Royal Dahabiya Yachts on the Nile
The Dongola Royal Deluxe Dahabiya

The dahabeya was built in approximately 1835, used by Egypt former royal families and later on celebrities of the 1950’s era for pleasure trips. Because of its being painted in gold the Dongola and similar boats were called ‘dahabeya’ which means ‘Golden Boat’. The Dongola is not air-conditioned. Please click here for rates.

click on picture to see full size:

The dahabiya was built in approximately 1835 and were used by Egypt former royal families and later on celebrities of the 1950’s era for pleasure trips. Because of its being painted in gold the Dongola and similar boats were called ‘dahabeya’ which means ‘Golden Boat’.

Sailing on a dahabeya means exploring the Nile in a traditional style being able to enjoy visits of some unique places and monuments unattainable by modern cruise ships. Other memorable experiences are the BBQ on isolated islands or joining the ‘chef’ for green-grocery shopping in rural markets and villages.

Along the way, we moor on uninhabited Nile islands, whose virgin landscapes have hardly changed throughout millennia. Wandering the gardens and Nile islands is an idyllic pastime, and the perfect compliment to your visits to Egypt ‘s matchless monuments.

The Dahabbiyas are beautifully crafted wooden ships, outfitted in colonial style with oriental and Egyptian touches. The interiors boast period furnishing, and each cabin has its own distinct style and interior .

The Dongola offers five cabins for a maximum of ten guests: The ‘Kings Suite’ in the stern, two ‘Prince Cabins’ all with private bathroom and two ‘Senior Cabins’ sharing one bathroom. All are double cabins with king size beds, eiderdown duvets and opening windows. The Dongola is not air-conditioned.

Facilities
The boat features a combination of nostalgic atmosphere and modern comfort, a pleasant place to relax and to enjoy the peace and silence. The salon is the perfect meeting place and sometimes, in cold winter days, dinner is served here. For relaxing and enjoying the passing landscape the sun deck is the place, where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served.

Technical Data
Two masts flat bottom yacht. Length: 34,5 meter, draught 0.6 meter, 20 meter long sun deck, 12.5 meter main mast with 24 meter boom and 360 square meter sail, stern mast 9,5 meter with 16 meter boom and 140 square meter sail.

Cancellation policy for charters:
All deposits and further payments non-refundable

Rate Includes:

• All transfers in Luxor and Aswan, always on a private basis .
• Private air conditioned coaches for all transfers and tours .
• Guided sightseeing including all entrance fees, all as per itinerary .
• Pre set meals as listed including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast), L = Lunch, D = Dinner
• Tea/ coffee and afternoon tea while on board the Deluxe Nile Cruise.
• Bottled water with meals

Rate Does Not Includes:

• Tips.
• Travel Insurance
• International air fare.
• Domestic air within Egypt, please ask us for details

Royal Dahabiyas on the Nile

Zarafa (Giraffe) Deluxe Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Eight cabins & one suite

Previously owned by His Majesty Sultan H. Kamel
The First Sultan of Egypt after Egypt’s independence
from the Ottoman Empire after WWI

M4034S-4211

M4034S-4211

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M4034S-4211

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The dahabeya was built in approximately 1835, used by Egypt former royal families and later on celebrities of the 1950’s era for pleasure trips. Because they were painted in gold the Dongola and similar boats were called ‘dahabeya’ which means ‘Golden Boat’. The Zarafa is air-conditioned.

Start Weekly on Saturday:
The program starts every Saturday in either Luxor or Aswan, and the journey lasts seven nights.

The trip includes visits to sites in ancient Thebes (the Valley’s of the Kings and Queens), the Luxor and Karnak temples, as well as Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. Entrance fees for the monuments are all inclusive.

In addition to these historical sites, guests will visit less frequented monuments and enjoy field excursions to villages and open countryside. In short, we promise our guests a unique, tranquil journey on sailboats fit for a king or a Pharaoh!

This Royal Dahabiya is available for charter and your exclusive and private use of the Dahabiya. Each cabin may be occupied by one or two guests. There are no triple occupancy cabins. You may book one or more cabins, or charter the full boat/dahabiya. Cancellation policy: All deposits and further payments non-refundable.

Rate Includes:

• All transfers in Luxor and Aswan, always on a private basis.
• Private air conditioned coaches for all transfers and tours.
• Guided sightseeing including all entrance fees, all as per itinerary.
• Pre set meals as listed including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast), L = Lunch, D = Dinner
• Tea/ coffee and afternoon tea while on board the Deluxe Nile Cruise.
• Bottled water with meals
• With the charter rate, you get your own private resident Egyptologist for your group
• Complimentary Gallabiya for each guest

The dahabeya was built in the late 1800 ‘s, fully restored with today’s comfort, used by Egypt former royal families and later on celebrities of the 1950’s era for pleasure trips. Because of its being painted in gold the Dongola and similar boats were called ‘dahabeya’ which means ‘Golden Boat’. The Zarafa is air conditioned.

Sailing on a dahabeya means exploring the Nile in a traditional style being able to enjoy visits of some unique places and monuments unattainable by modern cruise ships. Other memorable experiences are the BBQ on isolated islands or joining the ‘chef’ for green-grocery shopping in rural markets and villages.

