Splendors of Ancient Egypt
Splendors of Ancient Egypt
February 28 – March 11, 2023
With Pre- Extension to Isatanbul
February 25 – March 1
Join me on this private, exclusive group trip to Egypt and Istanbul of no more than 15-20 travelers (even while on the Nile Cruise, we will have the same Egyptologist guide). This tour is a little bit longer than the usual box tours allowing for more enjoyment and exploration without feeling rushed. We will see unique sites that most others do not get to see. We will have an extensive visit to the new Grand Egyptian Museum that replaces the old museum of Antiquities, and is set to be open in the fall of 2022.
If taking a selfie in front of the pyramids, cruising the Nile, riding in a horse drawn carriage, riding a camel in the desert, visiting tombs and monuments of infamous Pharaohs, sailing in a traditional sailboat, and shopping at world famous markets and bazaars for rugs, ceramics and thousands of other items all sound fun to you, then don’t miss this amazing trip to Egypt and Istanbul.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 –
Depart Atlanta with Turkish Airlines nonstop flight # 32 to Istanbul, leaving at 9:35pm.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 – CAIRO
Arriving Istanbul at 4:10pm. Connect with Turkish Airlines nonstop flight # 694 to Cairo, leaving at 7:10pm arriving at 8:30pm.
Upon arrival in Cairo, you will be met by Ya’lla Tours USA Egypt representative near the immigration counter area, he will have a blue sign with your name, give him a wave and he will meet you and give you the visas and then you will be transferred to your hotel for overnight.
Stay in a Pyramid View Room
Our hotel, HYATT REGENCY CAIRO WEST, boasts spectacular views over one of the world’s greatest wonders, the Giza Pyramids. Open in the summer of 2021 it is located in the midst of Cairo’s cultural and commercial hub, our hotel is a timeless infusion of culture and modernity. The hotel features 249 guest rooms, free Wi-Fi throughout the property, five dining outlets, a spa, an outdoor swimming pool and pool bar, a gym, laundry, and room service. Guest rooms are equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows, free Wi-Fi, 65” TV, minifridge, coffee maker, safe and hairdryer.
www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/egypt/hyatt-regency-cairo-west/hberc
THURSDAY, MARCH 2 – CAIRO (B,L)
You will be met at the hotel by your private guide to start your tour.
Visit the Red Pyramid of Dahshour. Senefru built this pyramid approximately 4,600 years ago. Many scholars consider it to be more glorious than the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza, which was built by Senefru’s son.
Visit the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, a prototype of the Giza pyramids, and the Imhotep Museum.
Stop by a carpet factory and watch a demonstration of traditional carpet weaving.
Lunch en route.
Then, roam the Giza Plateau, site of the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the pyramids of Menkaure and Khafre. Built in the Fourth Dynasty (approximately 2690 BC), this pyramid complex is the only survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We’ll have the opportunity to enter the interior of one of these legendary structures.
Ride a camel across the sands of Giza, and gaze out over the whole plateau, the Great Sphinx backdropped by the pyramids, a setting that has captured the imaginations of adventurers for centuries.
Then continue through Khafre’s Valley Temple to the Great Sphinx.
Continue to an institute of Papyrus to see how papyrus is made and a demonstration of the new phosphoric paintings on Papyrus.
Return to your hotel for overnight.
FRIDAY, MARCH 3 – CAIRO (B,L,D)
Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, filled with artefacts from thousands of years of Egyptian history, including the mummies of powerful pharaohs and treasures from the Tomb of Tutankhamen.
Lunch en route.
Continue to the Saladin Citadel and the 12th-century Mohamed Ali Mosque, standing proudly in the highest point inside the courtyard of the Citadel.
Spend some time exploring Khan el Khalili Bazaar.
Have afternoon tea with Egyptian pastries in the famous Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant.
Evening: Enjoy a dinner cruise party on the Nile.
Return to your hotel for overnight.
SATURDAY, MARCH 4 – LUXOR (B,L)
Continue to the Old Cairo Coptic quarter to see the Hanging Church (El- Muallaqa), built between the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Continue to the 4th-century St. Sergius Church, built on the site where tradition says the Holy Family stayed during their time in Egypt.
Lunch en route.
