Revel in a taste of Egypt’s history, beauty and colour on this short but action-packed trip along the longest river in the world. Cruise the Nile on a felucca, discover the largest and most impressive pharaonic temples, chat and dine with interesting locals and live it up in this country of deserts, bazaars, monuments and good old-fashioned adventures.
We will be visiting Egypt in October of 2012. The cost of this 8 day trip is $1050, based on double occupancy. Should you be interested in our single rate, be sure to request that rate and information when you email to reserve your spot. A $250 deposit is required to hold your spot, and it must be in no later than 60 days before departure. To make your reservation or ask any questions about this trip, please contact us******@in************.com">us******@in************.com. Additionally, ask about our group discounts and rates for the trip as well assistance on airfare deals, etc.
- Khan al-Khalili bazaar visit
- Pyramids and Sphinx
- Camel ride at the Pyramids
- Egyptian Museum
- Cairo Tower, Cairo – EGP65.00
- The Citadel, Cairo – EGP50.00
- Coptic Museum, Cairo – EGP50.00
- Islamic Art Museum, Cairo – EGP40.00
- Sufi dance performance at Khan al-Khalili, Cairo – Free
- The Great Pyramid of Cheops, Cairo – EGP100.00
- The 2nd Pyramid of Khafre, Cairo – EGP30.00
- Pyramid of Saqqara, Cairo – EGP60.00
- Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids, Cairo – EGP75.00
- Mummies Hall at Egyptian Museum, Cairo – EGP100.00
- Solar Boat Museum, Cairo – EGP50.00
- Nubian village visit and meal
- Overnight felucca sailing trip
- Philae Temple, Aswan – EGP50.00
- Boat to Philae Temple, Aswan – EGP10.00
- Sound & Light Show at Philae Temple, Aswan – EGP75.00
- Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan – EGP30.00
- Monastery of St. Simeon, Aswan – EGP25.00
- Tomb of the Nobles, Aswan – EGP30.00
- Kalabsha Temple, Aswan – EGP35.00
- Nubian Museum, Aswan – EGP50.00
- Abu Simbel Temple, Aswan – EGP95.00
- Aswan to Abu Simbel: return transport by bus (price from per person – minimum 4 passengers) – EGP480.00
- Aswan to Abu Simbel: return flights (book with www.egyptair.com – prices from approx) – USD175.00
- Karnak Temple
- Intrepid Foundation Project visit – ACE (Animal Care in Egypt)
- Valley of the Kings (3 tombs)
- Donkey ride (seasonal – not in summer)
- Home-cooked traditional meal with local family
- Kom Ombo Temple, Nile River – EGP25.00
- Edfu Temple, Nile River – EGP50.00
- Luxor Temple, Luxor – EGP50.00
- Luxor Museum, Luxor – EGP80.00
- Mummification Museum, Luxor – EGP50.00
- Sound and Light Show at Karnak, Luxor – EGP100.00
- Hot Air Balloon, Luxor – USD105.00
- Bicycle Hire, Luxor – EGP10.00
- Colossi of Memnon, Luxor – Free
- Tomb of Tutankhamon, Luxor – EGP100.00
- Hatshepsut Temple, Luxor – EGP32.00
- Medinat Habu Temple -, Luxor – EGP30.00
- Ramasseum Temple, Luxor – EGP30.00
- Valley of the Queens, Luxor – EGP35.00
- Tombs of Nobles, Luxor – EGP30.00
- Alexandria Short Break (XEAA-O)
- Sinai Beach Break (XEAB)
There is a possibility of an optional balloon flight on the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor. There are many companies who offer flights. While we can arrange the balloon experience with our preferred operator, who has provided good and safe service in the past, we must advise that you are free to choose your own balloon flight operator if you have specific safety concerns. Please note this is an optional activity so any balloon flight is taken at your own risk.You may notice other local agents around Luxor selling balloon flights at varying prices. You are free to choose your own options. Balloon rides organised through our preferred operators are sold at a fixed rate throughout the season. Ask your Group Leader to assist on arrival to Luxor.Generally the activity is advertised as a flight over the Valley of the Kings. No matter what any agent says, this can not be guaranteed as the flight is entirely dependent on the direction of the wind. From our experience very few flights actually go over the Valley of the Kings and instead fly close to Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. While you may have booked a ‘sunrise’ balloon flight, please be aware that this does not always eventuate in time for the sunrise due to logistical reasons and weather conditions.