The Dahabbiyas are beautifully crafted wooden ships, outfitted in colonial style with oriental and Egyptian touches. The interiors boast period furnishing, and each cabin has its own distinct style and interior.

Facilities
The boat features a combination of nostalgic atmosphere and modern comfort, a pleasant place to relax and to enjoy the peace and silence. The salon is the perfect meeting place and sometimes, in cold winter days, dinner is served here. For relaxing and enjoying the passing landscape the sun deck is the place, where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. The Zarafa is air-conditioned

What to Pack on the Nile:
Most of the year look forward to warm, even hot weather in Luxor & Aswan, morning & evenings are cooler. For Shore excursions, we suggest comfortable cotton & natural fabric lightweight clothing. Comfortable walking shoes are essential. Lightweight comfortable & casual clothing. Swimsuits, sun hat.

Our Nile cruise passengers come from all countries of the world, more from Europe, but also from North America, South America and Asia, and naturally they’ll often keep the company of their own language and culture.

Your patience and extra efforts to interact are sure to bear rewards.
Some guests from the USA did bring up the issue that in some cases the boat did have 2 or 3 English speaking couples onboard, and that they expected more! Most sailings have a few native English speakers, though the numbers, of course, vary by season, and are not guaranteed.

Sultan Hussein Kamil
By Ch. Chusseau-Flaviens [Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

(November 21, 1853 – October 9, 1917)
The Sultan of Egypt and King of The Sudan
from December 19, 1914 – October 9, 1917
during the British occupation which lasted from 1882-1922

Sultan Hussein Kamil was the son of Khedive Isma’il Pasha, who was ruler of Egypt from 1863 until 1879.Kamil was appointed Sultan of Egypt after the deposition of his nephew, Khedive Abbas by the British. Egypt was declared a British protectorate in 1914 at the beginning of World War I. These moves brought to an end the nominal control of Egypt by the Ottomans.

Royal feluccas and Dahabbiyas bore a larger-than-life image of the pharaoh, seated on a throne, to be seen and venerated by inhabitants even along the most remote canal. In turn, imbued with the same “ka,” or spirit, as the living pharaoh himself, it would keep watch over his subjects and their activities.

So integral was the Nile Dahabbiya and felucca to the ancient Egyptian way of life that it assumed legendary attributes. Even today, you can see the oldest known Nile felucca, the regal pharaonic Dahabia of Cheops, the ruler immortalized by the Great Pyramid at Giza. Known as the Solar Boat, it was believed to sail through the skies carrying its royal passenger along sunbeams in his single cabin, the royal suite of its day.

The regal pharaonic Dahabia of Cheops Museum in Giza is a must see.

In later times, pashas, emirs, and sultans found that feluccas were indispensable. When Napoleon invaded Egypt, the Mamluks rulers observed the Battle of the Pyramids from their dahabeahs, and in the wake of defeat, set them afire, still laden with treasures, in the middle of the river. Always one to adapt to local practice, Napoleon even had his own dahabeah, the Italy, which was used by his officers to explore Upper Egypt.

In the nineteenth century, the well-equipped Nile Dahabbiya and felucca was essential to the upper-crust adventurer. Lord Kitcheners used several feluccas for his famous trip from Cairo to Khartoum.

It took from two to three months to ascend the Nile under wind power, and another month-and-a-half to float back downstream, stopping at the great temples along the way. King Farouk, Churchill, Montgomery, Mark Twain and others settled in for the journey, and a certain Lady Edwards even had a piano installed on her sailing vessel.

Eventually, steamers displaced dahabeahs, opening up an Egyptian adventure to greater numbers on Thomas Cook’s tours, and trains nearly finished them off. But never completely. Even today, despite the inroads of rail, steam power, and highways, the graceful Nile felucca retains its place.

A skilled river captain is on board at all times. A guide is at your disposal to plan your itinerary and escort you through the sites you choose to visit. The crew has completely separate quarters, to ensure your privacy.

Luxor Edition
Thursday Arrival

Temple of Amon Ra, Karnak.
By Francesco Gasparetti, Senigallia, Italy [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

DAY 1 – CAIRO Tour Starts: Thursday- Weekly Year Round
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 (BL)
Breakfast. Lunch. On your first full day in Egypt we show you the Egyptian Museum, including the “Mummies Room” and King Tut’s gold treasure room, the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and Cheops Royal Barge Museum. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. This is a very full day, you may choose the 9 or the 10 day edition.

DAY 3 – LUXOR! Board your Nile Cruise (BLD) – Saturday
Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. We fly to LUXOR (or Aswan), in Luxor we proceed to cross the Nile to the West Bank. We tour today as the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings including Tut-Ank-Amon’s tomb and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut. We stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to our cruise and board our Nile cruiser in time for a delicious lunch. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin. The gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor are our goals in the afternoon. We’ll return in time for the afternoon tea served on deck. You’ll have a chance to explore your ship before dinner. Evening Karnak Sound and Light show, please bring a jacket and a flash light.

