13 days Cairo to Amman The best of Egypt and Jordan, a treasure chest of ancient sites including the legendary Pyramids of Giza, plenty of beach time, a foray into the mysterious city of Petra, and a night in a desert Bedouin camp! HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Trip Highlights Cairo - Pyramids & Sphinx at Giza Plateau Necropolis of Saqqara Egyptian Museum Luxor East Bank - Temple of Karnak Luxor - Valley of the Kings, Colossi of Memnon and Temple of Queen Hatshepsut Hurghada - Red Sea - swim, relax, snorkel or dive Madaba, Jordan - Christian market town, Church of St George, Jordan s finest Byzantine mosaics The Dead Sea, take a swim and opt for a mud bath Rose city of Petra, Jordan Wadi Rum desert and safari What's Included Breakfast daily, 1 lunch, 1 dinner 7 nights 4-5 star hotels in Egypt, 3 nights 3-4 star hotels in Jordan, 1 night deluxe desert camp (Wadi Rum) 1 overnight train: Cairo - Luxor (1st class sleeper cabin) Airport arrival and departure transfer, day 1, day 9 and day 13 Touring of Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Luxor, Petra Hurghada - Red Sea - sun, sea and sand Wadi Rum 4x4 desert safari and dinner Egyptian tour leader/guide degree qualified in Egyptology. Licensed Jordanian guide throughout Jordan All relevant transfers and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles What's Not Included Tipping Kitty: $75-85 USD Entrance Fees: $165-175 USD International flights and visa. Please note the flight between Cairo and Amman is not included and needs to be booked separately - see our Trip Notes for more info Laundry, drinks, items of a personal nature Tip for your tour guide in Egypt & Jordan. We recommend you allow $3-5 USD per day, per traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture. DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1 : Cairo Tuesday. Welcome to Egypt! Upon arrival at Cairo airport you will be met by a representative from On The Go. The prominent sign depicting our company logo easily identifies our representative. Upon exiting the airport you will be escorted to our transportation and transferred to your hotel. Here, your Egyptian adventure begins! For those arriving a day or two earlier than day one of the tour, one of our team will be on hand to advise on where best to enjoy your extra time in Cairo in advance of the tour commencing. Day one is designed to be an arrival day for all passengers, so there are no formal arrangements on this first day. Overnight - Cairo Day 2 : Pyramids of Giza Cairo Luxor. After a good night's rest, we have a full day of touring planned for today. You ll need to have your bags packed as we ll be travelling down to Luxor in southern Egypt tonight. Our first stop this morning is the famous pyramids and iconic Sphinx at the Giza Plateau. Sole survivors from the ancient Greek listed Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramids are the planet s oldest tourist attraction. Known as Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus, the pyramids were already more than 2,000 years old when Herodotus the Greek historian visited them (5th century BC). A highly skilled corps of mathematicians, masons, surveyors and stone cutters carried out the job of building the pyramids. 100,000 workers were used to carry out the backbreaking task of moving and laying the stones of the largest pyramid-cheops and - 1 -
about 2.5 million limestone blocks, quarried locally and weighing in excess of 6 million tonnes, were used to construct it. Leaving the Pyramids of Giza, we ll sometimes drop into a government supervised papyrus emporium. Here, you can buy genuine papyrus at quite reasonable prices. Continuing to the necropolis of Saqqara, we can explore the myriad tombs and temples at this site and see Zhoser s step pyramid- constructed by Imhotep, the pharaoh s chief architect in 2700 BC. Later there will be time for dinner before we travel by overnight sleeper train to Luxor. Overnight - Sleeper Train (B) Day 3 : Ancient Thebes entertainment available at all the big hotels. Overnight - Luxor (B) Day 4 : Valley of the Kings There is the option to take flight over ancient Luxor with a hot air balloon ride early this morning before meeting the rest of the group on the West Bank of the Nile for the day's touring. An early start allows us to avoid some of the fierce heat as we venture to the awesome Valley of the Kings. The first monument you ll see on the West Bank is the imposing 18m-high Colossi of Memnon, which are all that remains of the temple of the hedonistic Amenophis III. Queen ever to rule ancient Egypt eventually declared herself pharaoh. We return to the east bank around midday, where we have a chance to relax by the pool for a while. Meeting up mid afternoon, we visit the colossal Temple of Karnak. More