There are many opportunities to purchase souvenirs and handicrafts while on this trip. Popular purchases include: gold and silver jewellery, perfume and Pyrex perfume bottles, essential oils, papyrus art, alabaster statues and silver including cartouches (hieroglyphics). While we do not make arrangements for specific shopping excursions due to our passengers feedback, there may be opportunities where your local guides can offer services if you are particularly interested. Please note it’s customary for local guides (not Intrepid group leaders) to accept commission from the factory or shop in exchange for their service. You are under no obligation to purchase anything from local guides and we do encourage you to enjoy shopping in the markets to compare prices and quality.Please note that in Egypt, silver is a common souvenir in the form of jewellery and other items. The silver in Egypt is generally stamped with ‘800’ meaning that it’s 80% silver and 20% other metal. This is a reduced quality to the silver you may be more familiar with which is ‘925’.
In 2012, the important month of Ramadan will be in progress from 20 July through until 18 August, and the Eid ul-Fitr festival will be held directly at its conclusion for 3-4 days. Ramadan is a festival of sacrifice where the devout refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. During Ramadan, business hours are shortened, including opening hours at some tourist attractions. Alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and many restaurants will be closed. While you should expect some delays and inconveniences during this period, the month is a fantastic opportunity to travel in a Muslim country and witness this unique period, particularly the nightly celebrations when the sun sets and the fast is broken. Please note that although the Eid ul-Fitr festival can also be a fascinating time to travel it’s a period of national holiday. Most government offices and businesses will be closed and some tourist site opening hours may be affected.
– Day 2 Overnight train to Aswan
– Day 5 Nile felucca
– Day 7 Overnight train to Cairo
As a desert region, this part of the world has extremes of weather. Winter months (approx December to March) can be very cold. All of our hotel accommodation contains suitable bedding, and simple light bedding is provided during camping activities such as an overnight felucca, desert camps or at the Red Sea Beach camp stay. Most Intrepid travellers find the bedding provided here adequate, but for your own comfort and if you are particularly sensitive to the cold, consider bringing your own sleeping bag, thermals, scarf, gloves and a warm jacket. Some of our guesthouses / hotels don’t supply heating. In many cases this would be a major financial and environmental strain on our hotels and the local towns. Summer (approx June to August) can be very hot everywhere we travel, which means that it can be quite uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. Not all our hotels have air-conditioning, and in those that do, it’s not always functioning.
When we have three single female travellers or three single male travellers on a trip we occasionally make use of triple-share rooms.
Nights spent camping can be in recognised camps or wild camping in the desert. Some campsites do have facilities but are usually not to the same standard as you would find in western countries, often toilet paper is not provided. Wild camps obviously have no facilities at all, and the toilet is simply a hole dug into the sand. Some nights can be spent in a tent whilst other nights will be under the stars. Mattresses and blankets are often provided, however some trips will require a sleeping bag. Please see ‘What to Take’ for more information.
Occasionally you may experience armed security and convoys between select towns or regions. Convoys are used to ensure all travellers are transported safely and, in many cases, tourists are only allowed to travel in scheduled convoys of buses and jeeps. On rare occasions you may have an armed guard in your vehicle. We want to warn you so you are not alarmed. This is a practice designed to keep tourists safe, although at times it can appear a little overboard.
Mr Tharwat (+2) 0127 606 605
Mr Abdel Nasser (+2) 0123 603 748Give your exact location in the airport (find a landmark) and you’ll be attended to promptly.In the very unlikely event that this process fails, you can find taxis at the front of the airport to take you to your hotel. Please inform your group leader at the initial group meeting if this occurs. If your flight is going to be early, delayed or cancelled please call ahead on the above numbers to explain the situation and advise alternative flight details.If this is your first trip to Egypt a transfer is recommended.Check-in time at our hotel is 2pm. Early check-in is not guaranteed, however if you arrive early, luggage storage is available. Speak to the hotel reception on arrival.