DAY 4 – LUXOR, EDFU- On Board Your Nile Cruise (BLD) Sunday
Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. We sail to Esna to go through the locks, and on to Edfu where we dock for the night. In the evening, we’ll celebrate in Egyptian style, dressed in galabias, the flowing national costume. A galabya will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments.

DAY 5 – EDFU, KOM OMBO- On Board Your Nile Cruise (BLD) Monday
Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. 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 on our Nile cruiser, we enjoy lunch as we sail further south upriver. We disembark downstream at Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, then continue our voyage to Aswan, while we party after dinner with music and dance.

DAY 6 – ASWAN – On board Your Nile Cruise (BLD) Tuesday
Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. First we tour Aswan dams, then next to an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the Island temple of Philae, dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS: “I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled.”

Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.

Isis was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra! In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the Nile.

DAY 7 – ASWAN, CAIRO (B) Wednesday
Breakfast. Board our return flight to Cairo, and your hotel. In the afternoon, wander through the city on your own, or do your last-minute shopping.

DAY 8 – CAIRO- Departure (B) Thursday
Breakfast. Our representative escorts you to the airport for your homeward flight.

Consider visiting Nefertiti and Akhnaton’s capital in Tel Al-Amarna: Nefertiti Turns Egypt Upside Down!! The first bloodless religious revolution against the established church in Ancient Egypt And the seat of power that rested with the priests in Karnak. Nefertiti conducts the religious ceremony at the temple wearing only a see-through cloak!

• Private touring on board the cruise: Please add $ 250 per person for the full cruise/shore excursions.
• For Dec 15 – Jan 3, Easter, please add % 15 supplement to any of the listed rates.

Rates include:

• All domestic airfares within Egypt, in economy class, tax included.
• All transfers in Egypt, always on a private basis, private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
• Nile Cruise with all meals and shore excursions.
• Bottled water (one per person) delivered to your cabin daily while you are on board the cruise.
• Tea or coffee /bottled water with each meal while on board the cruise.
• Hotel accommodation with tax & service charges.
• Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin on the Nile cruise.
• Complimentary galabya on board the cruise for the costume party.
• Preset menu meals including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast) L = Lunch, D = Dinner.
• All guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees. On board the cruise you’ll be part of an average 10-15 English speaking group.
• VIP Meet & Greet Service 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.

Not included:

• Air fare from / to your home country.
• Travel Insurance.
• Tips

Cairo: Le Riad in the heart of El Moezz street in Cairo
In the heart of islamic medieval Cairo, a place acknowledged worldwide as the patrimony of humanity, Le Riad is the only one Hôtel de Charme 5 minutes walking distance from the famous souk of Khan El Khalili. Only 17 very private suites facing El Darb El Asfar and its exceptional ottoman houses. On the roof garden you will discover the 1000 minarets of Cairo and enjoy a panoramic view: the Fatimid walls, the Moquattam’s hills, the citadel of Mohamed Ali. And at your feet: mosques, sabils, madrasas, khanqas, khans mainly from mamluk time. The Riad will introduce you in an oriental dream with its typical old egyptian architecture, domes, arches, moucharabiehs, warm colors and its refined decoration mixing antiques with an amazing collection of drawings, paintings and silver jewellery. A 30 minutes drive from Cairo International Airport, the Riad is easily reachable by car.

Anakto Nubian House – Aswan:
Nesting on a ridge, AnaKato possesses an extraordinary view of the Nile all the way from Aswan to the Aswan Reservoir. A placid, tranquil environment, and the generous hospitality of the natives is so calming, its hard to imagine how one could return to the bustle of civilization.

Built as a traditional Nubian house, its unique and bright colours impose the feeling of peaceful happiness. Knowing that whomever has come to AnaKato, searching for inner peace, has reached their purpose, we welcome you into our haven, far away from any soul pollution.

The rooms are simply but tastefully furnished in the local style. With only 5 rooms the house is quaint yet cozy and familiar. Also on location is a mini-mart. The staff is friendly, love their job, and will be happy to help with any of your questions.

The legendary Tree that grows beneath the house shades a spectacular terrace, at the very edge of the cool Nile waters. We also provide a morning coffee shop and a bazaar that sells hand-made goods. Anything you will buy will help the people of the village, so you will be contributing to the community. You can relax on the little strip of sandy beach and cool off with a refreshing dip in the Nile.

There is also traditional Nubian music, dancing. And if you are in luck, and there is a wedding in the village, you may surely want to join the party, an event not to be missed! Camel rides are also available to take you to the unique, red sandy “Barbar beach.” Or if you prefer to go out into the desert for a safari we cater for that too. Also available on demand are henna tattooing and medicinal sand-burying.

The best way to see the best of Egypt in only four days
Tour starts daily in Cairo, year round

Egyptian Museum, Cairo
By Christophe Badoux (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

DAY 1 – CAIRO — VIP Meet & Greet Service at Cairo Airport – Daily – Year Round
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 (BLD)
In the morning, We start with the best: visit the Egyptian Museum, Citadel of Saladin and its Alabaster Mosque, we wander through the narrow streets and alleys of Old Khan el-Khalili bazaar in search of souvenirs. Lunch is included at Abu El-Sid restaurant or Naguib Mahfouz. Dinner is included at a charming local restaurant.

