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1 | P a g e
September 2018
Unique Tours of Egypt
Fully escorted tours of Egypt
We are pleased to provide the following
information on the wonderful places we will
visit, our accommodation, current prices,
optional excursions and other
useful information.
.
2 | P a g e
Proposed Itinerary
(Day 1 of tour) Thursday 13th September 2018 - Pick up from the airport & check into Ramses Hilton - Welcome dinner at El Ahzar Park, Cairo
(Day 2 of tour) Friday 14th September - Egyptian Museum - Afternoon walk through old Cairo to Khan El Khalil Bazaar (Day 3 of tour) Saturday 15th September - Cairo Nilometer - The Ben Ezra Synagogue - Saints Sergius & Bacchus Church - The Hanging Church
(Day 4 of tour) Sunday 16th September - The Saladin Citadel - Ar-Rifai Mosque - Madrassa of Sultan Hassan Mosque - Mosque of Ibn Tulun - Gayer Anderson Museum
(Day 5 of tour) Monday 17th September - Check out after breakfast for flight to Aswan - Drive to Seti Resort at Abu Simbel - Light & Sound Show at Abu Simbel Temples
(Day 6 of tour) Tuesday 18th September - Early morning visit to Abu Simbel Temples - Check out & drive back to Aswan to join 4 night Moon Goddess Nile cruise - Aswan Dam - Afternoon Felucca ride to Kitchener's Island
(Day 7 of tour) Wednesday 19th September - Temple of Isis, Philae - Granite Quarry - Kom Ombo Temple
(Day 8 of tour) Thursday 20th September - Temple of Horus at Edfu
(Day 9 of tour) Friday 21st September - Valley of the Kings - Colossi of Memnon - Hatshepsut Temple - Karnak Temples
(Day 10 of tour) Saturday 22nd September - Disembark cruise for early morning drive to Denderah to visit Hathor’s Temple - Check into The Pavilion, Luxor (Day 11 of tour) Sunday 23rd September - Deir el Medina - Habu - Luxor Temple (Day 12 of tour) Monday 24th September - Free day in Luxor (Day 13 of tour) Tuesday 25th September - Check out of The Pavilion for flight back to Cairo and check in Mena House (Day 14 of tour) Wednesday 26th September - Pyramids & Sphinx - Afternoon free (Day 15 of tour) Thursday 27th September - Dashur pyramids, Bent & Red Pyramids - Saqqara - Memphis (Day 16 of tour) Friday 28th September - Day free in Cairo - Farewell dinner at Mena House (Day 17 of tour) Saturday 29th September - Check out of Mena House and transfer to Cairo airport
Please note :
This itinerary is subject to change due to cruise departure
dates and internal flights but gives a good idea of proposed
tours . The final dates of our tour will be confirmed 6 months
prior to departure date.
3 | P a g e
Optional Excursions Full day tour to Alexandria
Pompeys Pillar
Citadel of Qaitbay
The Catacombs
Roman Amphitheatre Ruins
Light & Sound Shows
Pyramids & the Sphinx
Karnak & Luxor Temples
Philae Temple
Cheops Boat at Giza
Other options :
2 hour Nile Cruise in Cairo
Luxor Museum
Mummification Museum Luxor
Valley of the Queens
Seti 1 Temple at Abydos
Nubian Museum Aswan
Pharaonic Village Cairo
Nubian Village
Solar Boat Museum at Giza
Cairo Tower
Optional extra excursions prices
on application.
4 | P a g e
The Citadel, Ibn Tulun Mosque, Sultan Hassan Mosque,
Ar-Rifai Mosque, Gayer Andersen Museum
The Saladin Citadel is a medieval
Islamic fortification built between
1176 & 1183 AD as protection
from the Crusaders.
It is also known as the Mohamed Ali
Citadel because in contains the
mosque of Muhammad Ali which was
built between 1830 & 1848.
This Ottoman mosque was built in
memory of Tusun Pasha, Muhammad
Ali’s second son who died in 1816.
The Gayer
Anderson
museum is
known as one
of the best
preserved
examples of
16th century
homes
left in Cairo
5 | P a g e
View of Cairo from the minaret
Mosque-
Madrassa of
Sultan
Hassan was
built between
1356-1363,
650 years
ago
Islamic
Egypt
Ar-Rifai Mosque was built over 2
phases over a period between
1869 and 1912. A burial place
for many Egyptian royals
including King Farouk,
Egypt’s last King whose
body was
returned for
burial from
Rome in 1965.
