Itinerary

Day 1 * Depart Canada for your overnight flights to Cairo to begin your adventure of a lifetime

Day 2 * Upon arrival in Cairo, you will be met by your Egyptian Tour Company, where they will assist you through customs and then transfer you to your first hotel, Deluxe Class – Intercontinental City Stars. Your Tour Escorts will await you at the hotel, and they will be greeting you in the lobby when you arrive. We will also meet our Tour Director, Hani Kamouna, our degreed Egyptologist who will accompany us throughout our entire journey into this ancient civilization. As your flight arrives early evening, you may wish to join your Escorts and Tour Director, for a refreshing drink or a bite to eat after you have checked in and freshened up. There is a beautiful outdoor area right at the hotel where you can enjoy the beautiful evening!! This will be a quick stay, as we are off to Luxor in the morning to start this amazing journey.

Luxor Temple

Day 3 * This morning we will be boarding a flight from Cairo to Luxor operated by Egypt Air, for our two night stay. Upon arrival, we will begin our tour at Karnak Temple, with Hani at the helm. Following our visit, we will check in at the Deluxe class Sonesta St. Georges located on Luxor’s famous promenade. Once we are settled in, feel free to explore with your leisure time. Perhaps take a refreshing dip in the hotel’s Nile front pool or take in some of that warm North African sun!! - Buffet Breakfast

Day 4 * Today, we have the opportunity of a lifetime for those of you who wish to add to their “Top 10 Things to do Before You Die”. We will offer an optional Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Valley of the Kings at sunrise. This is completely optional so there is no pressure for those not wishing to participate. We will go back to the hotel for breakfast and have a little free time to rest from our early morning. In the afternoon, we will visit the remarkable ancient Temple of Luxor, founded in 1400 BC. We will take in the sunset at this unforgettable location, and then we are off again. We will then visit the Isis Papyrus Museum, where we will have a short lesson on the making of papyrus. You will have a chance here to browse and shop for genuine papyrus and have items personalized in ancient hieroglyphics. - Buffet Breakfast

Day 5 * We begin our day with a visit to the Luxor Museum, with ancient artifacts and items for an up close and personal look at why we have made this trip! This is a lovely museum and allows us to get an idea of a time line and hear more of these famous Pharaohs and their lives. After we are finished at the museum, it will be time for us to board our Luxury Cruise Boat, the Sonesta St. Georges I, with its’ wonderful and welcoming crew, for our seven day cruise down the River Nile. Take some time to enjoy the boat this afternoon and relax and watch the scenery go by. Wave at the children who come out from their homes to greet the passengers on these fantastic boats. This evening we offer you an option of seeing the extraordinary Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple if you wish. See the temple under the majesty of the moonlight while you listen to the tales of days gone by. - Buffet Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 * This morning, we head over to the West Bank of Luxor for a visit to the amazing Valley of the Kings, where many of the illustrious pharaohs were laid to rest as they passed into the afterlife. You have the option of seeing the mummified remains of King Tutankhamun (fee for viewing). We continue on to Deir el Bahri, the phenomenal temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt’s only female pharaoh, where the temple has been restored in order to experience the grandeur that was once Ancient Egypt. We then return to the boat, where later in the day, we pass through Esna Lock, on our way to Edfu. - Buffet Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 * Docked in Edfu, we will take a tour of the Temple of Horus, the falcon-headed god in the morning, and then back onto the boat to continue along the Nile for Kom Ombo. When we arrive in Kom Ombo, we will visit the Temple of Horus the Elder and Sobek, the Crocodile god in the afternoon. Enjoy a stroll along the promenade, and watch the vendors as they hawk their goods to the passing visitors. Test your skills on an outfit for our party, taking place after your highlight dinner onboard. Tonight is a special evening, as we take part in a Galabeya Party on our boat. The galabeya is the traditional Egyptian dress that you will see as you experience this amazing country. - Buffet Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 * This morning, we head to the High Dam in Aswan, where the Nile is divided and flows from Lake Nasser. We also continue to the Granite Quarry, to see the “Unfinished Obelisk” still located in the rock bed. We continue on in a motorboat to tour of the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis. We will return to Aswan for a ride around Aswan’s Botanical Gardens in a traditional felucca We will also be stopping at the local market, for a trip into Aswan’s legendary spice markets with the sights and sounds of the souq, before we return to the boat for tonight’s entertainment special, belly dancing! - Buffet Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9 * This morning, there is an opportunity to fly to Abu Simbel, the site of the awesome Temple of Ramses II with its four giant statues in the form of the Pharaoh himself. Experience the statue of Queen Nefertari, whose façade is emblazoned on the Temple of Hathor. In the afternoon, enjoy some leisure time in the wonderful Egyptian sun as we wait for the Nubian Show this evening after dinner. We will dock over night at Kom Ombo, which may afford us an opportunity for you to try shisha, which is the traditional Egyptian water pipe. - Buffet Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10 * Today is completely at your leisure to enjoy the boat, and relax as we sail back towards Luxor arriving in the early evening. This is a day for you to take advantage of your leisure time and collect your thoughts about your wondrous journey so far, and absorb the ambiance of Egypt. - Buffet Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11 * A morning tour to the Temple of Dendara is on our agenda for today. We will be transferred to the temple of Dendara, one of the less visited temples along the Nile, because of its location north of Luxor. This is one of the most preserved temples in Egypt, with rare images of Cleopatra and her son Caesarian, fathered by the famous Julius Caesar. Tonight is our last night on our beautiful Nile cruise boat. Take the rest of the day to enjoy the glorious, red Egyptian sunset and relax on the top deck in the warm breeze. - Buffet Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12 * This morning we will take a morning flight back to Cairo from Luxor, and we are off again when we land! We will visit the famed Citadel with its wondrous view and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, known for the amazing architecture that is imperative for the Islamic call for prayer five times a day. After we had finished at the mosque, we will continue on the Khan El Khalili souq area to visit the “Heart of Cairo”. We will divide into smaller groups here, and each group will have a guide/interpreter to help them around the bazaar area. This will be a chance to you to experience the busy daily lives of the local people. We will then proceed to check in at our hotel for the next three nights, the Deluxe class Mena House Hotel. This iconic hotel boasts the envious location of being at the base of the Great Pyramids of Giza. - Buffet Breakfast

Day 13 * This morning one of the best highlights of your trip, and you are in for a treat!!! Our exclusive access visit into the Great Pyramids of Giza means that we will have this one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World all to ourselves for a private tour with our group only!!! We will be undisturbed by other tourists or by vendors for an up close and personal look into these astounding behemoths. This is an experience that VERY few people in the world will have and is reserved for a select few. You will also have the opportunity to experience the Sahara the old-fashioned way, on the back of a camel. This is an optional activity but one not to be missed for its fun atmosphere. We will depart the pyramids area and head to one of the most well- known Egyptian exports, a cotton shop. We will also visit one of the neighbourhood schools to see how the children in Egypt spend their day learning the three R’s. - Buffet Breakfast

Day 14 * We will today visit the world-renowned Egyptian Museum, and a chance to view the priceless treasures from King Tutankhamun’s tomb. We will have a short, guided tour and then, you will be free to explore the museum as you wish for a little while. In the afternoon, we will take the opportunity to experience the local culture with a visit to a modern Egyptian home to see how a local family lives day to day. We will then proceed to the restaurant where we will partake in a lovely Farewell Dinner to share some experiences and laughs with our new friends that we have met on the tour. - Buffet Breakfast & Farewell Dinner

Day 15 * Today, we offer an optional trip to Alexandria for those wanting to visit this beautiful Mediterranean coastal city. See the amazing sites in this famous city as well as some of their history showing what makes this city one of the international favourites. If you choose to do something else, this is a free day for you in Egypt. If you wish to make a visit to somewhere not included in our itinerary, we will be very happy to give you a hand making arrangements. Our hotel has a stunning pool area as well, if you wish to bask in the sun, and just relax for the day. - Buffet Breakfast

Day 16 * You are free for this until early evening, as we will be departing later in the evening, so it’s time to pack up and determine if you will need another suitcase to transport all of you Egyptian treasures back to Canada. Or, if you decide that you haven’t shopped enough, let us help you find some of the local area malls or shops that you can find what you are looking for. - Buffet Breakfast

Day 17 * We will not be leaving as a group, and so your departure times from the hotel will be given to each of you so you will know when you are departing the hotel. If you depart too early for breakfast, the hotel will be asked to prepare a breakfast box for you to have on your way to the airport. Please keep in mind that they may not allow you to take this behind security once you arrive at the airport. - Buffet Breakfast

FAREWELL, MY BELOVED EGYPT!!!

Flatsheet

Group Terms and Conditions for Helmsing Travel

• Deposit on tours is $500.00 per person and it is non-refundable once booked.
• Final Payment on all tours is 90 days prior to departure.
• Cancellation penalties will be assessed as follows:




• 90 days or more prior to departure…………Loss of deposit
• 89 – 46 days prior to departure……………….50% Non-refundable
• 45 – 00 days prior to departure……………….100% Non-refundable


• Purchase of Insurance for Cancellation, Interruption Baggage and adequate Out-of-Country Emergency Medical coverage is required for participation on our tours. Proof of insurance is mandatory, and credit card coverage is NOT adequate coverage.
• Canadian passport holders must have six months of validity after their return date. Visas may be required (not included in the trip), however, we will assist you with obtaining the visa when required.
• Passengers needing assistance with mobility must be accompanied by a companion. Because of the variability of destinations and nature of some trips, we can not guarantee that there will be accessibility at all stops.
• All prices listed are for land only based on double occupancy. Please ask for availability and pricing for singles or triples.
• Group space is limited and early booking is recommended. Once group space is filled, we are not able to request more space.

Not Included in Tour Pricing:

• International Airfare
• Visas that may be required
• Meals and sightseeing other than those listed on the itinerary
• Tips and gratuities for Tour Guides and services on the tour
• Travel Insurance