than a temple, Karnak is a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, pylons, chapels, halls and obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban gods and to the greater glory of Egypt s Middle and New Kingdom rulers. Karnak is gigantic in proportion, at over 1.5km by 800m and almost every pharaoh left his (or her) mark here with evolving artistic and architectural styles. Overnight - Luxor (B) Day 5 : Drive to Hurghada Luxor - Hurghada. Departing Luxor we head east to Hurghada part of the beautiful Red Sea Riviera for 2 days on the beach. Overnight - Hurghada (B) Days 6-7 : Hurghada We arrive into Luxor and check into our hotel. Home of the legendary Valley of the Kings and Temple of Karnak, 4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at its best. Enjoy some rest and relaxation this afternoon. Tonight, an optional visit is available to the Temple of Luxor. The excursion is payable locally. The Luxor Temple, a strikingly beautiful piece of architecture built by the New Kingdom pharaoh Amenophis III, was originally joined to Karnak by an avenue of sphinxes. The temple comprises a striking array of great halls, courts and colonnades decorated with colossal statues of great pharaohs including Ramses II and splendid columns. An obelisk, one of a pair, remains at the temple. Its towering counterpart now stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France. At night the temple is beautifully illuminated with powerful lights, making the temple all the more evocative as the artificial light creates an eerie spectacle as shadow and light play off the colossal statues and reliefs. For those not opting for the optional excursion, there is time to relax and go have something to eat. As we have an early start tomorrow, you might want to retire early but if you have energy there are plenty of bars and late night The Valley of the Kings is studded with often highly decorated tombs. Some of the best known tombs are those of Ramses II, Seti I, Amenhotep II and of course, the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Discovered intact in 1922 by Howard Carter, it was possibly one of the most dazzling archaeological finds ever. King Tutankhamen s solid gold funerary mask and his priceless cache of treasures entombed with him for his journey to the afterlife, are now on display at the world famous Egyptian Museum in Cairo. In all, more than 60 tombs have been excavated, though possibly the greatest find since the tomb of King Tutankhamen, is that of the largest tomb believed to be the burial place of more than 50 sons of Ramses II. So far, more than 110 chambers and corridors have been discovered, coupled with 4 mummies! Beyond the Valley of the Kings is Deir al- Bahri, otherwise known as the famous Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Rising out of the desert plain, in a series of terraces the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is one of Egypt s finest and most photographed monuments. Hatshepsut, the 3rd The next 2 days are free to explore Hurghada or simply relax. On day 6 there's an optional day trip to Giftun Island for swimming and snorkelling, which can be booked locally. Hurghada is one of the Red Sea's most popular resorts and it is easy to see why. Hotels and expanded infrastructure provide holidaymakers with excellent aquatic facilities for sail boarding, yachting, deep-sea fishing, SCUBA diving and snorkeling. Hurghada s central location provides a gateway to prime offshore reefs, which are some of the finest in the world. Hurghada also has plenty of restaurants and late night bars for evening entertainment. Snorkelling at Giftun Island 325 LE per person payable locally. - 2 -
Join a day trip snorkelling and swimming at Giftun Island. You ll be transferred by motor boat to across the blue water of the Red Sea to Giftun Island, the journey is approximately an hour. The boat will moor up and there is an opportunity to jump into the warm waters (mask and snorkel provided) to swim and marvel at the amazing marine life. Look out for parrot fish, butterfly fish, trumpet fish and angel fish some times of the year it is also possible to see turtles and even dolphins. After snorkelling the boat continues on to the island for a lunch stop (including soft drink or mineral water). If time allows you can also laze by the beach catching some rays before heading back to shore. Departs 08:15 returning 16:30 approx. Please note that this is not operated by On The Go and the arrangements on the day are at the captain s discretion. It is also a shared excursion so there could well be other people not part of your group on the boat. Overnight - Hurghada (B:2) Day 8 : Egyptian Museum Hurghada - Cairo. It's an early start today, as we head back to Cairo. We'll be leaving around 7am for our 