AFRICAN ORIGINS ON TOUR: EXPERIENCE EGYPT!

Jun 17 TUE – Day 01: THE BEGINNING OF OUR EXPLORING TOUR Leave New York, JFK via EgyptAir for a direct flight to Cairo. Meals will be served on board.

Jun 18 WED – Day 02: INTO THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS / Upon arrival in Cairo you will receive your visa and be transferred to your hotel. Check in your hotel and have breakfast. Balance of the day at leisure. 

Evening Harambee Gathering.

Jun 19 THU – Day 03: SAKKARA/PYRAMIDS (GIZA) This morning visit Sakkara. Sakkara's Step Pyramid is the oldest in existence and is the world's first stone building. Proceed to Giza. Visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and Heremakhet (the Sphinx). Return to your hotel for dinner and Evening Lecture.

Jun 20 FRI – Day 04: EGYPTIAN MUSEUM / LUXOR In the early afternoon, you will visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum with its renowned collection of historical artifacts. The Museum contains the world's most important collection of Egyptian antiquities, dating from the earliest times to the 6th century AD. The collection includes some of  the artistic masterpieces of the world, including the treasures of Tut- Ankh-Amun.   Dinner at the Meridien Airport. Transfer to the airport for your short flight to Luxor (Waset), upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.

Jun 21 SAT – Day 05: LUXOR We will visit IPET ISUT (KARNAK) in the afternoon & SOUTHERN IPET (LUXOR TEMPLE) in the evening. Highlights of our visit include the Avenue of the Sphinxes, Hypostyle Hall, the tekenu (obelisks) of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Sacred Lake at Ipet Isut (Karnak). Return to your hotel. 

Jun 22 SUN – Day 06: DENDERA/ABYDOS Leave Luxor early in the morning by bus to visit Dendera (the Temple of Ht Hr [Hathor]), drive to the ancient city of Abydos, and visit the Temple of Seti I. Return to your hotel for dinner and Evening Lecture.

Jun 23 MON – Day 07: LUXOR (THEBES)/VALLEY OF THE KINGS/ MEDINET HABU/ COLOSSI OF MEMNON  Morning visit to the Necropolis of Thebes on the West Bank. Visit the Valley of the Kings and three tombs of your choice. Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and then to Medinet Habu (Temple of Rameses III). End your tour of the West Bank at the Colossi of Memnon. LUXOR  Transfer to your cruise ship for lunch, balance of the day at leisure.

Jun 24 TUE – Day 08 : LUXOR (THEBES)/VALLEY OF THE KINGS/ MEDINET HABU/ COLOSSI OF MEMNON  Morning visit to the Necropolis of Thebes on the West Bank. Visit the Valley of the Kings and three tombs of your choice. Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and then to Medinet Habu (Temple of Rameses III). End your tour of the West Bank at the Colossi of Memnon.. Return to your ship in Luxor for lunch. Sail to Esna. Dinner and Evening Lecture.

Jun 25 WED – Day 09: EDFU (THE TEMPLE OF HERU)/KOM OMBO (THE TEMPLE OF SOBEK) Sail to Edfu to and visit the Temple of Heru (Horus) which is one of the best preserved in Egypt. Continue sailing to Kom Ombo, the Temple with a double dedication to Sobek and Haroeris. In the middle of the temple area, a sanctuary was built for each of these divinities. Double entrances lead through the pylons to the court, vestibule, pillared hall and the three antichambers to the Sanctuaries of the Netcherw. Enjoy dinner while sailing to Aswan.

Jun 26 THU – Day 10: ASWAN/ THE HIGH DAM/PHILAE TEMPLE & UNFINISHED TEKEN (OBELISK) OF HATSHEPSUT Morning visit to Philae Temple which was dedicated to Aset/Isis. The oldest parts of which date from the 4th century BC. Greeks and Romans added to the Temple over the years until the 2nd century AD. Philae was the last Egyptian temple closed by the Roman Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. Continue to the Aswan High Dam which rises up to colossal heights. The Pyramid of Khufu could be lost 17 times over in this modern marvel. Visit the Red Granite Quarries where the ancients obtained their fine reddish granite. See the unfinished tekhen (obelisk) of Queen Hatshepsut, had it been completed, it would have been the largest ever hewn. Return to your ship in Aswan for lunch, dinner and overnight.

