Archive for Dubai

Grand Tour of Arabia (15 Days)

Luxury Tour of Dubai, Cairo and
Jordan a la Indiana Jones
A 15-Day Adventure of These
Three Gems of Arabia Including Petra

Tour

DAY 1 – AMMAN: Tuesday – Weekly Year Round (B)
In Amman you will meet our local rep after you clear passports and customs formalities and escort you to your hotel.

DAY 2 – AMMAN: Wednesday (BLD)
After breakfast we will start with a city tour of Amman, the capital of the Hashimite Kingdom. Often referred to as the “White City” because of the white stone used to build houses, Amman offers a contrast between oriental and cosmopolitan. The tour will take you to the museums, the Citadel, the amphitheater, the souks and the modern part of town. The tour will also include a stop at the “Wild Jordan Café.” Wild Jordan is the vision of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), a non-governmental organization devoted to the care and protection of Jordan’s natural heritage. The Society was created in 1966 under the patronage of His Majesty, the late King Hussein. Its work is focused on the establishment of protected areas (nature reserves), enforcement of wildlife protection laws. Construction of the Wild Jordan Center was financed by USAID Jordan. It’s located in the heart of old Amman overlooking the Temple of Hercules. the Café serves all nature and organic foods and drinks. Two whole floors are devoted to the unique crafts and gifts made by the people living around Jordan’s nature reserves, like Dana and Mujib. All the crafts are inspired by nature and use natural materials. Here is their web site for more info: Wild Jordan

In the afternoon, the group will proceed to the North of Amman for a 45 minute drive to the best preserved example of Roman civilization, the city of Jerash. Jerash, part of the Decapolis (the ten big Roman cities of the East) has been called the Pompeii of the East for its unique state of preservation. The city features theaters, churches, temples (Zeus and Artemis), a Nymphaeum and colonnaded streets. Lunch will be served at Jerash Rest house. In the late afternoon, the group will return back to Amman where they will have dinner at Kan Zaman Restaurant. The walled village of Kan Zaman is an old Ottoman settlement, located minutes from city center. It was transformed into a replica of an Jordanian village, affording its clientele the experience of the of life in such a village. The handicraft center sells only products made on-site in various little studios where one can watch craftsmen practice their trade. The Main Restaurant offers a variety of home-made Arabic food and at least 16 salads and appetizers. After dinner you will head back to Amman for an overnight stay in Amman.

DAY 3 – PETRA: Thursday (BLD)
Depart Amman to Petra via the Kings’ Road. En route, visit the mosaic city of Madaba, where the oldest map of the Holy Land exists on the floor of Saint George’s Church. Madaba, or Medeba in antiquity, features many famous mosaics that exist in public and private buildings. After Madaba, a short drive will bring you to Mt. Nebo, the alleged burial site of Moses overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. Here Franciscans have built a structure that protects a 4th and 6th Century Byzantine church. After visiting this site, continue on via the scenic canyons of Wadi Mujib (Arnon’s Valley in the Bible) to the Crusader castle at Kerak. This 12th Century hill top fortress features galleries, towers, chapels and ramparts that recall the gallantry of the Crusaders themselves. Then on to Petra for the check in at your Hotel in Petra, dinner and overnight. Lunch is included enroute.

In the evening we will call on you for a unique experience.
Dine as a local: The Petra Kitchen is a delightful way to round out your Jordan travel experiences. Like any home kitchen, The Petra Kitchen is a relaxed, informal atmosphere where you’ll gather to prepare an evening meal, working alongside local women under the supervision of our chef.

Each evening meal includes soup, cold and hot mezza (appetizers), salads, and a main course all typical Jordanian dishes. You will have get an inside glimpse of the secrets behind the famous regional cuisine of the Levant.

The Petra Kitchen offers an evening of learning, fun and a very special dining experience, with each dish gaining the special flavor of a reward well-earned. Great care has been taken to make The Petra Kitchen a truly Jordanian experience right down to the furnishings, all crafted in Jordan, the tableware, all produced by the Iraq al Amir Women’s Co-operative, and the aprons and table linens, all hand-embroidered by the Jordan River Foundation.

Tour experience tonight includes the cuisine course, meal and all non-alcoholic beverages as well as take-home recipes for all dishes prepared that evening.

DAY 4 – PETRA: Friday (BD)
We’ll spend the entire day at Petra, the stunning desert city hewn by the Nabateans from solid cliffs of pink and violet sandstone. Petra was known in the bible as Sela, and rediscovered only in 1812. You’ll feel like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark as you penetrate into the city through a narrow sandstone gorge, the Siq, and wander among the Temple of the Winged Lion, tombs, Roman theater, and the imposing Treasury.

Petra has a lot to tell. The visit starts at the visitor’s center, where each person is assigned a Bedouin guided horse for the journey to the entrance of the lost city. After passing some tombs which are located outside the city, the visitor passes through the SIQ, an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone. It is a winding, one-kilometer-long fissure between overhanging cliffs that seem to meet more than 300 feet overhead.

Near the end of the passage, the SIQ, with great style, makes one last turn and out of the gloom in towering brightness appears Petra’s most impressive monument, el Khazneh – The Treasury. This is one of the most elegant remains of antiquity, carved out of the solid rock from the side of the mountain, is nearly 140 feet high and 90 feet wide.

Beyond el Khazneh the visitor is surrounded on both sides by hundreds of Petra’s carved and built structures, soaring temples, elaborate royal tombs, a carved Roman theater, large and small houses, burial chambers and much more. The Victorian traveler and poet, Dean Burgon, gave Petra a description which holds to this day – “Match me such a marvel save in Eastern clime, a rose-red city half as old as time.” After that, the group will return to the hotel to get prepared for a Moonlight dinner served at a Bedouin camp. This evening we have a fantastic traditional dinner under the stars in a Bedouin camp, at a site that dates back more than 2,000 years.

DAY 5 – Wadi Rum – The Dead Sea: Saturday (BL)
We board four-wheel-drive vehicles for an expedition to Wadi Rum, the “Valley of the Moon” where T. E. Lawrence (“Lawrence of Arabia”) organized Arab resistance to Ottoman rule during World War I. After our visit, we break for tea with the bedouins then head off north to the Dead Sea and your hotel resort. Deluxe: Movenpick Dead Sea or Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea. First class: Dead Sea Spa Hotel. Lunch is included enroute.

DAY 6 – Jordan – Dubai: Sunday (BD)
We’ll meet at your hotel and escort you to the Airport for your flight to Dubai. Air fare is included in our rate in economy class. Arrive at Dubai International Airport at the United Arab Emirate on the Arabian Gulf. Complimentary visa will be issued upon arrival for the following nationalities; UK, EU, Switzerland, Sweden, USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei. You are responsible for having a valid passport. Upon arrival our local rep will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Complimentary welcome dinner at the hotel.

