Itinerary

• Day 01 / Sun / Arrive in Cairo and transfer to hotel.
• Day 02 / Visit Egyptian Museum and mummy room, pyramids and Sphinx. Sleeper train to Aswan.
• Day 03 / Visit the Aswan bazaar. Afternoon camel ride and felucca trip.
• Day 04 / Optional visit to Abu Simbel. Board Nile cruise.
• Day 05 / Nile cruise. Visit Komombo and Edfu Temples.
• Day 06 / Arrive Luxor. Horse-drawn carriage to Karnak Temple.
• Day 07 / Visit Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon.
• Day 08 / Drive to Hurghada on the Red Sea coast.
• Day 09 / Boat trip and snorkelling.
• Day 10 / Morning free. Return to Cairo.
• Day 11 / Visit Khan el Khalili bazaar. Afternoon free.
• Day 12 / Thu / Trip ends in Cairo this morning.

Age limits and responsibility for minors
The minimum age required to join this tour is six years old. This family trip is designed for families only (i.e. at least one adult and at least one child). The parent or guardian is fully responsible for their children throughout this tour. If you have a question regarding age and suitability, please contact us for further advice.

Trip Prices

• USD $1,890 Adult
• USD $1,700 Child (04 to 11 years old)

Trip Dates

• 01 Apr 2012 – 12 Apr 2012
• 08 Apr 2012 – 19 Apr 2012
• 29 Apr 2012 – 10 May 2012
• 20 May 2012 – 31 May 2012
• 10 Jun 2012 – 21 Jun 2012
• 01 Jul 2012 – 12 Jul 2012
• 29 Jul 2012 – 09 Aug 2012
• 26 Aug 2012 – 06 Sep 2012
• 23 Sep 2012 – 04 Oct 2012
• 21 Oct 2012 – 01 Nov 2012
• 18 Nov 2012 – 29 Nov 2012
• 09 Dec 2012 – 20 Dec 2012
• 23 Dec 2012 – 03 Jan 2013
• 06 Jan 2013 – 17 Jan 2013
• 20 Jan 2013 – 31 Jan 2013
• 03 Feb 2013 – 14 Feb 2013
• 03 Mar 2013 – 14 Mar 2013
• 31 Mar 2013 – 11 Apr 2013
• 28 Apr 2013 – 09 May 2013
• 26 May 2013 – 06 Jun 2013
• 23 Jun 2013 – 04 Jul 2013
• 14 Jul 2013 – 25 Jul 2013

Special Notes
Our family trips are not recommended for children under the age of six. There must be at least one parent/adult guardian for three minors. Parent/adult guardian must be fully responsible for their minors throughout the entire trip. If you have a question regarding age and suitability, please contact us for further advice.

Inclusions

• Expert English-speaking local leader throughout the tour, and professional local guides at some sites.
• Sightseeing (including entrance fees where applicable: Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, the pyramids, Sphinx and Khan El Khalili bazaar; Aswan’s Nubian bazaar; Komombo; Edfu; Valley of the Kings; Temple of Hatshepsut; and Colossi of Memnon.
• 3 night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor. Accommodation onboard Peregrine’s comfortable vessel, with sightseeing stops along the way.
• Traditional felucca boat excursion on the Nile.
• Camel ride towards St. Simeon’s Monastery in Aswan.
• Horse-drawn carriage ride to Karnak Temple.
• 2 days in Hurghada on the Red Sea coast – local boat trip with snorkelling and a seafood lunch, and time to relax on the beach.
• Overnight air-conditioned sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan. Accommodation in private cabins (linen provided) with an ‘airline-style’ dinner included.
• Free time to explore Aswan, Luxor and Cairo.
• Arrival transfer.
• Meals – 11 Breakfasts, 04 Lunches & 04 Dinners.

Exclusions

• Visa costs
• International flights, departure taxes, insurance (obligatory on all trips)
• Other meals, drinks not listed
• Any optional additional tours and activities during free time, camera fees, excess baggage charges
• Spending of a personal nature such as tips and/or gratuities, laundry, drinks, souvenirs.

