Egypt 2011 Trip Report

Trip of a lifetime. It's a phrase we hear thrown around quite a bit in our line of work. And although I joke that we get to take several "Trips of a Lifetime" a year, this one was truly special.



IMG_0069 (182K) Nerves were definitely rattled when in January the riots started in Egypt, and rocked much of the Middle East.
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Thoughts of having to cancel the trip were tossed around, but postponed until we saw how things would shake out. Wow, did we luck out! No crowds, unbelievably friendly people and a world class experience awaited. IMG_0355 (114K)
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IMG_0366 (112K) Our trip started with an excursion to Heidelberg, Germany during our layover, which basically turned into an eating tour of our favorite German foods! Then it was off to Cairo to start our Middle Eastern adventure.
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The Citadel and Mohammed's Mosque, the Egyptian Museum, and of course the Pyramids and Sphynx were all visited in our brief time in Cairo. Then it was off to Luxor for Karnak and Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's Temple. P5010071 (87K)
P5030321 (102K) A Feluca journey down the Nile and a morning hot air balloon capped off a perfect time topside in Egypt. We were then off to the Red Sea.
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Our week aboard the Emporer Elite spoiled us with incredible diving, friendly crew and an amazing afternoon snorkeling with Spinner Dolphins. The Red Sea definitely lived up to its reputation for world class diving. IMG_0722 (39K)
P5010115 (59K) While in the region, we decided to add an excursion to Jordan to complete our trip.
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What an amazing country! The Rose Red City of Petra has always been on my bucket list, and I was overwhelmed. P5010019 (100K)
P5107571 (116K) I always thought it was just the Siq and Treasury, but it actually spans some 26 sq. miles! We barely scratched the surface of all there is to see.
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Add our visit to Mt. Nebo overlooking the Holy Land and the Dead Sea, and Jordan quickly rose to the top of the must do again list. P5120143 (129K)



Origional Trip Brochure


Egypt, Red Sea & Jordan

Egypt, Red Sea & Jordan

April 29-May 15, 2011

This trip will be amazing both underwater and above water.  Incredible visibility, abundant fish life and 5000 years of history await us.  Join us as we travel to Cairo, Luxor, the Red Sea and Jordan.

 

Itinerary (subject to change, especially flight times):

 

Friday

April 29

Depart Denver

Saturday

April 30

 

Arrive Frankfurt.  We have arranged for a private bus to transport us to historic Frankfurt to grab some food, explore and relax. It will be a great way to stretch those legs after the long flight!

Depart Frankfurt in the evening

 

Sunday

May 1

 

Arrive Cairo. Meet and greet at airport and transfer to hotel.

Guaranteed check-in to rooms at hotel.  Morning at leisure to nap and shower.

Afternoon tour of Cairo including the Citadel, Mosque and Egyptian Museum.

Cairo hotel overnight.

 

Monday

May 2

 

Morning tour of the Pyramids of Giza with the Sphinx. Afternoon visit to the Khan El Khalili Bazaar.

Cairo hotel overnight.

 

Tuesday

May 3

 

Morning domestic flight to Luxor.  Half day touring Luxor including Karnak and Luxor Temples.

Overnight Luxor hotel.

 

Wednesday

May 4

 

Half day touring Luxor including Valley of the Kings, Hatchepsut Temple, and Colossi of Memnon.

Overnight Luxor hotel.

 

Thursday

May 5

Morning transfer through the desert to the Red Sea coastal town of Marsa Alam/Port Ghalib (approx. 6 hours on bus). Board the Emperor Elite liveaboard.  Overnight in port.

Friday

May 6

After early morning Coast Guard clearance, boat will depart port. First day of diving.

Sat. –Wed.

May 7 - 11

4 ½ more days of diving (usually 4 dives offered per day) on the South & St. Johns route.

Thursday

May 12

 

No diving, disembark/check-out, afternoon flight to Cairo with connecting flight to Amman, Jordan.

Overnight at Amman hotel

 

Friday

May 13

 

A three-hour drive this morning brings us to the “Rose-Red-City“ of Petra. It can only be reached by horseback or walking through a narrow defile or “SIQ“ flanked by towering cliffs. 

Overnight at hotel near Petra.

 

Saturday

May 14

 

Return to Amman. Enroute we’ll stop at Madaba and Mt. Nebo with a possible side trip to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. Return to Amman late afternoon. 

We have rooms at the hotel in Amman to shower, rest and repack before our flight home.

(late evening transfers to the airport for our departure)

 

Sunday

May 15

 

Depart Amman

Arrive Denver in the evening

 

 

The price for this trip is $7099.00 per person (double occupancy, economy airfare out of Denver).

 

Included in Package Price

Round trip International airfare from Denver (Lufthansa Airlines)

Domestic airfare

Airport meet & greet

All transfers

Private bus transportation in Frankfurt & walking tour

7 nights aboard the Emperor Elite Liveaboard (South & St. John’s route)

            5 ½ days of diving (up to 4 dives per day)

Tanks and weights

All meals on liveaboard

            Tea, coffee, water & soft drinks on liveaboard

            Wine with dinner on liveaboard

            Nitrox fills

            Complimentary 107 cu. ft. tanks if requested (80 cu. ft. tanks are standard)

            Complimentary bath robes for use on liveaboard

            Marine Park Fees

            Port Fees

3 nights in Cairo, Egypt (double occupancy)

2 nights in Luxor, Egypt (double occupancy)

2 nights in Jordan (Amman & Petra) (double occupancy)

1 Dayroom in Jordan, before departing (double occupancy)

Hotel taxes

Breakfast daily, while at hotels in Cairo, Luxor & Jordan

1 group dinner

2 sightseeing tours of Cairo

2 sightseeing tours of Luxor

Roundtrip tour from Amman to Petra

Sightseeing tour of Petra (includes 1km horseback ride through siq)

English speaking Egyptologist guide in Egypt

Local guide in Jordan

Entrance fees to most tours

UWP Instructor Escorts

 

Not Included in Package Price

Egyptian Visa (currently $20 upon arrival)

Travel Insurance

Entrance fee into Mummy Room at Egyptian Museum (approx. $20)

Camel ride at Pyramids (approx. $10 + tip)

Entrance inside additional pyramids (approx. $5)

Any changes in taxes for airfare (International and Domestic tickets)

Excess luggage fees (International & Domestic airfare)

Alcoholic beverages onboard liveaboard

Personal dive gear

Gratuities for liveaboard

Gratuities for guides, porters, etc.

Meals & beverages other than specified

Diving Insurance (like DAN) is required when diving the Red Sea

Optional excursions

Any deviations from the group itinerary

 

Please note that a valid U.S. or Canadian Passport with the expiration date in excess of 6 months after returning home (we return on May 15, 2011; so passports need to have an expiration date after November 15, 2011) to the U.S./Canada is required to enter Egypt and Jordan. It is also recommended that you have at least 3 empty pages in your passport, for the Visa.