Australia: Yes – on arrival
Belgium: Yes – on arrival
Canada: Yes – on arrival
Germany: Yes – on arrival
Ireland: Yes – required in advance
Netherlands: Yes – on arrival
New Zealand: Yes – on arrival
South Africa: Yes – required in advance
Switzerland: Yes – on arrival
United Kingdom: Yes – on arrival
USA: Yes – on arrivalVisas are easily attainable on arrival at Cairo airport for most nationalities for US$15 to be paid in cash, but please check with your travel agent or embassy before departure. On arrival to Cairo airport you buy your visa at any of the banks before proceeding to immigration. You will be given a stamp that you then need to put into your passport yourself. A single entry visa is valid for three months from date of issue and entitles the bearer to one month in Egypt. Multiple entry visas are not available at the airport or any border crossings.
It’s important that your bags can be locked, as on local transport it may be necessary to store your luggage separately (and unattended) from the group. The smaller your bag the better for you and other passengers, for when it comes to travelling on local buses and trains it’s often only the smaller bags that will fit into the storage areas. If your bag does not fit in these areas then often the only place to put it is on your bed or seat. To ensure maximum comfort, try to pack small and light.Where Intrepid covers the cost of luggage storage for included day trips, we allow for one bag/backpack only, so it’s advisable that you travel lightly and keep luggage to a limit of one item (plus your day pack). Extra luggage storage will be at your own expense.
Please note that as a desert region, the Middle East can have extreme weather. Temperatures are generally hot with little rain. This can become extreme during the summer months of June to August. In the months of December to March it can be very cold, particularly next to the river or the ocean and out in the desert where night temperatures can drop dramatically. Even in the hot months, it can get cold in the desert at night. Consider bringing a sleeping bag, thermals, scarf, gloves and a warm jacket for travel in this period, especially on itineraries which include camping such as on a felucca, in a desert camp, or at a Red Sea beach camp. A light water and windproof jacket is useful and a hat is essential.
All of our hotel accommodation contains suitable bedding, and simple light bedding is provided during camping activities such as: overnight felucca, desert camps or at the Red Sea Beach camp stay. Most Intrepid travellers find the bedding provided here adequate, but for your own comfort and if you are particularly sensitive to the cold, consider bringing your own sleeping bag if your itinerary includes camping over the winter months (approx. Dec-Mar). During desert camping your luggage may be exposed to sand and campfire smoke, a backpack or luggage cover would be useful if this is a concern.
Consider bringing your own water bottle to refill along the way. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion ends up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please consider water purification techniques such as iodine or micropur and use the water dispensers which are provided at some of our accommodation.
Please bring two (2) copies of your passport. These may be used to assist with hotel check-in, and sometimes at road security points.
If you are a student and can produce a valid student card you will be able to get discounted rates at some of the historical sites. Entrance prices are clearly posted at the ticket booth entry points.
As a rule we recommend you don’t drink tap water, even in hotels, as it contains much higher levels of different minerals than the water you may have at home. For local people this is not a problem as their bodies are used to this and can cope, but for visitors drinking the tap water can result in illness. Generally this isn’t serious, an upset stomach being the only symptom, but it’s enough to spoil a day or two of your holiday. Bottled water is widely available and your leader can recommend safe alternatives when available. Water consumption should be about 3 litres a day. Rehydration salts, motion sickness tablets, and diarrhoea blockers are available from many pharmacies.
While travelling in this part of the world there is the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in the more touristy cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and encourage you to walk together and only on main, well-lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing.
Depending on where you come from please note that drivers in this part of the world may drive on the opposite side of the road from what you are used to. Look both ways before crossing any road. Traffic can be a little more chaotic than you might be used to at home. Be aware!
Please be aware that local laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in the western world or from your home country and not all the transport which we use provides seat belts.
Please be aware that local laws governing tourism facilities in this region differ from those in your home country and not all the accommodation which we use has a fire exit, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.
Some hotel balconies don’t meet UK standards in terms of the width of the balcony fence being narrower than 10cm.
Please take care when taking part in any activities in the ocean, river or open water, where waves and currents can be unpredictable. It’s expected that anyone taking part in water activities is able to swim and have experience in open water. All swimmers should seek local advice before entering the water.
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