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Walk the bustling streets of Cairo, bargain your way through Khan al Khalili bazaar, wander through Aswan, enjoy a Felucca ride down the Nile and relax in Dahab. Embrace Egypt's culture and historical treasures as your journey takes you through white sands, clear water and purple mountain backdrops. On this trip you will experience a country of rugged, harsh beauty mixed with reminders of the most impressive ancient civilization known to man.

15 days — Cairo, Aswan, Hurghada & Dahab.

TRIP PRICE

$795 plus 250USD local payment. International flights are not included.

HIGHLIGHTS

Guided tours to the Pyramids and the Sphynx, Egyptian Museum, Citadel and excursion to Khan el-Khalili bazaar, Nubian village and dinner, Felucca sailing trip (with support boat), Karnak temple, Donkey ride to Valley of the Kings, Deir al Bahary, and Mt. Sinai climb.

See the Egyptian Journey itinerary to review the day-to-day activities.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Simple hotel (12 nights), sleeper train (1 night), felucca with support boat (1 night).

MEALS

14 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners. Please budget USD250 for meals not included on trip. Eating is a big part of traveling. On any BrilliantTrip you will experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available in the world. Generally, meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, in order to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. The groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your group leader will be able to suggest favorite restaurants during your trip.

TRANSPORT

Private van, sleeper train, donkey ride, and felucca (traditional sailing vessel).

GROUP SIZE

10 on Average / 15 Maximum

BrilliantTips

This BrilliantTrip includes moderate hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking and other activities that require only an average/moderate level of fitness to enjoy. Culturally, you should expect a generally low stress trip, but there may be the occasional remote lodging, market meal or language barrier.

VISAS

All countries require a valid passport (with minimum 6 months validity). The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from; citizens of the U.S. can visit www.travel.state.gov/visa. It is important that you check for yourself. Also see our FAQs and Travel Info. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. A valid passport for at least 6 months is required for entry into Egypt. A visa is required and can be arranged at Cairo airport upon arrival. If you have pre-booked an airport transfer it can be provided by the local agent upon arrival.

2. BrilliantTrips will contact you after booking confirmation to obtain your passport information and to review prepaid airport transfer options.

3. Feluccas are very basic traditional Nile sailboats and make for an extremely relaxing and enjoyable way to travel down the river. You sleep on the deck of the boat (mattresses are provided, but you will need a blanket or light sleeping bag). Please note that the Felucca itself does not have toilets or showers. However, your group will be provided with a private support boat traveling in close proximity to your Felucca. This support boat is fully equipped with toilets and an area to eat your meals, leaving you stress free to enjoy this tranquil and traditional experience on the Nile.

4. RAMADAN 2008
September 1st - October 1st. Please note that Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims throughout the world, during which time the followers of Islam should not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. There may be some limitations to services and disruptions to schedules during Ramadan, but generally, tours still operate effectively during this period and food is available to non-Muslims throughout the day.

TOUR LEADERSHIP

Group Leader, local guides. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. Group leaders use local guides where they think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places you are visiting. It's the best of both worlds.

JOINING INSTRUCTIONS

The tour starts in Cairo on Day 2 at 8:00AM. A brief meeting of your tour will be held by your group leader in the hotel reception area at 8:00AM on day 2. Upon arrival in Cairo, make your way to the joining hotel. Official airport taxis cost 70EGP, but you should be able to find a regular taxi who will take you for between 40-50EGP. The drive can take between 20 minutes and 1 hour depending on the time of day and subsequent traffic conditions.

JOINING HOTEL:

Santana Hotel
7, Ahmed Bic El Meleegy st.
Cairo - Down town
tel: +20-2-23372121
fax: +20-2-23351201

LOCAL PAYMENT

USD250. This trip requires a Local Payment that is paid to the Group Leader in cash on day 1 of your tour. This Local Payment is put towards local expenses, such as internal transport, entrance fees and guide fees. Local Payments also reduce the need to wire or transfer funds which can become very expensive. This lowers operational costs so the savings can be passed on to you. The local payment is in addition to, and is not included in, the base tour price.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Paid Locally. Approximate prices shown are the USD equivalents. Optional activity prices are subject to change and can fluctuate in relation to the high/low season and the number of people on a specific excursion. Not all excursions listed here may be available, due to season, or weather conditions. As generally not a lot of time is spent in start/end cities, you may want to arrange to arrive early or stay longer after the trip in order to allow sufficient time to participate in optional activities. All prices are per person. Mummy Room in the Egyptian Museum $18. Abu Simbel temples excursion from Aswan $70. Unfinished Obelisk, high dam and a boat ride to the Temple of Philae $25. Kom Ombo and Edfu temples $12. Tutankhamen Tomb in the Valley of the Kings $15. Trip to the sound and light show at Karnak temple in Luxor $25. Hot-air-balloon flight over monuments and city of Luxor $80.

MONEY EXCHANGE

ATMs are found within main cities in Egypt and will accept Visa and Mastercard. A credit card is the safest way to carry money and most larger restaurants and stores accept them. Cash advances also can be done with some banks. Cash and travelers checks are also suggested for times when ATMs are not accessible. You can exchange traveler's checks in some 5 star hotels and banks, but this takes time and possibly fees. Thomas Cook or American Express traveler's checks in US currency are the easiest to change. Euros, British Pounds and US Dollars are all easy to change to the Egyptian Pound. Please note that you should bring some cash with you for emergency situations, but carrying only cash is a high safety risk.

HEALTH & MEDICAL

We recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, infectious hepatitis and polio but it is not compulsory. Though malaria does exist in Egypt, it is not normally found in the areas where we travel.

You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. It is recommended that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that sometimes you are in remote areas and away from medical facilities and, for legal reasons, group leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug, including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip, please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with this style of travel.

Please note your adventure travels to high altitude. This is medically defined as anything over 8,000 feet (2,440 meters). Most people can travel to 8,000 feet with minimal effects. However, everyone reacts to altitude differently and altitude sickness can affect some people irrespective of fitness and age. For details on how to best prepare and what to do in the unlikely event you are affected on your adventure, please consult your physician.

It is very important that you are aware, as a minimum, an average level of fitness and mobility is required to undertake the easiest programs. Travelers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own luggage at a minimum. Travelers with a pre-existing medical condition are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their physician. This is to ensure that travelers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While group leaders work hard to ensure that all travelers are catered to equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided. Please refer to our BrilliantTips for more information.

FINE PRINT

While the intention is to adhere to the route described above, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and, on occasion, it may be necessary or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as you never know exactly where your journey will take you. Due to the style of travel and the regions you visit, travel can be unpredictable. The itinerary is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.