Bill Verbrick

bill.verbrick@gmail.com

909-973-0435


A Quick Dive in History I 05 Days 04 nights I 04 Nights Marriot Mena House

4 nights
Small Group Expedition
Start City : cairo
End City : cairo
From 2 Pax To 10 Pax

Highlights

Cairo Sightseeing:

  • GEM 
  • Civilization Museum 
  • Cidadel of Salah Eldeen
  •  Alabaster Mosque
  • Pyramids  
  • Sphinx
  • Khan Al - Khalili 
Your Experience


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  • Day 2

     Cairo Tour (Grand Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids of Giza & the Great Sphinx)

    • Our day starts with a visit to the largest archaeological museum in the world, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).  The new structure houses 100,000 masterpieces from several periods of Egypt's glorious history, 20,000 objects of which will be displayed for the first time such as King Tutankhamun's complete collection.
    • After touring the GEM, we will stop at a nice cozy restaurant to have lunch.
    •  We will, then, proceed to the one and only standing monument among the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, followed by The Pyramids of Khafra & Menkaura, the well-preserved valley temple of Khafra, and the Great Sphinx.


    Meals: Breakfast and lunch

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  • Day 3

     Free day OR Optional (Memphis, Sakkara, and Old Cairo tour  OR Fayoum overday)

    • We will experience the Spiritual Cairo tour and explore some of the early religious monuments of Cairo. You`ll visit the El Muallaqa Church, which dates back to the late fourth and early fifth centuries. This basilica was named after its location at the top of the south gate of the Fortress of Babylon. Muallaqa means "suspended or hanging." Destroyed in a ninth-century earthquake, the church became the center of the Coptic (or Christian) Church of Egypt from the time it was rebuilt in the eleventh century until the 14th century.
    • Make a stop at the Ben Ezra Synagogue, built sometime between the sixth and ninth centuries AD. The temple contains a Jewish Heritage Library, containing documents found here in 1896 that describe the economic and social conditions of Jews under Arab rule as well as descriptions of relations between various Jewish sects.
    • After lunch at a local restaurant (Abu Shakra), continue to Memphis, founded around 3,100 BC, which is the legendary city of Menes, the King who united Upper and Lower Egypt. Early on, Memphis was more likely a fortress from which Menes controlled the land and water routes between Upper Egypt and the Delta. Having probably originated in Upper Egypt, from Memphis, he could control the conquered people of Lower Egypt. However, by the Third Dynasty, the building at Saqqara suggests that Memphis had become a sizable city.
    • Proceed to the Sakkara site, Sakkara is one section of the great necropolis of Memphis, the Old Kingdom capital, and the kings of the 1st Dynasty as well as of the 2nd Dynasty. are mostly buried in this section of the Memphis necropolis. It has been of constant interest to Egyptologists. Three major discoveries have recently been made at Sakkara, including a prime minister's tomb, a queen pyramid, and the tomb of the son of a dynasty-founding king. Each discovery has a fascinating story, with many adventures for the archaeologists as they reveal the secrets of the past.

     

    • OR Fayoum overday

     

    • From your hotel and drive to Fayoum, discover Fayoum oasis Private Tour guide to

    • The Museum of Kom Aushim, The museum is a good place to pick guides for all parts of Fayoum. The Museum was originally erected in 1974. It Exhibits artifacts dating from the Prehistoric to Roman Periods it Also Exhibits Fayoum Portrait

    • Karanis ( The Lord`s Town) is one of the Largest Greco-Roman Cities in the Fayoum. Founded in the Third Century B.C. and Originally inhabited by the Mercenaries of Ptolemy the Second`s Army. The City has two temples 

    • Hawara( Arsinoiton polis), It was the site of the Pyramid Complex by Amenemhet III, which dates back to the  twelfth Dynasty 

    • lunch will be served on Qarun Lake

    • Qarun lake, It was named after the King who buried all his gold and riches somewhere in the wadi.

    • Wadi El Rayan and waterfall,Wadi El Rayan is a depression 42 Meters below sea level and covers 673 K.m In 1966 this depression became a water reservoir when it was connected with Qarun Lake by underground Pipes

    • Then Drive to Cairo after visiting the Lake


    Meals: Breakfast and lunch

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  • Day 4

    Cairo Tour (National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Old Cairo, Citadel of Salah Eldeen) 

    • Start the day with a visit to the first authentic museum of civilization in Egypt.  The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) with 50,000 artifacts from the dawn of civilization to the present day.

    • Then, we will stop to have lunch in one of Cairo's best restaurants.

    • Stop for lunch, Continue the Cairo tour with a visit to The Citadel of Mohamed Ali (the Fortress of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi), built in 1183 and overlooking the city from the Muqattam Hills. The structure, with its domes and minarets, looks over a number of important buildings, including the Alabaster Mosque. Its domed interior, used by Moslems for daily prayers, is a spectacular sight of twinkling lights and beautiful mosaics.

