Millionaires Tour to Egypt (Land Only)
FULLY ESCORTED
DURATION: 13 DAYS/13 NIGHTS
• Cairo • Luxor • Esna • Edfu • Kom
Ombo • Aswan
Most of the time when we think of Egypt, we think of pyramids, mummies and priceless treasures. That should not come as a surprise since most of what we know about this ancient land has come from the temples and tombs that were built thousands of years ago. In fact, evidence of its rich cultural past has been amazingly preserved along the banks of the meandering River Nile, the lifeline for Egyptian culture. Spanning more than 5000 years, the history of Egypt will mystify you.
Since we do not really know what life was like in the ancient days, we rely heavily on the antiquities from centuries ago. But the wealth of Egypt goes far beyond its Pharaonic heritage. They have accomplished so much. Their academic achievements in art, science and engineering were far advanced and are clearly evident in the building of geometric shaped pyramids. During the First Dynasty c.2925 B.C.-2772 B.C., the earliest known writing system known as hieroglyphics was introduced in Egypt. Using Papyrus sheets, the ancient scribes used reeds soaked in black ink to record a wealth of information which has provided Egyptologists with information enabling them to reconstruct details of ancient history.
We invite you to come with us as we rediscover the glorious past of this fascinating country whose artistic and archaeological wealth far surpasses the imagination. This very special tour is limited to 8 participants and features private touring, accommodation at exceptional hotels and 7 glorious nights on board a luxuriously appointed and newly built dahabiyyah* sailing along the fabled waters of the Nile like the rich and famous from the 19th century. *As featured in the Conde Naste magazine and the Ancient Egypt magazine (U.K.) February/March 2007 issues.
This tour is going to sell out quickly. So we urge you to make your reservation as quickly as possible.
For over 33 years, Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd., one of the leading tour operators in Canada has been providing quality tours for discerning travelers to selected destinations in Europe and the Middle East.
We are delighted to announce that we will be inaugurating the ultimate tour of Egypt. This upscale tour has been designed for participants who enjoy the better things in life. A wonderful opportunity to enjoy luxury on the Nile.
We invite you to come with us as we rediscover the glorious past of this fascinating country whose artistic and archaeological wealth far surpasses the imagination. This very special tour is limited to 8 participants. We are flying business class from Toronto on Austrian Airlines, have private touring, stay at exceptional hotels and spend 7 glorious nights on board a luxuriously appointed and newly built dahabiyyah as we sail along the fabled waters of the Nile.
Land Arrangements Only
For travelers with air miles/points, you are able to make your own flight arrangements to and from Cairo. For those travelers who require air arrangements, Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. would be happy to assist you in arranging your flights.
Day 1, CAIRO
Arrival in the bustling capital of Egypt. Once your Egyptian visa has been granted, proceed via the VIP exit for your private limousine transfer to the FOUR SEASONS HOTEL CAIRO at the FIRST RESIDENCE, a luxurious sanctuary located on the west bank of the ancient Nile for your three night stay based on buffet breakfast. Once you have checked in, the balance of the day is at leisure. Dinner is on your own.
*During your stay relax and enjoy a 60 minute luxurious Pharaonic Massage that was once reserved for Egyptian royalty. A highly qualified therapist massages the body with individually chosen Egyptian aromatic oils. A heated poultice of aromatic herbs is then used to soothe muscles, nourish the skin and induce relaxation providing an experience as spiritual, as it is physical.
Day 2, CAIRO
Breakfast at the hotel.
0930 The day begins with a visit to superbly decorated Tomb of Mereruka, where you will find one of the most beautiful mastasbas tombs in Sakkara comprised of 32 chambers, divided into three sections. Note the scenes of everyday life which have been beautifully depicted throughout the tomb. Next is the exciting historical and architectural area known as the “City
of the Dead” in nearby Sakkara. Its monuments cover every period of Egyptian history. The site is dominated by the Step Pyramid of Zoser, believed to have been constructed before those at Giza. The tour concludes with a stop in Memphis, one of the greatest cities of the ancient world built by King Menes.
Lunch at the world famous Mena House Hotel.
1530 Return to the hotel for some time at leisure.
1900 This evening we gather for a welcome reception followed by dinner at the elegant Palace in the Marriott Hotel.
2200 Return to the hotel for overnight.
Day 3, CAIRO
0930 Morning visit of the great Pyramids of Giza built around 2650 B.C. Perhaps one of the most photographed sites in the entire world. You will be amazed by the sheer magnificence of the three pyramids of Cheops, Kephren and Menkaure. Together with the ageless Pyramids, the Sphinx is regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Carved out of solid natural rock, it has the body of a lion and the head of a man and faces east to greet the rising sun and return of life each day. 1200 Return to the hotel for the balance of the afternoon at leisure. Lunch is on your own. 1730 - 1830 This evening a 60 minute lecture by a renowned Egyptologist who will make the history of this ancient land come alive.
1930 PM Dinner is on your own.
Day 4, CAIRO/LUXOR
Early morning transfer to the airport. 0730 Departure on Egyptair flight 135.
0835 Arrival in Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes described by Homer as “the city of a hundred gates”. With its overwhelming number of well preserved temples and tombs, Luxor has often been referred to as the world’s largest open air museum. Transfer to the pier for embarkation on your private elegantly appointed dahabiyya where all meals are included commencing with lunch on the day of embarkation. *Beer, wine and soft drinks are included with your meals.
Time to unpack and settle into your accommodation. A galabeya (a very comfortable outer garment) will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments.
1000 Morning tour of the spectacular Temple of Karnak where you will find a vast monumental area which the Greeks once called Hermonthis. This was the most important sanctuary in Egypt, heart of the cult of the God Amon Ra. Each succeeding pharaoh added his own contribution to the temple which has resulted in a vast open air museum set in stone. 1230 Return to the boat for lunch on board. 1700 Late afternoon visit to the Luxor Temple, the first great sight you will see in the center of town. Built during the reign of Amenophis III and dedicated to the God Amon-Ra, it was expanded by Ramses II, who added statues representing himself and two obelisks. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight.
Day 5, LUXOR
An early morning departure from the hotel for your 60 minute hot air balloon adventure over the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s
Mortuary Temple (weather permitting).
Soaring high in the sky, you will experience the thrill of rising gently above the earth and gliding gracefully through the air. Afterwards visit the West Bank with its tombs and temple. We start at the renowned Valley of the Kings, where secretive tombs of extraordinary beauty were sunk deep into the ground and were filled with treasures and necessities required for the afterlife. Several tombs have been uncovered over the years including the tomb of King Tut-Ankh-Amun which was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter. Continuing southwest we come to the Valley of the Queens known in ancient Egypt as “the Place of Beauty”. The highlight of the Valley of the Queens is the tomb of Queen Nefertari, the wife of Ramses II. Because it is so fragile, the tomb has been closed, however, Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. has been granted special access to view this amazing, beautifully decorated tomb.
The magnificent and graceful Valley Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is next. The setting is spectacular – a series of broad terraces rise set against the limestone cliffs.
1330 Return to the ship for lunch.
This evening before dinner a private visit to the Luxor Museum housing a wonderful collection from Luxor and nearby areas. Although it contains only a fraction of the items on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the treasures are exhibited beautifully.
Tonight an a la carte dinner with wine at the French Gourmet 1886 Restaurant in the Old Winter Palace Hotel, a Victorian style hotel built in 1886 located on the banks of the Nile in the heart of a tropical garden close to the Temple of Luxor. One of the best known restaurants in Egypt, it is a place of elegance and formal dining.
Day 6, LUXOR/ESNA
A day to relax as we sail to Esna. A chance to gaze over the countryside
as we travel along the waters once traversed by the ancient pharaohs. There will be time for lectures and discussions with your Egyptologist guide Hanan. Meals and overnight on board.
Day 7, ESNA/EDFU
This morning sail to Edfu to visit the wonderfully preserved Temple of Edfu which took over 200 years to construct, making it one of the last great Egyptian monuments. The night will be spent moored beside a Nile Island.
Day 8, EDFU/KOM OMBO
Just 30 miles north of Aswan is Kom Ombo where on a bluff commanding a magnificent view stands the fascinating Temple of Kom Ombo built in two distinctive separate sections – one for each of the town’s two principal deities. One part of the structure is dedicated to the falcon-headed God Horus, the Avenger of Osiris, the other to the crocodile-headed God Sobek marked by a grisly mound of mummified crocodiles. Spend the night moored beside a Nile Island.
Day 9, KOM OMBO/ASWAN
Relax and enjoy some quiet time on board sailing to Aswan, lying at
the First Cataract, a favorite winter resort town of dignitaries.
Day 10, ASWAN/ABU SIMBEL/ASWAN
This morning visit Abu Simbel. En route to the airport we pause at
the High Dam completed in 1971 built to control the flooding of the Nile. 0905 Depart on Egyptair flight 247. 0950 Arrival in Abu Simbel.
Transfer by private shuttle bus to visit one of the most colossal temples
in all of Egypt located on the western bank of the river. Built by Ramses II, the temple was carved out of the side of a sandstone rock cliff and faces east to greet the rising sun each day. Buried in the sand, the two temples were rediscovered in 1813 by John Lewis Burkhardt. When threatened by the rising waters of Lake Nasser, the temples were dismantled stone by stone and reassembled on higher ground.
The entire project took over 4 years. Today enjoy visiting the chambers which are rich with carvings and engravings of Ramses II and Nefertari. Transfer back by private shuttlebus to the airport. 1305 PM Depart on Egyptair flight 250. 1350 PM Arrival in Aswan and transfer to your dahabiyya in time for lunch.
This afternoon visit one of the most beautiful monuments in Egypt, the Temple of Philae. All but submerged when the first dam was completed, the ruins of the temple were dismantled, transported block by block and reassembled on a nearby island. The Great Temple of Isis is the largest and most distinctive of the island temples.
A private visit this evening of the Nubian Museum opened in 1997. This magnificent sandstone building houses a collection of Nubian artifacts from all over Egypt.
A gourmet a la carte dinner with wine at the 1902 Restaurant located in the Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan overlooking the Nile across from the legendary Elephantine Island. Designed as a Moorish hall, the domed restaurant features four red and white traditional door key arches and is decorated with fine mashrabiya and stained glass. This unique hotel was inspired by the Agatha Christie novel, “ Death on the Nile”.
Day 11, ASWAN/CAIRO
Transfer to the airport. 1025 Depart on Egyptair flight 136. 1245 Arrival in Cairo. Transfer to the FAIRMONT HELIOPOLIS HOTEL, for your two night stay in an executive suite. The afternoon is at leisure. Lunch is not included.
Dinner at the Arabesque Restaurant located across the street from the Egyptian Museum which features Continental and Egyptian cuisine.
Day 12, CAIRO
We focus our sights this morning on the world renowned Egyptian Museum which is one of the wonders of Egypt. Here you will the most extensive collection of ancient artifacts in the world with more than 100,000 relics and antiques arranged chronologically from the Old Kingdom to the Roman Empire. The priceless collection was found in the Valley of the Kings and includes the famous gold burial mask of King Tut-Ankh-Amun. A special visit to the Mummies Room where 11 royals are entombed in glass cases in a darkened room. Lunch is on your own followed by an afternoon at leisure.
A farewell gala dinner with wine in the Revolving Restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Hotel where you will receive an 18 karat gold cartouche with your name inscribed in hieroglyphics on a gold chain as well as a hand painted papyrus.
Day 13, CAIRO
Transfer by private limousine to the airport for your return flight. Termination of services on arrival at Cairo Airport.
Booking Information and Conditions
YOUR TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
- DOMESTIC FLIGHT – On board Egyptair scheduled service between Cairo/Luxor-Aswan/Abu Simbel/Aswan/Cairo.
- DEPARTURE TAXES – Current departure taxes on domestic flights as of March 15, 2007.
- TRANSFERS – Transfers between airports, piers and hotels as indicated.
- ACCOMMODATION – Based on double occupancy for 3 nights in Cairo at the Four Seasons Cairo at the First Residence in standard rooms and for 2 nights at the Fairmont Heliopolis Hotel in an executive suite.
- MEALS – In hotels and while touring as specified.
- CRUISE – 7 night cruise in a private elegantly appointed cabin on board a dahibbaya from Luxor to Aswan.
- MEALS ON CRUISE – All meals on cruise commencing with lunch on Day 4 and ending with breakfast on Day 11.
- BEVERAGES – Wine, beer and soft drinks provide with included meals as well as a daily bottle of water.
- SIGHTSEEING - Sightseeing in Cairo including Sakkara and Memphis on Day 2 and the Pyramids and Sphinx on Day 3. Visit the Egyptian Museum including the Mummies Room on Day 12. Private sightseeing to be done by deluxe minibus.
- SIGHTSEEING ON CRUISE – As indicated including Abu Simbel.
- SPECIAL FEATURES – Evening welcome reception and dinner at the Palace located in the Marriott Hotel on Day 5, a 60 minute Pharaonic massage at the Four Seasons Cairo at the First Residence, lunch at the Mena House Hotel in Cairo on Day 2, 60 minute lecture by a renowned Egyptologist in Cairo on Day 3, a 60 minute hot air balloon in Luxor on Day 5, special a la carte dinner with wine in Luxor at the 1886 Restaurant on Day 5, private evening visit to the Luxor Museum on Day 5, private evening visit to the Nubian Museum in Aswan on Day 10, special a la carte dinner with wine in Aswan at the 1902 Restaurant at the Old Cataract Hotel on Day 10, evening farewell gala dinner with wine at the Rooftop Restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Cairo on Day 12. Custom tailored galabeya, gold cartouche with chain, hand painted papyrus and daily bottle of water
- Local Taxes & Standard Service Charges on accommodation and meals included in the tour price.
- EGYPTIAN VISA FEE – Included.
- PHOTO PERMITS – Complimentary photo permit charges when and where required.
- LOCAL TAXES & STANDARD SERVICE CHARGES – On accommodation and meals included in the tour price.
- TIPS – To local guides and drivers.
- TIPS – While on board the 7 night cruise on the dahibbaya.
YOUR TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- AIRFARE- To and from Cairo is not included.
- DEPARTURE TAXES – On international airfare not included.
- EXCESS BAGGAGE CHARGES – Where applicable.
- DOCUMENTATION – Passport fees and travel insurance.
- MEALS – Those not specified including dinner on March 12, lunch and dinner on March 14 l.unch on March 22 and March 23.
- BEVERAGES – Those not mentioned.
- GRATUITIES – For individual services such as laundry and valet service and any other items of a purely personal nature.
DEPOSIT & PAYMENT
A deposit in the amount of $3500.00 Cdn. per person is required at the time of booking. Written confirmation will be issued only after the deposit has been received.
CANCELLATION
All cancellations, changes or refund request must be received in writing at the offices of Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. and shall be considered in effect as of the date received. Any substitution of a passenger(s) will be considered a cancellation of the original reservation and applicable cancellation charges will apply.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION
All participants must be in possession of a passport valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the date of travel and should have sufficient blank pages for visas and immigration stamps. Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. cannot be held responsible should you be denied entry to any country due to non compliance of these requirements. A copy of your valid passport is required to confirm air reservations. Since the regulations to various countries differ with individual citizenships, when a visa is required prior to or granted upon arrival in a certain destination, Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd., cannot assume any responsibility for any expense or inconvenience caused should a visa be declined or entry to a specific country not be granted. At the present time, Canadian citizens require a visa to enter Egypt.
BAGGAGE
Baggage is limited to two pieces of checked luggage and one carry on bag per person. However, porterage at the hotels and on transfers is limited to one piece per person.
CHANGES
Any revisions, changes or alterations to the reservation once confirmed will be subject to a handling fee of $100.00 Cdn. per change.
NOTE: Changes or adjustments to a reservation will not be accepted within 21 days prior to departure. Should cancellation by one or more passengers change the room requirements of the remaining participant, the passenger must pay the applicable rate for the accommodation to be required.
PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
Any physical disability requiring special attention or treatment must be reported when reservations are made. Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd./and or their agents reserve the right to accept or retain any participant who may, in their sole judgement, require care and attention beyond that which can be provided.
SPECIAL REQUESTS
Pertaining to adjoining rooms or inflight meals must be placed in sufficient time and although Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. will do their utmost to accommodate these special requests, we cannot be held responsible if such requests are not fulfilled.
SPECIAL NOTE: PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THERE MIGHT BE LIVING STANDARDS AND PRACTICES DIFFERENT TO CANADIAN STANDARDS WITH RESPECT TO THE PROVISION OF UTILITIES, SERVICES AND ACCOMMODATION.
PARTICIPATING CARRIERS
Domestic flights within Egypt by Egyptair.
TOUR DOCUMENT DELIVERY
Travel documents are usually issued within 21 days prior to departure provided that full payment has been received. In the event that late payment results in the late delivery of documents, Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. will not accept any responsibility for the consequences thereof and reserves the right to charge for courier expenses. Documents will be sent first class mail, however, should you prefer to have your documents sent by overnight courier, you will be advised of the additional charges which must be included with your final payment.
COSTS
All costs quoted herein in Canadian dollars are per person and are based on tariffs, exchange rates in effect as of March 15, 2007 are subject to change without prior notice.
OPERATORS RESPONSIBILITY
All arrangements for land accommodation, transportation and sightseeing are made by Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. and/or their appointed representatives, who act only as agents in obtaining transportation, accommodation and other services for the tour members. They shall not be liable or held responsible directly or indirectly for any delay, injury, (including death) loss of damage to any person, company or association providing accommodation, transportation or other services in connection with the tour.
The right is reserved to withdraw all or part of the tour should conditions warrant and to make such alterations in the itinerary as may be found desirable for the convenience of the tour members and proper execution of the tour. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person(s) as member(s) of the tour in which case equitable refund will be made at the discretion of the operators.
DOMESTIC AIRLINE RESPONSIBILITY
The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board the aircraft. The passenger ticket in use by the carriers when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the purchaser of those tickets and/or the passengers.
SPECIAL NOTE: The right is reserved to change or cancel the pre-arranged itineraries including designated hotels if reasons beyond our control arise. Pursuant to the Travel Industry Act Regulations if price changes cause an increase over 7% of the confirmed price (except for government taxes) or there is a change in the standard of accommodation or a delay of over 24 hours in transport arrangements of which we become aware prior to departure, you will be notified and given 48 hours to advise us of your desire to cancel the tour with a full refund. Otherwise, you will be considered to have accepted the change(s).
E. & O.E.
In accordance with the Ontario Travel Act, CTA is registered
(1040985 & 1039982).