5-6 hour journey back to the capital. Arriving to Cairo we embark on a guided tour of the Egyptian Museum. A mind-boggling array of relics and antiquities from almost every period of ancient Egyptian history are housed in the museum, making it one of the foremost in the world. Arguably the most famous exhibit is the solid gold funerary mask of King Tutankhamun. Made of solid gold and weighing 11kg, the mask was found covering the head of mummy, where it lay inside a series of 3 sarcophagi. You can also opt to see also the Royal Mummies for an additional fee, if you wish. Remainder of the day is free to relax, shop and explore Cairo - Africa s largest city. Perhaps head to Khan el-khalili bazaar, it's a great place to buy souvenirs, such as ornate tobacco pipes, pharaonic tat, belly dancing costumes, spices and carpets. An optional Cairo city tour is also available locally. Today you'll need to prepare yourself for travelling to Jordan tomorrow. In the morning you will be given a hotel breakfast box or breakfast if it is being served before your departure time and you will receive a light breakfast on board your flight. After this we suggest that you purchase enough food today (using all your Egyptian Pounds, as converting currency into JD is not so favourable) to last you through to dinner if you do not wish to purchase lunch along the Desert Highway tomorrow (see notes regarding driving to Wadi Rum within tomorrow's itinerary). There are no restrictions on bringing food into Jordan, though liquids over 150ml will need to be carried within your check in baggage. Overnight - Cairo (B) Day 9 : Wadi Rum - Jordan Cairo - Amman - Wadi Rum (Wednesday). This morning you will need to fly to Amman for the next leg of the tour. If your tour start date falls between now and 30 May 2016, please book the RJ502 departing at 09:15/10:15 and arriving to Amman at 11:30. The cost of this flight is not included in your tour. Please independently book a seat on the relevant flight (we will arrange your transfer to Cairo airport and upon arrival in Amman). If your tour commences after 30 May 2016, we ask that you do not book your flight at this point in time. Upon arrival into Amman, we suggest you exchange money whilst at the airport (as the rate is no different outside) before we drive to Wadi Rum (approx 3.5hrs). En route a stop will be made (at one of only two choices) along the Desert Highway for lunch. A set menu lunch comes at a price of 10JD and water at a cost of 0.5JD (lunch price - sightly above average). You may wish to have lunch here at the rest house or alternatively opt to bring sufficient food along with you from Cairo earlier this morning to tie you over until dinner this evening at approx 7.30pm. Wadi Rum - a vast, silent landscape of pastel coloured sketches of sandy desert punctuated by amazing rock formations known as jebels. Here we'll undertake a 4x4 desert safari, before tucking into a Bedouin dinner at our desert camp. Bed tonight is under a galaxy of stars or in tents. Please note: Flights between Cairo and Amman are best booked via the Royal Jordanian website: http://www.rj.com Here, if you book your flight well in advance you will have access to the online Flex fare that is only published on the web and are not available to us locally to book on your behalf. The cost of this flight ranges from: $190 - $360. Overnight - Wadi Rum (B, D) Day 10 : Petra Wadi Rum - Petra. After breakfast at our desert camp we travel on to Petra through the breathtaking 'secret road' of Al Madras. Tonight, it may be possible to take a candlelit walk through the Siq by booking the atmospheric 'Petra by Night' excursion (book locally). Overnight - Petra (B) Day 11 : The Rose City of Petra Welcome to the Rose City! To access Petra on our guided walk we travel through the famous narrow and deep siq. The rocks then give way to reveal the most amazing sight the beautiful Treasury. Walking down the gravel tracks, we ll explore the ancient Nabatean tombs and the Roman rock-carved streets lined with temples, royal tombs, staircases, arched gates and public buildings. There is also a gigantic amphitheatre originally built to house 3000 spectators, though the Romans increased capacity to a whopping 7000. After the guided tour, you re free to head off and further explore. The intrepid can ascend hundreds of rock cut steps to Ad-Deir (better known as the Monastery) which is simply spectacular. - 3 -