Visit the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, the only museum in Egypt offering a full overview of Egypt’s historical periods, from the Predynastic and Ancient Egyptian periods to contemporary times. The museum was developed over a period of 20 years through the cooperation of Egyptian government and UNESCO to showcase this globally important heritage in well organized and beautiful exhibits.
Transfer to Cairo Airport for your late-afternoon flight to Luxor.
In Luxor, meet our local representative and transfer to your hotel for overnight.
Stay in a Nile View Room
Our hotel, SONESTA ST. GEORGE, is a beautiful 5-star property located on the east bank of the Nile. All guest rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, hair dryer, minibar, satellite TV, safe, and direct-dial telephone. Amenities include 8 restaurants and bars, heated swimming pool, children’s activities, beauty salon, 24-hour room service, health and fitness center. https://www.sonesta.com/sonesta-hotels-resorts/luxor-governorate/luxor/sonesta-st-george-hotel-luxor
SUNDAY, MARCH 5 – LUXOR (B,L)
Visit Dendera, where ruins include the Ptolomaic temple of the goddess Hathor, with its round zodiac ceiling representing the heavens as they were known by Greek and Egyptian astronomers. The temple was buried in sand up until mid-1800’s. Two Roman fountains flank the path leading to the temple’s massive entry gate. The mud-brick enclosure walls also date to the Roman era. Structures within the walls include the temple, a Coptic Basilica, and a temple to Isis.
Lunch en route.
In the afternoon, visit the souk.
Return to your hotel for overnight.
MONDAY, MARCH 6 – NILE CRUISE (Luxor) (B,L,D)
Enjoy a relaxing morning before checking out from the hotel.
A representative will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to your Nile cruise vessel, Chateau Lafayette, for lunch.
After lunch, visit Karnak Temple with your private guide. Known as “the Temple of Temples,” Karnak is the largest place of worship ever built. Its ancient name Ipet-isut means “the most sacred of places.” The temple, or, more correctly, the complex of temples, was built over a time span of more than two thousand years by generation after generation of pharaohs. Within the complex, the great Hypostyle Hall is an incredible forest of giant pillars covering an area larger than the whole of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Then visit the graceful Temple of Luxor built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II for ritual and festivals and dedicated to the god Amun.
Return to your cruise for dinner and overnight onboard.
Our Nile cruise, MOVENPICK HAMEES, has a comfortable and contemporary design and is among the largest and best-appointed crafts on the river Nile. Travel in style and enjoy lounging at the swimming pool, reading or playing games in the reading and playroom, or enjoying the sun on the sun deck, offering a recreational area as well as a selection of eating and drinking options. All guest cabins are on the exterior of the boat, with views of the Nile. Cabins are fully air-conditioned and have a private bathroom with a bathtub and hairdryer. Further amenities include an LCD TV with marine satellite, internal phone, music channel, minibar, safety deposit box and two life jackets.www.movenpick.com/en/africa/egypt/nilecruisers/cruise-hamees.html#
TUESDAY, MARCH 7 – NILE CRUISE (Edfu) (B,L,D)
After breakfast onboard, cross to the west bank of the Nile and visit the wondrous Valley of the Kings, a vast city of the dead where the magnificent tombs of 62 pharaohs have been discovered. The tombs were carved deep into the desert rock, richly decorated and filled with treasures for the afterlife of the pharaohs. Visit several of the tombs. Next, visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. This beautiful monument to the reign of one of the very few female pharaohs rises out of the desert plain in a series of terraces and merges with the sheer limestone cliffs behind.
Luxor, Egypt – March 4, 2008: Tourists at the Great Temple of Hatshepsut on March 4, 2008, near the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt.
On the way back to your Nile cruise, stop at the famed Colossi of Memnon, two 66ft, 1 thousand-ton statues of Amenhotep III. These colossal statues were known by the ancient Greeks to emit haunting voices at dawn. Though damaged by nature and ancient tourists, the statues are still impressive.
Lunch, and dinner onboard. Sail to Edfu for overnight.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8 – NILE CRUISE (Aswan) (B,L,D)
After breakfast onboard, set out by horse-drawn carriage to visit the Temple of Horus, the falcon-headed sky god, the most perfectly preserved of all the Nile temples.
