SAFARI EGYPT Cairo/ Aswan/ Luxor/ Sinai by sailboat, camel, 4X4, train and foot Available October through April Tour Outline: VISAS: All travelers to Egypt must have a visa. Citizens of most countries can obtain one on arrival. Please let us know what passport you are traveling with and we will confirm whether you can get your’s on arrival. Day 03: (Monday) Arrive Aswan and staff will transfer to the Basma Hotel. Located at the highest elevation in the area you will have striking views of the Nile and the Desert. Free day to enjoy Aswan. An optional tour to the Nubian Museum can be arranged. Overnight Aswan (B) Day 04: (Tuesday) Board your Felucca and sail to the west bank of the Nile where you will climb aboard a "ship of the desert" (camel) for a ride to St. Simeons monastery. This early Christian monastery/fortress presents a great story of early Christianity and the photo opportunities are excellent. Return to the river, raise the sail, turn the bow downstream and you are off. You will spend the night onboard at El Hardeyat Island (about 12 miles upriver of Kom Ombo). The Felucca's deck is nicely covered with large mattresses and comfortable cushions, serving as your bedroom, living room and dining room most of the time. The Felucca is equipped with a simple kitchen sufficient for providing you with your tasty meals, as well as hot and cold drinks. Sailing on the Nile starts in the early morning till sun set in normal conditions but can be interrupted due to reasons like wind or river currents or perhaps after spotting a nice area for swimming or lunch. In the evening you might want to build a small fire on shore and visit with your Nubian crew where they can teach you songs, show you their native dances and share stories. Overnight Felucca (B,L,D) Day 05: (Wednesday) Sail on to Kom Ombo, visit the temple and then sail to Hammam Island (about 18 miles upriver of Edfu) where you will dock for the evening. Overnight Felucca (B,L,D) Day 06: (Thursday) Sail on to Edfu, visit the temple and overnight. Overnight Felucca (B,L,D) Day 07: (Friday) Disembark your Felucca and transfer by private air-conditioned bus to Luxor. At Luxor enjoy visiting the antiquity sites of both banks of the river including the Necropolis of Thebes with the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Queen Hatshepsut's Temple, Colossi of Memnon plus the temples of Luxor and Karnak. Board the sleeper train about 10PM for your overnight trip to Cairo. (B) Day 08: (Saturday) Arrive Cairo about 6AM and enjoy a tour of Old Cairo with it’s famous churches and synagogue plus the Citadel of Salah el Din, bane of the crusaders and the Alabaster mosque. staff will transfer you the Shepheard hotel. Free day to enjoy Cairo. Overnight Cairo (B) Day 09: (Sunday) We depart Cairo early in the morning crossing the Eastern desert to the Suez Canal. Taking the tunnel under the Suez into Sinai, the land bridge between Africa and Asia, we will proceed along the coast to Abu Zeneima, stopping along the way to visit Moses Springs where the Israelites rested after crossing the Red Sea during Exodus. From here it is on to Serabit El Khadem and our overnight camp. (B,L,D) Day 10: (Monday) We visit the ancient Egyptian temple dedicated to the Goddess Hathor high on the sandstone plateau above a Bedouin village. Then a visit to the ancestral shrine of Sheikh Habus on the way to the Forest of Pillars, a rare geological phenomena, set under the great Limestone plateau of El Tih. Drive through Wadi Seih to Wadi Maghara where we camp overnight. (B,L,D) Day 11: (Tuesday) We visit the Ancient Egyptian Turquoise mines which are set above an acacia lined valley. Above the entrances are Old Kingdom inscriptions. We depart for Wadi Mukkattab, the Nabatean trade passage, with inscriptions marking the route which brings us to Wadi Feiran. It was here that Moses struck the rock of Horeb and water flowed forth. Here in the midst of the beauty of South Sinai's largest oasis is the Convent of Moses. A small church is built from the remains of the old Archbishops palace. We overnight at St. Catherine's Plaza, at the foot of Mt. Sinai. (B,L,D) Day 12: (Wednesday) We leave early for a climb to see the sunrise from the summit of Mt. Sinai then visit the magnificent St. Catherine's monastery, founded by the Emperor Justinian. It houses one of the world's most famous collections of early Christian art. From here we drive along Wadi Safra with an opportunity to climb sand dunes surrounded by great sandstone lattice work. We camp overnight. (B,L,D) Day 13: (Thursday) We pass the great pilgrimage landmark, Gebel El Makhroom, before visiting the Nawamis. These extremely well preserved burial chambers are from the early Bronze Age. From here we visit the crusader pilgrimage route which brings us to the Rock of Inscriptions where Nabatean and early Christian inscriptions survive side by side. A short walk brings us to the Date Palm gardens of Ein Khudra. This oasis is traditionally Hazerot, a resting place for the children of Israel. Leaving we drive through Wadi Gazala to Wadi Nakhal to walk through the colored canyon. We camp overnight. (B,L,D) Day 14: (Friday) We drive to the Gulf of Aqaba and enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the beautiful clear waters. From here we drive back to Cairo and transfer to our airport area hotel. (B,L) Day 15: (Saturday) Staff transfers you to the airport, assists with exit formalities and checking in for your international departure. (meals on the flight) Tour Includes: Transfers by air-conditioned vehicle related to the tour starting with arrival in Cairo. Overnight first class sleeper train to Aswan from Cairo and from Luxor to Cairo. Baggage handing of no more than 2 pieces of luggage per person, however, baggage and personal effects are at the owner's risk at all times during the tour. Hotels (based on double occupancy). Meals as outline by B for breakfast, L for lunch, and D for dinner. Fees for visiting antiquity sites and museums. Tours with the services of an English speaking guide. Service charges and taxes. NOT included are: Items of a personal nature such as entry visa, tips, telephone, laundry, drinks with meals, anything not specifically mentioned as included. Tour Cost: (October through April) $2195 per person, double occupancy at hotels. Email us at travelegyptinfo@gmail.com or call Toll Free in the USA/Canada 1-877-778-3497 for full details.
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