EGYPT : The Hidden Desert

EGYPT:

The Hidden Desert from 17 to Infinity Our new trip in Egypt is a sophisticated adventure for active families with culturally curious young adult kids. Traveling with other families in this age range, you’ll traverse this fascinating North African nation, coming across abundant, well-preserved remnants of one of the most ancient and culturally significant civilizations in world history. Marvel in total awe at Cairo’s ancient wonders, like the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Explore vast, pristine deserts, treading on soft sands and volcanic stones and taking in the dramatic contrast of colors. Walk past oases and ancient Roman ghost towns and trek the English Mountain in time to view the breathtaking sunset. And in Luxor, explore the many ageold temples and royal tombs. Gaze up at the imposing Colossi of Memnon, ride a traditional wooden felucca down the Nile River… the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for you and your older teen and 20-something kids are limitless!

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Highlights: • Visit the vanishing-yet-pristine White and Black Deserts. • Bargain for treasured keepsakes at the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar • Ride a camel in the shadow of the Pyramids of Giza DIFFICULTY

Thomson Family Adventures

RECOMMENDED age : 17+

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ITINERARY Days 1&2 Depart Home / Arrive Cairo Welcome to Egypt! Egypt’s rich 7,000 year history comes alive with museums, ancient historical sites, breathtaking temples and monuments and its warm and welcoming people. Transfer and check-in Upon clearing customs, keep an eye out for the Thomson Family Adventures sign. Our friendly representative will assist your family with luggage and transfer you to your comfortable hotel for check-in. Accommodations: Mena House Hotel, or similar.

Day 3 Cairo With the ancient pyramids of Giza as its backdrop, this modern city seems to rub shoulders with past civilizations. Today, you’ll experience a little of both. Dahshur Pyramids We’ll visit the lesser-known pyramids of Dahshur and marvel at these baffling works of ancient engineering brilliance, including the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid. Sakkhara Sakkhara is the ornate burial site for this 5,000-year-old city. You’ll see the oldest pyramid ever built – the step pyramid – at Sakkhara. Dinner with a local family This evening, we’ll enjoy dinner with an Egyptian family. Learn local customs, enjoy a typical Egyptian meal and discover what “family” means in Cairo, Egypt. Accommodations: Mena House Hotel, or similar. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Cairo

Egyptian Museum The greatest collection of Egyptian antiquities is held in the Egyptian Museum. The Museum is home to nearly 120,000 objects, including a collection of royal mummies and the treasures from King Tut’s tomb. Accommodations: Mena House Hotel,, or similar. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Cairo to Desert We’ll leave civilization behind and enter an infinitely vast stretch of pristine desert sands. This immense and stunning landscape seems to go on forever, reminding us of how small we are in the grand scheme of things as we gaze up at the dazzlingly clear sky above us. Valley of the Golden Mummies tour We’ll take a tour of the excavation site of the Valley of the Golden Mummies in the Bahareya Oasis. The burial site has around 250 mummies with artifacts from different periods in Egypt’s ancient history. As of now, about 34 tombs have been excavated, but there are thought to be around 10,000 yet to be uncovered.

Today’s adventure highlights include Egypt’s ultimate icons—the Pyramids. It’s the perfect opportunity to ponder not just how they were built, but also how they have stood for millennia in their sea of sand.

English Mountain sunset trek We’ll trek the oasis’ English Mountain to view an awe-inspiring desert sunset.

Pyramids of Giza We will marvel at the most famous of Egyptian monuments – the Pyramids of Giza, including the 450-foot Great Pyramid.

Accommodations: Hotel Qasr El Bawity, or similar. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Camel ride Take a short camel ride in the shadow of the Great Pyramid itself – this is a great photo opportunity! Solar Boat Museum Adjacent to the Great Pyramid, the Solar Boat Museum houses two royal barges built to carry the pharaoh Khufu’s body and his earthly belongings to the pyramid for burial. Sphinx The only structure in the world that can rival the wonder of the Great Pyramid is the Sphinx. There are many theories as to why and how these two ancient monuments were built, and seeing them for the first time will leave your family speechless.