Construction of the
Mosque of Ibn Tulun
began in 876 AD & was
completed in 879, over
1,000 years ago.
It is arguably the oldest
mosque in Cairo
surviving in its original form
& is also the largest mosque
in Cairo in terms of land
area, covering 2.5 hectares.
6 | P a g e
The Sphinx & the Pyramids of Giza
Cairo
Our wonderful guides Fatma (our sister on the other side of the world) &
Abdul.
Fatma studied archaeology at Cairo University and she
then studied an extra 2 years to qualify with the Ministry
Tourism as a legal tour guide which she has been
working as for over 15 years. She also studied at the
American University for English language and has
completed courses for accreditation with UNESCO.
Fatma has been appointed as curator of the
Tutankhamun collection at the new Grand Egyptian
museum due to open in 2018. Abdul has a BA in
English language & ancient Egyptian history. Abdul has
been a tour guide 20 years and has worked with many
travel agents such as Thomas Cook and Abercrombie
& Kent. Abdul is very knowledgeable, has a great sense
of humour &is a fabulous guide & more importantly,
a great friend.
Internal photo courtesy of google images
Map courtesy of google images
The Pyramids were built over a span of 85 years , over 4,500
years ago. The Pyramids at Giza are massive,
the largest is as high as the Australia
Square building and covers about 13 acres.
7 | P a g e
The Egyptian Museum has over
120,000 items on display including
an extensive exhibition of treasures
found in Tutankhamun’s Tomb
including the famous gold masks
and sarcophagus. Access to the
Royal Mummy Room is possible for
an additional fee and is where you
can see the mummies of
several great rulers
including Ramses II, the
builder of the
temples at
Abu Simbel.
The Khan el Khalili Bazaar was originally the site of a
mausoleum known as the Saffron Tomb. During the
late 1300’s the mausoleum was destroyed and the
bazaar was built. A great place for bargains as long as
you are willing to haggle.
Photo courtesy of google images
Egyptian Museum, walk through Old Cairo to
Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
The Egyptian Museum has over 120,000 items on display including an extensive
exhibition of treasures found in Tutankhamun’s Tomb including the famous gold masks
and sarcophagus. Access to the Royal Mummy Room is possible for an additional fee
and is where you can see the mummies of several great rulers including Ramses II, the
builder of the temples at Abu Simbel.
8 | P a g e
Saqqara, Memphis, Bent Pyramid & Red Pyramid
Sakkara is an ancient burial site which features
numerous pyramids including the famous step pyramid
of Djoser sometimes referred to as the Step Pyramid
which was built during the 3rd dynasty. Another 16
Egyptian Kings built pyramids at Sakkara. The area
remained an important complex for non-royal burials
and ceremonies for more than 3,000 years.
The Step pyramid of Djoser was the first pyramid was
built during the 27th century BC, over 4,600 years ago
for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser by Imhotep.
The Bent Pyramid of Snefru at Dahshur was built
in approx. 2600 BC, over 4,600 years ago and
shows the original polished limestone outer casing.
The Red Pyramid is known as the first true pyramid built in 2600BC, over 4,600 years
ago and is built of local limestone containing iron oxide, which gives it the reddish colour.
The burial chamber is reached via a short passage which opens high up in the wall of a
second antechamber. The burial chamber measures 4.18m X 8.55m. Its corbelled roof
goes up to a height of 14.67m. It is located well above ground level, in the core of the
pyramid.
Saqqara is an ancient burial site which features numerous pyramids including the famous
step pyramid of Djoser sometimes referred to as the Step Pyramid which was built during
the 3rd dynasty. Another 16 Egyptian Kings built pyramids at Sakkara.
The area remained an important complex for non-royal burials and ceremonies for more
than 3,500 years.
The Step pyramid of Djoser was the first pyramid was built during the 27th century BC,
over 4,600 years ago for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser by Imhotep.
Sakkara is an ancient burial site which features numerous pyramids including the famous
step pyramid of Djoser sometimes referred to as the Step Pyramid which was built during
the 3rd dynasty. Another 16 Egyptian Kings built pyramids at Sakkara. The area
remained an important complex for non-royal burials and ceremonies for more than 3,000
years.
