Departure for Cairo International Airport with arrival scheduled for around NOON on November 17, 2021. You can make your own flight arrangements or we can help. Egypt Air has a flight out of NYC(JFK) that works for this arrival. This flight includes Dinner and Breakfast the next morning before landing.
Arrive Cairo International Airport by 12:00 NOON. Meet and Greet, receive Visa and luggage assistance. Transfer included to the Hilton Cairo Heliopolis Hotel (5*) very near the airport. 2:00 pm check-in. Rest or eat and 7:00 pm evening gathering and Orientation in hotel, room to be announced. 15 dining options, a spa, pools and fitness room. Dinner on your own.
Overnight Cairo
7:30 am Buffet Breakfast at Hotel. Our day begins at 9:00 am departing for a tour of the historic Egyptian Museum of Antiquities in Cairo, where treasures from the entire country are housed. We travel together on our own air-conditioned bus and our guide will accompany us. Return to our hotel for a rest, lunch or a swim and later, 7:30 pm, enjoy our special WELCOME DINNER together at the hotel. Room to be announced.
Overnight Cairo (B, D
Early am Buffet Breakfast at Hotel and morning transfer to airport and domestic flight to Aswan, via Egypt Air. Transfer and check-in to our cabins on the Movenpick M/S Royal Lily Cruise Ship. 1:00 pm Lunch on board and then, 2:30 pm Felucca sailing on the Nile to visit the ruins of Khnum Temple on Elephantine Island. Return to ship. 7:00 pm Evening Cocktail Party in the lounge followed by the Captains Dinner. 9:00 pm Live Nubian Folklore Show with drums and dancing in the lounge.
Overnight Aswan (B,L,D)
6:00 am Buffet Breakfast on board and 7:00 am tour of the Island of Philae, by motor boat, to visit the Temple of Isis, surrounded by huge boulder islands. Saying good-bye to Aswan we sail north to the twin temple at Kom Ombo and new museum, dedicated to the crocodile headed god Sobek and Falcon headed god Horus. Lunch on board, peacefully sailing the Nile to Edfu. Later a sharing on the upper deck with the group or an optional Yin Yoga class. Dinner on board. Overnight Edfu. (B, L, D)
7:00 am Buffet Breakfast on board. 8:00 am Morning visit to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, once housed a great library for initiates of the Mystery Schools. Its walled inscriptions tell of the "first time" called Zep Tepi by the initiates. 10:30 am Return to ship sailing via Esna Locks with Lunch on board at 1:00 pm. Later, 4:30pm, arrival in the lovely and ancient city of Luxor (known as Thebes), with docking near the Luxor Temple. On board at 7:30 pm, authentic Egyptian Dinner, with 9:00 pm belly dancing and Galabia (Egyptian clothing) Party. Lots of fun.
Overnight in Luxor on M/S Royal Lily (B,L,D)
7:00 am Buffet Breakfast on ship followed by 8:00 am check-out and we will then take our personal bus to the West Bank to experience amazing Deir el Bihari Temple built by the female Pharaoh Hatshepsut, some tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and the Colossus of Memnon. At 1:00 pm we will check-in to our rooms at the fabulous Sonesta St. George Hotel (5*) on the East Bank near the Luxor Temple. Lunch and Dinner will be on your own. Our hotel has 6 restaurants, a spa, pools and lovely outdoor gardens.
Overnight Luxor (B)
7:00 am Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Today is a full day of East Bank Temples. 8:00 am Morning tour of Karnak Temple, one of the largest temple complexes in Egypt and fascinating. This temple is dedicated to the Ram-God Khanum, and is an important part of the Opet Festival. Return to hotel and Lunch is on your own. Late afternoon, 5:30 pm, visit to Luxor Museum with its many, newly discovered antiquities and followed by visit to Luxor Temple, embodying the theme of love and connection, exquisitely lit at night. Dinner on your own. Get to bed early for an early departure next morning.