Dubai: A taste of Arabia with a cosmopolitan lifestyle. In Dubai you’ll find year round sunshine and un-crowded, clean sandy beaches. In this crime-free society you’ll find a very warm & welcoming team & society awaiting you in Dubai. While shopping may not be high on your list, you will find Dubai’s tax free markets means bargains galore. Attractive traditional Middle Eastern gifts – coffee pots, rugs, silverware, jewelry, brass, and one of the world’s greatest gold trading centers offering unbeatable value. Hong Kong is no longer able to compete with Dubai with the wide selection of low-priced international brand name products – audio equipment, VCRs, cameras, watches, fashions, perfumes and more. And don’t forget about the award-winning Dubai Duty Free at the airport.

Arriving at Dubai International Airport you’ll be delighted to discover Travel in Style’s VIP Red Carpet welcome procedures: you are met by our English-speaking representative who escorts you from your plane to a comfortable air-conditioned lounge where you can freshen up and recover from your flight. While you relax, our representative completes your Immigration procedures, collects your luggage, clears it through Customs, and transfers it to your private, air-conditioned vehicle. Escorted from the lounge to your vehicle, your private chauffeur transfers you to your hotel, assisting with your luggage when you arrive. Red Carpet Treatment: that’s the Travel in Style difference.

DAY 7 – DUBAI: Monday (BD)
Half Day Dubai City Tour:
Sample the historic sites and vibrant cosmopolitan life of Dubai on this comprehensive tour. The Tour begins in Jumeira, the picturesque palace and residential area of Dubai, also home to the famous Jumeira Mosque. The next stop is Sheikh Saeed House (former residence of ruling family). The Tour then continues to Al Bastakiya, the old part of Dubai, to reach the museum located in Al Fahidi Fort. All guests board the Abra (water taxi) to cross the Creek to the spice souk. Before savoring the sights and sounds of the fish, fruit and vegetable market, there is time to shop in the most famous landmark of Dubai – the Gold souk.

Evening Dhow Cruise Dinner: For a fabulous relaxing evening join our fully fitted Arabian dhow for an evening’s cruise on the Creek. Enjoy a sumptuous feast of Arabic and Western cuisine while gently gliding past illuminated souks, banks and palaces.

DAY 8 – Desert Safari with dinner in the Arabian Desert – DUBAI: Tuesday (BD)
Half Day Desert Safari (4 Wheel Drive):
Morning at leisure, enjoy beach activities. This tour departs in the afternoon across the desert of Dubai with several photo-stops during an exciting dune drive to the first destination a camel farm. The drive continues across the desert. We stop to watch the beautiful sunset before reaching our campsite where you have the opportunity to do camel riding. After working up an appetite enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner and a shisha (the most famous Arabic Water pipe). We conclude the evening with a true 1001 Arabian Nights tradition and with a belly dancer performing her dance around the campfire before we head back to your hotel in Dubai or Sharja.

DAY 9 – DUBAI – Abu Dhabi: Wednesday (BL)
Full day tour of Abu Dhabi with lunch included at Baynunah or similar. Tour with a private air-conditioned vehicle, private guide and of course private chauffeur.

DAY 10 – DUBAI – East Coast Tour- Arabian Emirates: Thursday (BL)
After breakfast we head for Dhaid and then on to the Hajar mountains that offer a beautiful natural backdrop for Dubai. A stop at a local market where the local shop for locally made pottery, fruits and carpets. We will stop as well in Dibba and a brief stop at the colorful local fish market, always with the fresh catch from the Arabian Gulf, we drive along the coast passing by enchanting small villages and fishermen wharfs. We arrive at Al Badiyah mosque, one of the earliest mosques built in the UAE, continue on to Khor Fakkan, a regional popular spot for diving and snorkeling, where there will be an opportunity to relax at the beach and have a refreshing swim stopping as well as the Khor Fakkah souk. Continue to Fujairah where we stop at the renovated Fort. Before returning to Dubai, stop at the oasis of Bitnah with time to wander on the “Friday Market” in Masafi. Lunch is included enroute in a charming local restaurant.

DAY 11 – DUBAI – Cairo: Friday (B)
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight to back to Cairo. Air fare is included in our rate, in economy class with taxes. Arrive at Cairo Airport. Our ground staff will meet you at the airport. A welcome fruit basket with our compliments awaits you at your room at the hotel. After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you by private vehicle to the hotel. For a limited number of nationalities you may pay for the visa fee: $ 15 subject to change and get your Egyptian Visa issued upon arrival for such nationalities as the following passports holders: American, Australian, Canadians, EU, Korean, Singaporean, and Japanese. Your passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of arrival. Our local representative will escort you by private vehicle to the hotel.

DAY 12 – Cairo: Saturday (BLD)
On Desert Safari for the Day – Fayoum Oases – And you thought the Pyramids were old.

The wilds of the desert begin right on the outskirts of Cairo, and continue for hundreds of miles to the east and west, through sands, rock, mountains, oases, and a surprising variety of scenery and inhabitants.

Join us for a day ranging across the desert like modern nomads. In place of camels, we’ll travel in comfortable, reliable four-by-four Toyota Land Cruisers. Your guide and drivers will meet you at your hotel, and soon you’ll leave bustling Cairo behind as you undertake the drive toward the Oasis of El Fayoum, 150 kilometers to the southwest. Hard as it is to believe, a great inland sea once covered these sands. It was a holy reserve of sacred crocodiles, symbolized by the god Sobek.

We’ll visit the temple of Kom Oshim, drive over ancient lake beds, and alongside the waters of today’s Fayoum Lake to reach the fishermen’s village of Chak Chouk. There we’ll stop for a lunch of fish caught fresh that morning. There will be time to wander the village lanes and discreetly watch the everyday activities of baking flatbread, irrigating crops from the lake’s waters, and bringing in the catch. We’ll also include the craft and pottery museum where the best works of local artisans are on display.

Then it’s into our four-by-fours again, for an off-road adventure! We’ll head alongside and across desert washes, between dunes, and over ancient lake beds for 35 kilometers to the Valley of the Whales (In Arabic: Wadi-El-Hitan). Incredibly, these great mammals once thrived – almost forty million years ago – in waters surrounded by sands. We’ll stop and gaze in amazement at their fossilized remains alongside smaller sea creatures that remain in stone. This valley was discovered in 1936, by the German geologist George Schweinfurth in the northwestern corner of Wadi El-Rayan.

The valley provides evidence of one of the major changes in this mammal evolution has been declared by the UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site. It is believed that these land based whales once had feet that may have helped them somewhat while ashore. A team from the University of Michigan discovered in the late 80’s that these Zeuglodon whales did have rudimentary feet, this was a startling discovery, suggesting that whales of Wadi -El-Hitan had recently started living in water as well, these whales were not related to any of the whales we have today, rather a more slender body and may grow up to 75 feet long. Several skeletons of whales are exposed in the sand. George Schweinfurth named this extinct specie the Zeuglodon Isis Whales.

In the evening, you’ll return to your hotel in Cairo. Land transportation in air-conditioned four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser with the services of driver and English-speaking driver. Lunch is included.

