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Welcome to Cairo, the magnificent capital of Egypt. It’s a loud and proud place where raucous modern life meets an entrenched ancient history. You’ll check into the beautiful Hyatt Regency Cairo West, just outside of the city with views over to the pyramids.
You’ve got nine days in Egypt, and there’s a lot to cram in. Your first full day has blockbuster attractions in store. After breakfast, you’ll head straight out to the Pyramids of Giza, spending an hour on a quad bike with the pyramids as your movie-like backdrop. Then there’s a tour to understand the secrets of these intriguing structures better.Later, in downtown Cairo, you’ll visit the Egyptian Museum to see the riches of Tutankhamun’s Tomb and other Egyptian treasures. The day continues at the architecturally beautiful Al Azhar Mosque, one of the oldest examples in the city.
You’ll board a kayak this morning and paddle the Nile for around two hours. Then it’s back to downtown Cairo for a food tour and the chance to sample koshary, molokhia, ful and falafel traditional Egyptian dishes. There’s an afternoon tour of Old Cairo to wander the narrow lanes of the Khan El-Khalili bazaar.Tonight, you’ll be rocked to sleep aboard a sleeper train bound for Aswan, the southern frontier of ancient Egypt.
There’s a full day on the Nile today. You’ll board a traditional felucca and get to know this famous waterway a little better. As the boat’s lateen sails unfurl, there’s time to relax and enjoy the scenery as you pass rocky islets and glimpse the golden dunes beyond the west bank. Later, you’ll check into Anakato Hotel, traditional Nubian-style accommodation.
You’ll rise before the sun this morning to travel through the desert to Abu Simbel. It’s renowned for its colossal temples -- spectacular examples of ancient Egyptian art and engineering overlooking Lake Nasser. After, there’s some downtime back at the Anakato Hotel before your adventure continues in the late afternoon when you’ll take a desert walk with a Nubian guide. You’ll feast on a home-cooked Nubian meal and learn about the culture and history of this region.
This morning, you’ll be sandboarding across the dunes. It’s an extreme sport that’s sure to get your heart pumping. Buzzing with adrenaline, the rest of the day is yours to swim and kayak in the Nile, explore Aswan’s bazaar or take an optional tour of Philae Temple, the High Dam or a nearby Nubian village.
It’s on to Luxor today, taking the four-hour transfer to this one-of-a-kind destination. You’ll tour the ancient Karnak Temple and marvel at the sheer grandeur of the monuments that have survived here. After sunset, you’ll visit the Luxor Temple, built between 1390 and 1352 BC. Tonight, you’ll stay at the excellent Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor on the Nile’s east bank.
An early transfer this morning takes you to the Valley of the Kings, the site of 63 royal tombs. It was part of the ancient city of Thebes and the burial site of almost all the pharaohs of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties. Then it’s onto the Colossi of Memnon, two giant and faceless stone statues guarding the entrance to the temple of Amenophis III.There’s lunch at the El Marsam restaurant and then a visit to ACE Luxor animal hospital, a charity dedicated to treating animals in the most impoverished communities of Luxor.Tonight, there’s a farewell dinner at El Sofra restaurant, dining on traditional Egyptian dishes.
And, just like that, a whirlwind exploration is complete. Today you’ll head to Luxor’s airport for your return flight home.
Four nights in premium hotels, three nights in a Nubian guesthouse, and
one-night onboard a sleeper train
All breakfasts, two lunches and three dinners are includedVegetarians and
gluten-free diets can be catered for, although options may be limited
Four nights in premium hotels, three nights in a Nubian guesthouse, and
one-night onboard a sleeper train
Early starts allow us to maximise the adventure (and avoid the hottest parts
of the day)Care should be taken to keep hydrated. From June to September,
temperatures can go into the 40's in the southA sense of adventure is needed
for quad biking, kayaking and sandboarding, although no previous experience
necessarySun Festival DeparturesThe festival is a bi-annual event at Abu
Simbel that has been taking place for over 3200 years. During the
celebrations the sun perfectly aligns with the usually dark interior and
lights up the seated statues of Ramses II, the sun god, Ra and the king of
the gods, Amun. Only the statue of Ptah, the god of darkness, remains in the
shadows. There are traditional Nubian dances being performed, street food
everywhere (save stomach space for some fresh koshari) and live music outside
the temple.