The Step pyramid of Djoser was the first pyramid was built during the 27th century BC,
over 4,600 years ago for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser by Imhotep.
differently at the onset of their careers
Photo courtesy of Google images
Photo courtesy of
google images
Access inside the Red
Pyramid is possible via a
timber slat walkway which leads down to a large room
and then into a large vaulted
ceiling chamber.
9 | P a g e
The Nilometer was built 1,300 years ago to measure the Nile River’s water level during the
annual flood which was then used to determine the amount of tax paid.
Saints Sergius & Bacchus Church is one of the oldest churches in Egypt, with pillars
dating back to the 4th century. It is believed to be built on the site where Joseph, Mary and
Jesus rested at the end of their journey into Egypt.
The Ben Ezra Synagogue is situated in Old Cairo
and according to local folklore, it is located on the site
where baby Moses was found.
Saints Sergius & Bacchus Church, Ben Ezra
Synagogue & the Nileometer
The Bent Pyramid of Snefru at Dahshur was
built approx. 2600 BC, over 4,600 years ago
and shows the original polished limestone outer
casing.
The Nilometer was built 1,300 years ago to measure the
Nile River’s water level during the annual flood which was
then used to determine the amount of tax paid.
The Ben Ezra Synagogue is situated in Old
Cairo, and according to local folklore, it is located
on the site where baby Moses was found.
Saints Sergius & Bacchus Church, Ben Ezra
Synagogue & the Nilometer
The Bent Pyramid of Snefru at Dahshur was
built approx. 2600 BC, over 4,600 years ago
and shows the original polished limestone outer
casing.
Saints Sergius & Bacchus Church is one
of the oldest churches in Egypt, with
pillars dating back to the 4th century. It is
believed to be built on the site where
Joseph, Mary & Jesus rested at the end
of their journey into Egypt..
10 | P a g e
The island was originally given to Lord Kitchener for his services in the Sudan Campaign
(1869-98) & Kitchener transformed the small island into a paradise of exotic trees & plants.
Aswan The first town in Egypt, Aswan’s population is almost 1,400,000 and is around 850km
south of Cairo. It has a hot desert climate like the rest of Egypt and is one of the least
humid cities on the planet. Scenic Aswan is a great place for birdwatching.
‘
Aswan markets at night is a great place to haggle for souvenirs, take in the aroma of the many spices for sale or enjoy a
coffee and shisha.
Kitchener’s Island is
the site of the Aswan
Botanical Gardens
and is reached by a
felucca, a traditional
wooden sailing boat.
11 | P a g e
Abu Simbel
Internal photo courtesy of google images
Abu Simbel is one of the most
spectacular sites in Egypt & a must
see. There are two temples which
were originally carved out of the
mountainside during the reign of
Ramses II in the 13th century BC,
as a lasting monument to himself and
his queen, Nefertari. In 1968 the
complex was moved as the original
site was submerged during the
creation of Lake Nasser & the
Aswan High Dam. The Great
Temple at Abu Simbel was
dedicated to several gods as well as
Ramses himself. Inside the inner
chamber you will find four seated
figures, Ra-Horakhty, King Ramses
and the Gods Amun Ra and Ptah.
It is believed that the axis of the
temple was positioned by the ancient
Egyptian architects in such a way
that on October 21st and February 21st, the rays of the sun would
penetrate the inner sanctuary and
illuminate the sculptures on the back
wall, except for the statue of Ptah,
god of the underworld who always
remained in the dark. These dates
are allegedly the king’s birthday &
coronation day respectively.
12 | P a g e
The Temple of Isis is located on Philae Island and
was founded from 380-362 BC,
over 2,300 years ago
This complex was dismantled and moved to its
current position after being partly flooded for 50
years when the Old Aswan Dam was built.
The Temple of Edfu is
dedicated to the falcon god
Horus and was built between
237 and 57 BC. The
inscriptions on the walls
provided important information
on language, myth and religion
during this period.
This temple was well preserved
after centuries of being buried
beneath sand and silt.
The
unfinished
obelisk at
the
Granite
Quarry,
Aswan
Kom Ombo, is the only
dual temple and was built
over 2,000 years ago for the
Crocodile God Sobek &
Horus, the falcon God.
Granite Quarry, Kom Ombo &
the Temple of Isis, Philae
13 | P a g e
The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Temple,
Karnak & Luxor Temples
On the way to the Valley of the Kings we
will also stop at the Colossi of Memnon.
2 massive stone statues built in 1350
BC, over 3,300 years ago from
sandstone transported 675km overland
to Thebes. Each statue weighs approx.
