The Throne of Africa
All-inclusive = Flights + 5-star Hotels + Cruise + All meals
TRIP SUMMARY
*Depart from Washington DC Dulles (IAD) on Thursday September 21st, 2023: Qatar Airlines – 11:10 am (IAD) departure to 10:45 am arrival the next day (1-hour layover in Doha)
*Return to Washington DC Dulles (IAD) on Monday October 2nd, 2023: Qatar Airlines – 1:15 am departure to 4:30pm (IAD) arrival the same day (3-hour layover in Doha)
TRIP DETAILS
Day 1: Friday, 22nd September 2023
Arrival Cairo International Airport
Upon arrival at the airport meet and be assisted by our welcome team. After a short briefing, join the buses and depart to rest at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza Cairo Hotel, an amazing 5-star Hotel in the heart of Cairo, on the banks of the Nile River. You will arrive in the early afternoon, have a quick lunch, and have the opportunity to rest and refresh before enjoying a welcome dinner where you will get to meet all your fellow travelers and your tour guides.
Day 2: Saturday, 23rd September 2023
The Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara Cemetery, and Memphis
After breakfast, your Egyptologist guide will take you on a private tour to see the Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one that still exists. You will have the opportunity to enjoy panoramic views of all the pyramids, marvel at the Great Sphinx, and take pictures. You will then explore the Sahara Desert behind the pyramids by camel ride, followed by lunch at a local Egyptian Restaurant.After lunch, we will travel 30 minutes to Memphis, the site of Egypt’s ancient capital, to see the Colossus of Ramses II and the beautiful Alabaster Sphinx. At nearby Saqqara, you’ll gaze in wonder upon the remarkable Step Pyramid of King Zoser. You’ll also be among the first to behold the vibrant drawings and inscriptions in the 4,000-year-old Tomb of Mehu – newly opened to visitors for the first time in 80 years.
In the evening, you will partake in a sumptuous Egyptian feast and belly dance with Egyptian women as you cruise down the Nile River.
Day 3: Sunday, 24th September 2023
Tour of Cairo
After breakfast, you will tour Cairo, the largest city in the Arab World and the second largest in Africa. Your tour of Old Cairo includes fine views from the Citadel Alabaster Mosque, followed by exploring Christian (Coptic) Cairo, which includes the Church of Abu-Sergah, where we can see the cradle of Jesus followed by St. Barbara church, the Hanging Church, and the ancient Jewish Ben Ezra synagogue. All places are pilgrimage destinations not only for Egyptians but for Christians worldwide.You will then visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities - a perfect introduction to the ancient sites you’ll explore along the Nile. You will end your tour by exploring the most ancient mosque in Africa, the Ibn Toloun Mosque, one of the few mosques where we can climb up the minaret.
You will then have lunch at the exclusive floating restaurant on an island on the Nile. After lunch, return to the hotel for a free afternoon where you can choose to rest or experience the luxurious spa.
Day 4: Monday, 25th September 2023
Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan
You will wake up very early today, take a box breakfast, and go to the airport to catch an 8am 1-hour flight from Cairo to Luxor. In Luxor, you will board the luxurious Sonesta Cruise line that will take you on a 4-night Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan.
After leaving your luggage onboard, you will disembark and first explore Luxor - the great ancient capital of the Egyptian empire. You will explore Karnak Temple, the largest and most important religious complex in ancient Egypt, which was also used as a palace for the Pharaohs. After the tour, you will return to the cruise ship to have lunch and rest for a few hours, before disembarking again to explore Luxor’s East Bank.
You will then have the opportunity to do what few others have done before – have an exclusive private dinner inside the historic Luxor Temple while gazing upon the Avenue of the Sphinxes, where Pharaohs were crowned and Queens were revered, over a thousand years ago.
Day 5: Tuesday, 26th September 2023
Explore the Valley of the Kings
Today, we will take an early morning hot air Balloon ride over the West Bank of the Nile, before driving 45 minutes to the Valley of the Kings. We will explore the Valley of the Kings, which was the traditional burial place that held many of the royal tombs of Egypt. It is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world and the site where the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun (King Tut) was discovered in the 1920s. We will visit Hatshepsut’s temple, the Colossi of Memnon, and King Tut’s tomb.