DAY 13 – CAIRO: Sunday (BLD)
Your exploration of the ancient world begins today! First stop is the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, statuary, precious stones and metals. We’ll also stop at the Citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster Mosque. Lunch is included at Hadaik Al-Azhar Park or Naguib Mahfouz. Then it is on to Wekalet El Ghouri, Beit El Seihimi and a walking tour of Khan El Khalili and Muiz LedeenAllah districts. Dinner is included at la Bodega restaurant in Zamalek

DAY 14 – CAIRO- GIZA: Monday (BLD)
DAHSOUR – HOME HOSTED MEAL
After breakfast, we’ll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. The museum of the Royal Barge of Cheops The museum is built over the rectangular pit that housed the Royal Barge for thousands of years, the wooden boat was readied for the king’s daily journey with the sun god, Ra. Discovered in 1954, in a completely dismantled state, the 43-metre (140-foot) cedar boat is a rare window on the Royal boats used by the kings of Ancient Egypt.

Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King’s Chamber your ticket is included with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking a camel ride (included) is entirely your own choice!

Continue to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structures.

The “Discovery” of Dahshour
For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru’s pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza’s Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru’s–miraculously–is still in place.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant or at your hotel.

Complimentary 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).

Private Guide – Private Chauffeur – Private air-conditioned vehicle

DAY 15 – DEPARTURE Home: Tuesday (B)
Our staff escorts you to the airport. Bon Voyage! Indiana Jones himself couldn’t squeeze more adventure into this journey.

Rates per person in USD
Deluxe First Class
Triple US$ 6950. US$ 6005.
Double US$ 7010. US$ 6155.
Single US$ 8150. US$ 7040.
Flights
Amman
Dubai
Cairo
Business
Class
Economy
Class
For Dec 15 – 31 arrivals: Please add %15 to any of the above listed rates
Sample Deluxe Hotels:
Amman Sheraton Al-Nabil
Hyatt Amman
or similar
Upgrade in Dubai
Dubai The Jumeirah Beach Hotel
The Ritz Carlton Hotel, or similar
Royal Mirage
The Arabian Court HotelLe Meridien Mina Seyahi Hotel: Please add $950 Per person in double
Petra Movenpick Petra Hotel, Taybet Zaman Marriott Petra Hotel, or similar Upgrade in Dubai
For Burj Al Arab Hotel please add $4905 per person in double Based on deluxe SUITE
Including Rolls-Royce round-trip airport transfers in Dubai
Sample First class Hotels:
Amman Golden Tulip Hotel, Imperial Hotel Amman or similar
Dubai Novotel Dubai, Dubai Four point Sheraton,
Qamardeen hotel Dubai
Petra Golden Tulip Petra Hotel, or similar

 

Prices include:

  • All transfers in Cairo, Dubai & Jordan.
  • Air fare: Dubai Amman Cairo, tax included.
    For Deluxe Category Rate: in Business Class.
    For First Class Hotels Rates: Air fare in economy class
  • Air-conditioned hotel accommodations with tax and service charges
  • Sightseeing with professional guide and entrance fees as indicated
  • Meals as indicated, with preset menu (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
  • UAE (United Arab Emirates) visa fee (valid only for American, EU and Japanese citizens (As well some other nationalities, please check with us). Passports must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival).
  • Tips to all your drivers, porters, and guides.
  • Hotel accommodation as per itinerary, tax included
  • Visa fee for Egypt For a limited number of nationalities, Egyptian Visa will issued upon arrival for such nationalities as the following passports holders: American, Australian, Canadians, EU, Korean, Singaporean, and Japanese. Your passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of arrival. Our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel.
  • Visa for Jordan. Limited to specific nationalities such as: Australian, NZ, USA, Canada, EU, Japan and others (please check with us if needed at the time of booking).
  • Dubai VIP Meet & Greet Service at the Airport:
    Arriving at Dubai International Airport you’ll be delighted to discover Travel in Style’s VIP Red Carpet welcome procedures: you are met by our English-speaking representative who escorts you from your plane to a comfortable air-conditioned lounge where you can freshen up and recover from your flight. While you relax, our representative completes your Immigration procedures, collects your luggage, clears it through Customs, and transfers it to your private, air-conditioned vehicle. Escorted from the lounge to your vehicle, your private chauffeur transfers you to your hotel, assisting with your luggage when you arrive. Red Carpet Treatment: that’s the Travel in Style difference.
  • For your convenience: Wi-Fi internet access and mineral water with soft drinks are available in Jordan on board of all the vehicle for our VIP guests

Not included:

  • Personal expenses and beverages
  • International air fare from / to your home country
  • Additional meals and services
  • Trip interruption and cancellation insurance

Luxury Tour of Arabia and the Mediterranean

For the Most Exalted Standards
for your Honeymoon Wishes Tour

Ultra Deluxe Private Tour of Dubai
Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey

Dubai the true land of Arabia and 1001 Arabian Nights

Dubai the true land of Arabia and 1001 Arabian Nights

Luxury Mediterranean Private Tour. Private air-Conditioned Vehicle. Private Chauffeur and and Private Guide (private Egyptologist in Egypt). A Grand 34-Day Tour – starts Daily Year Round – You choose your own dates. We have even included all the tips – No Hidden Charges – No Additional Tax.

Come with us to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for a taste of Arabia with a cosmopolitan lifestyle. In Dubai you’ll find year round sunshine, and un-crowded, clean sandy beaches. In this crime-free society you’ll find that a very warm, welcoming team and society awaits you in Dubai. While shopping may not be high on your list, Dubai’s tax free markets means bargains galore. Attractive traditional Middle Eastern gifts such as coffee pots, rugs, silverware, jewelry, brass, and one of the world’s greatest gold trading centers offering unbeatable value. Hong Kong is no longer able to compete with Dubai with the wide selection of low-priced international brand name products such as audio equipment, VCRs, cameras, watches, fashions, perfumes and more. And do not forget about the award-winning Dubai Duty Free at the airport. Then we’ll take you through North Africa and the Land of the Sultans: Turkey /Anatolia, The Ancient Nile Kingdoms of the mighty Pharaohs, Cairo, Giza, enjoy a 5 day Nile Cruise, then it’s off to Carthage, capital of the legendary Hannibal, but there’s much more to this tour. You’ll also continue west on across North Africa to Morocco. Marrakech, Fez & Casablanca. Visit ancient cities, desert oases, curious troglodyte dwellings, Islamic splendors, and Roman ruins in Africa!

Tour

DAY 01 – DUBAI – Daily Arrival – Choose your own date. Private Touring – Private Transfers at ALL TIMES.
Please note that Friday is the weekend. We may switch tours around based on your arrival date to accommodate local holidays and weekend.

Arrive at Dubai International Airport at the United Arab Emirate on the Arabian Gulf. Complimentary visa will be issued upon arrival for the following nationalities; UK, EU, Switzerland, Sweden, USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei. You are responsible for having a valid passport. Upon arrival  our local representative will meet you and escort you to your hotel: Borj Al-Arab Hotel (double suite) or similar.