Return to your cruise vessel by horse carriage and sail to Kom Ombo.
Visit the Temple of Sobek, the crocodile-headed god of fertility and creator of the world. The temple stands at a bend in the Nile where, in ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank.
Lunch, dinner and overnight onboard.
Sail to Aswan for overnight.
THURSDAY, MARCH 9 – NILE CRUISE (Aswan) (B,L,D)
After breakfast onboard, take a tour of Aswan High Dam, Egypt’s contemporary example of building on a monumental scale. Continue by a short motor-boat ride to the Ptolemaic Temple of Philae on the island of Agilka.
The temple was dedicated to Isis, sister/wife of Osiris and patroness of the Ptolemaic rule.
In the afternoon, sail around Elephantine Island on a felucca, the traditional Egyptian sailboat. Elephantine Island is the largest of the Aswan area islands and is the site of some of the most ancient remains in Egypt, with artifacts dating to pre-dynastic periods.
Continue sailing around Kitchner Island. Lord Kitchner moved here after being given the island for his campaigns in the Sudan. He imported plants from around the world to create his famous garden. From the river you have a nice view of the Aga Khan Mausoleum, an elegant pink granite structure built in the late 1950’s.
Return to your cruise for dinner and overnight in Aswan.
FRIDAY, MARCH 10 – CAIRO (B,D)
Disembark from the Nile cruise.
Take a morning flight to Abu Simbel and visit the two awesome temples built by Ramses the Great. The entire complex of temples was moved to its present location 90 feet above its old site to protect it from the rising water of the Nile when the Aswan Dam was built in the early sixties.
Fly back to Aswan and connect on to Cairo. You will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel near the airport for overnight.
Our hotel, LE MERIDIEN CAIRO AIRPORT, is a deluxe hotel which is connected to airport Terminal 3 via pedestrian bridge. All 349 guest rooms have high-speed internet access, individually controlled air-conditioning, alarm clock, flat screen satellite TV, safe, minibar, coffee/tea maker, bathrobes, telephone, marble bathroom, and hairdryer. Hotel amenities include 24-hour front desk, concierge service, 24-hour room service, laundry services, gift shop, fitness center, 3 restaurants, lounge and bar and outdoor swimming pool. www.lemeridiencairoairport.com
In the evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner at a local Mediterranean restaurant.
SATURDAY, MARCH 11 (B)
You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your Turkish Air nonstop flight # 691 to Istanbul, leaving at 9:35am and arriving at 1:05pm. Connect with Turkish Air nonstop flight # 31 to Atlanta, leaving at 3:45pm and arriving at 8:05pm.
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Price per person in a double room: $7,445
Price per person in a single room: $9,045
Prices are GUARANTEED for March 2023
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TOUR INCLUDES:
* Round trip economy class airfare from Atlanta to Cairo on Turkish Airlines.
* Departure & Fuel taxes ($610 based on March 22,2022 tariff, subject to Change
until the final invoice).
* Round trip economy class airfare from Cairo to Luxor and return from Aswan on Egypt
Air.
* Round trip economy class airfare from Aswan to Abu Simbel on Egypt Air.
* 6 nights of hotel accommodations with buffet breakfast daily.
* 4-night Nile cruise with all meals onboard included.
* All private transfers to / from airports and ports.
* All touring in Cairo, during the Nile Cruise with a licensed, private Egyptologist
English-speaking guide, throughout (it is the same guide that will fly to Luxor and will
sail and guide you).
* All entrance fees as per itinerary.
* 3 lunches in Cairo and 1 lunch in Luxor.
* Dinner party on the Nile in Cairo.
* Farewell dinner in Cairo.
* Unlimited water on the bus throughout.
* Porterage at airports, hotels and cruises.
* Service fees and local taxes.
* Ya’lla Tours USA Inc. travel bag and exclusive information kit.
* Egypt entry visa
TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:
* Meals & drinks, unless specified.
* Travel insurance, highly recommended. Please note that Egypt requires, as of today, each person that enters to carry a valid travel insurance policy. You may purchase your own using any cpmpnay you wish or we will send links for travel insurance companies we use often.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
* Air schedules are subject to change at any time.