Free evening or why not test your culinary skills in the Petra Kitchen. Visit our website for more info. Overnight - Petra (B) Day 12 : Mt Nebo & the Dead Sea Petra - Mt Nebo -Dead Sea - Madaba. This morning we travel to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth's surface for lunch and a chance to bob around in the buoyant mineral rich waters and smother ourselves in mud! Next stop is holy Mt Nebo - the single most important Biblical site in Jordan. Having led the Israelites for 40 years through the wilderness, it is from this panoramic vantage point, that Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. We too can enjoy excellent views of the Jordan River Valley, the northern shore of the Dead Sea, Jericho and on clear days, Jerusalem. We travel on to the bustling Christian market town of Madaba, where we spend the night. Overnight - Madaba (B, L) Day 13 : Madaba & Amman Sunday. Madaba Amman airport - breakfast. If time permits, explore Madaba independently before hotel check-out and an included departure transfer to Amman s Queen Alia Airport.(B) Essential Packing for Jordan Camping at Wadi Rum - All bedding (of a well laundered standard) is provided at our Bedouin camp. It is of a personal choice should you wish to bring your own Sleep sheet or sleeping bag. You will also need to pack insect repellent and a torch/ headlamp would be very useful. If visiting in winter, pack warm clothes and an umbrella. If visiting in summer bring lightweight clothing, sunscreen & a hat. 2 pin (European) and 3 pin (UK) electrical adaptors as the sockets vary from one hotel to another. Tour voucher and a copy of your travel insurance Two spare passport photos & a photocopy of your passport Proper walking shoes (joggers/ trainers) for sightseeing in Petra Wadi Rum Desert Camp Most of our tours include a night in the Wadi Rum desert where you can choose to camp under the stars or in tents at our remote Bedouin camp. Our camp is set amongst towering weathered sandstone rocks and rolling red sand dunes. It has permanent tents with twin beds (raised off the ground), proper toilets and a cold water showers. There is a large communal tent, roughly 10m x 6m with proper seating for dining and another area with low tables and cushions scattered about where we gather at night. Each evening traditional Bedouin food is served and their is often a little light entertainment around the campfire. Desert camping, although basic, is fun and it's the best way to experience Wadi Rum. Bedding is provided at our camp, though if visiting in winter (Nov - Mar) you may wish to bring your own winterweight sleeping bag if you feel the cold, as temperatures will fall close to zero. To do so is of an entirely personal choice. Climate in Jordan The maximum daily temperature in Amman ranges from 12 C in January to 32 C in August. The weather in the Jordan Valley (Petra) and south of the country is very hot during the summer months of April through to September. Where here, daytime temperatures can exceed 38 C and increase to as high as 49 C. The sun can be fierce so it is advised to apply plenty of sunscreen, especially at the Dead Sea. In winter (December to February) temperatures can range from 0 C to 12 C. If visiting during winter, you will need to pack warm clothes for sightseeing, although the Dead Sea region will still be quite warm. If your holiday includes a stay in the Wadi Rum desert, winter wear items such as hat, scarf and gloves are also advised. Currency & Entrance Fees in Jordan The currency of Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar. Pound Sterling, US Dollars, Euro and other major currencies can be exchanged in Jordan. Exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes and banks in major towns have ATMs. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees. Funds collected in Jordan for entrance fees or optional excursion that you may wish to undertake are payable in local currency (JD). Time & Voltage in Jordan Jordan is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime (GMT). From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October Jordan observes Daylight Saving and is 3 hours ahead of GMT. Standard voltage is 220 volts. Primary sockets require the European, 2 pronged variety. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter, and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances. Petra Park Services Charge The cost of the entrance ticket to Petra includes a compulsory Petra Park Services Charge of (7JD) to ride an Arabian Horse inside Petra. This government approved directive is in support of the local Bedouins who own the horses and live locally. As you have paid this obligatory charge, you are entitled to ride a horse 800m down to the entrance gate if you would like to. IMPORTANTLY - On The Go Tours only recommends that you do so if you are an experienced rider. Through experience we have observed that some of the horses can be uncontrollable and very fiery and if the Bedouin riders race past you, your horse may take flight and follow suit. You ll also need to tip the horse handler an extra 2JD. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO - 4 -