DAY 3 – Giza (BLD)
After breakfast we drive to the edge of the Sahara to visit the majestic pyramids of Giza, the Valley Temple and the timeless Sphinx. Lunch is included at the Mena House. Afternoon tour of Memphis, Sakkara, the Step Pyramid, Imhotep Museum.
Dinner is included at the hotel.

DAY 4 – DEPARTURE (B)
After breakfast, our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home. Compare with the 6 day edition. Bon Voyage.

Peak Seasons: Christmas / New Years Season: Dec 20 – Jan 3 and Easter Weeks (2 weeks season). Please add % 10 to any of the listed rates.

Rate Includes:

• Hotel accommodation with tax and Continental Breakfast.
• All transfers. always on a private basis, private air-conditioned vehicle and a private chauffeur.
• Guided sightseeing including all entrance fees, always on a private basis, with a private guide (Egyptologist).
• VIP Meet & Greet 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.

Rate Does Not Includes:

• Travel Insurance
• International air fare.
• Tips

From el Gelf To Siwa

A camping and touring Adventure
The search continues for the tomb of Alexander the Great

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Alexander the Great… Siwa… the Oracle of Amon
The Search Continues for Alexander…

It’s back to ancient days as we follow the pilgrimage route of Alexander the Great to the Oracle of Amon. He marched westward along the Mediterranean coast, then inland (south) to the great oasis of Siwa. His aim was to visit the great temple of Amun which, tradition says, his legendary “ancestors” Heracles and Perseus had visited. He entered the temple and was hailed by the priests as pharaoh, the son of Amun. He then had a private audience with the High Priestess of the oracle, who proclaimed him to be a god, the son of Zeus. She predicted that he would conquer vast territories. He did. Leaving Egypt, he marched into Persia conquering all who came before him, all the way to what is now Lahore in Pakistan.

On his return trip, however, he fell ill and died at the ripe age of 33 in Babylon. According to ancient inscriptions, Alexander’s body was returned to Egypt and buried, but where? Both Siwa and Alexandria are possibilities. His tomb has not yet been identified for sure. At Gebel Mawta, we’ll see tombs of the Greco-Roman era, including one that’s reputed to be Alexander’s own tomb. At Siwa, we’ll see an ancient fortress with winding alleyways, and the Temple of Amon, where Alexander’s divinity and legitimacy were proclaimed. Within a short distance, we’ll traverse centuries as we visit Cleopatra’s Pool, a Roman outpost, and a Ptolemaic temple.

Daily departure

On Desert Safari to Fayoum Oases for the Day – Start in Cairo any day – Year Round

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. Incredibly, these great mammals once thrived in waters surrounded by sands. We’ll stop and gaze in amazement at their fossilized remains alongside smaller sea creatures that remain in stone.

In the evening, you’ll return to your hotel in Cairo.

Price includes:

• Land transportation in air-conditioned four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser
• Services of driver and English-speaking driver
• Lunch at seafood restaurant
• Entry fees

Rate per person in double in USD $:
Minimum 2 passengers is required = 285 $ per person

A note about meals
Please note that some meals will be served in local desert style. For your Egyptian breakfast, expect orange juice, tea and coffee, marmalade, a selection of two cheeses, beans, and eggs. A picnic lunch will typically include either tuna, sausage, sardines or beef with a green salad or a salad of cheese, tomato and fruit. For dinner, expect a beef or chicken main coarse, with vegetable and rice or pasta. Please inform your hosts in advance of dietary requests.

Photo Credit: Osama Abdel A’al

Egypt Western Desert Oases
Activities and Tours

Siwa Adrere Ecolodge… have a drink by the sea!! Sea of sand that is!!

Here is an idea of the daily flow of activities in Adrère Amellal:

Breakfast is served on a shaded terrace overlooking the lake. If you do not know where to head for breakfast, just listen for the sound of the cutlery and plates and they will lead you to the right place.

Around 10:00 am: Head towards the car park for a trip around the town of Siwa in 4×4 vehicles with a guide: you will visit Shali fortress, the tombs of Jabal el Mawta, Oracle Temple, Jabal Dakrour & Cleopatra’s bath.

Around 2:00 pm: Lunch will be served under the palm trees by the pool. It is a vegetarian meal, which is tradition.

Around 4:00 pm (in winter) and 5:00 pm (in summer): 4×4 vehicles will take you into the Great Sand Sea, this depends of course on the mood of the desert and the duration of your stay. You will visit Lake Shiata, Bir Wahed and the Petrified Forest. Just as the sun is going down you will be served mint tea.

Remember to take a jacket with you, because the temperature drops rapidly in the desert once the sun goes down.

Around 8:00 pm: Return to Adrère Amellal and have a well deserved cocktail in one of the bars of the lodge.

Dinner will be served – in a different dinner room every night – at whatever time suites you. All you need to do is just let the staff know when you would like to have your meal.

Dinner in the desert is also an option, but at an extra charge of $50 per person. It depends on the mood of the desert of course and the number of people, as well as other factors.

Additional options are swimming in the Lake by the lodge, visiting our library, climbing up the White Mountain, having a mud bath, having a massage with Siwan olive oil by a Siwi or even a masseuse from Cairo or abroad (not included in the price).