* You must have a U.S. passport to enter Egypt for at least 6 months past
your scheduled return date).
* An $900 per person deposit is required upon booking. The deposit is refundable less a $500 cancellation fee
up to 90 days prior to departure.
* Final payment is due on November 30, 2022.
EMAIL ME FOR REGISTRATION FORM
CAROL@ANDREWSTRAVEL.NET
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
PRICE:
* The price of the tour is: $7,445 per person in a double room based on a minimum of 10
participants in the tour. The price is guaranteed but if due to unforeseen circumstances
beyond Ya’lla Tours USA Inc’s control, our suppliers increase the price, Ya’lla USA
Inc. will adjust the price accordingly.
* Price of the airfare portion of the tour is subject to change until the air ticket has been
issued.
* Should a single traveler wish to share a room with another traveler, and Ya’lla Tours
USA Inc. is unable to match him/her with a roommate, the single room supplement will
apply.
* Should the number of participants, 90 days prior to departure, be lower than the
published minimum number of participants to operate the tour, the price will be
adjusted accordingly, or the tour will be canceled.
DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT POLICY:
* A deposit of $900 per person is due upon registration.
* Final payment is due on November 30, 2022, 90 days prior to departure.
ISTANBUL PRE EGYPT EXTENSION
FEBRUARY 25 – MARCH 1, 2023
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 –
Depart Atlanta with Turkish Airlines nonstop flight # 32 to Istanbul, leaving at 9:35pm.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 – ISTANBUL
Upon arrival at Istanbul’s New Airport at 4:10pm, proceed through customs & immigration and get your luggage Once in the International arrival hall after the customs exit, our transfer man will meet you after passing GATE 13, our Ya’lla Tours USA
Turkey representative who will be holding a sign with your name and then you will be
transferred to your hotel for overnight.
Based in a Deluxe Galata View Rooms
Our hotel, JW MARRIOTT BOSPHORUS, is housed in an elegantly restored historic
building located on the Bosporus shore in eclectic Karaköy, mere steps from boutique
shops, cafés, cocktail bars and artisanal markets. The 130 guestrooms and suites are each
unique, relying on the original architectural footprint. Guestrooms are equipped with
modern amenities and furnished in a soft, neutral palette aimed at inducing serenity and
wellbeing. Hotel facilities and services include 8 restaurants and a spa.
www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/istjb-jw-marriott-istanbul-bosphorus/overview/
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 – ISTANBUL
After breakfast, start your private tour with a visit the legendary Blue Mosque, named for the beautiful blue Iznik tiles that cover its walls. Then stroll around the historical Hippodrome where chariot races were held.
Continue to St. Sophia, originally a Christian Basilica built by Justinian in the 6th century, then converted to a mosque during the Ottoman Empire. See the beautiful mosaics on display at the museum.
Visit Topkapi Palace, legendary residence of the Ottoman Sultans.
Lunch en route.
The underground Cistern is thought to have been built after the Nika revolt in 532 AD.
It was known as the Basilica Cistern during the Roman period. After the conquest of the city by the Ottoman Turks, it was forgotten of and nobody knew that it existed. Re-discovered in 1545, it was used to water the gardens of Topkapi Palace. Today it has a rather eerie and mystical ambiance. Clever spotlighting makes the water shimmer with colored dancing lights and the water ripples from an occasional fish swishing its tail in exuberance.
Enjoy free time to explore the exhilarating Grand Bazaar of Istanbul.
Return to your hotel for overnight.
– ISTANBUL
After breakfast, drive via the Intercontinental Bosporus Bridge to Camlica Hill on the Asian side to see the breathtaking view of Istanbul. Visit the Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer residence of Ottoman Sultans with original furniture and magnificent gardens. start your private tour with a visit the Egyptian Bazaar, used as the spice market since 1665. Next, take a ferry-ride on the Bosporus.
Return to Istanbul and your hotel for overnight.
Evening: a nice dinner in Istanbul
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 –
After a relaxed breakfast check out from the hotel and
Drive along the shores of Bosporus to Balat district.
Continue to Eyup and take the cable car to Pierre Loti Coffee House. In the 19th century,
the well-known poet and author Loti was enraptured by Istanbul and he came here often
to watch the beauties of the Golden Horn of those days. The view from this small cafe
and the terrace, particularly during full moon, leaves long-lasting impressions on the
visitors.
