2024 Egypt Adventure - hosted by The Sankofa Travel Group

Name: 2024 Egypt Adventure - hosted by The Sankofa Travel Group
Start: 2024-05-11T21:00:00+02:00
Location: Cairo International Airport

Schedule

Sat May 11 2024 at 09:00 pm

UTC+02:00

Location

Cairo International Airport | Cairo, QH

Fellow Black Gay Travelers member Von Berry has a 2, 2-person rooms remaining on his May 2024 Egypt trip. COSTS:
Single Occupancy = $3,754
Double Occupancy = $2,719
Please contact www.thesankofatravelgroup.com for full details and deposit information.
This adventure will take place on Saturday May 18, 2024 to Sunday May 26, 2024. *** (Ignore the incorrect date shown, Facebook does not allow proper dates to be input > 1 year in advance) ***
- It only takes a $200 deposit to reserve your spot! DUE BY JUNE 15.
- Final Payment Due 1/2/24
THE SANKOFA TRAVEL GROUP - EGYPT
Please note that it is suggested that the day of arrival should be on Saturday to match with cruise departure on Monday from Luxor to Aswan.
Egypt, probably the world’s oldest civilization, is a treasure trove for history and archaeology enthusiasts. It has borrowed from Greek, Roman, Christian and Arab influences over time. Even the less enthusiastic will marvel at what is on offer. Imagine a country, which is desert totally redeemed by the River Nile which runs through a fertile well-watered lush valley.
FRIDAY
PRE DAY: FLIGHT TO CAIRO
Flight not yet included
SATURDAY - May 18, 2024
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN CAIRO
Upon arrival in Cairo, group will be greeted by our local representative and then transferred to hotel for check in.
Cairo, the Triumphant City, is the glorious capital of Egypt, the cradle of civilization and the beacon of religion. It is the largest city in the Middle East and Africa, and lies at the centre of all routes leading to and from the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. Greater Cairo extends on the banks of the River Nile to the south of its delta. Here the Nile divides into two tributaries, the Rosetta and the Damietta. It is the city where the past and present meet. On its East Side stands the evidence of 2000 years of Islamic, Christian Coptic and Jewish culture still flourishing to this day. On its West Side lies the Ancient Egyptian city of Memphis (Giza), the renowned capital of the Old Kingdom and the site of the Pyramids, the only wonder of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World surviving. Indeed, a journey through Cairo is a journey through time, a journey through the history of an immortal civilization.
Overnight in Cairo at Steigenberger Tahrir Hotel, superior room type (2 Nights)
https://www.steigenberger.com/en/hotels/all-hotels/egypt/cairo/steigenberger-el-tahrir-cairo
SUNDAY
DAY 2: FULL DAY PYRAMIDS, SPHINX, EGYPTIAN MUSEUM B, L Breakfast at hotel and then group will be picked up and taken on a Private Full Day Tour to the Great Pyramids of Giza, a visit to the Sphinx and Egyptian Museum Lunch is included today.
Visit Cheops' Pyramid, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the Sphinx, the great god-lion sentinel. Built over 35 centuries ago, the towering pyramids were erected to preserve bodies and treasures for afterlife.
After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Egyptian Museum, the most important depository of Egyptian antiquities anywhere in the world. It features artifacts from the Pharaonic and Graeco Roman periods, including the celebrated mummies of ancient Egypt's kings and King Tutankhamun's treasuresReturn to hotel, evening is at leisure. OPTIONAL CAMEL RIDE AT PYRAMIDS AVAILBLE (Photo Opportunity/ Small Ride) –
MONDAY
DAY 3: CAIRO – LUXOR – NILE CRUISE B, L, D
Breakfast at hotel and then check out. Transfer back to the airport for onward flight to Luxor. (Flight Included)
2

