Beyond the Veil (Luxor)

Women Of the Nile – The Power of ISIS
Insights for Women Travelers

A grand 10 – Day Adventure, locally escorted

Egyptian women’s roles in home and society are changing dramatically. They welcome new educational and career opportunities, but want to preserve traditions and family values. Come with us to meet Egypt’s women, see how they live, share meals with them, and go beyond misconceptions – beyond the veil. We’ll meet artisans and learn their crafts, travel through striking landscapes, and explore the deep history, art, culture and society of the Nile Delta and old Cairo Coptic biblical quarter from a woman’s point of view.

DAY 1 – CAIRO- The First Thursday of each and every month
On arrival, our local representative will greet you at the airport and whisk you to your hotel. Visa may be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport.

VIP Meet & Greet Upon arrival at Cairo Airport
Visa issued locally in Cairo (for a limited number of nationalities) no photos required. Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of citizens such as: American, Australian, NZ, EU, Canadian, EU Singaporean and Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo. Our local rep. will meet you with a sign that carries your name, and will be waiting for you with the prepaid visa stamps to proceed to the passports control to stamp your passports and then you claim your luggage. After you clear the passport and customs formalities and exit the terminal, our local representative will escort you by private vehicle to the hotel. Welcome fruit basket & Egyptian pastry awaits you in your room with our compliments.

DAY 2 – CAIRO – Friday (BLD)
We start with the best of Cairo: the Egyptian Museum including King Tut’s “Gold Treasures Pavilion” as well as the “Royal Mummies” Pavilion, Citadel of Saladin and its Alabaster Mosque, where you will participate in a “Q & A” presentation on “Women in Egypt”, covering “Women’s Rights in Egypt”, “Women in Politics” and more.

After lunch at a charming local restaurant, we wander through the alleys of the 12-century district of Khan el-Khalili with it’s Caravanserai, Medieval Trade Centers, and bazaar shops that changed little since 12-13 century. You ‘ll have some time to wander on your own maybe in search of souvenirs.

Finally we walk the narrow streets of Old Cairo, once a Roman fort, later the Jewish Quarter, then the Coptic Christian Quarter. We visit the Coptic churches of Abu Serghius and Al Molaka, the Coptic Museum, and Ben Ezra synagogue. While we are at one of the churches or the Coptic Museum we’ll discuss how the Nile Delta environment and local Egyptian tradition has affected women in the Nile Valley regardless of their religion.

In the evening, we will attend a local performance at Wekalet Al-Ghoury before we head back to your hotel for dinner.

DAY 3 – Luxor – (or Aswan) – Saturday (BLD)
After an early breakfast we fly to Luxor, where we’ll settle you into your Nile Cruise. Morning tour of one of the local girls school – you may wish to bring with you a small gift of school supplies, pencils, notebooks etc. to give to the children. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Then off to tour the gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor. In the evening your guide will call on you for a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout Luxor with tea at one of the local cafes.

DAY 4- Luxor – Aboard Your Nile Cruise- Sunday (BLD)
Cruise is from Aswan or Luxor, we’ll confirm the availability at the time of booking. Crossing the Nile, we tour the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens,we tour as well the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Queens, then on to the Ancient Workers Village at Deir El Medineh, the first known “Workers Village” these were the true creative heroes who built the temples & tombs for the mighty Pharaohs of the Nile Kingdom.

Deir El Medinah is on Luxor’s west bank you get a totally different perspective on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers’ settlement of Deir el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed and decorated the tombs.

Here we’ll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt might not have been a workers’ paradise, we’ll see that artisans and builders were highly regarded in their community. We are proud to be the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient settlement in its tour and cruise programs.

Brief stop at Colossi of Memnon before we head back to the cruise. Evening Sound and Light show at Karnak, please bring a jacket.

DAY 5- ESNA EDFU – On Board Your Nile Cruise – Monday (BLD)
We cruise by Esna to Edfu, where we board horse-drawn carriages for the ride to the Temple of Horus. Returning to our ship, we set sail for Kom Ombo. In the evening, there’s a jolly galabia party aboard.