There is also the option of riding horses in the desert at an additional cost of EURO 40 per hour per person. Please note that the horses are not in Siwa from mid-May till mid- October.

If you do ever get lost or don’t know where to go, ask any of our personnel who are dressed in white; they would be more than happy to assist you.

Summary of activities NOT included in the room price:

1. Dinner in the desert: $50 per person
2. Horse riding: $50 per person per hour

When you book with us, please clarify what you would like to do from the above mentioned activities in order for us to arrange it for you.

The lodge has 40 rooms and suites. This is a boutique oases of luxury in the Egyptian desert that was built with Siwan labour and care so that it would fit entirely into the architectural styles of the oasis. Siwa and the Adrere border the largest ocean of sands in the world. Built out of indigenous material using traditional Siwan building techniques and styles so as to have a minimal impact on the land. The Adrere Amellal Ecolodge sets an example for being environmentally friendly hospitality establishment. Situated at the base of a majestic white mountain and overlooking palm groves and Siwa lake,

Adrère Amellal consists of a series of traditional Siwan houses that have been restored and re-designed into guests suites and rooms, all of which offer genuine desert-style comfort. Furnishing is simple, but of the highest quality, drawing exclusively on local material and design to reflect Siwa’s rugged spirit. The Siwan homes are built using a a mixture of sun dried salt rock mixed with straw for wall building. Furniture and fixtures are made of palm trunks and ceilings are beamed with palm logs, the carpentry and accessories display the rich and colorful variety of Siwa’s indigenous handicraft. Oil lamps and candles are used for lighting. On cold winter nights, coal-filled braziers are used for heating.

A brazier is a container for fire, generally taking the form of an upright standing or hanging metal bowl or box. Used for holding burning coal as well as fires.Braziers are mentioned in the Bible. The Hebrew word rendered “brazier” (´ach) is of Egyptian origin, suggesting that the brazier itself was an innovation from Egypt. Please do not expect that you ‘ll be able to access e.mail tonight!

Trekking the Egyptian Sahara
Images From El Gelf to Aswan

Courtsey of Osama Abdel A’al

Click on image to see full size:

Egyptian Oasis Adventure

Camping In The Egyptian Desert
Tour The Egyptian White Desert and El Farafra Oases

A note about meals
Please note that some meals will be served in local desert style. For your Egyptian breakfast, expect orange juice, tea and coffee, marmalade, a selection of two cheeses, beans, and eggs. A picnic lunch will typically include either tuna, sausage, sardines or beef with a green salad or a salad of cheese, tomato and fruit. For dinner, expect a beef or chicken main coarse, with vegetable and rice or pasta. Please inform your hosts in advance of dietary requests.

SANITARY FACILITIES:
For that one night camping, please note that there are no private facilities etc. So it will be the Bedouin’s way.

Here’s our recommended list of things to bring:

• Ski or thermal clothing, a Polar fleece jacket or woolen sweater for tenting in the desert, where evenings and early morning can be quite chilly (particularly in October, April and May)
• Windbreaker
• Two pairs of trousers, one light, one heavier
• One pair longish Bermuda shorts
• Track or training suit for tent time and sleep-wear
• Two long-sleeved shirts to cover your arms and shoulders from the intense sun
• Supple but sturdy jogging or walking shoes, well broken in (NOT brand new); lighter tennis or regular shoes; sandals for wear in camp and in your tent
• Linen or straw sunhat, visor cap and/or head scarf
• North African scarf for wrapping as a turban to protect against the sun, cold wind and dust.
• Water bottle with screw top, minimum two-liter (half-gallon) capacity
• Good sun-block cream or lotion

Miscellaneous personal items:

• good sunglasses with UV protection, in a sturdy case
• spare pair of prescription glasses, if you wear glasses
• pocket knife
• pocket flashlight, with spare batteries and bulbs
• insect repellant
• moist towelettes
• plastic bags (large and small) in which to pack your clothing, to keep sand and dust out
• personal first-aid items

ADRÈRE AMELLAL Ecolodge in Siwa Oases
Activities, tours and more details on the daily flow of activities in Adrere Amellal. Click here for details.

Including Siwa Ecolodge

This is a Private Tour – Choose Your Own Date
A Grand 21-Day Tour of the Egypt

Photo Credit Osama Abdel A’al

Here are all the splendors of Egypt, from the magnificence of the pharaohs to the glory of Alexandria to desert oases and the triumph of El Alamein. Including the Western Sahara Oases, Siwa, El- Bahariya and El Farafra as well as Luxor, Thebes (the capital of Ancient Egypt), and of course Cairo.

DAY 1 – CAIRO – Daily – Year Round – Choose Your Own Date – This is a Private Tour

VIP Meet & Greet Service at Cairo Airport Upon Arrival.
Our local representative will greet you at the airport and whisk you to your hotel. 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 months 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. In 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.

DAY 2 – CAIRO (BLD)
Today you’ll explore the wonders of the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, statuary, and precious stones and metals. Travellers have long come to Cairo just to gaze on these sights, we have the full morning devoted to the Egyptian Museum.