June 27 FRI – Day 11: ASWAN / ABU SIMBEL (THE TEMPLE OF RAMSES II) ASWAN  Morning flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel which is situated on the West Bank of the Nile, 180 miles south of Aswan and 27 miles north of the Sudan border. You will marvel at the Great Temple, hewn out of a sandstone mountain, with four colossal seated statues of Rameses II at the entrance. The figures are 65 ½ feet high and wear the double crown of Upper and Lower Kemet. The temple was dedicated to Ptah, Amun-Ra, Re-Horkhti, and Rameses II. Nearby, to the north, is a second temple, also built by Rameses II, and dedicated to Nefertari, the King's wife. The temples were threatened by the rising waters after the completion of the Aswan High Dam and were preserved by UNESCO. The temples were rebuilt on a plateau above their former site. Return to Aswan. Transfer to your hotel for dinner and Evening Lecture.

June 28 SAT – Day 12: ASWAN/CAIRO This morning at leisure. Transfer to the airport in time for your flight to Cairo. Check in to your hotel. Dinner and overnight.  

Jun 29 SUN. – Day 13:NEW YORK, JFK Depart Cairo at 4:30am and arrive in New York at 9:00am (this is subject to change without prior notice). 

AIR TRANSPORTATION: Economy class jet connecting IATA and ATC carriers. Airfare is based on SUPER APEX 6-21 days plus domestic add-on fares where applicable. Airfares are based on September 2024 rates and are subject to change without prior notice.

BAGGAGE: Limited to one normal size suitcase, the weight of which should not exceed 50 pounds. Flight bags, cosmetic bags, briefcases, and camera cases remain in the personal care of tour members and are not included in the 50 pounds.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: Superior First Class Hotels, two persons sharing a twin bedroom with private bath.

A limited number of single rooms are available at $1,400.00 supplemental cost. Confirmation required before departure.

MEALS: TWO MEALS PER DAY: Full breakfast and dinner daily. THREE MEALS PER DAY ON THE CRUISE. 

SIGHTSEEING: As detailed in the itinerary, using comfortable and convenient transportation. English speaking government licensed guide. All entrance fees are included when applicable to specified sites.

TIPS: Tips associated with porterage at the hotels, meal gratuities, GUIDES and DRIVERS rendering services TOTALING $150.00 are included. 

TAXES: Service charges as imposed by lodging facilities, taxes by local administrations and government authorities on lodging are included on all services rendered to the group. Airport taxes, and a fuel surcharge totaling $755.00 are included in the price of the tour and are subject to change without prior notice. Visa fee $30.00. You will be billed for any difference in taxes in your final invoice.

THE TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: Expense of passports, laundry, wines, liquors, mineral water, lunches and after supper coffee or tea or items not found on the menu, excessive baggage expenses, and all items of a personal nature, plus those not listed as being included in the tour price.

BOOKING AND CONDITIONS: Deposit and payment. A deposit of $500.00 per person is required at the time of booking. Final payment must be made no later than 60 days prior to departure.

Payments received after the dead line date will be subject to $50.00 administrative fee, CTO reserves the right to cancel any passenger NOT paid in full 60 days prior to departure. Reinstatement of a passenger is considered a last minute booking.

Last minute booking, 60 days or less prior to departure will have to pay the applicable airfare at the time of booking and $150.00 to cover administrative cost.

CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellations made up to 60 days prior to departure, refunds will be made less $200.00 per person administrative fee. Cancellations made 59-35 days prior to departure will be subject to $300.00 per person administrative fee. Cancellations received 35 days or less prior to departure have to pay a charge equivalent to 75% of the cost of the basic tour from the Gateway City. 

NO SHOW NO REFUND. Cancellation charges with medical reasons certified by a hospital and accepted by the airlines and suppliers will only be made based on refunds from suppliers and less $300.00 per person administrative fee. TRAVEL PROTECTION IS HIGHLY SUGGESTED. No refunds for services or sightseeing rendered and not used by tour members. Consolidated Tours Org. Inc. RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CANCEL, withdraw or change the tour in whole or in part at any time in the event a change is deemed necessary by CTO, Inc. The sole obligation of CTO, Inc. is to refund payments received in connection herewith if not acceptable to tour members.

RESPONSIBILITY: Consolidated Tours (CTO), and their Agents assume no liability or responsibility for any injuries or loss of property, accident, delay, changes in schedule or itinerary or incidental damages, occasioned by circumstances beyond the control of CTO, Inc. or by any person or reason whatsoever, including but not limited to default or omission of and by any third party providing services or facilities related to or included in this tour or any part thereof or in arranging for same. The IATA carriers, steamship firms and other transportation companies whose services are featured in these tours are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time the passengers are not on board their respective conveyance. The passage contract in use by these companies, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passenger and CTO, Inc. assumes no liability or responsibility in connection therewith.