Other notes

Age limits and responsibility for minors
Our family trips are not recommended for children under the age of six. There must be at least one parent/adult guardian for three minors. Parent/adult guardian must be fully responsible for their minors throughout the entire trip. If you have a question regarding age and suitability, please contact us for further advice.

Accommodation
Triple share rooms are not available on the overnight trains or Nile cruise boat in Egypt. For bookings with an odd number of passengers, one adult will have to share a room on the train and the cruise boat with someone else from the tour of the same gender or a single supplement can be requested for the tour, at additional cost. If you have requested a triple room, this will only apply to your hotel stays, if available.

‘Baksheesh’ and Tipping
Throughout the Middle East, tipping is part of the fabric of life. The local word is ‘baksheesh’, which when translated into English falls somewhere in between ‘tip’ and ‘bribe’. Everyone constantly tips everyone else and foreign travellers are expected to comply with this system. It is part of everyday life and is a form of remuneration for doing something, regardless of the standard of service. This is quite confusing for those used to the western concept of tipping as a way of showing appreciation. Over the years we have found that most of our customers find this constant need for tipping to be both tiresome and embarrassing, especially if you don’t have the correct small change. To overcome this, we have established a very successful tipping kitty system. At the beginning of the tour, your tour leader will suggest collecting a set amount from each tour member. He/she will then distribute all tips along the way, on behalf of the group, to the local guides, drivers, porters and anyone else who provides services along the way. We have surveyed thousands of our previous clients and the vast majority clearly prefer this procedure. We hope that this system will also work for you. The amount will vary from trip to trip, but it usually works out to be about the equivalent of US$3 per person per day.

If you are out on your own, for example at a restaurant, you should also leave a tip for the waiter.

Please note that the tipping kitty will NOT include a gratuity for your tour leader. They work hard for you and if you are happy with their service it is appropriate to tip them as well. The normal amount expected is US$3 (or equivalent) per day from each member of the group.

Ramadan
Ramadan occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is an exciting (and at times, frustrating) time to travel in the Middle East. In the evening there is a celebratory atmosphere as people break their fast, and to witness all this is a real highlight. However, during the day, people must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual activity, so if you encounter someone who is a bit grumpy, be sympathetic! Tourist sites are generally unaffected although some places may close early, but your leader will plan around this. Most hotels bars and tourist restaurants will remain open. Overall, Ramadan is a really interesting time to the Middle East, although you do need to be flexible, sympathetic and sensitive. In 2010, Ramadan starts on 11th August and finishes on 9th September, with the Eid el Fitr feast commencing on 10th September. In 2011, Ramadan will start on 1st August and finish on 30th August.

Christmas & New Year Supplements
Please note that some hotels & riverboats in Egypt have a compulsory Gala Dinner over the Christmas and New Year period. If you are travelling over this period you will be invoiced for the supplement fee which will need to be paid prior to departure.

Visas
Egypt
Australians, New Zealanders, Americans, British and Canadians require a visa for Egypt.
All other nationalities should check with the Egyptian Embassy or Consulate in their country for up-to-date visa information.

If you require a double entry visa for Egypt you will need to obtain this from an overseas embassy prior to arrival. Single entry visas for most nationalities can be obtained on arrival at Cairo Airport.

The current cost for most nationalities is US$15. You must pay in cash in US dollars, UK pounds, euros, Japanese yen or any other convertible currency to a bank located next to immigration. If you are arriving in Egypt by land from Israel you must obtain your visa beforehand.

If you are arriving in Egypt by ferry from Aqaba, Jordan, a single entry visa can be obtained upon arrival and costs approximately US$15.

All travellers departing Egypt at the Port of Nuweiba must pay a 50 Egyptian pound departure tax (subject to change). Your tour leader will collect this amount from you to pay at immigration control.