Remainder of the day at leisure, or simply extend your stay at the Museum with the guide at no additional charge until 5 PM. Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant, for example Taboula behind the British Embassy or similar. Dinner is included at Abu-El Sid restaurant.

DAY 3 – CAIRO-GIZA (BLD)
Morning drive to the edge of Cairo and the Giza desert to tour Memphis, Sakkara, including the Step Pyramids, the Serapeum, Unas, Pyramid of Teti and key Mastabas of the Nobles and Imhotep Museum. After lunch at the Mena House you’ll see Cheops Royal Barge Museum, and in Giza, on the edge of the desert, you’ll view the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids. Dinner is included at La Bodega Restaurant.

DAY 4 – CAIRO El Bahariya Oases (BLD)
Early morning departure before sunrise to be able to watch the sunrise over the Sahara. We board a private four wheel vehicle and proceed west on the Sahara Highway, (180 Kilometers from Cairo to El Bahariya), visiting Qaser Sleim, Alexander Tomb and Museum of Golden Mummies. Lunch and Dinner at the hotel: Hotel Palm Village Bahariya Oases, Desert Rose Eco Lodge, or Beshimo Lodge, or similar. Evening Bedouin folk show.

DAY 5 – El Farafra Oases (White Desert) (BLD)
After a morning tour of El Bahariya we head for the White Desert (180 Kilometers), on the way we’ll stop ay Crystal Mountain to marvel at the different shapes of limestone, arrive Farafra Oasis. Dinner is included at El Farafra Oases Badawiya Hotel

DAY 6 – CAIRO (BL)
After breakfast, early morning drive back to Cairo (380 Kilometers). Lunch box including bottled water and fruit will be provided. Remainder of the day at leisure in Cairo.

DAY 7 – CAIRO (BLD)
Today, we’ll get to know more of Cairo, both historic and contemporary. We’ll set off for Khan el-Khalili, the labyrinthine bazaar district with its array of spice shops and clothing merchants and purveyors of baskets and brass ware and a thousand other specialties. We’ll also stop at the Citadel of Saladin, the Alabaster Mosque, Sultan Hassan Great Mosque, a true master piece. The afternoon is devoted to seeing more of Islamic Cairo’s sights: Ibn Touloun Mosque, Muiz LedeenAllah District, Beit El Sehiimi,and Wekalet el Ghouri.

We’ll continue to the Gayer-Anderson House, a serene and classic domestic oasis, right down to its central fountain and exquisite furnishings. Our visit is also a journey into a vanished way of life—the residence is actually two traditional medieval Cairo houses restored by an English physician to a former king. We’ll stop for lunch at a restaurant where Cairenes go, then visit the Bab an-Nasr, the Gate of Victory in Cairo’s old walls. You’ll even see graffiti that survives from soldiers of Napoleon and of the British Empire, among the many who passed this way.

Evening buffet dinner at Zeitouni restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Cairo. Authentic Lebanese flavours come alive in Zeitouni: Guests enjoy a wide range of authentic Lebanese specialties such as breads, mezzes and grilled dishes, prepared by a team of gourmet Lebanese chefs.

DAY 8 – Luxor – Dendera – Abydos (BL)
Morning flight to Luxor! Air fare is included in economy class with tax. In Luxor, we proceed from the airport – private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, private Egyptologist – and we drive inland to tour Denderah Temple which is among the best preserved in Egypt. This temple as a sight to hold. Indiana Jones would have felt at home, with the massive stones and underground passages.

DENDERAH IN A DAY:
We’ll travel to Denderah to visit the Temple of Hathor, one of the best-preserved in all of Egypt, and also one of the most important. In the ancient beliefs, Hathor was the consort of the god of daylight, ruler of the west, and protector or the underworld. In the manner of wise desert wayfarers, we’ll leave before dawn to take advantage of cool temperatures. Our air-conditioned van will take us through timeless Nile-side villages, where life revolves around the irrigation and harvest of crops. Finally, we’ll reach the temple precincts. We’ll take note of the unusually deep tombs, and pass under the celebrated Zodiac, in a chapel dedicated to Osiris. (Denderah is the traditional site of his rebirth.) Our full day will also include a visit to Abydos, traditional home of Osiris, god of the underworld, and a stopping point on the journey of wayfaring souls. We’ll enjoy a box lunch, and return to Luxor and your hotel where dinner is included.

Sample Deluxe:Old Winter, Sonesta St. George, Hilton or Sheraton, Steigenberger, or similar. Sample First: Novotel. Mercure or similar.

DAY 9 – LUXOR (BD)
Breakfast at leisure. Morning tour of Luxor Museum, then we’ll set out for the imposing Great Temple of Amon at Karnak and the Temple of Luxor, in the evening your guide will call on you for a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout Luxor souks and water front. Dinner is included at a charming local restaurant.

DAY 10 – VALLEY OF THE KINGS (BLD)
We’ll set out across the Nile to view an array of ancient splendors: the tomb chambers of the Valley of the Kings; the imposing tomb-temple of Queen Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Queens. Stop at the Colossi of Memnon before we head for Medinet Habu, and the Ramesseum.

Deir El Medinah is on Luxor’s west bank where 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.

