Gay Tours: Escorted vacation to Egypt with Nile cruise for gay and lesbian travelers

The WONDERS of EGYPT!
Featuring a Nile Cruise Aboard Our Exclusive "Dahabiya"

December 24, 2008 - January 4, 2009

Egypt is a glorious open-air museum of astounding temples and monuments. We take in the full measure of Egypt’s epic 5,000-year-long story from the Great Pyramids to the legendary Nile, where we cruise in the wake of the Pharaohs on our very own Dahabiya. The grand-scale Temple of Karnak, the famed tomb of young Tutankhamen, and the haunting mortuary temple of Ramses the Great are among the wonders of our inspiring journey. We also visit the storied city of Alexandria, once the home of Queen Cleopatra, to explore its marvelous Greco-Roman treasures.

Undoubtedly, sailing the River Nile in style is something you’ll never forget! This is a traveler’s dream journey—exploring by 14-passenger Dahabiya, the traditional two-masted yacht of the Nile. We discover the great monuments of ancient Egypt that line this legendary river valley from Luxor to Aswan, as well as fascinating out-of-the-way sites. Ours is an intimate Nile experience, with behind the scenes visits to villages, lovely picnics on sandy riverbanks, and our crew guiding us to dock the traditional way, under oar. Our sailboat harkens back to a nostalgic era of travel, yet it has all of the modern comforts.

Trip Highlights
* 4-day cruise on our exclusive 14-passenger Dahabiya for extraordinary Nile-side temples from Luxor to Aswan
* Valley of the Kings -- Abu Simbel -- the Great Pyramids at Giza
* Expert Egyptologists accompanying us
* Historic Mediterranean city of Alexandria
* The Egyptian Museum

Day 1 - Arrival - December 24, 2008
Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, you will be met and transferred to our stylish, centrally located boutique hotel – a rarity in Cairo. Our Trip Orientation meeting early this evening is followed by a Welcome Dinner.

Welcome drink and dinner included

Day 2 - Alexandria
Thanks to the efficient high-speed rail corridor, we will begin our travels through Egypt with the city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea. Founded by the Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great, the “Pearl of the Mediterranean” is Egypt’s second largest city and emits a very cosmopolitan vibe. We’ll feast on a delicious seafood lunch on the harbor, but not before visiting the interesting sites on today’s itinerary – the National Museum, the new Library of Alexandria, and the Roman catacombs.

Upon our return to Cairo, we’ll enjoy a holiday dinner together at one of Cairo’s excellent downtown restaurants.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included

Day 3 - Cairo and Overnight Train to Luxor
Our morning is filled up with the famed Egyptian Museum which speaks for itself – home of the treasures of King Tutankhamun (the Boy King), the Royal Mummies room, and over 120,000 other artifacts from the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms to keep you awe-struck. This afternoon, you will have the option of roaming the lanes of the labyrinthine and fascinating Khan al Khalili Bazaar, as well as the Saladin Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque.

Khan al Khalili dates back to 1382, home to caravanserai and madrassas. Nowadays, the souk is known for its array of textiles, perfumes, and jewelry on offer but still holds onto its Islamic past with dozens of beautiful mosques scattered within the market area. If you enjoy haggling, you'll be in heaven here!

Saladin Citadel (1176AD) and the Mohamed Ali Mosque (1830AD) overlook Cairo, allowing you to appreciate the full scale of the city and maybe catch a glimpse of the Pyramids -- a visit to which will be the culmination of this wonderful journey.

This evening we board our first-class sleeper train to Luxor.

Breakfast, Lunch. Dinner on train.

Day 4 - Luxor’s West Bank
Luxor – the former Thebes and ancient Egypt's New Kingdom capital -- is home to a plethora of Egypt’s historical sites. Today we will visit two of these: the Valley of the Kings, where Howard Carter made his epic discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922, and Hatchepsut’s Temple.

The 63 burial chambers in the Valley of the Kings were constructed over a period of 500 years (16th to 11th centuries BC) for the kings and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom. A handful of the tombs are open today, including King Tutankhamun’s. You will be amazed by the vivid paintings found within!

The mortuary temple of Queen Hatchepsut was carved into the West Bank Mountains in a contemporary fashion. Inside the hieroglyphics recite the tale of her divine birth and expedition to the lands south of modern day Egypt.

The afternoon is yours to visit more sites or perhaps do some shopping.

Breakfast provided on train. Lunch, Dinner.

Day 5 - Sunrise Balloon Ride & Luxor’s East Bank / Dahabiya embarkation / Edfu Temple
A once-in-a-lifetime experience to awaken your senses! This morning we embark on a sunrise balloon ride on Luxor’s West Bank, taking in the sites from quite a different perspective.