720 tons & are 60 feet in height
The Mortuary Temple of
Hatshepsut is dedicated to
the Sun God Amon Ra and
was built over 3,400 years
ago. Hatshepsut was the
chief wife of Thutmoses II and
is generally regarded as one
of the most successful
pharaohs, reigning longer than
any other indigenous
Egyptian woman.
The Valley of the Kings is a
valley that was used for
burials for nearly 500 years,
from the 16th to 11th century
BC. At this stage there are
over 60 tombs that have
been found and more are
being discovered each year.
The most famous is
Tutankhamen’s tomb which
is the only one, when
discovered, to still be intact.
His mummy has been
returned to his tomb and lies
in a gold sarcophagus.
It is certainly worth seeing
although you will have to pay
an extra fee to get inside
Tutankhamen’s tomb but it is
a once in a lifetime
opportunity.
Map & photos of Tutankhamen’s tomb
courtesy of google images
14 | P a g e
Luxor city is north of
Aswan and made up of less
than 500,000 people.
It is known as the world’s
greatest open museum.
Also known as the ancient
city of Thebes, one of the
great capitals
of ancient Egypt during the
New Kingdom and was
recognised as a
centre for wisdom, art,
religion & political
supremacy.
It’s a lively city that seems to
never sleeps and is a great
place to walk
around, enjoy a fresh sugar
cane juice, haggle for a
bargain in the
markets or relax
in one of the coffee shops.
Luxor city is north of Aswan and made up of less than 500,000 people.
It is known as the world’s greatest open museum.
Also known as the ancient city of Thebes, one of the great
capitals of ancient Egypt during the New Kingdom and was
recognised as a centre for wisdom, art, religion & political
supremacy. It’s a lively city that seems to never sleeps and is a
great place to walk around, enjoy a fresh sugar cane juice, haggle for a bargain in the
markets or relax in one of the coffee shops.
Karnak Temple is the second largest ancient religious site in the world and the site was
founded 2055 BC, over 4,000 years ago. The temples that are still standing are from
1391 BC, over 3,400 years ago.
Luxor Temple was founded 1400BC, over 3,400 years ago
and was originally connected to the Karnak Temple via a
2.7km avenue of 1,000 Sphinxes. Currently the Egyptian
government is spending $11 million on a project to restore
the entire avenue of sphinxes.
We can also visit this
temple at night which
gives the temple a
totally different
energy.
15 | P a g e
Deir el Medina and Medinat Habu
Medinat Habu is possibly
one of the under rated sites
on the west bank. This is one
of the first places closely
associated with the local god
Amun.
Deir el Medina is an ancient Egyptian mud brick and
sandstone village for the middleclass made up of artisans and
workers who built the tombs in the Valley of the Kings &
Queens. The village contained around 70 houses which
housed Egyptians, Nubians & Asiatics who were employed
as labourers, stone cutters, plasterers, water carriers, and
artists. This site has workers tombs which are open to the
public and are very interesting as well the rarely visited
Temple of Hathor to the rear of the village which has the
most fantastic painted walls.
At the back of the village ruins is a chapel dedicated to the
goddess Hathor which has some of the best preserved
artwork we have seen in Egypt.
16 | P a g e
The Egyptian
government has
spent millions
restoring the
artwork within the
temple and this
makes it one of the
most spectacular
temples to visit.
.
Hathor ‘s Temple
The Temple of Hathor at Dendera is a rarely visited site
and was built around 360BC, over 2,300 years ago. It is
considered one of the best preserved temples in Egypt.
The remaining structures are from 332BC.
The whole area covers some 40,000m² and is
surrounded by a large mud brick wall.
The Egyptian government has spent millions
restoring the artwork within the temple and this
makes it one of the most spectacular temples to visit.
.
A small crypt is accessible
through an opening in the
floor of the “Flame Room”
where you will find beautiful
carvings in the alabaster walls.
17 | P a g e
Accommodation Mena House, Giza
Set in 40 acres of
gardens & built in 1869.
This hotel was named
after the first king.
This 5 star hotel has
seen many famous
guests including
Churchill, Bill Clinton,
Frank Sinatra, Charlie
Chaplin, Richard Nixon
and more recently
Barak Obama.
We have stayed here
many times and love its
old world charm, the
ambience and décor.
