Tour Egypt - Beyond the Veil

Women Of the Nile

Insights for Women Travelers

Men are welcomed as well
10 - Day Adventure. Tour starts : Weekly on Thursdays, locally escorted

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

DAY 1 - CAIRO- Thursday

Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Complimentary visa is issued upon arrival only for American, Australian, NZ, EU , Canadian & Japanese citizens, passports must be valid for at least 6 month beyond the date of your arrival

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 the name you prefer to use for the sign .
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

DAY 2 - CAIRO - Friday (BLD)

We start with the best of Cairo: the Egyptian Museum, Citadel of Saladin and its Alabaster Mosque, where you will participate in a " Q & A " presentation on "Women in Islam " as well as "Women in Egypt".

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

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

In the evening, it's all aboard! We'll settle you into your private compartment on the train bound along the banks of the Nile. Sleeper train is rated 3 stars , if you preferto fly please add $ 150 per person to any of the listed rates , You'll enjoy dinner on board , as the lights of villages reflect in the river.

DAY 3 - Aswan ( or Luxor ) - Saturday (BD)
After breakfast on board, the train arrives in Aswan, where we'll settle you into your hotel .

Tour of Kalabsha Temple dedicated to the ancient god Mandulis, and the goddess Isis . Built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus , the small rock-cut temple of Beit El Wali, built by Ramses the Great , and the small yet charming Kiosk of Qertassi.

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

DAY 4 -Abu Simbel / ASWAN, Nile Cruise Sunday (BLD)
Cruise is from Aswan or Luxor , we 'll confirm the availability at the time of booking
Abu Simbel We've planned our visit to Abu Simbel to be a highlight of your Egyptian adventure. Rising before dawn, we drive along the shore of Lake Nasser, watching the sky lighten and the sacred sun rise above the horizon. We reach the great temples while the air is clean, clear and cool, and the sun's light still golden‹just right for photographs. In the larger temple, colossal figures of Ramsis are seated with the gods and attended by his queen and daughters. The smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari, who appears as Hathor, the goddess of love, joy and fertility, symbolized by the benevolent cow. We explore these fine temple by ourselves in the quiet of the morning, admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which retire to a comfortable hotel for refreshments. Just as planeloads of visitors arrive to throng the temples we begin our leisurely drive back along the shore to Aswan, arriving in time for a late lunch on board your Nile cruiser.
In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the Nile.

DAY 5 - ASWAN & KOM OMBO Monday (BLD)
First we tour 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 6- EDFU & ESNA Tuesday (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. Evening finds us in Luxor.

DAY 7- LUXOR Wednesday (BLD)
Crossing the Nile , we tour the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens,we tour as well the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut & Colossi of Memnon .
Evening Sound & Light show at Karnak .

DAY 8 - LUXOR & CAIRO Thursday (B)
Morning tour of one of the local girls school, you may wish to bring with you a small gift of school supplies , pencils, notebooks etc. to give to the children .

Tour the gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor are our goals in the morning, followed by a return flight to Cairo. In the afternoon, wander through the city on your own, or do your last-minute shopping.

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

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

Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals, 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 Cairo l! 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, you may enjoy dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.

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

RATES per person in USD

This tour starts weekly in Cairo. For Easter , Christmas/New Year's week, add 15 % to the rates.

The rates include :

• All airfares within Egypt in economy class tax included.

• All transfers within Egypt on private basis.

• Preset menu meals including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast) L = Lunch, D = Dinner .

• Guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees.

• Hotel as listed, including all tax & service charges.

• All Nile cruise shore excursions, entrance fees, the service of an English Speaking guide.

• Welcome fruit basket upon check-in on board your Nile cruise and a welcome drink upon arrival on board

• Large bottle of water per person per day delivered to your cabin.

• All outside cabins, including all tax & service charges.

• All meals while on board the Nile cruise : B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner.

• Afternoon tea is served daily onboard your Nile cruise

• One small bottle of water per person with each meal

• Tea or coffle with each meal on board the cruise

Not included:

• Personal expenses and beverages .

• Gratuities

• International airfares to or from your home country

• Additional meals, drinks and services

• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance (please see our insurance brochure).

The view from the Cataract Hotel in Aswan

Honeymoon Wishes
A "Dream Come True" tour. 14 days , Cairo and the Pyramids. A Nile Cruise of course, and a beach resort at Hurgada or El Gouna, on the Red Sea. Including the welcome Zaffa (procession that will resemble an Arabian/Egyptian wedding party) with a troupe of dancers and musicians dressed with the Egyptian typical clothes, welcoming guests by singing and dancing Egyptian Folklore).

General Hotel Listing