D)
April 3, Monday—Kom Ombo & Aswan
You explored the twin Temples of Haroeris and Sobek at Kom Ombo, and
sail south to Aswan. After lunch you boarded a graceful felucca and
cruise among the islands, returning to your ship in time for tea. (B,L,D)
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Karnak
Photo by Melita Thorpe
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April 4, Tuesday—Aswan
The trade center of the south, Aswan, is highlighted by a tour to
the High Dam. A boat ride took you to the island Temple of Philae, dedicated
to the Goddess Isis. (B/L/D)
April 5, Wednesday—Aswan - Cairo
An optional excursion to the Temple of Abu Simbel was offered this
morning to Upper Egypt and visited the massive four 65-foot figures
of Ramses II. A flight back to Cairo with time for last minute shopping
at the Grand Bazaar and overnight. (B)
April 6, Thursday—Cairo - USA
With memories of immortal Egypt, you departed for home.
(B)
 Red
Sea Dive Post-tour
DIVE THE RED SEA
Sharm El Sheik
April 6—10, 2006
Your Tour Included...
RT airfare from Cairo • 4 nights accommodations
– Savoy Sharm El Sheik • All breakfasts, one lunch • Tiran
Island Trip • Ras Mohammed Trip • Snorkel & Fins
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Petra
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Extend Eclipse Journey
Jordan
April 6—10, 2006
"Match me such a marvel save in Eastern clime, a rose-red city
half as old as time."
Your Tour Included...
Meet and assist upon arrival and departure •
Amman Sheraton Hotel (2 nights); Petra Movenpick Hotel (2 nights) •
Meals as indicated in itinerary • Dinner in a Bedouin Camp •
All tours and transfers in AC coaches • All entrance fees •
Horse ride at Petra • Private English speaking guide throughout •
Not included: Airfare to Jordan, gratuities, Visa fee
Price per person
$1085.00 double occupancy
$445.00 Single Supplement CONTACT
MWT Associates
www.melitatrips.com
1-877-707-7827
tours@melitatrips.com
Itinerary...
April 6th 2006: Cairo - Amman
Upon arrival at Queen Alia International Airport you will be transferred
to the Amman Sheraton.
April 7th 2006: Amman
After breakfast, a city tour of Amman, the capital of the Hashmite Kingdom
is offered. The tour will take you to the museums, the Citadel, the amphitheater,
the souks and the modern part of town and a stop at: "Wild Jordan
Café". Wild Jordan is the vision of the Royal Society for
the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), a non-governmental organization devoted
to the care and protection of Jordan's nature reserves. It's located in
the heart of old Amman overlooking the Temple of Hercules. In the afternoon,
proceed to the best preserved example of Roman civilization, the city
of Jerash, part of the Decapolis (the ten big Roman cities of the East).
The city features theaters, churches, temples (Zeus and Artemis), a Nymphaeum
and colonnaded streets. In the late afternoon, the group will return back
to Amman where they will have dinner at Kan Zaman Restaurant. The walled
village of Kan Zaman is an old Ottoman settlement. It was transformed
into a replica of a Jordanian village, affording its clientele the experience
the life in such a village. The handicraft center sells only products,
made on-site by local craftsmen. Return to Amman. B/L/D
April 8th 2006: Amman - Madaba - Petra
Depart Amman to Petra via the Kings' Road. En route, visit the mosaic
city of Madaba, where the oldest map of the Holy Land exists on the floor
of Saint George's Church. Madaba, or Medeba in antiquity, features many
famous mosaics that exist in public and private buildings.
After Madaba, a short drive will bring you to Mt. Nebo, the alleged burial
site of Moses overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. Here Franciscans
have built a structure that protects a 4th and 6th Century Byzantine church.
Continue on via the scenic canyons of Wadi Mujib (Arnon's Valley in the
Bible) to the Crusader castle at Kerak. This 12th Century hilltop fortress
features galleries, towers, chapels and ramparts that recall the gallantry
of the Crusaders. Overnight at the Petra Movenpick Hotel. B/D
April 9th 2006: Petra
After breakfast, depart on a full day tour of Petra beginning at the visitor's
center, where each person is assigned a Bedouin guided horse for the journey
to the entrance of the lost city. After passing some tombs which are located
outside the city, the visitor passes through the SIQ, an immense crack
in the Nubian sandstone. It is a winding, one-kilometer-long fissure between
overhanging cliffs that seem to meet more than 300 feet overhead.
Near the end of the passage, the SIQ, makes one last turn and out of the
gloom in towering brightness appears Petra's most impressive monument,
el Khazneh - The Treasury. It is carved out of the solid rock from the
side of the mountain, is nearly 140 feet high and 90 feet wide. At a site
that dates back more than 2,000 years, this evening we have a traditional
dinner under the stars in a Bedouin camp. Return to Petra for overnight.
B/D
April 10th 2006
After breakfast, you will be transferred from Petra via Desert Highway
to Queen Alia International Airport. Bon Voyage. B
Note: Due to the air scheduling, it may be necessary to overnight
in Cairo on April 11.
Interested? Request
a Brochure
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