EGYPT AND THE ETERNAL NILE CANCELLED NEW DATES SCHEDULED 10/13-27/2025
Accompanied by an expert Egyptian guide and a UVA faculty to be named, this singular 15-day small group journey reveals antiquity’s treasures. In storied Cairo, tour Memphis’ open-air museum and splendid Sakkara and experience Giza’s astounding pyramids. After visiting Aswan’s massive dam, embark on a fascinating four-night Lake Nasser cruise to Abu Simbel, encountering ancient Nubia’s outstanding temples. A classic three-night Nile voyage from Aswan to Luxor follows, with opportunities to sail aboard a traditional felucca and explore Luxor’s awe-inspiring temples. Returning to Cairo, tour historic Old Cairo and the acclaimed Egyptian Museum. Discover fabled Petra, ancient Jerash, and Amman with an optional 5-day/4-night post-tour Jordan extension.
Price: $5,295 per person, double occupancy, land only
$5,995 per person, double occupancy with economy class round-trip airfare from Washington, DC, plus $702 airline taxes and fees, which are subject to change until final payment is made.
$6,095 per person, double occupancy, with economy class round-trip airfare from Charlottesville, VA, plus $702 airline taxes and fees
Program Highlights:
- Cairo’s ancient sites: the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, Memphis, Sakkara
- Fascinating Old Cairo and the renowned Egyptian Museum
- Dramatic temples and a sound-and-light show at Abu Simbel
- A Lake Nasser cruise through the ancient Nubian homeland
- Aswan’s temples at Kalabsha
- Massive Aswan Dam
- Classic Nile River cruise and sail on traditional feluccas
- Ancient temple complexes at Luxor, the “world’s greatest open-air museum”
- Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens
Call Us!
866-765-2646 or e-mail: cavaliertravels@virginia.edu
Join John Dobbins, professor of classical art and archaeology emeritus in the McIntire Department of Art. He specializes in ancient Roman art, archaeology, architecture, and urbanism. Since the 1990s, he has been the director of the Pompeii Forum Project, an internationally known interdisciplinary project that has been rewriting the history of the forum in Pompeii. His 2007 co-edited book, The World of Pompeii, treats all aspects of Pompeian life. Many of his specialized articles pertain to the forum at Pompeii. Professor Dobbins is also a student of the houses and mosaics of Antioch (now Antakya, Turkey), the capital of the Roman province of Syria. His chapter in Antioch: The Lost Ancient City deals with domestic architecture and mosaic pavements.
Professor Dobbins is a field archaeologist who has excavated in Spain, Italy (Tuscany, Pompeii, Morgantina), Greece, Syria, Massachusetts (Danvers Historical Society Excavation of the Samuel Parris House, Salem Village—the site where the Salem witch scare began!), and Virginia (rescue excavation at the Rotunda in 2001). Collaborative work with 3D modeler, Ethan Gruber (formerly UVA Scholars’ Lab; currently American Numismatic Society), has demonstrated the utility of 3D models in archaeological research. Models of houses in Pompeii and Antioch have been presented nationally and internationally in order to recontextualize mosaics that had been lifted from their original architectural settings. Professor Dobbins served for many years as president of the Charlottesville Society of the Archaeological Institute of America and is a former fellow of the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities at UVA.
We arrive in the Egyptian capital and transfer directly to our hotel. As guests’ arrival times may vary greatly, we have no group activities or meals planned.
Kempinski Nile Garden City
DAY 3 - Sunday, February 25, 2024 Cairo
After a morning briefing, our full-day tour begins at the world-renowned Egyptian Museum, which holds more than 120,000 relics and antiquities from almost every period in Egyptian history. We continue on to the Citadel of Saladin, a spectacular medieval fortress set high on a hill with extraordinary views of the city below. Built in 1176 to guard against the Crusaders, the Citadel was the home of Egyptian rulers for nearly 700 years, including famed leader Mohammed Ali, whose gilt tomb is inside. Later this afternoon after lunch at a local restaurant, we return to the hotel. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Kempinski Nile Garden City Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B,L,D)
DAY 4 - Monday, February 26, 2024
Cairo/Aswan/Embark Lake Nasser Cruise
Early this morning we fly south to Aswan. Upon arrival we visit the Aswan High Dam, considered a marvel of engineering when completed in 1965. Then we visit the Nubia Museum, an acclaimed showcase of Nubian art and architecture with more than 3,000 ancient relics and 90 monumental pieces. From here we board our Lake Nasser ship in time for lunch then disembark to explore the ruins of the acclaimed Temples of Philae. Tonight we dine on board as we overnight in Aswan. M/S Steigenberger Omar el Khayam (B,L,D)
DAY 5 - Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Lake Nasser Cruising – Kalabsha Temples/Wadi el-Seboua
Today we see some sights of ancient Nubia, Egypt’s neighbor in antiquity but with a distinct culture and traditions. We stop first at “new” Kalabsha, the largest freestanding temple of them all that was moved and reconstructed on higher ground after the construction of the Aswan High Dam (and the subsequent flooding that created Lake Nasser). Then we sail on to Wadi el-Seboua, where we dock for the night. M/S Steigenberger Omar el Khayam (B,L,D)
