9 DAY Egypt Express MXEECC-8

Transcription

1 9 DAY Egypt Express MXEECC-8 This tour visits: Egypt All aboard the Egypt Express an awesome, affordable trip in Egypt that starts and ends in Cairo. See the pyramids and sphinx in Giza, sail on the Nile in a traditional felucca boat, shop in Luxor s gold markets and tour the Valley of the Kings with a qualified Egyptologist. This is an Egypt experience you ll never forget. Seriously. The Bucket List More Inclusions Pyramids & Sphinx at Giza Plateau Egyptian Museum Temples of Abu Simbel & Kom Ombo Valley of the Kings & Temple of Hatshepsut Felucca Sailing on the Nile Saqqara Step Pyramid, Coptic Cairo & Khan el Khalili Egyptology tours at major sites (entrance fees not included) 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners 3 nights in 3 star hotels (twin/triple share), 1 night in a tourist class hotel (twin/triple share), 2 nights aboard a felucca sailboat, 2 nights aboard an overnight coach Arrival and departure transfers included Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle and felucca sailboat Awesome English-speaking Trip Leader

2 Trip Itinerary Day 1 - Cairo, Egypt Take 17,190 people per square-kilometre, traffic jams on steroids and of course, pyramids, and you've officially arrived in Umm al-dunya aka 'the mother of the world'. Tonight: convene with the gang for an Egyptian induction. Airport transfer Day 2 - Cairo to Aswan via Overnight Coach Take a whirl through 5,000 years of Egypt s past and see King Tutankhamun's treasures at the Egyptian Museum. Then, have a Giza at the ancient pyramids and play got your nose with the Sphinx. Never gets old. Egyptian Museum Giza pyramids & Sphinx Day 3 - Aswan Wake up in Aswan with a free day ahead, or opt to visit the Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple. The shrine to the goddess Isis had to be moved and reassembled like a jigsaw puzzle in the 70s due to the rising Nile. Also: a chance to explore a Nubian village. - Optional activities: -Visit the Philae Temple -Visit a Nubian village -Camel ride -Nubian dinner Day 4 - Aswan to Felucca Sailing

3 After a temple-filled day, climb aboard a traditional felucca sailboat. The adventure s just beginning! Abu Simbel Felucca sailing (sleeping bag required) Lunch Dinner Day 5 - Felucca Sailing Imagine: The sun on your back, the wind in your cotton sails and the best people you could ever hope to meet sharing stories, food and music in one cushion-strewn love-in. Sail like a Nubian into the sunset after a full day of doing not much at all. Felucca sailing (sleeping bag required) Lunch Dinner Day 6 - Felucca Sailing to Luxor The split personality of Kom Ombo temple is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and falcon god Horus. Who do you reckon would win in a fight? We re stepping off in Luxor aka the world s largest open-air museum for a chance to visit its namesake and Karnak temples. See also: Ridiculous beauty. Kom Ombo Optional activities: Karnak & Luxor temples Day 7 - Luxor to Cairo via Overnight Coach Unwrapped, the bandages of a mummy could stretch for 1.6 kilometres. Wouldn t want to have to roll that up again! Get inside the Valley of the Kings then give a silent high five to Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled ancient Egypt for 20 years before snapping a selfie at the Colossi of Memnon. Valley of the Kings Temple of Hatshepsut Colossi of Memnon

4 Day 8 - Cairo Spend your free day chilling out or take the opportunity to tour the Saqqara Pyramid, Coptic Cairo and Khan el-khalili market. Famished? Hit up a kushari vendor for Egypt s version of fast food. It might start with K but there s no fried chicken in sight. Optional activities: Saqqara Step Pyramid Coptic Cairo Khan el-khalili market Nile dinner cruise Day 9 - Cairo Just getting into the groove of this 24-hour city? This adventure may be over after breakfast, but you can make like Indiana Jones and keep on seeking. Why not continue to Dahab on our 9 Day Sinai Horizons trip? Accommodation On your trip you will stay in tourist-class and three-star hotels, selected for their good locations and services. Rooms are shared on a twin- or triple-share basis. The 'More Inclusions' section on this document has a full breakdown of the accommodation used. Felucca sail boats Feluccas are traditional Egyptian sailing boats that have been used as transport up and down the Nile for centuries. A sail on a felucca is particularly relaxing, as it is a simple boat with no engine or modern conveniences. You sleep on cushioned mattresses at all times of the year under a canopy for protection against the elements; no linen is provided so bring a sleeping bag. Cooking is done on the boat, and is done by the felucca crew. During winter months it can get relatively cold on the river especially at night. It can even rain! We advise passengers to bring a jacket or warm windcheater during these months. Daytime temperatures during these months are, on the whole, very pleasant. You should be aware that there are no toilet facilities on the felucca, nor on the banks of the Nile where we stop regularly. Bring toilet paper with you and leave the modesty at home! #bushtoilets Note: Whilst we believe that felucca sailing is a relaxing and traditional way to experience the Nile, it may not be suitable for all travellers! Please be aware that we do offer an itinerary featuring a 5 Star Nile cruise ship. Check out the Nile Discovery. As long as you give us at least 12 weeks notice, we are happy to switch you over to one this itinerary without charging an amendment fee. You will of course