Lunch is included at Al-Moudira Hotel. Dinner is included at the Old Winter Palace.

DAY 11 – ESNA, EDFU- KOM OMBO-ASWAN (BLD)
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, private guide. We’ll make our way up the Nile Valley, and on to Esna, visit its temple set in the middle of the town’s square, then off to Edfu and the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt.

We will break to enjoy our lunch box (bottled water included), then off to Kom Ombo to explore the twin temples of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, then continue our voyage to Aswan.

Deluxe: Old Cataract (closed for renovations), Mövenpick Elephantine Island. First class: Basma Hotel). Dinner is included at your hotel.

DAY 12 – Philae/ Camel Caravan (BLD)
This morning we go by motor launch to the island temples of Philae, dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS.

The Mystery of Isis: Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled by the mystery of Isis: “I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled.”

Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.

Isis was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra!

Because of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey to the Underworld.

Isis is portrayed regally, as a queen seated on a throne (which may be the meaning of her name), often holding her son Horus as a baby. Other images show her with broad, magnificent gilded wings able to protect the world. Isis, the great Mother Goddess.

All the while, you will have seen feluccas sailing the Nile. Now we’ll experience Egypt at its most authentic, as we sail in one of these graceful craft. We’ll include a tour of the Elephantine Island.

Then to really immerse yourself, try your hand at a complimentary camel riding! We’ll take willing passengers on a traditional caravan to enjoy tea with Nubian villagers.

DAY 13 – CAIRO, ALEXANDRIA (BLD)
After breakfast proceed to the airport of Aswan, where we’ll board a plane to fly northward to Cairo. We’ll be met at the airport, then proceed northward overland (private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, private guide) to the great port of Alexandria. Lunch box included and delivered at Cairo Airport, with bottled water and fruit where we’ll settle in to our hotel. Dinner is included at your hotel in Alexandria.

Conqueror of the Mediterranean Coast – Alexander the Great
In 332 BC, Egypt was laboring under Persian military control when Alexander the Great arrived to drive out the invaders without the shedding of a drop of blood. The Persian governor surrendered and the conquering hero was hailed as a liberator and given Egypt’s double crown symbolizing control of Upper and Lower Egypt. Alexander reinstated Egypt’s traditional government and founded the city of Alexandria at the country’s most important crossroads: where the Nile meets the Mediterranean.

Octavious visiting Alexander the Great’s Tomb in Alexandria.
Octavious had just defeated Cleopatra and Marc Anthony armies. He left his coat at Alexander the Great’s tomb as a token of respect. The search continues for Alexander the Great’s Tomb.

DAY 14 – ALEXANDRIA (BLD)
Today in Alexandria we tour Qayet Bey Fortress built on the same site of the ancient wonder of the world: the famous Alexandria Light House. A brief stop at ” El Selsela” the site of the Underwater reserve where Cleopatra Place was discovered, as well as Caesar Kiosk. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the Crown Jewels Museum, then its off to the new site for the Alexandria Library, and the Museum of Alexandria. The building was originally built in 1926 for the US consulate in Alexandria and is a masterpiece in 1920’s architecture and Mediterranean style buildings. Off to Zanket El Setat and the local souks before we take a short break at the hotel to get ready for an evening walking tour of El -Raml and downtown. Dinner is included tonight at a local restaurant.

DAY 15 – ALEXANDRIA, EL ALAMEIN (BLD)
We’ll cross into another era of history today, as we motor westward through the dunes along the Mediterranean coast, following the route of Field Marshall Montgomery to El Alamein. Here we’ll visit the fields of battle where Rommel’s advance on Cairo was finally halted. We’ll visit the museum, and stay the night.

As the gateway to Egypt, the Nile and Africa, Alexandria has been contested by armies and navies ever since. In 1798, Lord Nelson defeated Napoleon¹s navy just east of Alexandria.

In 1807 the British occupied the city. In 1941, General Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps stormed across North Africa all the way to El Alamein, only 70 miles west of Alexandria.

Rommel was driven back in desperate fighting by British forces under the command of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, yet another of the many generals to have struggled for control of this strategic land.

Lunch and dinner are included at your charming hotel in Al-Alamein.

DAY 16 – SIWA, ORACLE OF AMON (BLD)
It’s back to ancient days as we follow the pilgrimage route of Alexander the Great to the Oracle of Amon. He marched westward along the Mediterranean coast, then inland (south) to the great oasis of Siwa. His aim was to visit the great temple of Amun which, tradition says, his legendary “ancestors” Heracles and Perseus had visited. He entered the temple and was hailed by the priests as pharaoh, the son of Amun. He then had a private audience with the High Priestess of the oracle, who proclaimed him to be a god, the son of Zeus. She predicted that he would conquer vast territories. He did. Leaving Egypt, he marched into Persia conquering all who came before him, all the way to what is now Lahore in Pakistan. On his return trip, however, he fell ill and died at the ripe age of 33 in Babylon. According to ancient inscriptions, Alexander’s body was returned to Egypt and buried – but where? Both Siwa and Alexandria are possibilities. His tomb has not yet been identified for sure.