18 | P a g e
Ramses Hilton, Cairo
We have stayed here before and
undoubtedly was the best breakfast
we’ve ever had in a hotel.
This 5 start hotel is a great place to sit
and watch daily life in Cairo. It is very
central to downtown Cairo, the museum
and a local shopping mall is within easy
access across the road.
19 | P a g e
Seti Resort, Abu Simbel
This 4 star resort is
our base so we can visit
the temples at Abu
Simbel before the
crowds arrive, an
excellent opportunity
of an early morning visit
to the Abu Simbel
temples before
transferring back to
Aswan to join our
cruise. We will arrive in
time to relax before
attending the evening’s
light and sound show
at the Abu Simbel
Temples.
20 | P a g e
Pavilion Winter
Hotel, Luxor
Built in 1886 the palace was
once the winter retreat of the
Egyptian royal family .
We have stayed in the 5 star new
sections (Pavilion Winter Hotel)
as its much quieter and better
value. We really loved the Winter
Palace gardens and pool area.
High tea in the big house is
certainly worth it as is the
fantastic hour long massage on
offer for around A$50.
21 | P a g e
4 night Nile Cruise on board
the 5 star Moon Goddess
Sail the majestic Nile
River between Aswan
and Luxor in comfort and
modern luxury on a 5 star
cruise ship. Explore the
landmark temples, tombs
and ruins in the region
22 | P a g e
Weather conditions :
March, April & May, with the warmer weather comes the winds which can bring wind & sand
storms.
June, July, August are hot especially in Aswan & Luxor.
September is slightly cooler and with no humidity this makes it more manageable.
November becomes busier and there can be a slight chill in the air.
December, January & February are the busiest time with larger crowds and can be cool.
During September there are not a lot of tourists and as it is still considered the low or
shoulder season hotels, cruises etc. are less expensive compared to the peak season.
We suggest September to take advantage of lower prices and fewer other tourists.
It is Autumn and is still considerably warm with tops of mid to high 30’s. Keep in mind humidity
is low which makes sightseeing in the higher temperatures more bearable.
Sightseeing and tours from the cruise ship go early in the morning to take advantage of the
lower temperatures & that allows the afternoons to relax by the pool as you cruise down the
Nile so please be prepared for early starts and lots of walking.
Peak Shoulder Low season Shoulder Peak
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Cairo - Average high °C 18.9 20.4 23.5 28.3 32 33.9 34.7 34.2 32.6 29.2 24.8 20.3
Cairo - Average low °C 9 9.7 11.6 14.6 17.7 20.1 22 22.1 20.5 17.4 14.1 10.4
Luxor - Average high °C 23 25.4 29 35 39.3 41 40.8 41 38.5 35.1 29.6 24.8
Luxor - Average low °C 5.4 6.8 10.7 15.7 20.7 22.6 23.6 23.5 21.5 17.8 12.3 9.9
23 | P a g e
Testimonials from our previous tours.
“Egypt is safe as there are tourist police everywhere. It was well
organised with great guides. Thanks Shelley & Alan for a
wonderful holiday. I must say I felt very safe, we had wonderful
guides and good drivers. It was a very well organised tour and I
would definitely recommend you to anyone thinking of touring
Egypt.”
“I had a fantastic time. Our hosts Alan & Shelley were friendly and welcoming and
always ready with a Dad joke. Our guides were great. Fatma and Hussan in Cairo were
friendly and knowledgeable and Abdul in Aswan and Luxor was also full of knowledge
and great fun. It truly was a unique tour of Egypt.”
“Had a wonderful experience and I learnt a lot from the guides who were just fantastic
with their knowledge and patience with questions. The tour was well paced, the river
cruise on the Nile was a great way to travel and relax. Thanks for organising the tour of
Egypt and all your help especially with the local customs. The new museum tour was
spectacular.”
Our 2017 group Our 2016 group
24 | P a g e
“Really enjoyed the trip as a whole. Guides were excellent. Hope to do the trip again
one day. Security is very tight in Egypt. I felt safe the entire time.”
“Had the most amazing time seeing sights I had only
dreamed of. Shelley and Alan covered every little detail
about our trip providing us with as much information as they
could. The guides where exceptional with their humour and
amazing knowledge and nothing was any trouble to them.
I always felt safe and would highly recommend this trip to
anyone. Well done Shelley and Alan on making a memorable
trip of a lifetime. Hope to do it again one day. I had an awesome holiday.”