DAY 2 – DUBAI – (BLD) – Private Touring

Dubai City Tour and the Gold souks:
Sample the historic sites and vibrant cosmopolitan life of Dubai on this comprehensive tour. The Tour begins in Jumeira, the picturesque palace and residential area of Dubai, also home to the famous Jumeira Mosque. The next stop is Sheikh Saeed House (former residence of ruling family). The Tour then continues to Al Bastakiya, the old part of Dubai, to reach the museum located in Al Fahidi Fort. All guests board the Abra (water taxi) to cross the Creek to the spice souk . Before savoring the sights and sounds of the fish, fruit and vegetable market. Lunch is included in a charming local restaurant.
In the afternoon we focus on the shopping and treasure hunt. We will take you to where the locals go shopping as well as Dubai’s famous Gold souk. We will have a brief stop at Ski Dubai (guests who wish to ski will purchase tickets on own locally).

Evening Dhow Cruise Dinner:
For a fabulous relaxing evening, join our fully fitted Arabian dhow for an evening’s cruise on the Creek. Enjoy a sumptuous feast of Arabic and Western cuisine while gently gliding past illuminated souks, banks and palaces.

Al Khayal Restaurant at the Jumeirah Beach hotel

You’ll have lots of choices for your dining while in Dubai such as the Al Khayal,
a fine dining Lebanese Cuisine Restaurant at the Jumeirah Beach hotel
that includes belly dancing and a live band.

DAY 3 – Desert Safari with dinner in the Arabian Desert – DUBAI – (BD)
Morning at leisure or enjoy some beach activities.

Half Day Desert Safari (4 Wheel Drive):
This Desert Safari tour departs in the afternoon across the desert of Dubai with several photo-op stops during an exciting 4×4 dune drive to the first destination – a camel farm. The drive continues across the desert. Keep in mind that before we head into the dunes area your driver will deflate the wheels of the 4×4 to allow for a smoother ride across the Sahara.
Dune bashing has become known as a fun experience – you will feel the thrill of desert driving as your professional driver takes you up and down on golden dunes.

We will stop to watch the beautiful sunset before reaching our campsite where you have the opportunity to ride a camel. After working up an appetite, enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner and a shisha (the most famous Arabic Water pipe). We conclude the evening with a true 1001 Arabian Nights tradition with a belly dancer performing her dance around the campfire before we head back to your hotel in Dubai.

DAY 4 – DUBAI – East Coast Tour (BL)
After breakfast  we head for Dhaid and then on to the Hajar mountains that offer a beautiful natural backdrop for Dubai. A stop at a local market where the local shop for locally made pottery, fruits and carpets. We will stop as well in Dibba and a brief stop at the colorful local fish market, always with the fresh catch from the Arabian Gulf. We drive along the coast passing by enchanting small villages and fishermen wharfs. We arrive at Al Badiyah mosque, one of the earliest mosques built in the UAE, continue on to Khor Fakkan, a regional popular spot for diving and snorkeling, where there will be an opportunity to relax at the beach and have a refreshing swim. We will also visit the Khor Fakkah souk. Continue to Fujairah where we stop at the renovated Fort. Before returning to Dubai, stop at the oasis of Bitnah with time to wander in the “Friday Market” in Masafi. Lunch is included enroute in a charming local restaurant.

DAY 5 – Dubai – Istanbul (B)
After breakfast our local rep. will assist with your private transfer to the Dubai International Airport. Business class air fare (taxes included) from Dubai to Istanbul is included in our rate. Land in Istanbul where our local rep. meets your flight, and escorts you to your hotel: Istanbul Four Seasons Hotel or Ciragan Palace Istanbul Kempinski Hotel.

Our representative, who sees you to your hotel, will answer any questions you may have about getting to know the city. As you ride into the great metropolis from the airport, two thousand years of history are revealed: towering Roman walls, ancient Byzantine churches, slender minarets framing the bulbous domes of graceful mosques. These ancient monuments float on the skyline of a bustling modern metropolis of ten million people. Welcome fruit basket in your room awaits you with our compliments.

Aaaaaaaah Istanbul  – The true city of the Mighty Sultans:
While this tour starts daily, please keep in mind that we reserve the right to substitute some sites in Istanbul based on the following: Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday; Ayasofia is closed on Monday; Kariye Museum is closed on Wednesdays; and the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.

DAY 6 – Istanbul – The City of the Sultans (BL)
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, private guide. The center of ancient Constantinople and Istanbul was on Seraglio Point, framed by the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. We visit the Blue Mosque which was built by Sultan Ahmet III to challenge the architectural primacy of neighboring Sancta Sophia. We then walk next door to compare achievements in Justinian’s great Sancta Sophia. Right behind Sancta Sophia is our next stop, sumptuous Topkapi Palace, the sultans seraglio for centuries, filled with breathtaking exhibits of priceless jewels, golden thrones, delicate colored tiles, and lavish court costumes. After lunch in a local restaurant, we finish up in the bustling Grand Bazaar where you can find jewelry, carpets, goat-hair rugs, hand-painted ceramics, copper and brass in labyrinthine streets holding nearly 4000 shops.

Day 7 – Istanbul – Kusadasi (BL)
Transfers are always on a private basis. Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur. Fly to Izmir (economy class airfare is always included – tax included). After landing in Izmir your first stop on this fascinating tour is at the House of the Virgin Mary. Then you will continue on to visit ancient Ephesus, one of the most magnificent and best-preserved ancient sites in the world.

See the Terrace Houses, the Odeon, the Market Basilica, Curetes Street, Bath, Celsus Library, Marble Street and the Great Theatre with a seating capacity of 25,000 people. The Terrace Houses, the newly excavated site in Ephesus, is where you will find the ancient homes of the richest Ephesians.

After lunch we visit the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk and see the Temple of Artemis, one of the wonders of the ancient world. View Basilica of St John and Isabey Mosque. En-route to Kusadasi enjoy the scenery and the local arts, enjoy possible shopping opportunity if you wish, then on to Sirince Village. This old Orthodox Village, 30 kilometers from Kusadasi, was once “Cirkince”(ugly). Indeed its inhabitants gave this name on the purpose as they did not want to be bothered by foreigners nor to share the beauty of their village. Still after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly and called it “Sirince” (pretty). Today the village is a perfect synthesis of Turkish-Greek culture as of the 1920’s; after the Turkish Independence War, people exchange between Greek and Turks has occurred and all the typical Greek houses, though they kept their original outside characteristics, have the local layout inside. At Sirince Village you will have chance of seeing the local life at a village and purchasing some small local souvenirs and handicrafts. The village is also famous for its local grape and other fruit wines. During the lunch, mingle with the local people of the village as you will be a guest in their village for a simple cup of traditional Turkish coffee at the main coffee house of the village. Depending on the number of guests, a gypsy woman may read your fortune after you finish your coffee .

DAY 8 – APHRODISIAS – PAMUKKALE (BD)
Driving east along fertile river valleys crowded with fields and fruit orchards, we reach Aphrodisias, the City of Aphrodite, goddess of love. After our visit, we continue to Pamukkale, the “Cotton Fortress,” where cascades of gleaming white calcium cover a hillside. The warm mineral-laden waters attracted the Romans, who built the spa-city of Hierapolis here. We tour its ruins, and enjoy the swimming pool at our hotel here in the evening. Dinner is included at the hotel: Colossea Hotel or similar (local 5-star).