Later we will continue to the stupendous Karnak Temple, the largest ancient religious site in the world. The complex, with its forest of stone columns, was built by over 30 different pharaohs, starting from 1600BC, making it one of the most special sites in the world.

Following our Karnak visit, we will continue south by private transport to our Dahabiya in Esna. The term Dahabiya means "golden boat," as they were once the preserve of the royals and were common on the Nile in 19th and early 20th centuries. Now it’s our opportunity with a beautiful Dahabiya all to ourselves! Our home for four nights, the Dahabiya features seven en-suite cabins, a lounge, and a top deck perfect for relaxation, sunbathing, and just soaking up the Nile scenery as we glide gently past riverbank villages and countryside.

With a shallow draft, these vessels navigate not only on the main river but also in the canals threading through its banks. This allows us some opportunities that the large ships don't have: we can visit Silsila Temple and stop at village markets.

We’ll enjoy lunch on board as we sail to Edfu, home of the Temple of Horus. Once obscured by layers of sand and silt, this temple is a relatively recent discovery and features a completely intact roof and amazing wall carvings.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6-8: Dahabiya Sailing
This is what holidays are all about! Days of easy-going sailing, enjoying the scenery, and coming to the realization that you really are cruising the Nile! During this time we visit the only temple in the region devoted to two different gods. The Temple of Haroeris and Sobek with its crocodile-headed gods is located in the town of Kom Ombo, known for its sugar cane and its friendly Nubian hospitality. The cruise ends as we make our way to Aswan, the meeting point of Egyptian and Nubian cultures. We will dock outside of Aswan this evening and celebrate the New Year together on the Nile under the stars.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included each day

Day 9 - Aswan
This morning we venture into Aswan for some sightseeing. We’ll visit the majestic Philae Temple set on its own island and the controversial Aswan High Dam before traveling further south by road to Abu Simbel, home to one of Ramses II’s greatest masterpieces.
Overnight in Abu Simbel.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included

Day 10 - Abu Simbel / Aswan
This morning’s experience will remain with you forever as you have the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the Abu Simbel monument. It is a stunning scene! Ramses II, known as the Great Builder, requested this temple with its colossal statues be built into the face of a mountain, aligned with the rising sun. Standing unscathed for millennia, our modern technology eventually threatened its existence. To combat the effects of the Aswan High Dam, a team of archaeologists raised the entire temple 61 meters, trumping the engineering genius of Ramses II.

Afterwards you will have the opportunity to visit the monument.

We will return to Aswan in the afternoon to explore the city at your own pace. On offer are the wonderful new Nubian Museum, the Granite Quarries, the Aswan High Dam itself, and St. Simeon’s Monastery accessible by camel!

In the evening, we board a flight back to Cairo.

Breakfast, Dinner included

Day 11 - The Pyramids at Giza
And finally . . . we will visit the only remaining monument of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – the Great Pyramids at Giza which epitomize the mystery of ancient Egypt. They were already 2000 years old when Alexander the Great’s army swept through in 332 BC. You will have the opportunity to explore these wondrous tombs of the Pharaohs dating back to the 25th century BC. For the more adventurous, you may explore the inner chambers of one of the pyramids. We will also visit the lion-headed Sphinx.

Later, we will tour the necropolis of Saqqara, the oldest complete hewn-stone building complex in history. The Step Pyramid at Saqqara was designed by Imhotep for King Djoser in approximately 2650BC and still evokes awe in today’s visitors.

This afternoon you will have free time to rest or explore downtown on your own. In the evening we will gather for a Farewell Dinner at one of Cairo’s trendy restaurants.

Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner included

Day 12 - Departure, January 4, 2009
You will be transferred to the airport for your homeward-bound flight -- no doubt with some amazing stories to tell when you get back!

Breakfast included

{Please note: The above itinerary represents our intentions for this 12-day tour through Egypt. We reserve the right to modify some of the itinerary details if circumstances dictate.}

OUR TOUR LEADER
Eric Monkaba will be leading this fantastic journey through Egypt for us. Eric lives in Cairo and knows the ins and outs of the Egyptian way of life and culture. Having led several tours through Egypt, Eric is passionate about his adopted home and is eager to share it with you.