Loved seeing the pyramids and temples. All had something different to see. Very excited
about climbing into the inside of the pyramids and exploring the Valley of the Kings.
Thank you so much Alan & Shelley for a wonderful experience. I will highly recommend you.
Mind blowing culture, we were given the unique opportunity to re-arrange the itinerary if we all
agreed. Some great extras/surprises. Would recommend this trip to anyone.
I loved both light and sound shows at the pyramids and Karnak.
25 | P a g e
Dept. of Foreign Affairs Warnings
For reasons of political unrest, acts of war or
terrorism or natural disasters in certain parts of the
world, the Australian Government in
conjunction with various other worldwide bodies
may decide to issue a Government Advisory
warning to Australian Passport holders not to
travel to a particular country. To check travel
advice for countries around the world please see
http://www.dfat.gov.au
You should also register on
http://www.orao.dfat.gov.au to advise dfat where
and when you will be travelling.
Practicalities
Smoking is common in Egypt, including in
restaurants and bars. Alcohol is available and
typically served only at higher end restaurants and
on all cruises.
Drinking on the street is forbidden as is public
drunkenness.
Please be aware internet access is not always
reliable and although we will do our best it is not
always accessible in all hotels.
Travellers Health Advice
This tour involves early starts to avoid the heat, a lot of
walking and sometimes on uneven ground so a degree of
fitness is required. Having said that and to ensure equity
for all our tours will always run at the pace of our slowest
traveller. Assistance is possible such as wheel chairs, golf
carts etc. so please talk to us if you have any concerns or
special requirements.
Egypt has special vaccination and health
requirements and we recommend you contact your
nearest Medical Centre or your local doctor. If you are
unable to undertake travel because you do not meet the
health requirements, we will not be liable for any extra
costs that may be incurred. We recommend you get a flu
shot at least 1 month prior to taking your trip. It is
suggested you take along a small first aid kit and include
plenty of Imodium.
Safety
Unfortunately in the current world climate no one can
guarantee your safety anywhere in the world however we
have always felt completely safe in Egypt. The locals are
extremely friendly and fully aware their livelihood depends
on tourists so they are reluctant to jeopardise this.
In spite of all the media reports, crime in Egypt is
significantly less prevalent than many western countries
and theft is low .
Crossing the road in Cairo is particularly
dangerous and it’s best done with a local or guide as a lot
of trust is necessary. The Lonely Planet suggests you
position yourself so that 1 or more locals form a buffer
between you and oncoming traffic and to cross when they
do. Never hesitate or turn back once you have stepped
off the kerb. Cross as if you own the road, but do it fast.
26 | P a g e
What to bring :
Choose to pack any article of clothing that
could be easily washed by hand in a sink.
Spending five minutes rinsing out clothes at the
end of the day and letting them dry overnight is
such a space saver .
Skirts are a cool and comfortable choice but not
a requirement by any means. Also keep solar-
safety in mind. It’s not such a bad idea (and
surprisingly cooler) to keep as much skin as
possible covered with cloth.
There is no need to bring headscarves to Egypt.
There are no requirements for women to cover
hair in all holy places but there are certain
mosques where covering your hair will be required
so you may want to purchase an Egyptian scarf,
they are beautiful and inexpensive souvenirs that
are very easy to find. Please pack some modest
clothing that can be worn when visiting churches
and mosques. Long skirts, trousers or pants and
covered shoulders will be necessary when visiting
religious sites.
Having said that wearing a head scarf whilst
visiting any mosque is considered by locals as an
acknowledgment of respect.
Bring along the usuals, hat, sunblock, sunglasses,
fan, first aid kit and a torch. An umbrella is also
useful for cover from the sun.
You might also find an umbrella for shade useful.
The most important thing you will need is
patience. The Egyptian people work on a
different time schedule.
Egypt can be dirty, noisy, confusing, and at times
confronting but always exciting.
Along with everything else you might come across
in Egypt, the delays, the diarrhoea, some things
are certain, you will be hassled, people will pester
you and you will be conned to pay someone
E£10 to “see something you’ve never seen
before”. This is Egypt, they have been doing it
for centuries, just smile, wave and walk away.
Remember for some people this is their only form
of income and a means to support their family and
put into perspective, E£10 is really less than
A$2.
The Egyptian people are always ready and
willing to help and you must always be willing and
ready to tip for their help
27 | P a g e
Money :
Bring a major credit or debit card with you to
Egypt since many establishments accept
payments with plastic and an increasing
number of ATM machines can be found in
major cities and tourist sites.