Overnight Luxor (B)
5:00 am Early Buffet Breakfast at hotel. 6:00 am Early morning bus drive, in convoy, with beautiful mountain views, cultivated fields, and images of farming practices that have not changed for thousands of years. We arrive to the incredible Osirian Temple and Seti 1 Temple at Abydos. An ancient place of healing. Next, a short drive away, brings us to the exceptional Hathor Temple at Dendera dedicated to the Cow Goddess Hathor with its amazing astronomical ceiling.
This will be one of your favorite days. Box Lunch on board bus. Return to Sonesta St. George with Dinner on your own.
Overnight Luxor (B,L)
7:00 am Buffet breakfast at hotel. 10:00 am Check-out Sonesta St. George Hotel with time to visit Luxor Market. Transfer to Luxor Airport for our domestic flight back to Cairo. Transfer to Giza and check-in to the historical Mena House Hotel (5*) at the foot of the Great Pyramids. Once a hunting lodge built in 1869 for Khedive Isma’il Pasha, then the ruler of Egypt. This hotel has recently been purchased by the Marriott Corporation in 2015 and has undergone renovations. Lovely Jasmine filled gardens, pools and a spa are available and several delightful restaurants with views of the Pyramids to enjoy. Lunch and Dinner on your own.
Overnight Giza (B)
7:00 am Buffet Breakfast at hotel and a full day, 10:00 am departure to the Giza Plateau with an overview of the Great Pyramids of Giza and The Sphinx. Lunch on your own, at hotel or other. We have arranged a private visit inside the Great Pyramid in the King’s Chamber for our group for 2 hours from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. This will be a time for ceremony both as a group and individually. Bring your favorite stones, crystals and any objects you wish to charge with the profound energy of this most important point on planet Earth. If you have a special prayer or song/chant to share it will be welcomed. The perfect place to meditate, let go of whatever no longer serves you and a calling in of what is next in your life. Dinner on your own back at the hotel.
Overnight Giza (B)
7:00 am Buffet Breakfast at hotel. 8:00 am Morning bus drive through the Pyramid fields to tour the Step Pyramid of Sakkara and Museum, and visit the Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid. Later we will have our Farewell Lunch at the Mena House Hotel. Free evening to pack for our early morning transfer to Cairo International Airport for departing flights home.
Overnight Giza (B,L)
5:00 am Buffet Breakfast at Hotel. 6:00 am Transfer to Cairo International Airport for returning flights. Arriving home same day if USA is destination. If going on the Extension to St. Catherine Monastery in Sinai, you will be picked up at hotel after breakfast by private mini-bus. See Extension itinerary below.
(on ship)
(sent with final payment and we obtain it in advance of arrival)
(You can bring this to Orientation in small bills $5 & $10’s and we make certain it is distributed fairly)
Due as soon as you can. When your deposit is received I will mail you a copy of the itinerary ,general guidelines and paperwork to be completed. Make check payable to “Gael Summer”. You will receive a receipt. Ask for details if you prefer bank transfer. (Zelle)
Balance due by October 1, 2021
EXTENSION November 28-30, 2021 VISIT TO ST. CATHERINE’S MONASTERY
Sunday, November 28, 2021 Breakfast Buffet at Mena House Hotel in Cairo. Picked up by private (air-conditioned) mini-bus with staff escort and transferred to our hotel in the Sinai Peninsula tourist village for St. Catherine’s Monastery on the side of Mt. Sinai, where according to biblical history Moses received the Ten Commandments. The monastery is named after Catherine of Alexandria. Established in 565 AD, it is one of the oldest continually working monasteries in the world, and contains the oldest working library. Within the grounds is the Chapel of the Burning Bush. It has been a pilgrimage site since the Crusades. There will be some short stops along the way.
Monday, November 29, 2021 Early morning begin the ascent to the top of Mt. Sinai for the glorious sunrise guided by a local Bedouin. There will be many other pilgrims on the gentle climb. After sunrise we will return to our hotel for breakfast and check out. Our guide will then take us on a tour of the monastery from 9-11 AM. We will then return to Cairo by our private mini-bus and check in to the Hilton Heliopolis Hotel near the Cairo Airport. Dinner on our own.
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 Early buffet breakfast at hotel and private transfer to Cairo International Airport for morning departures for return to USA/and other destinations.
Cost for Extension:-$400