Middle Eastern Adventures

www.middleeasternadventures.com

Why You'll Love It

• Includes roundtrip international flight from New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, or San Francisco to Cairo
• Spacious, private tour buses with business class seats and complimentary WiFi
• Optional add-on adventure packages including Red Sea snorkeling and diving or Eastern Desert 4-wheeling outing
• Amazing, flexible, and energetic USA-based tour company

Even in the time of the ancient Greeks, Egypt’s wonders shocked and awed the collective imagination. Long story short: it doesn’t get more bucket list than the Great Pyramid at Giza. And who better to help you scratch this item, and many others, off your list than the expert American guides at Middle Eastern Adventures? Wanderlust is calling; we suggest you answer.

Enjoy the labors of the ancients in comfort and luxury that are decidedly modern: private tour buses with WiFi, 5-star hotels and resorts. Yes, please. Your personal American guides are experts in the region, so you know you’re getting an insider’s perspective.

So why are you still reading? It’s time to set your adventure in motion.

– Erika, Bloomspot Staff Writer

Featured Itinerary

Pre-arrival

Fly from USA (New York City, Washington, DC, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, or Los Angeles) to Cairo, Egypt

Day 1: Arrival and Nile Dinner Cruise

Arrive at Cairo International Airport, where you are met and greeted by the friendly American staff from Middle Eastern Adventures and whisked downtown to the ultra-luxurious, 5-star Kempinski Hotel overlooking the Nile River. After having a chance to unpack and unwind a little, you will join MEA staff and your fellow tour-goers for relaxing Nile dinner cruise. A full buffet meal will be served along with a show of traditional Arab entertainment as you cruise along the smooth river and take in nighttime views of Cairo's glittering skyline.

Day 2: Pyramids and Egyptian Museum

After a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel, we will travel together out to the Giza plateau where we will visit the awe-inspiring Pyramids of Giza, including the only remaining wonder of the ancient world - the Great Pyramid. Here you will also be able to ride camels over the rolling desert dunes and even have the chance to climb inside of one of the pyramids. After a relaxing lunch, we will return to downtown Cairo where we will explore the world's largest collection of Egyptian antiquities, including the fabulous treasures of King Tut and other notable Pharaohs, in the world-famous Egyptian Museum.

Day 3: Travel to El Gouna on the Red Sea

Following another delicious breakfast at the Kempinski's 5-star restaurant, we will set off over land for the Red Sea and the upscale seaside town of El Gouna. You'll check into the stunningly beautiful and eco-friendly Sheraton Miramar Resort and have the evening free to relax and enjoy this breath-taking corner of paradise along the Red Sea.

Day 4: Full Day at the Red Sea Resort

After enjoying a filling and diverse breakfast buffet at the Sheraton's main restaurant overlooking the lagoons and the ocean, you'll have an entire day free to lounge around the resort and/or explore the adjacent seaside town of El Gouna, where unique shops and cafes line a marina filled with the luxurious yachts of the region's elite. In the more traditional downtown area you can find more restaurants and shops that allow you to browse and explore without being hassled or pressured in the least. There will also be opportunities to go snorkeling or scuba diving out on the Red Sea or four-wheeling out in the nearby Eastern Desert.

Day 5: Luxor, Valley of the Kings, and Karnak

We'll wake up early to travel over land to the quiet southern Egyptian town of Luxor, the site of one of Egypt's renowned ancient capitals. Here we'll visit the imposing mortuary temple of the powerful and storied Queen Hapshetsut, explore the elaborately decorated underground tombs of the Pharaohs at the Valley of the Kings, and experience the grandeur and majesty of the expansive Temple of Karnak. We'll then head to Luxor's airport and board a short one-hour flight back to Cairo, where we'll return to our home the boutique Kempinski Hotel.

Day 6: Day in Alexandria and Evening in Old Cairo

After breakfast, we'll set off together for a day trip to the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, where the ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations collided in politics, art, architecture, and more. We'll visit the mysterious underground catacombs and explore the ruins of the city's Roman amphitheater. We'll also visit Qait Bey Fortress, which now sits on the site of the old Lighthouse of Alexandria, another wonder of the ancient world, then stop by the modern Library of Alexandria, which sits on the site of the the city's old library, one of the most famous in the history. After our return to Cairo, we'll strike out for Old Cairo and the famous Khan el Khalili souq, or market, where you'll be able to put your bargaining skills to the test while shopping for souvenirs, clothes, jewelry, and many other wares among the hundreds of small shops and merchants in the bustling market.

Day 7: Return to the USA (or Add-On Extensions)

On the trip's final day, Middle Eastern Adventures staff will escort some group members to the airport for their scheduled departures back to the USA, while others may elect to stay over an additional day or two in Egypt or take advantage of options to add-on excursions to other cities or countries in the region. Popular add-ons include a few more days in Egypt to explore the desert or relax more on the beach; a short hop over to Jordan to visit Amman, Petra, and the Dead Sea; a stay in Israel to check out its many fascinating sites; or a visit to the ultra-chic city of Dubai.