    • A free tour in Khan Al-Khalili Market, which is one of the oldest and oldest Egyptian markets, where it is fun to shop and enjoy watching various Egyptian antiques and gifts throughout historical times, where you can buy souvenirs for you and your friends to remind you of your trip in Egypt

    • Egyptian Family Dinner


    Meals: Breakfast and lunch

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  • Day 5

     Departure (Friday)

    • Transfer to Cairo International Airport for Departure after having an early breakfast 


    Meals: Breakfast

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Luxury Accommodation:

  • Mon - Fri: Marriott Mena House – Deluxe Garden View room - on bed and breakfast

Transfers:

  • Mon: Arrival transfer to your Hotel from Cairo Airport
  • Fri: Transfer from your hotel to Cairo airport to fly to Back home

Sightseeing:

  • Tue: Full-day pyramids, Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian Museum includes Guiding, Lunch, Entrance  fees, and A/C Bus model 2022: 
  • Wed: Full-day Cairo National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Citadel of Salah Eldeen, Alabaster Mosque, and Khan Al-Khalili Market, including Guiding, Lunch, Entrance  fees, and A/C Bus model 2022
  • Thu: Optional Full-day Memphis,  Sakkara, and old Cairo tours or Optional Al Fayoum Overday include Guiding, Lunch, Entrance  fees, and A/C Bus model 2022

Free Items:

  • Camel ride on the second day.

Not included:

  • Visa $25
  • Tipping
  • International flights
  • any option tours 

Egypt is very safe to visit and the police, tourist police, and army are in prominence wherever you go, giving you a feel of being in secure surroundings. Egypt prides itself on its high safety record for tourists and will do all it can to maintain this.

Egyptian Arabic is the official and most widely spoken language in Egypt. English is taught in schools and is considered a secondary language that is most commonly used for tourism purposes.

The official currency of Egypt is the Egyptian Pound. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and upscale shops. There are also ATMs available at hotels and outside major banks dispensing local currency.

The best time to visit Egypt would be during the winter months, from October to April. The temperatures are mild and pleasant, although evenings can become quite cool. December through January are the peak tourist months so expect large crowds if travelling at this time. The best time to enjoy the beaches, without having to endure the large crowds of summer tourists, would be from March to May. Temperatures at this time are warm and tourist sites are not too crowded.

Egypt, being a predominantly Muslim country, is naturally conservative (not like the Gulf States or Saudi Arabia) but the average people are careful in what they wear. The dress code in Egypt for women is considered conservative by western standards and it is respectful to obey this code. For men it is not really an issue -- normal trousers and shirt or T-shirt are fine -- but in Cairo it would not be acceptable to wear short shorts or a tank tops/sleeveless tops. In the resorts like Sharm El Sheik, Hurghada, Sinai, etc. -- shorts are fine and it is very open and flexible. This also applies to ladies for the beach areas, but going into the market area in Hurghada, for example you may be more comfortable in trousers. Generally for men in Cairo or any city that is not on the sea side, remain with trousers (at tourist sites long loose shorts) or jeans and T-shirt , as even in Cairo, local people do not feel comfortable seeing a man in shorts. In Sea Side areas it's ok to walk in shorts, but once you enter a local restaurant or market, it's better to be more covered.

For the vast majority of travelers to Egypt, a valid passport and a travel visa is required. A visa can easily be purchased at the airport when you arrive. The cost for a single-entry, 30-day tourist visa is $25 (or equivalent in Euro), must be paid in cash (no credit or debit cards accepted), and your passport must be valid for at least six months. Citizens of all European countries, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, South Korea, Macedonia, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine and United States can obtain a visa upon arrival. (Egypt does allow visa-free access for certain countries such as Bahrain, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macao, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia.) Visas can also be purchased beforehand through Egypt’s Visa e-Portal: https://visa2egypt.gov.eg. Forty-one different nationalities are eligible to purchase the e-visa, however, it’s far easier to simply buy the visa at the airport.

As with most European and North American countries, tipping is graciously accepted in Egypt. A 10% tip at restaurants and to guides and drivers is standard. Unfortunately, at major tourist sites like the Pyramids of Giza or the tombs of the Valley of the Kings, touts aggressively hustle for tips by allowing you to take photos in areas where it’s clearly posted as prohibited (such as inside the tombs). Please refrain from perpetuating this problem by not paying to take pictures.

Egypt has a voltage supply of 220V and the plugs are the 2-round pin type that are common throughout Europe.

As noted previously, Egypt is a Muslim country, therefore alcohol is not readily available outside of tourist areas and western-style hotels/resorts. Beer and wine is available for purchase on all Dragonfly Kite Safaris.