OUR DAHABIYA
Our journey through Egypt will include four private nights on a luxurious Dahabiya. We will travel north to south on this hand-crafted ship, stopping periodically to visit local markets and stunning temples. The boat is outfitted with seven air-conditioned cabins (three doubles and four twins), inlcuding one suite. Each cabin features one double bed or two twin beds as well as a private bathroom with toilet and fresh-water shower. The suite features a sitting area, spacious bathroom, double bed, and private wrap-around balcony at the rear of the vessel.

When not relaxing in your cabin, you can visit the lounge or sit on the top deck and take in the scenery. All meals will be cooked on board in the fully equipped kitchen by our private chef and served on the top deck. We'll enjoy Egyptian and international dishes as well as barbeques and picnics on the riverbank. All meals are included, along with tea, coffee, and soft drinks. As an added bonus, our private Egyptologist will be on the Dahabiya with us for the duration of the cruise.

The boat is outfitted with a state-of-the-art generator that produces virtually no noise. The generator will be used as the source of electricity on the boat, powering the lights, air-conditioning, and televisions. In case the wind is insufficient, we will use a motor to sail.

The Dahabiya is the perfect way to travel the Nile as it offers all the amenities of the larger cruise ships but in a discrete and intimate environment.

LAND ACCOMMODATIONS
Following is a description of the delightful hotels we intend to use on this tour. They all have a flair of the Orient which sets them apart from the usual mass tourism properties. We reserve the right to make changes to these accommodations if necessary.

Cairo
We have selected a small boutique hotel located in downtown Cairo in a French-style building from the 1930s, well located for good shopping and an easy walk to the Egyptian Museum. The hotel has an opulent Oriental atmosphere, its corridors like a Middle Eastern art gallery. The Arabic salon is a pleasant spot for tea, and the dining room is a fantasy of fine Egyptian arts and crafts. Guest rooms are decorated in warm colors and have Egyptian handmade bedcovers. Other features include double-paned windows, marble bathrooms, bathrobes, and internet connection. Service is friendly and helpful.

Luxor
The only luxury establishment on the Nile's west bank, this small property is one of the most beautiful and original hotels in the entire Middle East. A pink Oriental palace of domed suites set between sugarcane fields and desert not far from the Madinet Habu Temple, the hotel is stylish yet unpretentious. The wooden Mashrabiya porticos and other design elements were sourced from abandoned 19th-century Egyptian houses. The suites, connected by gardens, terraces, and shaded courtyards, have wrought-iron beds, inlaid Damascene tables and other pieces from the owner's collection of colonial and Oriental antiques. Walls feature Ottoman- and Pharaonic-themed murals, and some rooms have private fountains and ceilings with colored glass skylights. There is a heated pool and a Moroccan-style hammam for spa treatments.

Abu Simbel
Our chosen hotel is in a unique location that enjoys spectacular views of Lake Nasser and is just a few hundred yards from the great temple of Ramses II. With its chalet-style rooms, Nubian style domes, waterfalls, gardens, and great views, this is the best hotel at Abu Simbel. The property has a lovely swimming pool overlooking the lake and the desert mountains.

TOUR COST
$2,895 (13-14 participants)
$2,995 (10-12 participants)
$3,295 (8-9 participants)

Suite Supplement: $500 ($250 per person) for the double suite on the Dahabiya

Single Supplement: $525 (hotels and Dahabiya)
Single Supplement: $260 (hotels only)

Please note: There will be a limit of 2 rooms available as a single supplement on the Dahabiya portion of the tour.

Tour Cost Includes:
* 11 nights' accommodations (7 in hotels; 4 on the Dahabiya)
* All meals except 1 lunch; all non-alcoholic beverages
* Welcome drink
* Tour Leader accompanying the group throughout the trip
* Local Egyptologists' services for all sights visited
* Entrance fees at sights mentioned in the itinerary
* Comfortable, first-class train service: Cairo-Alexandria, round-trip
* Comfortable, first-class sleeper train: Cairo-Luxor
* Ground transportation in Cairo and around Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel
* Flight from Aswan to Cairo
* Airport transfers from/to Cairo International Airport
* Tipping to Dahabiya staff, drivers, Egyptologists

Tour Cost Does Not Include:
* Airfare to/from Egypt
* Tipping to Tour Leader
* 1 lunch
* Any extra hotel nights that may be needed or desired
* Optional activities
* Alcoholic beverages
* Personal expenses such as phone calls, room service, minibar charges, laundry, etc.

Deposits / Final Payments:
As this trip involves a private boat charter, a domestic flight, and a train -- and since the tour takes place during peak season -- we have more stringent deposit and payment terms for this tour.

Initial deposit: $500 per person payable at time of enrollment
Second deposit: $800 per person due July 24, 2008
Final balance is due September 24, 2008

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