DAY 6 - Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Lake Nasser Cruising – Wadi el-Seboua/Amada
This morning we see two important New Kingdom temples that, like Kalabsha, were dismantled and relocated to make way for Lake Nasser. We explore Wadi el-Seboua, the next largest of all the pharaonic temples after Abu Simbel, and see the Temple of Dakka, with its huge, well-preserved pylon. Returning to our ship, we sail on to Amada, where we encounter the oldest of Nubia’s Egyptian temples, the 18th-dynasty Temple of Amada. M/S Steigenberger Omar el Khayam (B,L,D)
DAY 7 - Thursday, February 29, 2024
Lake Nasser Cruising – Amada/Kasr Ibrim/Abu Simbel
We sail this morning to Kasr Ibrim, the last remaining Nubian settlement in its original location. As it is forbidden to go ashore here, we learn about this ancient site while overlooking it from the ship’s sun deck. Then we continue on to Abu Simbel’s massive complex of temples guarded by statues of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari, with well-preserved murals inside. M/S Steigenberger Omar el Khayam (B,L,D)
DAY 8 - Friday, March 1, 2024
Disembark/Abu Simbel/Aswan/Embark Nile Cruise Ship
We disembark then travel by coach to Aswan, where we board our Nile ship. This afternoon we take a relaxing sail aboard small feluccas, replicas of ancient Nile sailboats. M/S Premium (B,L,D)
DAY 9 - Saturday, March 2, 2024
Nile Cruising – Aswan/Kom Ombo/Edfu
We cruise today to the site of the ancient trading town at Kom Ombo, with its unusual double temple and outstanding Nile views. Then we sail on to Edfu, where tonight we attend a shipboard party. M/S Premium (B,L,D)
DAY 10 - Sunday, March 3, 2024
Nile Cruising – Edfu/Luxor/East Bank
This morning we visit Edfu’s Temple of Horus, Egypt’s best-preserved ancient temple. Then we cruise to Luxor, the world’s “greatest open-air museum,” whose vast temple complexes, tombs, and statues dating from 2755 BCE represent the pinnacle of Egyptian architecture. Today we explore the East Bank, home of Karnak, the greatest temple complex of them all, whose ruins stretch for more than a mile. We also visit Luxor Temple, whose builders included both Tutankhamun and Alexander the Great. Back on board, tonight we enjoy a show of Middle Eastern belly dancing. M/S Premium (B,L,D)
DAY 11 - Monday, March 4, 2024
Disembark/Luxor/West Bank
We have the choice to rise very early to see the West Bank from above on an optional hot air balloon ride. (The cost of the 45-minute balloon ride is approximately $120 USD per person.) Later this morning, we disembark our ship and tour the haunting Valley of the Kings, where 34 royal tombs feature magnificent paintings; the Valley of the Queens; and the dramatic Temple of Hatshepsut honoring one of the few female pharaohs. We also see the massive Colossi of Memnon, two 64-foot-high statues of Amenhotep III that once guarded the gates of his own tomb. Steigenberger Nile Palace (B,L)
DAY 12 - Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Cairo
We fly to Cairo today, where this afternoon we visit the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, Cairo’s most popular and believed to be the largest in the Middle East, if not the world. Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo (B)
DAY 13 - Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Cairo
This morning we encounter the astounding Pyramids of Giza, the wonders of antiquity that have drawn visitors for millennia. We also see the enigmatic Sphinx, whose leonine body and human face were carved from a single piece of limestone, then buried by desert sands for centuries. After lunch, we explore Old Cairo, where early capital cities once stood. We visit 5th century St. Sergius Church, the Coptic church of el-Muallaqa, and the active 10th-century St. George’s church. Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo (B)
DAY 14 - Thursday, March 7, 2024
Cairo
Today’s touring begins at the open-air museum at Memphis, Egypt’s first capital (3100 BCE), followed by the necropolis at Sakkar. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner. Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo (B)
DAY 15 - Friday, March 8, 2024
Depart for U.S.
Very early this morning we transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S.
(B) Or continue on the post-trip extension to Jordan.
Please note: This trip involves a significant amount of walking on uneven terrain and at sites of ancient ruins. You must be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.
Post Tour Extension : Jordon: Petra & Amman
March 8-12, 2024
5 days/4 nights $1,695 per person, double occupancy
Single supplement: $395
Included in Extension Price: Air transportation Cairo/Amman; 4 nights’ accommodations: 2 nights in Petra at Mövenpick Resort Petra (Superior First Class); 2 nights in Amman at the Grand Hyatt Amman (Deluxe); 9 meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners; Extensive included sightseeing: Madaba (City of Mosaics), Mt. Nebo pilgrimage site, full day at Petra, Amman’s Roman theatre and Citadel, Roman ruins of Jerash; Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director; Private motorcoach transportation; Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers.