Luxor is a city often been called "world's greatest open air museum", with the number and preservation of monuments in the area, it is unparalleled to anywhere in the world. Luxor is actually composed of three different areas: the city of Luxor - located on the east side of the Nile, the town of Karnak, located just north of Luxor, and Thebes which is on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor.
Cruise check in is at 12 noon and group will enjoy lunch on board. After lunch, visit the East Bank with visits to Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple.
Luxor Temple: In an unforgettable excursion, visitors drive to the Luxor Temple. Many festivals were celebrated in Thebes. The Temple of Luxor was the center of the most important one, the festival of Opet. Built largely by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, the temple served as a setting for the rituals of the festival, which was held to reconcile the human aspect of the ruler with his divine office. The procession of images of the current royal family began at Karnak and ended at the Luxor temple.
Karnak Temple: Karnak was erected in 1928 BC as a small shrine dedicated to Amun, god of Thebes then. The Temple of Karnak comprises three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples - all constructed over 1300 years. The three main temples of Mut, Monthu and Amun, are enclosed in enormous brick walls, with the temple of Amun at the center. Karnak is now the largest.
Return to the ship for afternoon tea and free time followed by dinner on board.
Overnight on Movenpick Royal Lotus Nile Cruise (4 Nights)
https://www.movenpick.com/en/africa/egypt/cruise/cruise-royal-lotus/overview/
The Mövenpick MS Royal Lotus offers a great chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the banks of the Nile. See the temples and tombs of the ancient world as you cruise by in a relaxed setting. This flagship cruiser comprises 60 cabins of approximately 22 sqm.
TUESDAY
DAY 4: NILE CRUISE – LUXOR – ESNA - EDFU B, L, D Enjoy an early breakfast on board and then set off to visit the West Bank this morning. Explore the astonishing and extensive New Kingdom city of "Thebes" which includes the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El-Deir El-Bahari and the Colossi Memnon.
Return to the ship for lunch on board and sail to Edfu via Esna, crossing the river locks. Afternoon tea on boar and a welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner.
WEDNESDAY
DAY 5: NILE CRUISE – EDFU - KOM OMBO - ASWAN B, L, D Breakfast on board. Then visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu Temple. Return to ship and sail to Kom Ombo. Enjoy lunch on board and afternoon tea. This evening visit the Kom Ombo Temple, the temple shared by two gods Sobek and Haeroris. Return to the ship. Dinner on board tonight following by a Galabia Party.
THURSDAY
DAY 6: NILE CRUISE - ASWAN SIGHTSEEING B, L, D Breakfast on board then visit the High Dam, Philae Temple and unfished Obelisk.
The Aswan High Dam (completed in 1971); the Old Dam (completed in 1902).
The High Dam, Just north of the border between Egypt and Sudan lies the Aswan High Dam, a huge rock fill dam which captures the world's longest river, the Nile, in the world's largest artificial reservoir, Lake Nasser. The dam, known as “Sadd El-Aali” in Arabic, was completed in 1970 after 10 years of work.
You will also visit the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, a structure rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser at the time of the High Dam's construction. A short trip on a motorboat will bring the visitor to a magnificent vista of the island, before landing at what would have been the ancient quay on the south side. The temple was dedicated to the goddess Isis and has many legends connected to it. The most well known legend tells the story of how Isis found the heart of Osiris here after his murder by his brother Seth.
Return to shop for lunch and then this afternoon enjoy a Felucca ride on the Nile around Kitchener Island. Dinner on board followed by a Nubian show for entertainment.
FRIDAY
DAY 7: NILE CRUISE – ASWAN – CAIRO B
Enjoy an early breakfast on board and then disembark. Transfer to the airport for onward flight to Cairo. (Flight Included).
Upon arrival back in Cairo, group will be greeted by our local representative and then transferred to hotel for check in. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Overnight in Cairo at Steigenberger Tahrir Hotel, superior room type (2 Nights)
SATURDAY
DAY 08: CAIRO AT LEISURE B
Breakfast at the hotel and today is at your leisure. Optional tours Available.
SUNDAY - May 26, 2024
DAY 09: DEPARTURE B
Breakfast at the hotel and then in time group will check out of the hotel and then be transferred back to the airport for return flight home.