Egyptian pounds may be ordered from the
Commonwealth Bank prior to your departure
or you can bring cash to exchange for
Egyptian pounds. Remember to hoard your
smaller bills and coins for tipping the many
Egyptian merchants in dire need of small
change. Aust $ and US$ can be easily
changed at most hotel banks.
Conversion rates
The following is an indication and to be used
as a rough guide only when buying or
converting Australian $ to Egyptian Pounds.
These conversion rates are from September
2017 & are to be used as an approximate
only.
A$1 = E£13.57 E£10 = A$0.74
A$10 = E£135 E£25 = A$1.85
A$20 = E£280 E£50 = A$3.69
A$50 = E£271 E£75 = A$5.53
A$100 = E£1356 E£100 = A$7.37
A$150 = E£2034 E£150 = A$11.06
Women travellers :
You may find, you will be cat-called,
whistled at, proposed to and, maybe
occasionally pinched. This is particularly
true in big cities, in crowded areas and
usually happens to younger females.
Our first visit to Egypt was in the mid 80’s
and this was certainly an issue however
returning in 2008 and subsequent visits
this has not been the case, a benefit of
growing older perhaps? Should it happen
the best policy for dealing with it is simply
to ignore it.
In nearly all cases, it presents no physical
threat. It helps to dress conservatively, if
you are actually touched, immediately turn
around and shout at the offender, in the
local language if you know any -- it helps to
learn a few good insults.
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Spending Money
Trying to estimate how much spending money you will
need depends on you and your personal spending habits.
The cost of a meal in a local restaurant is around
E£100 (approx. A$7) and slightly higher in hotel
restaurants. Soft drinks cost around E£20 (A$1.50)
and bottled water around E£5 (A35c) depending on
where you shop.
Local beer and wines are significantly cheaper than imported at around E£40 (A$3)
per glass. Imported spirits are more expensive at around E£60 a nip (A$4 up to A$10)
plus mixers.
Buying souvenirs will depend on what you purchase.
Egypt is well known for its papyrus, scented oils and alabaster. All make wonderful
souvenirs and gifts.
Papyrus vary in price from E£150 upwards, the price of scented oils depends on the
quantity (ml) and the number of bottles you purchase. Egyptian cotton galabeyas can
be purchased for around E£100 and t shirts can be as low as E£50 depending on the
quality.
We have found we always spend more than we anticipated as it it’s hard to pass such
reasonably priced and beautiful mementos of your trip. Keep in mind you are also
contributing to the Egyptian economy and often helping feed a local family.
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Tour Costs :
17 days at a cost of A$5,700 ex Cairo. This price includes 4 to 5 star accommodation, full board on the 4 night cruise, some meals, all tours
mentioned, guides, transport & internal flights (Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo).
Costs are based on group rates and are subject to a minimum of at least 6 travellers. We reserve the right
to cancel or re-cost the tour should the minimum numbers not be met.
Payments & Terms
The land only cost of the Egyptian tour is Australian $5,700 and does not include international airfares.
These prices include twin share accommodation with full breakfast, transport, guides, entrance fees, some
meals, internal flights (Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo via Egypt Air) and full board on the 4 night
Nile cruise. It should be noted that we reserve the right to adjust the cost of the tour if a substantial fall in
the Australian Dollar exchange rate occurs. Prices are subject to availability at the time of booking and
may fluctuate due to changes in charges, hotel cancellation policies, taxes and currency. Prices are not
guaranteed until the full payment has been made. Deposits hold the reservation but do not guarantee the
price however we will do our best to stay within the quoted price.
Single supplement
Prices quoted in this brochure are on a twin share basis. If you do not wish to share accommodation and
would like your own room, a single supplement is available for A$7, 000.
If your booking is not a twin share booking we require payments as per the single supplement payment
schedule following, $700 deposit, $2,500 March 1st, $2,500 May 1st & $1,300 July 1st.
If you are willing to share a room with another single traveller of the same gender, you can pay the twin
share rate however if we are unable to match you with another traveller prior to the final payment date of
July 1st you will need to pay the single supplement rate. We accept no responsibility for the suitability of
the allocated rooming partner.
If at any time during the tour, you consider your rooming partner unsuitable, you must notify us and we will
use reasonable endeavours to arrange single accommodation for you for the remainder of the tour,
subject to availability, and at your own cost, paid directly to the hotel.