For Deluxe accommodation in Siwa:
The Adrere Amellal lodge (40 rooms and suites) is a boutique oases of luxury in the Egyptian desert that was built with Siwan labour and care so that it would fit entirely into the architectural styles of the oasis. Siwa and the Adrere border the largest ocean of sands in the world. Built out of indigenous material using traditional Siwan building techniques and styles so as to have a minimal impact on the land. The Adrere Amellal Ecolodge sets an example for being environmentally friendly hospitality establishment. Situated at the base of a majestic white mountain and overlooking palm groves and Siwa lake,
Adrere Amellal consists of a series of traditional Siwan houses that have been restored and re-designed into guests suites and rooms, all of which offer genuine desert-style comfort. Furnishing is simple, but of the highest quality, drawing exclusively on local material and design to reflect Siwa’s rugged spirit. The Siwan homes are built using a a mixture of sun dried salt rock mixed with straw for wall building. Furniture and fixtures are made of palm trunks and ceilings are beamed with palm logs, the carpentry and accessories display the rich and colorful variety of Siwa’s indigenous handicraft. Oil lamps and candles are used for lighting. On cold winter nights, coal-filled braziers are used for heating.

A brazier is a container for fire, generally taking the form of an upright standing or hanging metal bowl or box. Used for holding burning coal as well as fires.Braziers are mentioned in the Bible. The Hebrew word rendered “brazier” (´ach) is of Egyptian origin, suggesting that the brazier itself was an innovation from Egypt. Please do not expect that you ‘ll be able to access e.mail tonight!

Siwa Adrere Ecolodge … have a drink by the sea!! Sea of sand that is!!

DAY 17 – Siwa, Oracle of Amon (BLD)
All meals are included today. Today’s tour includes: At Gebel Mawta, we’ll see tombs of the Greco-Roman era, including one that’s reputed to be Alexander’s own tomb. At Siwa, we’ll see an ancient fortress with winding alleyways, and the Temple of Amon, where Alexander’s divinity and legitimacy were proclaimed. Within a short distance we’ll traverse centuries as we visit Cleopatra’s Pool, a Roman outpost, and a Ptolemaic temple. Our lunch break will be at the springs of Ain Sharouf, where we might be able to take a dip.

At your Adrere Ecolodge, your meals are a true culinary delight using a mix of Egyptian, and Siwan cuisine. Always fresh, it is the nearest thing you get to organic in an oases. Fresh yogurt, thick date syrup, eggs, local bread, fruit and rich coffee make up breakfast which is served in natural rocky grottos at the base of the mountain; lunch in village style by the swimming pool, hidden within a palm and olive grove and fed by one of the 230 springs in the area; while dinner is by candle light and served in the maze of dining rooms, alcoves and bars, their mud walls studded with salt mini slabs (from nearby salt lakes) that make dining under candlelight like eating in a “Star War” movie set. The lodge is telephone and electricity free. Candles and torches are used for lighting.

DAY 18 – SIWA, ALEXANDRIA (BLD)
We’ll retrace the desert route to Alexandria this morning (the portion never completed by Rommel), and have the rest of the day free, to stroll the Corniche, acquire mementos of our trip, or look in on daily life in the ancient capital of Cleopatra. Lunch included enroute. Dinner is included in Alexandria: Suggesting Cecil Hotel for location and old world charm.

DAY 19 – ALEXANDRIA, CAIRO (BL)
Today we’ll get to known Alexandria in depth, the Roman Amphitheater, the Koum El Shougafa Tombs, the fortress of Kayet Bey, and the Museum of the Crown Jewels. We will lunch in an Alexandrine restaurant before heading to Wadi El Natroun monastery, almost midway to Cairo, where early Coptic Christians retreated here to escape the Roman persecution in the 4th century AD. The Egyptian Pope of Alexandria is always chosen from the Monks of wadi El Natroun. Reach Cairo early evening and your hotel.

DAY 20 – Dahshour (BL)
Today we tour Dahshour, the pyramid field south of Cairo only opened a few years back after Sadat signed the peace treaty with Israel, and the Army let go of this strategically “important” area.

DAHSOUR – we’ll motor to the edge of Cairo, 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. We’ll tour as well the famous “Bent” Pyramid. Lunch is included in Giza, before we head back to Cairo. Remainder of the day at leisure.

DAY 21 – RETURN HOME (B)
After breakfast, our Cairo staff will accompany you to the airport, where you’ll board your flight to start your journey home. This tour departs weekly.

RATES per person in USD $:

Rate includes:

• All ground transportation to and from airports and touring, always on a private basis, private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and private guide for all the tours.
• Tips to guides, drivers, porters, your Nile cruise crew, etc.
• Hotel accommodations with tax.
• Domestic air fare in Egypt as per itinerary, economy class, tax included.
• Sightseeing with private guide and entrance fees as indicated.
• Meals as indicated, preset menu (B:Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner).
• Meals as listed, please check the listed symbols on each day: pre-set menu: B/L/D = pre-set menu breakfast / lunch / dinner
• 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, Mexican, South African & 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.
• VIP Meet & Greet Service at Cairo Airport Upon Arrival.

Not included:

• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance.
• Personal expenses, such as phone calls, room service, laundry etc.