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Dakhla Oasis The Dakhla Oasis is considered one of the most attractive in Egypt. In addition to over 500 hot springs, this oasis includes narrow, winding streets and mud-brick houses. Our tour of the oasis includes the Old Islamic Village of Al Qasr (the Palace), the Temple of Deir El Hagr, and Tombs of Muzuwaka.

Day 6 Desert We’ll plunge deep into the desert again today! The Black Desert has wonderful unique volcanic remains while the White Desert has unusual limestone formations. Desert day We’ll have the day to enjoy the distinct and remarkable desert landscapes all around us in the Western Desert. In the Black Desert, we will take in the orange-brown sand and black volcanic stones, as well as the extinct volcanoes all around. We’ll tread on soft sands and see peculiar white limestone formations in the White Desert, and marvel at the Crystal Mountain, which is actually a sparkling, crystal-filled ridge and ancient sub-volcanic vault. Barren land stretches out for miles, dotted with unique oases and ancient Roman ghost towns.

Relax at the hotel We’ll have a chance to relax and unwind at the hotel, and enjoy the swimming pool and hot spring. Kharga Experience the traditional life while visiting the spice market and local coffee shop this evening. Accommodations: Hotel Qasr El Bawity, or similar. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 Desert to Luxor

Hibis Temple Built by Persian emperor Darius in the 6th century this is the most well preserved Persian temple.

Camping in the White Desert We’ll spend the night camping out in the White Desert, where the bizarre and beautiful limestone rock formations of this magnificent desert region give the impression that we’re on the surface of some strange, distant planet.

Kharga Museum The Kharga Museum displays an excellent collection of pre-historic, Ancient Egyptian, Greco-Roman and Islamic objects including Roman wooden panels that were used as “notebooks.”

Accommodations: Camping in the White Desert, or similar. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 Desert

El Bagawaty Cemetery Stop at one of the oldest Christian cemeteries in the world. It contains hundreds of domed, mud-brick tombs decorated with Coptic murals.

White Desert tour We’ll tour the White Desert, absorbing the striking beauty of the vast landscape and the limestone formations unlike anywhere else on earth. These stunning formations were once the surface of a shallow, prehistoric sea. On today’s White Desert tour, we’ll also visit the oasis of El Heiz.

Drive to Luxor Enjoy the scenic views as you travel across the barren desert towards Luxor.

Farafrah Oasis Drive to the Farafrah Oasis. The most isolated oasis in the Western Desert, it is notable for its many unique white rock formations. Visit the Hot Springs and experience a natural hot bath. Also in Farafrah is a stop at the traditional local artist museum.

Accommodations: Sonesta St. George Hotel Luxor, or similar. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

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Dinner with you family Take some time to rest and relax with your family.

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Day 11 Luxor to Cairo Day 9 Luxor Explore your first day in Luxor. We’ll take you to the Valley of the Kings where tombs were constructed for the Pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom. Valley of the Kings We journey into the Valley of the Kings to explore these royal tombs chiseled deep into steep slopes of solid rock. Temple of Queen Hatshepsut Today we’ll visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut - Ancient Egypt’s most renowned and longest-ruling female pharoah. Medinet Habu Medinet Habu is the name commonly given to the tomb of Ramesses III. It is a complex of temples and the Temple of Ramesses III, over 7,000 square meters, is the best preserved among all the temples of Thebes. It is second in size only to the Temple of Karnak. Colossi of Memnon The Colossi of Memnon are two enormous stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep II. They were built 3,400 years ago, in 1350 BC. The statues are identical and stand 60 feet in height and are estimated to weigh 720 tons apiece. Afternoon at leisure, dinner with your family Enjoy the afternoon to yourselves to relax at your hotel or swim in the pool, then discover one of Luxor’s many tempting restaurants. Accommodations: Sonesta St. George Hotel Luxor, or similar. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10 Luxor Luxor, or Thebes as it was known in antiquity, is home to some of Egypt’s best preserved temples, the Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak. Karnak is the largest temple complex in all of Egypt. Temple of Luxor Ride in a horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Luxor. Most impressive here is an entire avenue lined with sphinxes and massive statues of the Pharaoh Ramses II.