If there is no availability of single accommodation for the remainder of the tour, you will be required to
continue to share with your nominated rooming partner for the remainder of the tour.
Unfortunately, as stated, if we are unable to match you prior to the final payment date of July 1st, we will
request full payment as per the single supplement rate.
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Once you have confirmed your intent to travel with us we ask for the following :
A non-refundable deposit of $700 per person
A competed booking form per person
A photocopy of your passport which must have at least 6 months before expiring.
Payments are as follows :
$700 non-refundable deposit on booking
$2,000 March 1st 2018
$2,000 May 1st 2018
$1,000 July 1st 2018 final payment
It is recommended that, at the time of your initial booking, you take out appropriate travel insurance in the
event you need to cancel your tour. You must be covered by insurance to travel on this tour and a copy of
your insurance as well as a copy of your passport and flight details need to be provided by August 1st.
Passports are required and must have a minimum of 6 months validity from the date of the scheduled
return to Australia. Travel documents and airline tickets must match the name and spelling as it appears
in your passport. For passport holders other than Australian, a valid re-entry permit for Australia is
required. Please be aware if you have a previous criminal record you could be denied entry into your
country of destination. Whilst we offer full assistance it is the responsibility of each traveller to ensure
they have full and correct documentation to undertake this journey. If you have any special requirements
i.e. smoking or non-smoking room, special dietary requests or airport assistance, every attempt will be
made by us to accommodate your request but as we are not the ultimate service provider we cannot
guarantee the request.
Visa are required for entry into Egypt and should be purchased prior to your departure.
See our website to download a visa application form.
Cancellations
For any cancellation made 60 days or more before the start of the tour all amounts already paid shall be
reimbursed less the initial $700 deposit paid on booking. For later cancellations less than 60 days but
more than 30 days prior to departure we will refund 50% of all payments less the initial $700 deposit.
Unfortunately no refunds can be made for any cancellation made 30 days or less before departure date.
Special needs
We welcome you if you have a disability or other special need, provided you are accompanied by a
companion capable of providing all the assistance you require. Assistance such as help with a
wheelchair can be arranged for an extra fee. Please note that although we will use reasonable endeavours
to provide you with all the activities on your itinerary depending on your disability you may not be able
to participate in every activity. You must advise us of any disability, medical condition or dietary
requirement at the time of booking.
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Registration and Booking Form
Shelley & Alan’s Egyptian Tour 2018
Please print details clearly in block letters and also attach a photocopy of your passport to this booking form.
Tour start date is: Thursday 17th September 2018 ex Cairo.
Passenger name (as written in your passport) :____________________________________________________________________
Address : ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Home Telephone Number : __________________________________________________________________________________
Mobile number : __________________________________________________________________________________________
Email address : ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Occupation : _______________________________ Age : ________________ Date of Birth : _________________ (D/M/Y)
Nationality : ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Passport number & Expiry date : _____________________________________________________________________________
(Must have 6 months from the date of the tour completion)
Any special dietary needs : __________________________________________________________________________________
Flight requirements : (if required) _____________________________________________________________________________
Flight seat request : ________________________________________________________________________________________
(We are happy to make requests however the airline does not guarantee meeting these requests)
Accommodation : Single/Twin/Double Room : __________________________________________________________________
Other requirements : _______________________________________________________________________________________
Do you have any existing medical conditions? Yes or No _________________________________________________________
If yes, please give details : __________________________________________________________________________________
In case of emergency, who do we notify:
Name : _____________________________________________Address : _____________________________________________
Phone : ____________________________________________ Email : _______________________________________________
Please return this form with your non-refundable deposit of $700 per person
I enclose a cheque for $700
Please debit my credit card $700 Card # : ______________________________ Expiry date : __________________
Direct Deposit – please email/fax through notification if you use this facility.
Bank : NAB Ballina
BSB : 082 522
Account Number : 479 466 477 Ref : OliverEgypt(and your initials)
Please complete the registration form and return it along with your payment. By completing this registration form you acknowledge
you have read and accept the Terms and Conditions following.
Return to :
Windrose Travel Ballina
2/140 River St, Ballina NSW 2478 Fax (02) 6621 8003 Email : [email protected]
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Unique Egyptian Tours with
Shelley & Alan Oliver
02 4782 5620
https://uniquetoursofegypt.wordpress.com/