Visas Egypt Please be advised that visa requirements are subject to change and that visa procurement is the responsibility of the traveller and not On The Go Tours. Please also ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your planned date of departure from Egypt. After booking your holiday, please provide us with your passport details as soon as possible so that we can proceed to book trains and flights tickets on your behalf, if included within your holiday. Visas are required by all visitors to Egypt. It still remains possible for nationals of some countries to procure their tourist visa upon arrival at Cairo International Airport. Costs are currently USD 25/ GBP 15/ Euro 20/ EGP 175. Please note that in the event of visa refusal at port of entry, On The Go Tours cannot be held responsible. Contrary to the above the Egyptian Embassy recommends that all visitors to Egypt procure a visa in advance of arrival. Please contact your nearest Egyptian Embassy or Consulate for application forms, processing times and costs. Note: When filling in an Egyptian visa form, you will be asked to provide your address in Egypt. For the purposes of this form, please use either of the following addresses: Mercure Le Sphinx 1 Alexandria Desert Road, Pyramids, Giza, 12556, Egypt Tel: +20 233776444, +20 233776444 Oasis Hotel Cairo - Alexandria Desert Road, Pyramids, Giza 12556, Egypt Tel: +20 238387333, +20 23838766 Jordan A visa is required for most nationalities visiting Jordan. If you are travelling with On The Go Tours (a registered tour company), this is now obtainable upon arrival and free of charge. If you are a UK, EU, AUS, NZ, SA, CAN and USA passport holders and travelling with us, (on a holiday including a stay of more than 2 consecutive nights in Jordan or if arriving via a land border staying more than 3 nights) we will arrange the visa for your stay/s and present it to you upon arrival. Our airport representative will meet your PRIOR to immigration at Amman International Airport and escort you through immigration presenting your free visa approval letter to officials. Please be sure to provide us with your full passport details at least 4 weeks prior to your arrival in order for the free visa to be arranged. Should you NOT wish to take advantage of a free visa or you are not staying in Jordan for more than 2 consecutive nights, UK, EU, AUS, NZ, CAN and USA passport holders can obtain a visa upon arrival at a cost of 40JD/USD$57/Euro42 for single entry. South African passport holders can obtain a visa upon arrival at no cost. On departure (via land or sea), a 5-8JD departure tax of is applied to all visitors. If departing Jordan by air then the departure tax is included in the airfare. Israel British, South African, Australian, New Zealand, USA and Canadian passport holders do not require a visa to enter Israel. For all other nationalities please visit the Israeli embassy website. Please be advised visa requirements are subject to change, therefore it is essential that you check current visa requirements with the embassy before travel. Troubleshooting These things will most likely never happen, but it s good to be prepared if they ever do. Here are a few tips to keep your trip hassle-free. Egypt is no worse than anywhere else when it comes to crime. The biggest problem seems to be petty theft, including pick-pocketing and bag snatching. Minimise your chances of being robbed with these tips: Leave valuables in the hotel safe deposit or better still, at home Keep bags locked at all times with a combination/padlock. Bags should also be locked including when being transferred in vehicles, onboard the train, felucca or when taking a flight. Carry your passport on your person or a photocopy as ID Carry your bag close to your person rather than over your shoulder Travel in a group or pair, especially if you are female Don t catch cabs late at night on your own Never drink anything offered to you in the street, unless you opened it yourself Please note On The Go Tours will not be held liable for loss or damage to personal property under any circumstances. It's not like home Travel to far - flung corners of the earth involves lifestyles and conditions that are sometimes very different from what you are used to back home. You must come prepared to cope with unusual situations, local inadequacies and unpredictable events as and when they occur. Foreign travel is definitely not suitable for people who expect or demand everything to go exactly as planned. With the greatest respect and in the interest of your ultimate enjoyment you must understand this. Things can and do change in foreign countries. Entrance Fees Entry fees to sites of antiquity are not included, although reasonably priced. In Egypt, we collect entrance fees on Day 2 of the tour (the amount is noted under exclusions). A breakdown of the entrance fee total is provided upon arrival. However, camel rides around the pyramids are additional and warrant a bargaining session. All funds collected in Egypt for entrance fees and optional excursions that you may wish to undertake are payable in local currency - Egyptian Pounds (EGP). If travelling on to Jordan, entrance fees there are payable in Jordanian Dinar (JD). In Israel (on our Pyramids Petra Promised Land tour) entrance fees are included. Tipping Kitty At the start of your tour (excluding our Jewel of the Nile premium tour), we take a small tipping kitty (the amount is noted under exclusions) from all tour participants to cover - 5 -
tips throughout your holiday. This saves you the hassle of knowing when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage luggers, bus drivers, antiquity guards, train conductors and other support staff throughout the tour. This amount does not include a tip for your tour guide OR felucca/nile Cruise crew. For a job well done, we would suggest USD$3-5 per day for your tour guide and USD$8-12 for that felucca/ Nile cruise crew. Tipping your guide and crew is an entirely personal gesture and ultimately the amount is up to you. Your tipping kitty in Egypt is collected in local currency - Egyptian Pounds (EGP). If you are travelling on to Jordan, the tipping kitty for that portion of your trip will be collected in Jordanian Dinar (JD). In Israel (on our Pyramids Petra Promised Land tour) we do not collect a tipping kitty. As a guideline we recommend that you budget USD $4-6 per day per traveller for your guide and USD$2-3 per day per traveller for your driver (payable in Israeli New Shekel ILS) in Israel. Although tipping your guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture. Currency The currency of Egypt is the Egyptian Pound. Pound Sterling, US Dollars, Euro and other major currencies can be exchanged in Egypt. Exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes and all major towns have ATMs. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees. Health Requirements You should seek medical advice before travelling to Egypt from your local health practitioner and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Rabies are strongly recommended. As tap water is not safe to drink in Egypt, only drink bottled mineral water which is readily available in hotels, shops and restaurants. Climate Temperatures in Egypt are generally high (25-30 degrees) and even hotter in the summer months from May to September, when the sun can be fierce and temperatures soar, so pack light comfortable clothing, sunscreen and a hat. In Cairo and the Nile Delta region, winter (October to February) can be cooler - so take a jacket, long-sleeved tops and trousers for the cooler evenings. The south remains warm during this time but again, temperatures do drop in the evenings. Rainfall is negligible with the most falling along Egypt s Mediterranean coastline. Time & Voltage Egypt is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Standard voltage is 220 volts. Primary sockets require the European, 2 pronged variety. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter, and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances. Essential Packing Sleeping bag for the felucca or for camping in the White Desert (if applicable to your tour). Lightweight cotton garments. Comfortable walking shoes for the Pyramids and Valley of the Kings Pack flip flops/ thongs/jandals to wear aboard the Nile felucca or Nile Cruiser DEET based mosquito repellant & antihistamine cream 2 pin, European electrical adaptor. Two spare passport photos & a photocopy of your passport A small daypack for your day-to-day needs. Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swim costume and torch Optional - Sleep sheet or sleeping bag if travelling with us to Jordan and staying at our Wadi Rum camp. All bedding (which is freshly laundered) is provided at Wadi Rum and therefore bringing a sleeping bag is not a necessity but your own personal choice. If doing a felucca cruise or travelling between November and March, pack warm clothes (i.e. fleece, jacket, trousers, jeans, hat and scarf) as temperatures plummet at night. Arrival Transfers A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included in your tour. Upon arrival at Cairo Airport you will be met by a representative from On The Go Tours either just before immigration or in the baggage hall near the luggage belt of your respective arriving flight. The prominent sign depicting our company logo easily identifies our representative. Please have your tour voucher handy and make it available to our representative. After collecting your luggage you will be escorted to our awaiting transportation. If, for any reason you have