We will then spend the rest of the day cruising through the fascinating Nile Lock. We will have a lavish lunch aboard the cruise while sailing to Esna. Spend the night docked in Esna.
Day 6: Wednesday, 27th September 2023
Hidden Gems of Edfu and Kom Ombo
You will arrive at Edfu city early in the morning. You will disembark and join your waiting horse carriages that will take you to visit the hidden gem of Edfu Temple, one of the most well-preserved temples in the country, dedicated to the Falcon-headed god Horus.
After touring Edfu Temple. You will then return and continue cruising to Kom Ombo while enjoying your sumptuous lunch aboard the Sonesta. You will reach Kom Ombo Temple in the afternoon. Built during the Ptolemaic era, the Kom Ombo Temple was dedicated to the crocodile god (Sobek) and falcon god (Haroeris). It has many intact courts and halls, along with wall carvings and statues. After touring the temple, unwind on the boat with stunning sunset views. Sit back and enjoy the evening and overnight in Kom Ombo.
Day 7: Thursday, 28th September 2023
Nubian Desert, Abu Simbel Temple, Return to Cairo
Today we will sail to Aswan, an archaeologically rich city on the banks of the Nile. We will have breakfast onboard the cruise ship and then disembark for a 3-hour drive through Nubian Desert to visit Abu Simbel Temple. Abu Simbel Temple is a historic site comprising two massive rock-cut temples in the village of Abu Simbel, near the border with Sudan (about 12 miles away). The Great Temple at Abu Simbel was completed around year 24 of the reign of Ramesses the Great (1265 BC). It was dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah, as well as to the deified Ramesses himself. It is generally considered the grandest and most beautiful of the temples commissioned during the reign of Ramesses II, and one of the most beautiful in Egypt.
At Abu Simbel, we will have lunch at a traditional Nubian restaurant and sample Nubian cuisine including the delicious Tajin. We will spend 1-hour cruising on Nasser Lake (Lake Nubia) listening to traditional Nubian music, before returning back to our cruise ship.
Day 8: Friday, 29th September 2023
Aswan, Isis Temple, Nubian Museum and Village, Return to Cairo
We will have breakfast onboard the cruise ship and then disembark. We will drive 20 minutes to board a speed boat to Philae Temple which is dedicated to the worship of the goddess Isis. We will then visit the Nubian Museum to learn about the rich heritage and culture of the beautiful Nubian people. After this, we will travel to Sohail Island and visit a traditional Nubian house where we will meet local Nubians to learn about their history and culture over a glass of welcome tea. After your time at the house, take a walk to explore the island on your own, strolling through brightly painted villages, and chatting with the locals. We will also visit a local Nubian school or other organization to make a donation to support some of their activities, before returning to Aswan to fly back to Cairo. In Cairo, we will check-in to the 5-star Intercontinental Citystars Cairo Hotel.
Day 9: Saturday, 30th September 2023
Alexandria and the Mediterranean Sea
After breakfast at our hotel, we will travel 3 hours by bus from Cairo to Alexandria which is located on the Mediterranean Sea and was founded in 331 BCE. The Royal Library of Alexandria was one of
the greatest libraries of the ancient world and flourished from its construction in the 3rd century BC
until its destructions centuries later. Today, the Bibliotheca Alexandria stands as a marvel of the
modern world. Shaped like a giant discus embedded in the ground, its granite facades are carved with
letters, pictograms, characters, and hieroglyphs from more than 120 different scripts. Inside, its main
reading room can hold 8 million books and accommodate 2,500 people under its distinctive sloping roof.
We will also visit the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa and Pompey’s Pillar. We will have lunch in an exclusive seafood restaurant overlooking the sea. After lunch, we will visit the Qaitbay Fortress, before joining our bus to drive back to Cairo.
Tonight, get ready for our Farewell Party celebrating our last night in Egypt. The party will be at the hotel and we will dance the night away with a hot local DJ.
Day 10: Sunday, 1st October 2023
Rest, Spa and Return Home
Today we will spend the day resting at the hotel, lounging by the pool or enjoying a spa day, as we prepare for our late-night flight back home to the US. We will have an early dinner at the hotel before going to the airport to catch our flight back home.
Flight Arrives in the US Monday 2nd October 2023
WE ARE CURRENTLY SOLD OUT!