DAY 9 – KONYA (BD)
After breakfast we start our drive towards the mystical Konya, the capital of the 11th-century Seljuk Turkish Empire and the home of the mystical whirling dervishes. We visit the Mevlana Museum, with the tomb of Jelaleddin Rumi, founder of the Whirling Dervish order, and also the Karatay Museum, a 13th-century theological seminary. Dinner is included at the hotel: Dedeman or Hilton Konya Hotel.

DAY 10 – KONYA – CAPPADOCIA (BD)
We travel eastwards along the ancient Silk Road, stopping at the camel caravanserai of Sultanhan for a look at this “caravan motel.” Entering biblical Cappadocia, we descend into the ground at Derinkuyu or Kaymakli to explore an entire city carved from the soft volcanic rock by ancient Christians. Dinner is included at the hotel: Cave Suites Hotel. If your prefer a non-cave hotel, then we will use Dedeman or one of the top boutique hotels.

DAY 11 – CAPPADOCIA (BD)
We explore the “moonscape” of Cappadocia, visiting the painted churches in the Göreme and Zelve Valleys, the rock hewn dwellings in Ortahisar, the pottery-making center of Avanos, and the incredible underground city of Kaymakl (or Derinkuyu) to explore an entire city carved from the soft volcanic rock by ancient Christians.

DAY 12 – ISTANBUL (B)
Always private car / driver for all your transfers in Turkey. After breakfast you will fly back to Istanbul and your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure to explore Istanbul as you wish. For deluxe hotels: Ceylan Intercontinental Istanbul, Hyatt Istanbul, Hilton Istanbul, Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul or similar.

DAY 13 – Istanbul – CAIRO – Cairo Airport VIP Hall (B)
Our local representative will escort you to the airport for your flight to Cairo. Business class air fare (tax included) is included for the flight from Istanbul to Cairo.

Our representative will greet you at the airport VIP Arrival Hall at the Cairo 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 for at least 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, 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. Four Seasons Nile Plaza, or Four Seasons First Residence or similar.

DAY 14 – CAIRO – Monday (BL)
On your first full day in Egypt we show you the Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Citadel of Saladin, and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, made of alabaster. Lunch is included at the Mena House.

View from the sundeck of the Nile Goddess

DAY 15 – ASWAN, Camel Caravan! Board your Nile Cruise – Private car and Egyptologist for all your cruise shore excursions (BLD)
We fly to Aswan and board our Nile cruiser in time for a delicious lunch. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin. In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the Nile. Only for those who are interested: a short camel caravan and ride for almost half an hour to visit a local Nubian Village.

DAY 16 – ASWAN & KOM OMBO – On Board Your Nile Cruise (BLD)
First we tour new Nubian Museum then the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the island temples of Philae. Re-embarking on our Nile cruiser, we sail downstream to Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples.

DAY 17 – EDFU – ESNA – On Board Your Nile Cruise (BLD)
We moor in Edfu, climb aboard horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop through the town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt’s best-preserved temple. Re-embarking, we cruise to Esna and its great temple dedicated to Khnum, the creator-god. Afternoon tea is served on deck. Evening finds us in Luxor.

DAY 18 – LUXOR – On Board Your Nile Cruise – The Workers Village, the first known workers strike in history (BLD)
We tour the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon before we continue on Luxor’s west bank to 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.

Back to your cruise in time for lunch. Afternoon tea is served on deck. The gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor are our goals in the afternoon.

DAY 19 – LUXOR – Fly Back to CAIRO (B)
Breakfast, check-out from your Nile Cruise and your return flight to Cairo in business class. All domestic flights are included in our rate. In the afternoon, wander through the city on your own, or do your last-minute shopping.

DAY 20 – On Desert Safari for the Day – Fayoum Oases – And you thought the Pyramids were old (BL)
We leave Cairo by sunrise (private air conditioned car/driver/guide). Full day Fayoum Oases including:
Hawara Pyramid, El Lahoun Pyramid, Ruins of Karanis, drive by Lake Qarun, lunch is included at a local restaurant.

The wilds of the desert begin right on the outskirts of Cairo, and continue for hundreds of miles to the east and west, through sands, rock, mountains, oases, and a surprising variety of scenery and inhabitants.

Join us for a day ranging across the desert like modern nomads. In place of camels, we’ll travel in comfortable, reliable four-by-four Toyota Land Cruisers. Your guide and drivers will meet you at your hotel, and soon you’ll leave bustling Cairo behind as you undertake the drive toward the Oasis of El Fayoum, 150 kilometers to the southwest. Hard as it is to believe, a great inland sea once covered these sands. It was a holy reserve of sacred crocodiles, symbolized by the god Sobek.

We’ll visit the temple of Kom Oshim, drive over ancient lake beds, and alongside the waters of today’s Fayoum Lake to reach the fishermen’s village of Chak Chouk. There we’ll stop for a lunch of fish caught fresh that morning. There will be time to wander the village lanes and discreetly watch the everyday activities of baking flatbread, irrigating crops from the lake’s waters, and bringing in the catch. We’ll also include the craft and pottery museum where the best works of local artisans are on display.

Then it’s into our four-by-fours again, for an off-road adventure! We’ll head alongside and across desert washes, between dunes, and over ancient lake beds for 35 kilometers to the Valley of the Whales (In Arabic: Wadi-El-Hitan). Incredibly, these great mammals once thrived – almost forty million years ago – in waters surrounded by sands. We’ll stop and gaze in amazement at their fossilized remains alongside smaller sea creatures that remain in stone. This valley was discovered in 1936, by the German geologist George Schweinfurth in the northwestern corner of Wadi El-Rayan.

The valley provides evidence of one of the major changes in this mammal evolution has been declared by the UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site. It is believed that these land based whales once had feet that may have helped them somewhat while ashore. A team from the University of Michigan discovered in the late 80’s that these Zeuglodon whales did have rudimentary feet. This was a startling discovery, suggesting that whales of Wadi – El-Hi tan had recently started living in water as well. These whales were not related to any of the whales we have today, rather a more slender body and may grow up to 75 feet long. Several skeletons of whales are exposed in the sand. George Schweinfurth named this extinct species the Zeuglodon Isis Whales.

In the evening you’ll return to your hotel in Cairo. Land transportation in air-conditioned four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser with the services of driver and English-speaking driver. Lunch is included.

DAY 21 – TUNIS (B)
Board your flight heading west for Tunis. All transfers are always on a private basis. Air fare is included Cairo to Tunis, with tax. Our local staff will meet you upon arrival at Tunis Carthage International Airport. You’ll be assisted with the formalities, and escorted to one of the the fine hotels. There will be time to relax and recuperate from your journey, and enjoy the excellent facilities. If you wish, you can adventure into the center of Tunis to start your exploration of the winding alleys of the souk, filled with treasures of beaten brass and basketry and carpets, and merchants who will welcome you with traditional mint tea.

DAY 22 – HAMMAMET, SOUSSE, MONASTIR, EL DJEM, SFAX – (BLD)
After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll set off to explore! Our first stop is Hammamet, a cosmopolitan port where sun-worshippers from all over happily coexist with fishermen and traditional ways. We’ll stop at the port of El Kantaoui, and then proceed back into time to venerable Sousse, once the Phoenician City called Hadrumatum. We’ll stroll through the medina, the old quarter, cooled by sea breezes, and visit the museum as well as the Ribat, a stronghold of the warriors of Islam. Then we’ll continue to Monastir, where we’ll stop for lunch, and visit its own notable ribat, as well as the Bourguiba Mosque, dedicated to the hero of Tunisia’s independence. Lunch will be served at a comfortable four-star hotel. In El Djem, we’ll marvel at an ancient amphitheater, before continuing to stop for the night in four-star lodgings in the bustling coastal city of Sfax.

DAY 23 – SFAX, DJERBA, GABES, MATMATA (BLD)
Our busy day starts with a drive to the coastal city of Gabes, a Roman outpost of old and a traditional market center where, for centuries, goods from across the sea and across the desert have changed hands. We’ll visit the oasis, where palm groves and gardens flourish. We’ll then cross to Djerba, an island where Ulysses once encountered the legendary Lotus-Eaters. You’ll have time to explore the old quarters, including the synagogue of Hara Sghira, Hara Kebira with its modern Jewish community, and Guellala, with its craft stalls, and to see the waterfront and fishing fleet, and the lively town of Houmt Souk. After a lunch stop (lunch is included), we’ll cross back to the mainland. Our route takes us through terrain of increasingly sparse grasses and shrubs, into the desert to Matmata.

We’ll stop to look in on a community of miniature underground houses, where the earliest settlers sheltered from the extremes of the desert above — as do the Berbers of today. We’ll settle in to comfortable lodgings and dinner at a four-star hotel.

DAY 24 – MATMATA, KEBILI, DOUZ, TOZEUR (BLD)
Today we’ll enjoy a full day of desert adventure. First we’ll visit the village of Kebili, largest of a cluster of oases, islands of life in a harsh landscape, then proceed to Douz, fabled as the Gateway to the Sahara. There a special treats awaits, the opportunity to sample a caravan trek! This close encounter with a camel is entirely at your option! Afterwards, we set off across the Chott El Djerid, a great dry salt lake, for Tozeur. Here, we’ll wonder at the ancient irrigation works, and visit the zoo. Our lodgings for the next two nights will be at the comfortable, four-star Hotel Ramla.

DAY 25 – TOZEUR, NEFTA (BLD)
We’ll learn more about oases this morning. Despite the dryness of its surface, great aquifers underlie the Sahara. Where they spill their riches out in springs, they create the green havens of Tunisia’s oases. We’ll see a dramatic example, as we explore the irrigated fields around Tozeur and motor overland to the great palm groves at Nefta. Nefta is also an important religious center, with notable mosques, and a town of craftsmen, especially basket weavers. We’ll return to Tozeur for lunch at our hotel, after which you’re free until dinner. You can choose to enjoy the unique desert resort comforts at your hotel. Or, you might decide to wander the streets of Tozeur, look in on daily life, admire the classic North African houses built around patios on terraces above a river fed by springs, and shop for baskets and capes of camel hair.

DAY 26 – TOZEUR, GAFSA, SBEITLA, KAIROUAN, TUNIS (BLD)
We’ll delve more into Tunisia’s rich and varied past today, as we motor overland through pleasant, rolling coastal lands. At Gafsa, we’ll see the Roman pools of Capsa, the ancient crossroads between desert oases and the cultivated coastal lands. We’ll wonder at the Roman ruins of Suffetula, as well as the great mosque. Later in the day we’ll reach Kairouan, an ancient, holy, and vibrant city noted for its historic mosques and centers of learning. We’ll lunch at the five-star Hotel La Kasbah. Kairouan also is noted for its souk, and the crafting of carpets and leather goods. Of course, there will be time to check out these wares before we depart to Tunis, where a night’s rest and dinner await us once again at the Hotel El Hana.

DAY 27 – TUNIS, CARTHAGE, SIDI BOU SAID (BLD)
On our last full day we’ll marvel at the ruins of Carthage, a true metropolis of the ancient world, as evidenced by its theater, circus, baths, port installations, and extensive urban plan. We’ll lunch at a fine local restaurant, then speed forward in time to the middle ages, as we visit the picture-perfect Moorish village of Sidi Bou Said. With its whitewashed walls and narrow laneways, it’s the perfect setting as we stop for traditional mint tea. Back in Tunis we’ll stop at the Bardo Museum, to view the most extensive Roman mosaics in the world. We’ll then head for the Medina, the old quarter of the city, with its warrens of shops filled with wares ranging from humdrum to exotic. After a break to freshen up, we’ll meet up at our hotel for our farewell dinner.

DAY 28 – Fly Tunisia – Morocco (B)
After breakfast our local personnel will escort you to the international airport, where you’ll board your flight to Marrakech (via Casablanca). Business class air fare (tax included) between Tunisia and Morocco is included. Upon arrival our local rep. escorts you to your hotel. Mint Tea, welcome local pastries and fruit awaits you at your hotel room.

DAY 29 – MARRAKECH (BLD)
Full day tour: There is much to see in this great city which Winston Churchill called “the most beautiful place in the world at sunset.” Your private guide will meet you after breakfast and explore Marrakech with you! The top sights today include: the stately Koutoubia Minaret, the hidden tombs of the Saadian dynasty, the Menara pavilion and gardens, the ruins of sprawling Badi Palace, the Bahia Palace Museum, the Ben Yousef medersa, and the Koubba (chapel) of el-Ba’adiyn. Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant. After a break at the hotel for siesta, your guide will call on you for a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout the palm trees grove on the edge of the Sahara. Dinner is included at a Moroccan restaurant with local music and/or local folk show.

DAY 30 – MARRAKECH – Home Hosted Dinner (BD)
Why not devote today to Marrakech’s fabulous medieval souk (bazaar)? Penetrating the labyrinthine souk, you’ll see some of the age-old guilds at work, including the dyers and tanners. Save an hour–and bring your camera–for famous Djemaa el-Fna square with its fun circus atmosphere of itinerant dancers, jugglers, acrobats, storytellers, soothsayers, snake charmers, medicine men and public scribes. Find a cozy bistro for lunch.

A complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals. You may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town). This evening we’ll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread… right into the homes of some of the people of Marrakech! 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 dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel companions by letting us know your preferences.

DAY 31 – MARRAKECH TO CASABLANCA BY TRAIN (B)
Today you board the Marrakech Express bound for Casablanca! (train ticket/first class is included, issued & delivered in Morocco). Our local rep. will escort you on board the train up to Casablanca. Roll across the beautiful Moroccan countryside, admiring the towering Atlas Mountains in the distance, and the timeless scenes of North African village and town life right beside the rails. When you arrive in Casablanca, our local guide meets your train and embank on a panoramic tour of the city including the great mosque of Hassan II before escorting you to your hotel: Royal Mansour or similar. Once you’re settled in, take out your guidebook and explore Morocco’s commercial capital.

DAY 32 – CASABLANCA TO FEZ (B)
After breakfast board your first-class train to Fez (train ticket included), another of Morocco’s four royal cities. When you arrive in Fez, our staff will escort you to your hotel, and the city is yours to explore, guidebook in hand. The Lonely Planet guide includes all the important things to see, and recommendations for restaurants in all price ranges, so you’ll never be at a loss for advice.
Explore Tunisia

DAY 33 – FEZ (B)
Oldest of Morocco’s four Imperial Cities, Fez is endlessly fascinating, and today we have included in our rate a full day covering the top sights include the medina (old city), the 15-century Borj Nord Arms Museum, the gateway of the royal palace, the fortifications of the Kasbah, the 9th-century Karaouine Mosque and University, the medersas (theological seminaries) of Bou Inania and Attarine, the shrine of the city’s founder Moulay Idris II, the Nejjarine Fountain, the monumental gateway of Bab Boujelloud, the old harem gardens, Dar Batha Museum, and the artisans’ guilds in the souks.

DAY 34 – DEPARTURE From Fez or Casablanca (B)
Our local rep. escorts you to the airport for your flight back homeward. Please advise us in advance if you are flying out of Fez or Casablanca. Bon Voyage!

Rates per person in US $
Deluxe*
In Triple occupancy
US$ 21,910.
In Double occupancy
US$ 22,275.
In Single occupancy
US$ 26,480.

Deluxe hotel category applies to hotels in Egypt, Morocco, Turkey. But for Tunisia, with the exception of the city of Tunis, Hammamat, etc., we will have to use 4-star and 3-star accommodations in the smaller towns/cities in the south and inland.

Inclusions:

  • Round-trip transportation between airport and hotels, always on a private basis, private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
  • Air fare Dubai / Istanbul / Cairo in business class tax included.
  • Air fare Cairo/ Tunis/Marrakech. In business class Tax included.
  • Hotel Accommodations as mentioned in itinerary, in comfortable Five or four-star (first-class) hotels
  • Five days deluxe Nile Cruise including all shore excursions and all meals.
  • Meals as indicated from preset menu (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner).
  • Private Guided sightseeing as indicated in air-conditioned vehicle, including all admission fees.
  • One-way first-class train transportation Marrakech-Casablanca and Casablanca-Fez, or vice-versa.
  • Travel guidebook for Turkey Tunis, Morocco, Egypt (for guests residing in the USA).
  • A complimentary home hosted family dinner in Marrakech
  • Bottled water (one per person) delivered to your cabin daily while you are on board the Nile cruise.
  • Tea or coffee / bottled water with each meal while on board the Nile cruise.
  • Gratuities for all local personnel: tips to the guides, drivers, porters and crew on board your cruise.
  • VIP Arrival Hall 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 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 for at least 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, 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.

Not Included:

  • International air transportation from/to your home country
  • Optional excursions
  • Any meal not specifically mentioned beverages, and personal expenses.
  • Travel insurance.
  • Airport taxes.
  • Visa fee for Turkey, paid in cash upon arrival (for USA, Canadian, EU, Japanese, Australian citizens), or secure from the Turkish Consulate before your departure.

Tour Arabia and the Near East

A 14-day Adventure of the Middle East and Arabia.
Touring Palestine, Israel, Egypt and Dubai

RollsEntrance

Indiana Jones himself couldn’t squeeze more adventure into this journey. Cairo and the Pyramids, a cruise on the Nile, the fabled temples and tombs of Luxor and Thebes, Jerusalem, Palestine, Israel, the Holyland. And Dubai — a true modern rendition of the 1001 Arabian Nights. Tour this Emirate on the Arabian Gulf. A taste of Arabia with a cosmopolitan lifestyle. In Dubai you’ll find year round sunshine and un-crowded, clean sandy beaches.

Tour

DAY 1 – HELLO ARABIA: Friday, Weekly Year Round (B)
DUBAI: We will land in this charming Emirate on the Arabian Gulf. A taste of Arabia with a cosmopolitan lifestyle. In Dubai you’ll find year round sunshine and un-crowded, clean sandy beaches.

In this Emirate you will find a very warm & welcoming team & society awaits you in Dubai. While shopping may not be high on your list, you wil find Dubai’s tax free markets means bargains galore. Attractive traditional Middle Eastern gifts – coffee pots, rugs, silverware, jewelry, brass, and one of the world’s greatest gold trading centers offering unbeatable value. Hong Kong is no longer able to compete with Dubai with the wide selection of low – priced international brand name products – audio equipment, VCRs, cameras, watches, fashions, perfumes and more. And do not forget about the award-winning Dubai Duty Free at the airport. Upon arrival, our local rep will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, The Ritz Carlton Hotel or similar.

Arriving at Dubai Inetranational Airort you’ll be delighted to discover Travel in Style’s VIP Red Carpet welcome procedures: you are met by our English-speaking representative who escorts you from your plane to a comfortable air-conditioned lounge where you can freshen up and recover from your flight. While you relax, our representative completes your Immigration procedures, collects your luggage, clears it through Customs, and transfers it to your private, air-conditioned vehicle. Escorted from the lounge to your vehicle, your private chauffeur transfers you to your hotel, assisting with your luggage when you arrive. Red Carpet Treatment: that’s the Travel in Style difference.

DAY 2 – DUBAI: Saturday (BLD)
Private Half Day Dubai City Tour:
Sample the historic sites and vibrant cosmopolitan life of Dubai on this comprehensive tour. The Tour begins in Jumeira, the picturesque palace and residential area of Dubai, also home to the famous Jumeira Mosque. The next stop is Sheikh Saeed House (former residence of ruling family). The Tour then continues to Al Bastakiya, the old part of Dubai, to reach the museum located in Al Fahidi Fort. All guests board the Abra (water taxi) to cross the Creek to the spice souk. Before savoring the sights and sounds of the fish, fruit and vegetable market, there is time to shop in the most famous landmark of Dubai – the Gold souk. Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant. We will have a brief stop at Ski Dubai (guest who wish to ski will purchase tickets on own locally).

Evening Dhow Cruise Dinner:
For a fabulous relaxing evening join our fully fitted Arabian dhow for an evening’s cruise on the Creek. Enjoy a sumptuous feast of Arabic and Western cuisine while gently gliding past illuminated souks, banks and palaces.

Yummybeach

DAY 3 – Desert Safari with dinner in the Arabian Desert – DUBAI: Sunday (BD)
Half Day Desert Safari (4 Wheel Drive):
Morning at leisure, enjoy beach activities. This tour departs in the afternoon across the desert of Dubai with several photo-stops during an exciting dune drive to the first destination a camel farm. The drive continues across the desert.
We stop to watch the beautiful sunset before reaching our campsite where for our lady guests you have the opportunity to do camel riding, and for the ladies try out a henna design on hands or feet. Henna hand painting (temporary tattoo) is a wedding night tradition.

After working up an appetite enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner and a shisha (the most famous Arabic Water pipe). We conclude the evening with a true 1001 Arabian Nights tradition and With a belly dancer performing her dance around the campfire before we head back to your hotel in Dubai or Sharja.

DAY 4 – DUBAI – Departure for Cairo – VIP Meet & Greet Service at Cairo Airport: Monday (B)
Our local rep. escorts you to the airport for your flight for Cairo. Air fare is included one way to Cairo in business class, tax included.

Our local representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. VIP Meet & Greet Service at Cairo Airport. Visa fee is included and will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for Australian, NZ, American, EU, Canadian & 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.

Visa will be issued upon arrival. As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two, down some stairs, then walk for 2-5 minutes until you pass the duty free shops. At the end of a wide corridor you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local representative who will be holding a sign with your name.

Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs. After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel.

Welcome fruit basket & Egyptian pastry awaits you in your room with our compliments.

Sample hotel: Deluxe: Intercontinental Hotel or similar. First Class: Ramses Hilton or similar.

DAY 5 – CAIRO: Tuesday (BLD)
Your exploration of the ancient world begins today! First stop is the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, statuary, precious stones and metals. Lunch is included at the Mena House or Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant. Then it’s on to Giza and the mysteries of the Pyramids and Sphinx.

Dinner cruise with folk dance is included on board the Hyatt dinner cruise or similar.

DAY 6 – ASWAN- Board Your Nile Cruise: Wednesday (BLD)
After and early breakfast we fly to Aswan in Aswan, where we settle you into your cabin on your Nile steamer. Welcome drink served upon arrival. A complimentary fruit basket awaits you in your deluxe cabin We’ll visit the enormous dams at Aswan, then board a launch on Lake Nasser to visit the Temples of Philae, rescued from rising waters.

DAY 7 – KOM OMBO- On Board Your Nile Cruise: Thursday (BLD)
We cruise northward down the Nile today, at a stately pace, disembarking for a visit to Kom Ombo, the twin temple dedicated to the crocodile river god, Sobek. We’ll also see Haroeris, the solar disk.

DAY 8 – EDFU and LUXOR- On Board Your Luxury Nile Cruise: Friday (BLD)
Horse-drawn carriages or vans meet us at riverside to take us through Edfu to the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt. Then we’ll continue beside the Nile to take in an array of ancient splendors: the Valley of the Kings; the imposing tomb-temple of Queen Hatshepsut; and, back in Luxor, the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak.

DAY 9 – Luxor / Cairo: Saturday (BD)
Now that you’ve seen the best of the Egypt of the Pharaohs, our guides escort you to the airport. You’ll fly over the Delta and back to Cairo and the J. W. Marriott Hotel or similar. Dinner is included at the hotel.

DAY 10 – Cairo / Tel Aviv / Jerusalem: Sunday (B)
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Tel Aviv, air fare is included in our rate one way in economy class, tax included. Transfers are always on a private basis, private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, in Dubai, Egypt and Israel. Upon landing in Tel Aviv, proceed to Jerusalem and your hotel.

Monday, Day 11 – Old City of Jerusalem, Bethlehem (BL)
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, private guide. Enter the Old City, walking through the reconstructed Jewish Quarter. Visit the newly excavated Cardo and continue to the Western Wall, the only remaining portion of the Second Temple. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and through the colorful bazaars. Continue via Ramat Eshkol to Bethlehem, birthplace of King David. Visit Rachel’s Tomb and the Church of the Nativity, site of Jesus’ birth. Return to Jerusalem.

Breakfast is included at the hotel, lunch is included at a local restaurant.

Tuesday, Day 12 – Megiddo, Nazareth, Tiberias (BL)
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, private guide. Depart Jerusalem and drive to Nazareth to see the Church of the Annunciation. Drive to the Sea of Galilee and ride the waters to Tabgha. Visit Cana. Continue to Tiberias for a short tour. Visit Capernaum, on the Sea Of Galilee, to see the ruins of the Synagogue and Church of St. Peter. Stop at the renewed baptismal site on the Jordan River. Overnight in Jerusalem. Breakfast is included at the hotel, lunch is included at a local restaurant.

Wednesday, Day 13 – Jerusalem (B)
Full day on your own in Jerusalem to explore this Ancient city.

Thursday, Day 14 – Departure (B)
Private air condition car for your transfer. Private chauffeur. Our local rep. staff escorts you to the airport, where you’ll begin your journey home. Salaam and Bon Voyage!


RATES per person in USD

Deluxe
First Class
Triple
US$ 6010.
US$ 5305.
Double
US$ 6250.
US$ 5410.
Single
US$ 7127.
US$ 6170.

For Easter week, Christmas, New Year’s:
please note that a 10 % supplement will apply.

Sample Deluxe Hotels Dubai:
Sheraton Jumeirah Dubai. Hilton Jumeirah Dubai, or similar. For an upgrade to Le Meridien Mina Seyahi, please add: $450 USD per person in double.

Sample First Class four stars hotels in Dubai: Novotel Dubai, Dubai four point Sheraton, Qamardeen hotel Dubai.


Rate includes:

  • Nile cruise, with all meals, a welcome fruit basket, complimentary bottle of water for each guest delivered to your cabin daily while on board the cruise. As well as bottled water and tea or coffee with each meal while on board the cruise
  • All shore excursions, aboard, your Nile cruise.
    Sample First class: M/S Nile Dream, M/S Ruby.
    Sample Deluxe: these luxury Nile cruises: M/S Amarco, Monaco, M/S Royal Lotus M/S Mojito, Movenpick M/S Radamis II, Sonesta, Queen of Hansa, or the M/S Princess Sara, subject to availability.
  • All transfers, always on a private basis: private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
  • International air fares: one way Dubai to Cairo in business class, tax included.
  • International air fares: one way Cairo to Tel Aviv in economy class, tax included.
  • As well as all flight within Egypt all in business class.
  • Air-conditioned hotel accommodations with tax and service charges
  • Sightseeing with professional guide and entrance fees as indicated
  • Meals as indicated, with pre-set menu (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
  • UAE: Emirates visa fee (valid only for American, Canadian, Australian, NZ, Korean, Singaporean & Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival).
  • Dubai VIP Meet & Greet Service at the Airport:
    Arriving at Dubai Inetranational Airort you’ll be delighted to discover Travel in Style’s VIP Red Carpet welcome procedures: you are met by our English-speaking representative who escorts you from your plane to a comfortable air-conditioned lounge where you can freshen up and recover from your flight. While you relax, our representative completes your Immigration procedures, collects your luggage, clears it through Customs, and transfers it to your private, air-conditioned vehicle. Escorted from the lounge to your vehicle, your private chauffeur transfers you to your hotel, assisting with your luggage when you arrive. Red Carpet Treatment: that’s the Travel in Style difference.
  • VIP Meet & Greet Service at Cairo Airport upon arrival.
  • Egypt’s Visa fee is included and will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of nationalities such as Australian, NZ, American, EU, Canadian & 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.


Not included:

  • Personal expenses and beverages
  • Additional meals and services
  • Visa for Israel, if needed, please check with the consulate nearest you.
  • Trip interruption and cancellation insurance
  • International air fare from/to your home country
  • Tips

Hospitality Trumps Bottom Line at Emirates – April 2010

Dust cloud over Europe! Passengers stranded worldwide, usually without assistance from their airlines, except…

In keeping with its core values and traditional hospitality, Emirates Airlines stepped forward to ensure that each and every one of thousands of passengers delayed in Dubai and elsewhere received three meals a day and accommodations.

The cost to Emirates is well over $2 million a day in addition to its lost passenger revenue. But to passengers who would have been left out in the cold by other airlines, the value is priceless.

Maybe it’s time for guests to consider travel with airlines that really care.