HotelsHyatt Regency Cairo WestA contemporary five-star hotel overlooking the
Pyramids of Giza. Facilities include a swimming pool, a spa, a well-equipped
gym, and a choice of dining outlets. Anakato HotelAuthentic Nubian-style
accommodation with views of the Nile. Rooms are brightly coloured and
furnished in the local style.Steigenberger Nile PalaceA large five-star
property perched on the banks of the Nile with extensive facilities including
a large swimming pool, a fitness studio, sauna, and a range of restaurants
and bars.Please note that if the listed accommodation is not available then
an alternative of a similar standard will be used.
Hyatt Regency Cairo
There will be a local leader and drivers throughout the trip and local guides
where needed.
All breakfasts, two lunches and three dinners are includedVegetarians and
gluten-free diets can be catered for, although options may be limited
Included transfers Exodus Edits provide one airport arrival transfer to the
start hotel and one departure transfer to Luxor International
Airport.Transfer arrival time – please contact the Exodus Edits team to
confirm details. The arrival transfer is usually scheduled for flight MS778
arriving at 20.40. The departure transfer is usually scheduled for flight
MS061 departing at 05.50 (April to October) or flight MS069 departing at
05.50 (November to March).Arrive at Cairo International Airport in the
evening in time for your transfer to the start hotel. If you do not take the
group transfer, or miss it, you must make your own way to the joining point
at your own expense. Details of how to reach the start point are provided in
the Final Joining Instructions. Private transfer are also available to book
(please note that these may be shared with other members of your group who
have the same or similar flight times).We know that the unexpected can
happen. Your plane may get delayed, or things just don’t go to plan. If you
miss your tour departure, check with the hotel to see if your tour leader has
left you a message with details of how to catch up with your group. If not,
call our emergency number (you will find it on the final joining
instructions) and our team will help you. Don’t forget that you are
responsible for any extra travelling expenses incurred if you miss your tour
departure. Final joining instructionsFull joining instructions, including
local emergency numbers, will be sent to you at least 2 weeks before
departure. If you don’t receive them or need them earlier, please contact
our team who will be happy to help.FlightsRemember, flights aren’t
automatically included in your trip. If you’d like the Exodus Edits team to
help you find some good options, give us a call on 020 8772 3837.
Trousers or long dresses for womenDaypack/soft holdallWater bottleLightweight
walking shoesSun cream and sunglassesSwimwearPlease note that if you're
travelling with prescription medication you should carry a medical
certificate from your GP confirming that the medication has been prescribed
for a medical condition. The Egyptian Embassy website states that this
should be in the form of an official letter from your GP, specifying details
of your condition, the quantity of medication you will be carrying and that
the medication is for your personal use only. Otherwise, the medication will
not be allowed into the country and you may be prosecuted under Egyptian
law.For further information and specific queries, contact the Egyptian
Medical Office in London on 020 7370 6944.
Torch (useful in the temples)
In the itinerary, we state which meals are included on which days. For meals
not included, we suggest you budget $100-120. A beer in a hotel or restaurant
can cost approximately $7 and a glass of wine approximately $10.Some sites
have a camera charge that means you will have to pay extra to take pictures,
around $16 for each site.Optional ExcursionsPrices are in US$ being the most
stable currency used in Egypt to provide the most accurate reflection of the
cost but excursions can be paid in any hard currency (e.g. UK£, US$. Euro
etc.). The below prices are based on a minimum of 4 persons taking part and
are subject to change.Cairo (only possible pre-tour)Sound and light show,
Giza: $45pp (requires min. 4-6 clients)Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque:
$30ppCoptic Cairo including Coptic Museum: $40ppFull day tour of Sakkara,
Memphis and Dahshour: $64ppCitadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque: $30ppEntrance fee
to go inside Great Pyramids: $30ppCamel ride (please arrange through leader):
$12pp approxAswanTour of Philae, High Dam & Obelisk: $48pp (valid for 4-6
clients)St. Simone Monastery: $35pp (min 4 clients)Sound and Light show at
Philae: $45pp (valid for 4-6 clients)Aswan markets $25-35ppSwimming (beach
entrance fee) $3ppCamel ride $8ppKayaking (no guide) $3ppKayaking (guided)
$6-12ppLuxorSound and light show, Karnak Temple: $45ppQueen Hatshepsut's
temple: $19ppEntrance for additional tombs on the West Bank, Valley of the
Kings: approx. $18ppWhen booking and paying for these tours locally, a 3%
charge will be added for all card payments.
Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work with Exodus. However,
if you wish to tip your drivers and hotel staff etc (but excluding
restaurants), we recommend a group kitty of a $55-65 per personTo show
appreciation for your tour leader, we recommend a tip of around $36 per
person
Travel insuranceVisa and vaccinationsTips for leaders and staffFlights
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.