5 need to pay the price difference though! Optional Activities On all trips we have arranged extra activities that we think will enhance your travel experience, but you have a choice as to whether or not you will participate. These are not included in the cost of your trip. They are usually organised on a group participation basis and should be taken into consideration when budgeting your spending money. None of the Optional Activities on your trip are operated by Topdeck, nor do they form part of your contract with Topdeck for your trip. Topdeck arranges the activity as an agent of the local supplier. Should you participate in any Optional Activities your contract will be with the local supplier and their conditions will apply. Please note: while we make every effort to keep these prices as accurate and up-to-date as possible, they are subject to change and in rare circumstances the actual price may vary slightly to what is published here. Cairo - Egypt Nile dinner cruise (includes belly dancer, Darwish dance & live music) US$55 Saqqara Pyramid, Coptic Cairo & Khan el-khalili US$50 Luxor - Egypt Karnak & Luxor temple (East Bank) US$70 Aswan - Egypt Camel ride US$30 Traditional Nubian dinner US$18 Camel ride & traditional Nubian dinner US$48 Philae Temple & Nile High Dam US$55 Meals s are included every day on most trips (except on the first morning). A typical breakfast may consist of cereals with milk or yoghurt, bread, croissants, cold meats, cheese and a range of spreads, with fruit juice, tea or coffee to drink. It is rare to get a hot breakfast, though on some occasions there may be some hot food available as well. Included evening meals are in local restaurants or your place of accommodation. In most cases table water is provided with the meals, and if you wish to purchase additional drinks you can do so at your own expense. If you have any dietary requirements we will make every effort to cater to your specific needs as long as you advise your travel agent or Topdeck Customer Service Consultant when you book. But please be aware that although we will do everything in our power to arrange it, we cannot guarantee that every restaurant we use will be able to cater to all dietary needs. We also cannot cater for tastes or dislikes, as most of our included evening meals feature a set menu.

6 Your included meals are detailed in the 'More Inclusions' section of this document. Important note on Ramadan: As many Middle Eastern countries are of Islamic faith, it is important to remember that many restaurants and shops will either be closed or operating on reduced hours during this time. Some Optional and Included Activities may also be affected. Despite some of these restraints, Ramadan is an incredibly important and sacred month for Muslims. When equipped with some basic knowledge, you ll have the chance to immerse yourself in this special tradition and experience all its highlights. No Tip Necessary Your Topdeck crew never expect tips themselves and will not ask for any; that s not what friends do! We also know how much tipping can cost you. So go ahead, spoil yourself with the money you will save by travelling with Topdeck (just don t forget Mum s souvenir). Topdeck Travel App Our travel app has landed! With a range of awesome features including a Currency Converter, Budget Tracker, Check-In tool and Social Timeline you can plan your trip like a pro. Think of it like your very own Topdeck Trip Leader, always on call with the latest info, weather, maps and city guides to give you the trip of a lifetime, all in the palm of your hand. Please note: The Topdeck Travel App should only be downloaded once you have booked onto your trip. You will not be able to log in unless you have a Topdeck Booking Reference Number. Get it for iphone Get it for Android Passenger safety One of the best parts of travelling is experiencing the nightlife and entertainment each city has to offer. However, amidst the fun and excitement, it s important to be aware of your surroundings and personal safety as well. Before you hit the road with us, it s important to be aware of the following: When you re on a night out, remember to avoid walking alone, particularly through deserted areas like beaches and back streets. Always stick together, take a taxi where possible, and keep a note of your accommodation details so you can find your way back to your fellow Topdeckers if you become separated. In some countries, alcoholic measures can be considerably larger than what you may be used to. Try to keep track of what you re drinking, and if you see one of your trip mates looking a little worse for wear, take them back to your accommodation. Be cautious when accepting drinks from strangers and never leave your drink unattended. It s also important to be aware that what you might consider harmless flirting may be interpreted differently in some countries. Be yourself and have fun, but don t be naïve, and be mindful of the signals you are sending out so that you don t find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.