DAY 6 – ASWAN – KOM OMBO- On Board Your Nile Cruise -Tuesday (BLD)
We explore the twin Temples of Haroeris and Sobek at Kom Ombo, then sail south to Aswan. After lunch we board a graceful felucca and cruise among the islands with a tour of the Island temple of Philae, returning to our ship in time for tea.

DAY 7 – Aswan- Camel Caravan – On Board Your Nile Cruise -Wednesday (B)
Check-out after breakfast. Tour of Kalabsha Temple dedicated to the ancient god Mandulis, and the goddess Isis. Built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus, the small rock-cut temple of Beit El Wali, built by Ramses the Great, and the small yet charming Kiosk of Qertassi.

For the Deluxe category, subject to availability, check-in at the Movenpick in Aswan or Old Cataract (supplement $ 85 per person for Old Cataract); and Basma hotel for First & Tourist class category.

Afternoon tour of the Nubian Museum, then a short camel caravan & ride to visit a local Nubian Village for tea with the local women in their homes.

DAY 8 -Abu Simbel / Cairo Thursday (BL)
Breakfast is included at the hotel. Lunch Box will be prepared by your chef, with bottled water, of course, included.

Abu Simbel: We’ve planned our visit to Abu Simbel to be a highlight of your Egyptian adventure. Rising before dawn, we drive along the shore of Lake Nasser, watching the sky lighten and the sacred sun rise above the horizon. We reach the great temples while the air is clean, clear and cool, and the sun’s light still golden‹just right for photographs. In the larger temple, colossal figures of Ramsis are seated with the gods and attended by his queen and daughters. The smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari, who appears as Hathor, the goddess of love, joy and fertility, symbolized by the benevolent cow. We explore these fine temple by ourselves in the quiet of the morning, admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which retire to a comfortable hotel for refreshments. Just as planeloads of visitors arrive to throng the temples we begin our leisurely drive back along the shore to Aswan Airport. Fly back to Cairo and your hotel.

DAY 9 – CAIRO -MEET AMERICAN and EUROPEAN WOMEN IN CAIRO – Friday (BLD)
In the morning, we visit the majestic pyramids of Giza, the Valley Temple and the timeless Sphinx. After lunch we drive to Dahshour, the newly opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit several ancient structures, including the great pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops.

On our way back to Cairo, we stop at the village of Harania, after a brief tour we’ll have a group discussion, that will include an American or a European woman/women who settled in Cairo to share their own insight on/about the Egyptian Society & Egyptian Women. These guests will join you for lunch at a charming local restaurant.

Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals: This evening we’ll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread… right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo! You’ll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you’ll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they’re sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you’ll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, if you prefer, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions by letting us know your preferences. You may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (T shirt, small souvenirs of your home town).

DAY 10 Departure Saturday (B)
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your homeward flight. Bon Voyage!

The rates include:

• All airfares within Egypt in economy class tax included.
• All transfers within Egypt on private basis.
• Preset menu meals including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast) L = Lunch, D = Dinner.
• Guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees.
• Hotel as listed, including all tax & service charges.
• All Nile cruise shore excursions, entrance fees, the service of an English Speaking guide.
• Welcome fruit basket upon check-in on board your Nile cruise and a welcome drink upon arrival on board
• Large bottle of water per person per day delivered to your cabin.
• All outside cabins, including all tax & service charges.
• All meals while on board the Nile cruise: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner.
• Afternoon tea is served daily onboard your Nile cruise
• One small bottle of water per person with each meal
• Tea or coffee with each meal on board the cruise
• VIP Meet & Greet At Cairo Airport
  Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport (photos are not required). Egyptian Visa will be issued for a limited number of citizens such as: American, Australian, NZ, EU, Canadian, EU Singaporean and Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 months beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo. Our local rep. will meet you with a sign that carries your name, and will be waiting for you with the prepaid visa stamps to proceed to the passports control to stamp your passports and then you claim your luggage. After you clear the passport and customs formalities and exit the terminal, our local representative will escort you by private vehicle to the hotel. Welcome fruit basket & Egyptian pastry awaits you in your room with our compliments.

Not included:

• Personal expenses and beverages.
• Gratuities
• International airfares to or from your home country
• Additional meals, drinks and services
• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance.