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$3254 $3092

Available: 7+ spaces

Secure your place on this trip with $350 deposit. Final payment due 60 days before departure.

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      • Hotels: Upgraded Comfort Class

      • 12/27/2023 - 01/07/2024

      • Max Participants: 14

      • 12 Days / 11 Nights

      Overview

      This journey through Egypt packs in the best of culture and adventure in 12 energetic days. We have upgraded the hotels and transportation to make this a bit more luxurious than the typical GEEO program. Explore ancient sites along the Nile, including the most famous of them all, the Great Pyramids of Giza. Embrace the culture and meet remarkable people as you sample some traditional fare with a Nubian family in a local village. Feel the buzz of vibrant bazaars in Aswan and Luxor, but still manage to relax and watch life unfold as you enjoy a 3-day cruise down the Nile. Visit Egypt with us, all while earning professional development credit with other educators.

      We are running two simultaneous Egypt trips on December 27–January 7. Both group will have a special New Year's Eve party/dinner included in the price.

      What's Included:
      • Felucca sail to Nubian village with traditional meal and community walk
      • Lunch with a local family in Luxor
      • All entrance fees to included monuments
      • Visit to the Alexandria Library, Catacombs, and Pompey’s Pillar
      • Guided tour of the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
      • Guided visit of the Egyptian Museum
      • Three-night Nile Cruise
      • Tour of Abu Simbel
      • Tour of Kom Ombo Temple
      • Excursion to the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Luxor, and Karnak Temples
      • Visit the Colossi of Memnon
      • Certified Egyptologist Tour Leader throughout
      • 11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners – allow $300-390 USD for meals not included
      • Upgraded hotels (8 nts), Nile cruise boat (3 nts)
      • Transport between destinations and to/from included activities using private air-conditioned van, felucca, Nile cruise boat, plane, walking
      • Airport arrival transfer
      What's Not Included:
      • International air travel
      • Incidentals
      • Travel health and cancellation insurance
      • Applicable visas
      • Tips or gratuities
      • Airport taxes
      • Beverages
      • Meals not mentioned in itinerary
      • Optional tours and admissions

      Itinerary Download PDF

      Arrive in Cairo at any time. Due to the potential for flight delays or cancellations, we recommend that you plan to arrive at least a day in advance. This will also give you time to adjust to the time difference and overcome any jetlag. We can book extra hotel nights for you in Cairo before and/or after the trip. A G Adventures representative will meet you at the airport to assist you with obtaining a visa, clearing customs and immigration, and locating your driver for a complimentary transfer to your hotel. Please note that check-in at the hotel is usually around 2:00-3:00 p.m. There are no planned activities until an intro meeting around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m., usually in the hotel lobby. Check for a sign or ask at the reception desk about the exact time and location of the group meeting. Please make every effort to arrive in time for this meeting. If you are delayed and will arrive late, please inform us. Your tour leader will then leave you a message at the front desk informing you of where and when to meet up tomorrow. After the meeting, you might choose to get dinner at a nearby restaurant with your traveling companions and your tour leader to further get to know one another.

      We begin the day with one of the highlights of any visit to Egypt, a visit to the three main pyramids of Giza. While once located in remote desert, they now touch the suburbs of modern Cairo. No matter how many photos or documentaries you have seen, your first glimpse of these marvels of the ancient world will take your breath away. As a qualified Egyptologist, your tour leader is able to expertly explain the facts and myths behind these three mammoth works of art. You will also visit the mysterious Sphinx with its lion’s body and man’s face. In the afternoon, we drive to the historic Mediterranean city of Alexandria. Approximate travel time: 4 hrs by private vehicle

      We spend today exploring this ancient seaside city of Alexandria. Founded by Alexander the Great around 331 BC, Egypt’s only Mediterranean city is characterized by a distinctly European atmosphere and a refreshing sea breeze. We start with a visit to Pompey’s Pillar. The name “Pompey’s Pillar” is actually a misnomer, as it has nothing to do with Pompey, having been erected in 293 for Emperor Diocletian, possibly in memory of the rebellion of Domitius Domitianus. We also visit the Catacomb of Kom ash-Shuqqafa. These tombs were tunneled into the bedrock in the age of the Antonine Emperors (2nd century AD) for a single wealthy family still practicing the ancient religion of Egypt. They represent the last existing major construction of the old Egyptian religion. The Ancient Library of Alexandria was probably the largest and certainly the most famous of the libraries of the ancient world. It flourished during Greek rule and functioned as a major center of scholarship, until at least the time of the Roman conquest of Egypt and likely for many centuries thereafter. The old library was destroyed in a fire around the 1st century BC. We visit the magnificent new library, which was opened in 2002 very close to the site of the ancient one. Lastly, you will have the opportunity to enjoy an optional seafood dinner at one of the city’s many outdoor restaurants.

      We start off the day by driving back to Cairo. Along the way, we will stop and take a tour with a local monk at the monasteries of Wadi Natrun. The history of the Wadi and its importance to Coptic Christians dates back to the 4th century AD. They are some of the earliest Christian monasteries still remaining in the world today. There will be time to grab a quick lunch before our afternoon visit to the Egyptian Museum. With over 10,000 pieces from every period of Egyptian history, including the treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun, the display can be a bit daunting. Your tour leader will direct you to the most important and magnificent items. There is also plenty of free time for you to explore on your own. Please note, there is an additional 50 EGP fee to take photos in the museum and some exhibits have extra fees. Approximate travel time: 4 hrs by private vehicle

      This morning, we catch an early flight to Aswān, which has a distinctively African feel. Small enough to walk around and graced with the most beautiful setting on the Nile, the pace of life is slow and relaxing. You might opt to explore the busy Aswān market. Late in the afternoon, we board a local boat, known as a felucca, to take a trip along the magnificent Nile, with views of the Aga Khan Mausoleum and Kitchener Island. We’ll stop on the largest of the Nile islands in this area, Elephantine Island. We’ll walk through a village and its surrounding fields and learn more about the life of the Nubian people. Finally, we enjoy a delicious traditional dinner at a local home. Approximate travel time: 1.5 hrs by plane

      Early in the morning, we take a private bus to the famed temples of Abu Simbel for a guided tour. The visit allows around 2 hours at the site to wander through the different temples and learn more about the construction, history, and relocation of these magnificently preserved structures. The temples, built by Ramses II between 1274-1244 BC, would now be under Lake Nasser, if not for the wonders of modern engineering. Later, board our river cruise ship for the night and start our luxury riverboat ride down the Nile. Approximate travel time: 6.5 hours by bus

      Following breakfast, we set sail on our 2-day luxury riverboat cruise. Before too long, it is time for a shore excursion with a visit to Kom Ombo, a temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god. It still contains an ancient mummified crocodile. Please note, there is an additional 50 EGP fee to take photos in the Crocodile museum. In between excursions throughout the boat trip, we’ll relax on the decks of the boat with a drink, watching the passing desert sands. Approximate travel time: All day by boat. Overnight aboard luxury riverboat.

      Today, we continue our Nile cruise, relaxing on board and watching the lovely scenery drift by. Arrive at Luxor in the evening where our boat will moor for the night. Approximate travel time: All day by boat. Overnight aboard luxury riverboat.

      After checking into our hotel, we enjoy a full-day guided excursion to the famous Valley of the Kings. We will rise early to catch the sunrise from the motorboat that will take you across the Nile to the West Bank. From here, ride through farmer’s fields to reach the Valley of the Kings. Descend the narrow, rock-hewn corridors and take in the magnificent decoration and designs of the tombs of the pharaohs at the Valley of the Kings. While the treasure is now all gone, the tombs contain the most incredible paintings of the life of their occupant and stories from the Book of the Dead. We will visit three tombs in total and may opt to visit the famous tomb of King (“Tut”) Tutankhamun (an extra 120 EGP each). We then visit the impressive Funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which seems to rise out of the surrounding limestone outcrops – it’s a reminder of the power women held in the Ancient Kingdom. Our last stop today is the two mammoth statues of Amenophis II at the Colossi of Memnon, which used to stand at the front of a temple. Check out the ancient graffiti discussing the statues. We also enjoy lunch with a local family on the West Bank of the Nile. With what remains of the afternoon, you can explore Luxor at your own pace.

      This morning, we enjoy a visit to the Karnak Temple, once the center of all religious life in ancient Egypt. Built and extended by successive generations of rulers, take time to admire the amazing architecture, massive columns, and painted hieroglyphs. Then we take in the beauty of the Luxor temple, an architectural splendor located near the Nile and right in the center of downtown Luxor. One of Egypt’s most impressive temples, Luxor has been used as a place of worship all the way from its conception in 1390 BC to the present day. Evidence of ancient worship, Coptic Christianity and Islamic architecture are found throughout the temple, illustrating how the regional culture has evolved over several thousand years. In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore on your own. You might choose to wander the bazaar to shop for souvenirs, visit the Mummification Museum to learn about the ancient art of embalming, or take a guided tour of the temples of Habu, Ramsseum and Deir El Medina.

      This morning, we catch a flight back to Cairo. You will have the rest of the day to explore this amazing city. You might wish to visit the Khan El Khalili Bazaar, which is legendary for its fine brassware, copper, perfumes, leather, silver, gold, antiques, and more. You could also head out to Cairo’s most ancient area, Coptic Cairo, or perhaps relax by the hotel pool. End the day with an optional farewell dinner or by enjoying the Sound and Light show at the Giza pyramids. Approximate travel time: 1 hr by plane

      This morning, our program ends after breakfast. Feel free to depart at any time. Want more adventure? Book two or more GEEO trips in the same year and receive a discount! GEEO will give you 10% off of the lesser value program(s) (up to 3 programs). If you don’t see a program that interests you that pairs with this trip, but still would like to extend your time abroad, let us know. We will work with you to find a non-teacher trip from our tour operator’s much larger catalog. Even better, if you are an educator, we can still offer you a discounted price on the trip you choose!

      Details

      Frequently Asked Questions
      Please click here to go to our general FAQ, which has essential information that applies to all of our programs.
      Resources to Learn & Teach about Egypt
      Visit our blog to see the list of books GEEO recommends reading before your program (this is not required reading). We also have lesson plans and Pinterest boards that may be useful for you as you learn about your destination and prepare to bring lessons back to your classroom.
      Terms and Conditions
      It is very important for you to visit our Terms and Conditions page before signing up for this program.
      GEEO Program Confirmation Process
      We require a minimum of 6 participants for most GEEO programs. We officially confirm that a program will run once at least 8 people have signed up, which provides a margin for individual cancellations. Nearly all GEEO programs ultimately meet this enrollment quota, and in the rare event that a program does not meet the minimum requirement and GEEO cancels the program, we will work with you to find a suitable alternative or provide a refund of your deposit if you prefer. We encourage you to sign up for any program that interests you, and we will notify the entire group once 6 people are booked and again once 8 people are booked. We always emphasize the importance of exercising caution when making non-refundable travel arrangements, especially given the unpredictable nature of travel. For example, we typically recommend booking flights with flexible change/cancellation policies.
      Cancellation policy
      All cancellations must be submitted to GEEO in written form by emailing your request for cancellation to travel@geeo.org. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your written cancellation request, please call us at 1-877-600-0105. Verbal cancellation requests will not be honored.
      • If you cancel 60 days or more prior to departure, all your program fee payments will be refunded besides your $350 deposit, which is kept on file for future use
      • If you cancel between 30 and 59 days prior to departure, you will receive a 50% refund and your deposit is kept on file for future use
      • If you cancel within 30 days of departure, you will receive no refund, but your deposit is kept on file for future use
      Trip Notes
      1. WINTER TRIPS: Please note that some sites, museums, and restaurants may be closed over Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. It is recommended that you check the operating hours of any sites or establishments that you plan to visit to avoid disappointment. It is also common for prices for meals and other services to increase during peak tourist seasons or holidays, including Christmas and New Year’s. Additionally, we may need to alter the itinerary on and around these holidays to maximize your time during your trip. Hopefully, you will be able to experience some local customs and traditions and see how people in other parts of the world experience the holidays. Traveling over Christmas and New Year’s can allow you to see a destination in a different light. You may be able to attend local festivals, try traditional foods, see special decorations, and participate in cultural activities that can add an extra layer of festivity and cheer to your trip. Overall, traveling over the holidays can be a fun and rewarding way to learn about and experience another culture.
      2. EXCURSION RECOMMENDATIONS: Tourists are frequently over-charged for excursions bought from vendors on the street or at the airport. If you arrive a day or two early in Cairo and wish to do some excursions, we recommend that you wait until you get to the joining hotel and contact our local staff for more information on available tours and excursions. You can also book excursions through websites like Tripadvisor or Viator, as we have found those have good deals and are for the most part trustworthy. Throughout this trip there are many optional activities and often G Adventures can arrange them for you through your tour leader. We find this to be the simplest and safest way to book these activities, but sometimes it will cost more than a different local supplier that perhaps you have found yourself. We can’t vouch for the safety and quality of tours and activities not booked through G Adventures.
      3. MONEY: U.S. Dollars that are series 1996 or earlier – identifiable by the year printed on the right side of the face of the bill – are not accepted and very difficult to change in regions of East and Southern Africa, as there are a lot of forgeries in circulation.
      4. NILE CRUISE: Our Nile cruise boat is modern with many of the amenities of our comfortable hotels. Cabins are twin/double with air-conditioning and private bathrooms. Facilities on board include a large single-sitting restaurant, lounge with bar, and sun deck with a small pool. Often our cruise boats are referred to as “floating hotels,” as the actual sailing distance covered is not great and Egyptian law requires that all boats dock overnight.
      5. INTERNAL FLIGHT: All local flights are included in the cost of your tour. It is important that we have your passport information ASAP in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure. Domestic carriers for internal flights will be Egypt Air or Nile Air. Flight information will not be available until a couple of days prior to the tour departure. The domestic flight maximum weight allowance is 20 kg.
      Group Leader Description
      All GEEO/G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of G Adventure’s group leaders, which they refer to as Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues, and introduce you to our local friends. Our itineraries often have plenty of free time to explore on your own. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it’s the best of both worlds.
      Fitness Level
      Trip includes light walking and hiking that is suitable for most fitness levels.
      Single Travelers
      Half of GEEO’s participants travel by themselves, so please don’t worry if you do not have a travel companion for your trip. Our program fee is for one traveler in double-occupancy accommodation, and GEEO can find you a roommate of the same gender if you do not have a travel companion. Most of our programs have a “My Own Room” option, also known as a “Single Supplement,” which is an extra fee that you can pay to have a room to yourself. You will only incur an additional charge if you specifically request a single room. To see the price for the “My Own Room” option, please find your program on our extra services page. If you want to room alone, please email travel@geeo.org to request a single room.
      Joining Instructions
      Day 1 is an arrival day, and no activities have been planned. Upon arrival to the city on Day 1, or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us, please make your way to the joining hotel. Check-in time will be in the afternoon. Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note at reception from your tour leader. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on Day 1, usually between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., at which you will get a chance to meet your tour leader and other travelers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details! If you miss the Welcome Meeting, your tour leader will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need and with instructions for the next morning. You will receive an arrival transfer included as part of your program fee. A G Adventures representative will be at the airport to meet you with your name on a sign. If for any reason you are not met at the airport, please call our local support line. If you are unable to make contact for whatever reason, please make your way to the joining point hotel via taxi. Unfortunately, there have been cases of people misrepresenting themselves as G Adventures representatives. Please check that your driver knows your name and the hotel to which you are going. If in doubt, ask them to ring their manager to confirm your transfer.
      Emergency Contacts
      Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible. AIRPORT TRANSFER Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, we will do our best to rearrange your arrival transfer, but we cannot guarantee this. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area, please take a taxi to your start point hotel. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS G Adventures Local Representative (Cairo, Egypt) During office hours (Sun-Thu, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. local time): +20 233 77 88 30 or +20 233 77 88 31 After hours Emergency number: +20 122 221 16 99 (Mohammed) G Adventures Middle East Manager Emergency number: : +20 122 221 16 99 -Mohammed (Cairo, Egypt) If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24-hour Sales team, who will happily assist you. If you are unable for any reason to contact G Adventures’ local office they have a toll-free line within North America which will connect you directly with their Toronto office: 1 888 800 4100. Outside of North America, call: +1 416 260 0999
      Packing List
      Please read this article on GEEO’s blog for our staff’s suggestions on the best gear to pack for your upcoming travels. You must be prepared to carry your own bags and be comfortable carrying them up and downstairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels. As a rule, we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 minutes with your bags, which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 22-30 lb. Most travelers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size. No XXL bags please! A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person plus a daypack per person. Health & Safety
      • N95/KN95 Face masks (at least a few just in case there is an outbreak within your group)
      • Hand sanitizer
      • Quick Covid Test/Antigen Tests (at least 3)
      Suggested Checklist
      • Fleece top (it can get really cold)
      • Light windproof/waterproof jacket – chances are it won’t rain much
      • Scarf, warm hat, gloves
      • Sun hat
      • Personal clothing for variable weather ranging from the 40’s to low 60’s F
      • Daypack
      • Sturdy walking shoes
      • Sport sandals or flip-flops
      • Sunblock
      • Sunglasses
      • Watch or alarm clock
      • Flashlight or headlamp
      • Toiletries – your hotels will have soap and shampoo
      • Camera
      • First-aid kit, including: lip salve, aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking
      Optional Checklist
      • Lightweight silk sleep sheet
      • Travel pillow
      • Money belt
      • Phone/tablet for internet – most hotels have WiFi, but you will also want an eSIM when WiFi is not reliable (we recommend Airalo)
      • Chargers for electronics as well converters/adapters, if needed
      • AirTags or Tile trackers
      • Packing cubes
      • Earplugs
      • Snacks – packing a few granola bars is a good idea; you can buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy here
      • Ziplock bags for wet clothing
      • Reading/writing material
      • Hand sanitizer/Baby wipes
      • Tissue packets or toilet paper (Public toilets rarely have toilet paper)
      Document Checklist
      • Passport (with photocopies)
      • Travel insurance (with photocopies)
      • Airline tickets (with photocopies)
      • EUR/USD cash
      • Credit or debit card
      • G Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information, and dossier
      • Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
      • GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent 10-30 days before departure
      Laundry
      Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge or ask your group leader where the nearest laundromat is. If you want to do your own laundry, we suggest you bring your own non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
      Passports and Visas
      All GEEO trips require that the participant have a valid passport.  Please see our general FAQ for information on obtaining a passport. As with all of our trips, we try to provide the most accurate information we can, but governments sometimes change visa rules. It is your responsibility to double-check the information we provide below by searching here. U.S. citizens must have a visa to enter Egypt. We recommend getting a 1-month single entry visa on arrival at Cairo International airport or at the Egyptian land border. You must pay in cash (exact amount, no change), either in U.S. Dollars (USD), British Pounds (GBP), or Euros (EUR). The visa fee is $25 USD or the equivalent in your currency. Egyptian Pounds and credit cards are not accepted as payment methods when obtaining your Egyptian entry visa. Look for windows (marked “banks”) selling these visas in the area where you line up to have your passport stamped. You need to get the visa before entering the passport line. The visa is a sticker that you need to stick into your passport before handing it to the authorities for stamping. E-Visa in Advance: We feel it is much easier and more straightforward to receive your visa on arrival, but you may also apply for an e-visa in advance here: https://www.visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/. The website can be buggy and difficult to use, but the GEEO team can assist you with the information you need to provide to obtain an e-visa if you have questions while filling out the application.
      Money Exchange
      The currency used in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). ATMs are found within main cities in Egypt and will generally accept cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks. It is a great idea to travel with both a Visa and Mastercard, if at all possible, as, while there is no hard and fast rule, some banks seem to only work with one brand of card. Please note: Your bank will charge a fee for overseas withdrawals. Cash is recommended for times when ATMs are not accessible. Euros, British Pounds, and U.S. Dollars are all easy to exchange for the local currency. You should bring some cash with you for emergency situations, but carrying only cash is a high safety risk. ATM cards and some cash is the ideal mix. If you are bringing U.S. Dollars, please make sure that the notes are new and in good condition. Notes older than 1996 – as identified on the right-hand side of the face of any USD bill – or with any tears or blemishes may not be accepted. Be fussy with your bank when buying cash! As currency exchange rates can fluctuate, we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com
      Tipping
      Tipping (also widely referred to by its Arabic term as “baksheesh”) is a way of life in the Middle East. Locals themselves will usually tip anyone who provides them with services. In many cases, people depend on the tips they receive to supplement the low salary and wages of the Middle East region. While on tour in the Middle East, it is customary and even expected to tip small service providers such as restaurant and bar waiters, hotel staff, reception, cleaning personnel, bell boys, and taxi and van drivers. Tips are regarded as an essential means of supplementing income for those working in the tourism industry. To make things as easy as possible and avoid embarrassing situations, G Adventures has developed a tipping kitty system where your tour leader will collect a contribution from everybody at the start of your tour and use this kitty to tip anybody who has provided services to the group as a whole. A guideline for tipping is about $5-$10 USD per day, depending on the quality of the service, but this does not include your G Adventures tour leader. On Day 1 of your tour, your tour leader will be able to advise on the amount required from everybody to form the tipping kitty for your trip. You can pay in USD or the equivalent local currency, preferably the latter. The tour leader will be able to advise you on the exchange rate and the total required in either currency. If at any time you feel that any service provider failed in maintaining or delivering good service, please bring it immediately to the attention of your tour leader so a deduction of tips can take place. Also, at the end of each trip, if you felt your G Adventures Tour Leader did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference. As a budgeting guideline, $6-9 USD per person per day can be used. Please budget a similar, but slightly smaller tip for your driver as well.
      Vaccinations
      We legally cannot give you any medical advice. It is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. Please take this seriously!
      Flights
      We find the best prices for flights are often available 60 days before departure, but of course this varies greatly from route to route and year to year. We advise that you wait until this trip is confirmed before booking non-refundable and non-changeable flights. GEEO and G Adventures bear no responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. Your trip begins and ends in Cairo. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Cairo. You can arrive at any time of the day you choose, but we strongly urge you to arrive by 6:00 p.m. on Day 1 for our group meeting. You can depart from Cairo at any time on the final day of the trip.
      Plugs and Converters
      There are two components to provide external power to your device: adapters and transformers. The adapter is the plug, adapting the prongs on a standard U.S. two to three-pronged power cord to match the prongs required by the local outlets. The transformer changes the local voltage to that required by your device. Egypt uses a Type C, European-style two-prong plug. Their voltage is 220 Volts. U.S. outlets are 120V. Most new devices (phones and laptops) can handle the different voltage rates, but some devices only work on the U.S. standard of 120V. Check your device to see what voltage range it handles. Most transformer blocks will have an “Input” line that defines its voltage capacity. For example, “Input: 100-240V” means that it will work on voltages from 100V to 240V. If your transformer can’t handle the different voltage, you’ll need to purchase a voltage converter. You can find world regional voltage converters power packs at various vendors.
      Expectations
      Before you decide on traveling with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the information about the program you are considering. Remember, our programs are quite adventurous.
      • You must be able to easily carry or roll your luggage, so do not over-pack.
      • We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.
      • Please make sure you understand the role of your tour leader on this trip, as they are not the traditional “guide” you may be expecting. While our trips are educational, they aren’t study/lecture trips. We want you to learn through exploring, and much of your experience will be based on how active you choose to be in acquiring knowledge and interacting with locals.
      Hopefully this is the kind of adventure you are interested in!
      Itinerary Disclaimer
      While it is our intention to adhere to the routes described on our website, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable, to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The information on our website is a general guide to the tour and region, and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
      Weather
      December is a great time to visit Egypt. Mostly sunshine with very little rain with temperatures typically in the 50s and 60’s. However, our winter Egypt groups have told us it was a lot colder than expected. Please make sure you have warm clothes too, including a winter coat, hat and gloves.
      Here is some advice from past travelers:
      • Bring toilet paper- it is not readily available in many places and you may need to pay extra. I found it helpful to just have some in my purse or backpack.
      • Bottled water is an absolute must- I would not recommend drinking anything with ice in it.
      • My favorite part of the trip was our time on the Nile River cruise and our visit to the Nubian village. Treat yourself to some henna!
      • The food was difficult for my stomach so I stuck to mostly vegetarian options.
      • You will want to ask about seeing a papyrus shop and stone shop. Your guide can arrange this and you will get to see paper and art being made. It was amazing. We also did this with an essential oil shop on our visit.
      • It is a heavy tipping culture, but lots of banks and ATMs can be found at any point of your trip.
      • The camel rides by the pyramids were disappointing - I would not recommend them. The camels seemed worn down and not as healthy as other ones we saw later on in the trip. (See our animal welfare policy here.)"
      • There is cold water bottles available for sale on the bus.
      • Meals are substantially more expensive at the hotels.
      • Bringing a filter for purifying water can save you from wasting so much plastic. (See GEEO's gear recommendation list.)
      • It's not pretty, but everyone really should get a prescription for diarrhea. I think everyone had some rough days and Imodium just won't cut it.
      • "I washed my clothes by hand a lot. We had laundry options on the boat and I think one hotel because we moved so frequently. Laundry was kind of pricey to folks, and I found hand washing to be fine. But I think just to let folks know to bring clothes that can handwash and dry well or at least a shirt or two that are specifically made to wick wetness and such. I brought one t-shirt from REI that was so brilliant for this trip, and I wore it a majority of the days, handwashing it each night!"
      • Don’t bring $1 and $5 bills for tips - the vendors say “$1 dollars pretty lady” but the currency exchanges won’t take the small currencies so it is useless to them. The currency exchange also won’t take US bills that have the slightest flaw in them (tears, pen marks, excessive wear, etc.) so if you bring US cash and want to exchange it instead of using the ATMs make sure you go to the bank in the US and get new bills.
      • Getting small Egyptian currency is a problem and a lot of shops would not accept 100 or 200 pound bills which is what most of us were getting from the ATMs. I found out on the last day that some ATMs at banks dispense only small currency.
      • If the bill is 35 Egyptian pounds and you have a 50 and a 200 bill try the big bill first to see if they can break it and save the small stuff for water and bathrooms. Sometimes they can break it and other times they will ask for something smaller. If they don’t have the correct change they will give you what they can and keep the difference.
      • I never had any luck withdrawing cash from an ATM using my Visa credit card but fortunately, I also had my debit card - otherwise, I would have been in trouble.
      • Many of us found our menstruation cycles were off. It can be hard to find feminine products outside of pharmacies, so bring enough supplies regardless of where the trip falls in your cycle.

      Costs

      Please keep in mind this trip offers some free time to pursue activities that interest you. Make sure you look over all of the optional activities and note these additional costs when deciding whether you can afford this program. Breakfasts and a few dinners are included in this trip, giving you the opportunity to eat out according to your own resources. The prices below are in U.S. Dollars (USD) and are rough estimates for budgeting your trip.
      Tour Company Fee
      See price in top right corner
      Non-Educator Fee
      $100 USD (GEEO program fee for Non-Educators) Educators do not have to pay this fee.
      Optional Activities
      $50-200 USD
      International Airfare from the United States
      Roughly $1,000-1,500 USD If you require assistance in booking your international airfare, we would be happy to help you.
      Insurance
      $79-200 USD Please note: It is mandatory for all of our travelers to have Emergency Medical insurance that covers both emergency evacuation and repatriation to the sum of $200,000 USD. We also strongly recommend purchasing cancellation insurance as well.
      Tipping
      We recommend $70-90 USD for your G Adventures tour leader. Budget another $100 USD for tipping local guides and drivers.
      Meals Not Listed in the Itinerary
      $300-390 USD
      Laundry, Drinks, Phone Calls, etc.
      Make sure you budget for these types of expenses
      Vaccines
      Variable. Please consult your doctor.
      Visa
      $25 USD
      Souvenirs
      Variable. At your personal discretion.

      Optional Activities

      Most optional activities are booked and paid for locally in the local currency. You do not have to decide in advance for which activities you would like to sign up. The prices listed are based on the latest information we have received from our participants and G Adventures. They are not guaranteed to be accurate. Please feel free to use them as a guide for budgeting your trip. The prices below are in U.S. Dollars (USD) or Egyptian Pounds (EGP).
      Cairo
      National Museum of Egyptian Civilization: 240 EGP per person Visit the famed Royal Mummies Hall at the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) located in Old Cairo. View the ancient remains of some of Egypt’s most important rulers. Islamic and Coptic Cairo Tour: $60 USD per person Explore Cairo’s fascinating architectural, cultural, and historical contrasts on a tour of Coptic and Islamic Cairo. Visit of the iconic Citadel of Saladin, the Mohamed Ali Mosque, the Hanging Church, St. Sergius Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue. Explore Memphis and Sakkara: $70 USD per person; 4-5hrs Travel through desert and farm lands to Sakkara the site of Egypt's first pyramids. Delve into the history of one of Egypt’s most important archeological sites before continuing on to explore the streets of Memphis, the ancient capital of Aneb-Hetch.
      Alexandria
      Alexandria City Tour: $50 USD per person Explore Alexandria on a guided tour of the city and visit the famous Citadel of Quait bay where Alexandria Lighthouse once stood, considered one of the wonders of the ancient world. Visit the Abu El Abbas mosque and the Unknown Soldier.
      Aswān
      Visit the Souk: free; 1-3 hrs Explore the Souk at your leisure, soaking in the scent and colour of spices and perfumes, and rummaging through beautiful scarves and baskets. Philae Temple: $50 USD per person Sail across the Nile to the beautiful island of Agilkia and explore the Greco Roman history of the Temple of Philae, built as a dedication to the Goddess Isis. This temple complex was moved from its original location on the Island of Philae after the flooding of Lake Nasser, the word "philae" meaning "the end" in reference to this island's placement on what was once the southernmost border of Egypt. Philae Temple Sound and Light Show: $70 USD per person As the sun sets, sail across the Nile to Philae island. Watch the Philae Temple turn into a time machine through a magnificent sound and light display.
      Luxor
      Explore Luxor in Depth Tour: $75 USD per person For those who wish to explore Luxor in depth, this morning excursion allows you to go back to the west bank and explore more sites of Luxor city including the beautiful temples of Habu, Ramesseum and Deir El Medina. Horse and Carriage Ride: 50-150 EGP per person; 30 mins-2 hrs Enjoy a horse and carriage (calèche) ride and get oriented in the city. Bazaar visit: Free; 1-2 hrs Wander through the bustling local bazaar and check out the wares for sale. Pick up a few if you like! Mummification Museum: 80 EGP per person; 1-3 hrs Learn all there is to know about the ancient art of embalming by exploring the world’s only Mummification Museum. Tomb of Tutankhamun: 300 EGP per person Opt to descend down into the Tomb of Tutankhamun, the Valley of the Kings’ most famous pharaoh. While the treasure has been moved to the Cairo Museum, it is fascinating to enter the tomb that held one of the most intact collections of treasures found in all of Egypt.