On our second visit to Cairo and your last day in Egypt, we’ll explore the famed Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. And of course, no visit to Egypt would be complete without first experiencing the colors, sights and sounds of the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar! Cairo return flight Fly back to Cairo from Luxor. Citadel and Mosque of Muhammad Ali We visit one of the most visible landmarks on Cairo’s eastern skyline, the Citadel. Built in the most magnificent medieval style – there’s even a moat! Muhammad Ali’s mosque, also known as the Alabaster Mosque, was built in 1848 and sits atop the Citadel. Khan el-Khalili Bazaar We’ll visit Khan el-Khalili Bazaar where you can try your hand at bargaining! Farewell lunch Enjoy a leisurely farewell lunch at Naguib Mahfouz restaurant, located in the heart of the Bazaar. This is your opportunity to say “Shukran” to your guide and share your favorite moments from your adventure. Don’t forget to bring along your journal! A relaxing evening Enjoy some family time this afternoon to relax at your hotel or swim in the pool. Accommodations: Conrad Cairo, or similar. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Depart Cairo / Arrive Home This morning, enjoy your last breakfast in Egypt and bid “salaam” to your new friends before departing for the airport. Airport transfer A friendly Thomson Family Adventures representative will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your international flight home. Meals Included: Breakfast

Temple of Karnak The Temple of Karnak neighbors Luxor and is just as remarkable if not more so with its great hall supported by a record breaking 134 colossal columns. Nile ride in a felucca Feluccas have been used on the Nile for centuries. Hop aboard for a relaxing tour on the open waters. Accommodations: Sonesta St. George Hotel Luxor, or similar. Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

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Why choose Thomson Family Adventures? Because we know families… we were the first and remain the only company devoted exclusively to family travel. Adult tour companies have imitated us, but we are still – as we were in 1998 – the only one to offer strictly family adventures. We offer meaningful family experiences like horizon-broadening encounters with local children. Our Friends Across Borders, or pen pal program, has proven to be one of the most memorable components of our adventures for all who participate. We invite your children to write ahead to local children whom they will meet on your adventure for a game of soccer or a community service project. Our Guides are all native to the country you are visiting, so you gain real knowledge of local life from the get-go—something a non-local, no matter how scholarly, could never match. Our mentors, in addition to our guide travel with almost all of our groups of eight or more. Their job is to engage the kids in fun games and activities to help break the ice among families and make sure everyone’s entertained. Grandparents and Family Reunions—nothing can bring a family together like a shared travel experience. No matter the age difference —be it a parent and child, grandparent and grandchild or multiple generations—observing how we each see the world is not only remarkable but a sweet reminder that certain things in this world are, and will always be, totally ineffable. Relax—you’re with Thomson—our expertise in this specialized field is unmatched, and we spend every minute of every day coming up with new ways to make family travel more fun, eye-opening and safe. Accommodations – We’ve personally visited every ship, hotel, and campsite to be sure they all meet our family travel standards. Meals – We know hungry kids and fussy eaters can make travel difficult, so our meals and buffets are carefully selected. Transportation – It’s all taken care of: airport transfers, ground transportation, plenty of snacks on the vehicles, and no overly long drives—because nobody wants to hear, “Are we there yet?!” Included travel insurance – If the unexpected should arise—no worries, we have you covered. Guaranteed departures – It’s tough to find time out of your busy schedule; school vacation is when it is, the kids’ summer camp is not going to move to a different week… Once you’ve confirmed a trip that works for your family, we won’t cancel on you. Let us take care of all the details for you. Parenting is hard work—vacationing doesn’t need to be.