WE ARE SORRY OUR EGYPT TRIP IS AT CAPACITY.
FILL OUT FORM BELOW TO GET ON OUR WAIT LIST, TO BE THE FIRST TO SIGN UP IF WE HAVE CANCELATIONS!
Please note in message that you want to join the Egypt wait list, # in your party, and any additional relevant additions you need.
Thank you for your interest!
YOU WILL BE ADDED TO THE WAIT LIST. WE WILL GO DOWN THE WAIT LIST ORDER IF WE GET A CANCELATION.
PLEASE NOTE, YOU WILL HAVE 24HRS TO RESPOND BEFORE IT GOES DOWN. TOTHE NEXT PERSON THE LIST.
Have a great day!
PACKAGE INFORMATION
Cost of the ALL-INCLUSIVE vacation (Includes hotels, flights, travel insurance for illness cancellation and medical evacuation, tours and meals) is only $9,500 (Adults; 12+) and $8,500 (Kids 5 to 11 years – only one child fare allowed per family)
ADULT PACKAGE
Explore Egypt for as little as $1,900 monthly for 5 months, or $9,300 when you pay in full before May 31, 2023
|
Date |
Installment Plan |
Pay In Full (before May 31, 2023) |
|---|---|---|
|
Time of reservation if Before Feb 1, 2022 |
$1,900 + (4 monthly payments of $1,900) |
$9,300 |
|
After Feb 1, 2022 |
$3,800 + (3 monthly payments of $1,900) |
$9,300 |
|
After April 1, 2023 |
$5,700 + (2 monthly payments of $1,900) |
$9,300 |
|
After June 1, 2023 |
No installment plan |
$9,500 (No pay-in-full Discount after 6/30/2023) |
- *Please note that there is a $500 non-refundable fee after purchase. *After April 1, 2023: $4,750 is non-refundable, *After June 30, 2023: $9,500 is non-refundable
- If you reserve after Feb 1, 2022, your reservation cost will be $3,800 (deposit + 1st installment), $5,700 after April 1, 2023 (deposit + 1st and 2nd installment), and $9,500 (no pay-in-full discount) after June 30, 2023.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS GROUP TRAVEL: There are wonderful benefits of traveling with a group, but there are also accommodations that you will have to make because of this! By agreeing to travel with us, you are agreeing to travel with a group and to give up some of the conveniences that you might have with solo or family travel like individual departure times, ability to upgrade flights or change seats, ability to dine alone, etc. We will do our best to ensure you have a wonderful experience, but we ask for your patience and acknowledgment that we might be unable to honor some of your requests because we are traveling with a group!
CHILD PACKAGE
Children ages 5 to 11 can also explore Egypt for as little as $1,700 monthly or $8,300 when you pay in full before May 31, 2023. Only one child fare per family is allowed – additional children are charged the adult price.
|
Date |
Installment Plan (child) |
Pay In Full (before March 31, 2023) |
|---|---|---|
|
Time of reservation if Before Feb 1, 2022 |
$1,700 + (4 monthly payments of $1,700 |
$8,300 |
|
After Feb 1, 2022 |
$3,400 + (3 monthly payments of $1,700) |
$8,300 |
|
After April 1, 2023 |
$5,100 + (2 monthly payments of $1,700) |
$8,300 |
|
After June 1, 2023 |
No installment plan |
$8,500 (No pay-in-full Discount after 6/30/2023) |
*Please note that there is a $500 non-refundable fee after purchase. *After April 1, 2023: $4,250 is non-refundable, *After June 30, 2023: $8,500 is non-refundable
If you reserve after Feb 1, 2022, your reservation cost will be $3,400 (deposit + 1st installment), $5,100 after April 1, 2023 (deposit + 1st and 2nd installment), and $8,500 (no pay-in-full discount) after June 30, 2023.
UPGRADES
Single Occupancy Upgrade for All Hotels
The all-inclusive price quoted is for double occupancy, with a choice of a single large bed or two small beds in each room. Guests who require single occupancy for all hotels during the trip, can request a single-occupancy upgrade.
Price for Single Occupancy upgrade per person (whole trip): $2,000
Business Class Upgrade
After booking, you will get an email with a link to request a Business Class Upgrade as only a limited number of Business Class seats are available.
Price for Business Class upgrade per person: $8,500