You will be transferred to the Istanbul Airport to meet the rest of the group for your
departure flight with Turkish Airlines nonstop flight # 694 to Cairo, leaving at 7:10pm
arriving at 8:30pm.
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Price per person in a double room: $1,895
Price per person in a single room: $2,495
Prices are GUARANTEED in USD for February 2023
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PRICE INCLUDES:
* 3 nights of accommodations with buffet breakfast daily.
* Private transfers to/from airport in Istanbul.
* 2.5 days of private tours in an air-conditioned vehicle with licensed, English-speaking
guide with lunch.
* Entrance fees as per itinerary.
* Dinner in Istanbul.
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
* Visa to Turkey.
* Drinks of any kind at lunch.
* Meals except as specified.
* Personal expenses.
* VAT tax from 2 to 4 euros per room per night client pays at checkout.
* Travel Insurance, highly recommended.
* Tip to the guide, driver, transfer person and hotel.
CANCELLATIONS & REFUND:
* For cancellation of 89 to 45 days prior to departure, a cancellation fee of 50% of
the tour cost will apply.
* For cancellation of 44 to 30 days prior to departure, a cancellation fee of 75% of
the tour cost will apply.
* For cancellation of 29 days and less prior to departure, a cancellation fee of 100%
of the tour cost will apply.
No refund will be paid for unused services such as: transfers, sight-seeing, meals,
hotel accommodation, entrance fees, and others that are listed in the tour
program.
* If Ya’lla Tours USA cancels the trip/tour for reasons beyond its control, a credit
voucher will be offered for the land services good for use up to 18 months from the
original travel date to any Ya’lla Tours USA destination. Any refund or credit of
airfare included by Ya’lla Tours USA in the trip/tour will be determined by the
policy of each individual airline.
* TRAVEL INSURANCE IS NONREFUNDABLE.
LAND ARRANGEMENTS:
The Tour Operator reserves the right to change the itinerary due to unforeseen circumstances. In all cases, Ya’lla Tours USA Inc. and Andrews Travel will strive to maintain the content of the tour.
The Tour operator reserves the right to change the hotels listed on the tour for others of similar quality.
RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY:
Whereas Ya’lla Tours USA Inc., participating airlines and tour operators operate the land tours offered under this program only as agents of the aircraft, railroads, car rental contractors, steamship lines, hotels, bus operators, sight-seeing contractors and others who provide the actual land arrangements, we are not liable for any act, omission, delay, injury, loss or damage or nonperformance occurring in connection with these tours.
The Passenger contract in use by the airline concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the purchaser of these tours and/or passenger.
Ya’lla Tours USA Inc. reserve the right to bring legal action to collect damages in the event that purchaser fails to pay any fees due and owing for services, including cancellation fees as set out in the section entitled ‘Cancellations & Refunds’. The parties agree that should legal action be commenced the prevailing party will be entitled to his/her or its reasonable attorney fees and court costs in addition to the actual damages sustained and proven. Venue for any dispute is Multnomah County Circuit Court, Oregon. This contract shall be governed by the laws of the State of Oregon.
PASSENGER RESPONSIBILITY:
Passenger has read the above terms and conditions and agrees to each of them. Passenger hereby warrants that he/she fully understand each of them. Specifically, passenger understands that should he/she cancel their trip for any reason, passenger will be charged the cancellation fee set out in the ‘Cancellations & Refunds’ section.
PASSPORT AND DOCUMENTATION:
Your passport must be valid for at least six months following your return date from your travel destination. For more specific visa requirement, please contact the relevant consulate for current information.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT SEVERABILITY:
This is the entire agreement of the parties, and it may be amended only by written agreement signed by Ya’lla Tours USA Inc. and the client.
If any part of this agreement is held unenforceable by a court of law, the rest of this agreement will nevertheless remain in force and effect.
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
Each tour participant is responsible for paying any applicable fees for cancellation, medical treatment, medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains. Ya’lla Tours USA and Andrews Travel highly recommends the purchase of travel insurance for cancellation (for covered reasons), medical treatment, medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains. Travel insurance is not included in your tour price.