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ACCOMMODATIONS Mena House Hotel Mena House Hotel, built in 1869, can be found on 40 acres of lush gardens. With over 500 charming rooms, it is conveniently located within walking distance of both the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, and is only about 20 minutes from Cairo’s city center. Hotel Qasr El Bawity Qasr El Bawity is a simple, comfortable ecolodge situated in a palm grove in the center of El Bawity, the desert capital of the Bahareya Oasis. The lodge is designed and decorated in traditional Egyptian desert style; it was built entirely by craftspeople native to the oasis, using ancient Egyptian techniques and only local materials. The lodge boasts a spring-fed swimming pool, a therapeutic hot spring, and an adjoining restaurant serving traditional Egyptian and Bedouin cuisines. Camping in the White Desert We’ll spend the night camping out in the White Desert, where the bizarre and beautiful limestone rock formations of this magnificent desert region give the impression that we’re on the surface of some strange, distant planet. Sonesta St. George Hotel Luxor Sonesta St. George Hotel Luxor is a modern, 7-story building overlooking the banks of the Nile. It offers 335 luxurious rooms and panoramic views of the Nile. It is conveniently located only minutes from world-renowned historic sites. After touring, guests can relax in the Key of Life Health Club, dine in one of its restaurants, soak in the pool, or enjoy a refreshing beverage as they overlook the Nile. Conrad Cairo Located in downtown Cairo, the Conrad Cairo offers over 600 spacious, comfortable rooms, each with a private balcony and an amazing view of the Nile. The hotel is conveniently close to the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel, the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and more.

CLIMATE From December through March, the temperatures in Egypt are mild and the weather is ideal for visiting archaeological sites. The sun shines year round and the humidity level is low. In the south, the temperature rises from April through October and can reach a high of 120°F.

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TRIP DETAILS

Included • All entrance fees for sites indicated in the itinerary • Accommodations based on double and triple occupancy at comfortable and distinctive tourist level hotels • Meals as per the above itinerary • Services of a bilingual guide who will accompany you throughout your trip • Land transportation, airport transfers and internal air • All excursions as listed in the itinerary • Bottled water for the land portion of your tour • Travel Insurance - Travel Insured International (All of our scheduled departures include travel insurance covering up to $15,000 per person, including the cost of the international flights.) ­Not Included • Soda, beer, wine and spirits (where we include dinner, you will need to pay the bar tab) • Fees for passports, visas and immunizations • Meals and expenses en route to your destination • Laundry, phone/fax/email, and other items of a personal nature • Additional activities not listed on this itinerary • Departure taxes • Tips for your driver, guide and mentor (if applicable)

2013 Dates and Prices Apr 24-May 5 Sep 4-15 Oct 9-20

Adult travelers $4,190 $4,190 $4,190

Internal Air $300 $300 $300

2014 Dates and Prices Jan. 15-26

$4,190

$300

Alumni Discount: $500 per family for returning Thomson guests *Be sure to check our website for newly added & sold out dates. If you don’t see a date that works for you, call us we’ll create one!

BOOKING YOUR TRIP IS EASY Just give us a call at 800-262-6255. Our family travel advisors are here to help you choose and prepare for your family’s adventure. We are a special group of world travelers, many of us parents ourselves, who are here for you every step of the way. We provide personal attention to every detail, and we really do get to know all of our travelers as individuals—no phone banks, no voicemail, no scripting—just real live people who want your family to have the best adventure possible! Payment & Cancellation Policy Deposit: A $700 per person non-refundable deposit, payable by check or credit card, is due at the time of booking. Final Payments: The balance is due no less than 90 days prior to departure (120 prior to departure for December trips) and is payable by personal check, money order, or wire transfer. Cancellation & Refunds: Notification of cancellation must be made in writing to Thomson Family Adventures. Once notice is received, the following per person cancellation fees will apply. Number of days Cancellation December Before Departure Fee Departures Only 121+: $700 $700 120-91: $700 50% of the package price 90 – 61: 50% of the 65% of the package price package price 60 days or less: 100% of the 100% of the package price package price

In order to offer the best trip possible, Thomson Family Adventures reserves the right to change trip itineraries, prices and/or departure dates. ©Thomson Family Adventures 4/1/13

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