trouble locating our representative (after waiting 20 minutes in the arrival hall) or your flight to Egypt is delayed, please call or send a text message to the emergency contact number as stated on your tour voucher. Travelling by overnight train For journeys between Cairo and Aswan and/or Luxor, we utilise the overnight 1st class sleeper train service. On the train the two berth cabins are lockable, equipped with bunk beds, linen, washbasin and towel, allowing passengers to relax and stretch out. A simple dinner and breakfast is included on the service. Dinner, served within an hour of your boarding is of a very average standard and we recommend that you eat dinner prior to boarding the train. A basis breakfast is served in the morning and tea and coffee is offered complimentary. There is a bar carriage located toward the centre of the train where hot and cold beverages can be purchased, and sometimes alcohol. The sleeper train is the highest class of rail travel available in Egypt, though by western standards it would be considered of a moderate standard. We always request our cabins to be side by side in the same carriage, though ultimately the location of our cabins, and whether they are together rests with the rail authority. If you are a solo traveller and have opted to share a room for your tour and not pay the single supplement you will be sharing a cabin with another On The Go traveller, or if this isn't - 6 -
possible, a member of the public (of the same sex). Etiquette Despite the inevitable ups and downs of travelling abroad, you will generally be shown great hospitality in Egypt. In return, please demonstrate sensitivity and respect for the local customs. Egypt is a Muslim country; so care should be taken to dress respectfully in large cities and towns, for example, when at markets and in public places. Ladies should avoid wearing clingy, tight or suggestive attire, and stick to cool, flowing, cottons in busy city areas and markets Take care to dress conservatively and ensure that limbs are covered and remove footwear prior to entering a mosque. Ex-military style clothing should not be worn Ask permission before taking photographs of people. The standard form of greeting is a handshake. Men and women do not kiss at any time as a form of greeting. Mosques, Religion & Ramadan 90% of the population are Muslim. Others are Coptic Christians or followers of other faiths. All mosques (with the exception of Sayyida Zeinab and Al-Hussein in Cairo) are open to non- Muslims but cannot be visited during prayer times. For Egypt s best mosques, go to Islamic Cairo. Dress conservatively. Ensure limbs are covered and shoes removed when entering any Mosque. Men must refrain from wearing shorts, as must women. RAMADAN Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims throughout the world and adherents of the Muslim faith fast during daylight hours and break their fast with lavish meals and lively celebrations in the evening. Ramadan culminates a month later in a 3 day celebration called Eid al - Fitr. Many shops (excluding those which cater mainly to tourists) and attractions close earlier during Ramadan. As such we will start our tour earlier during this period to make the best use of time, leisure time will be offered in the late afternoon. Note: Traffic is exceptionally heavy during Ramadan, especially toward the time of breaking the fast. Forthcoming Ramadan dates are as follows, (approximate) - 06 June - 05 July 2016 27 May - 25 June 2017. Many shops (excluding those which cater mainly to tourists) and attractions close earlier during Ramadan, so our itinerary is slightly altered to ensure we visit all itinerary attractions. Non Muslims are not expected to fast over Ramadan, but it is considered impolite to eat food or drink on the street. Shopping Egypt is a virtual Aladdin s Cave. While Cairo's Khan al-khalili bazaar is cavernous and full of unusual and everyday objects, smaller souqs and bazaars abound in other towns, too. Top buys include - perfume concentrate, carpets and rugs in innumerable hand-loomed designs, backgammon boards, hand-crafted shisha pipes, Pharaonic objects fashioned in marble and alabaster, Egyptian cotton clothing and of course - authentic papyrus. IMPORTANT: Set your budget and don t be swayed, remember the caveat Let the buyer beware. Any purchases made whilst on holiday with us, irrespective of whether the store is recommended by us or other, are at your own discretion. Please make sure that you are completely happy with the product you are purchasing and the delivery arrangements (we would recommend you take away with you any purchases rather than rely on shipping services). On The Go cannot be held responsible or accountable for items bought in country or shipping arrangements. Proceed with caution. - 7 -