March 8-12, 2024
5 days/4 nights $1,695 per person, double occupancy
Single supplement: $395
Included in Extension Price: Air transportation Cairo/Amman; 4 nights’ accommodations: 2 nights in Petra at Mövenpick Resort Petra (Superior First Class); 2 nights in Amman at the Grand Hyatt Amman (Deluxe); 9 meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners; Extensive included sightseeing: Madaba (City of Mosaics), Mt. Nebo pilgrimage site, full day at Petra, Amman’s Roman theatre and Citadel, Roman ruins of Jerash; Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director; Private motorcoach transportation; Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers.
- Kempinski Nile Garden City Cairo – 5 nights
- M/S Steigenberger Omar el Khayam – Lake Nasser Cruise – 4 nights
- M/S Premium – Nile Cruise – 3 nights
- Steigenberger Nile Palace – 1 night
Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo (also used for Days 12-14)
Ahmed Ragheb Street 12
Cairo 11519
Egypt
Phone: 011-20-22-798-0000
Fax: 011-20-22-795-7157
www.kempinski.com/en/cairo/nile-hotel
The Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo sits on the banks of the Nile River, close to many historic sites including the Egyptian Museum and the Pyramids of Giza. The central location provides unique views of Cairo from the rooftop outdoor pool. This contemporary hotel offers two restaurants, two bars, a lounge, spa with massage treatments, fitness center, laundry and dry-cleaning service (for a fee), and complimentary, Wi-Fi access. Each air-conditioned guest room has a private bath with a hair dryer, in-room safe, minibar, tea- and coffee-making facilities, TV, and phone.
M/S Steigenberger Omar el Khayam – Lake Nasser Cruise
Phone: 011-20-17-440-4844
Fax: 011-20-12-500-1596
www.steigenberger.com/en/nile-cruises/steigenberger-omar-el-khayam
Experience one of the largest man-made lakes in the world on the Steigenberger Omar el Khayam. Offering travelers a unique vantage point from which to experience treasures of antiquity in the comfort of contemporary amenities, this 80-cabin ship features a restaurant, lounge, and bar; two sun decks with swimming pools and whirlpools; a beauty salon; laundry service; a gift shop; and a fitness center. Air-conditioned outside cabins have private baths with a hair dryer, in-room safe, minibar, TV, and phone. Please note that the ship docks at regular docking facilities in Abu Simbel and Aswan; at other stops you will take small launches or motorboats from the ship to shore.
M/S Premium – Nile River Cruise
Phone: 011-2-010-6553-6672
www.msnilepremium.com
Launched in 2008, the M/S Premium offers an elegant and refined atmosphere in which to cruise the Nile. The 56-cabin ship boasts five decks, restaurant, cocktail lounge and bar with terrace, gift shop, fitness center, swimming pool, laundry service (for a fee), and Wi-Fi internet access (for a fee). Each air- conditioned guest cabin has private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, minibar, and TV.
Steigenberger Nile Palace
Khaled Bin El-Walid Street
Luxor 85111
Egypt
Phone: 011-20-95-236-6999
Fax: 011-20-95-236-5666
www.steigenberger.com/en/hotels/all-hotels/egypt/luxor/steigenberger-nile-palace
Within the heart of Luxor’s historic center nestles Steigenberger Nile Palace, a 303-room hotel just across the river from the Valley of the Kings. The hotel features several restaurants and bars; a fitness center; a spa with a sauna, steam bath, and massage treatments; a heated outdoor pool; an on-site doctor; complimentary Wi-Fi access (in public areas); a bookstore; gift shops; a hairdresser; and laundry and dry- cleaning services (for a fee). Air-conditioned guest rooms each have private baths with a hair dryer, in- room safe, minibar, TV, and phone
- 32 meals: 13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 9 dinners
Price: $5,295 per person, double occupancy, land only
$5,995 per person, double occupancy in an outside cabin on both cruises, with economy class round-trip airfare from Washington, DC, plus $702 airline taxes and fees, which are subject to change until final payment is made.
$6,095 per person, double occupancy, with economy class round-trip airfare from Charlottesville, VA, plus $702 airline taxes and fees
Other Gateway Cities Are Available
A limited number of single rooms will be available for a supplement of $1,295 to the per person, double occupancy rates.
Airline upgrades on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: Business Class – $4,995 per person; Premium Economy – $1,695 per person in addition to the above costs (upgrades are subject to availability and pricing is subject to change).
Price Includes: Round-trip air transportation from specific cities; 13 nights’ accommodations: 6 nights in Deluxe and Superior First Class hotels, 7 nights aboard Deluxe and Superior First Class ships; extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees; services of a professional Tour Director; private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip, including shore excursions; luggage handling for one bag per person; gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers.
Price Does Not Include: Airfare and airport transfers when purchasing a Land Only package; airfare from your hometown to your departure city; costs of passports and visas; immunizations and inoculations; personal expenses such as beverages, laundry, room service, and meals not specified; communication charges; optional sightseeing or shore excursions; gratuities to your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director and shipboard personnel, which are at your discretion (suggested gratuities: $10–$15 per traveler, per day); and travel protection insurance. Additional baggage fees may apply and are subject to change at any time. Anything that is not listed as included.
Ready to register? The best way to do this is by phone so that we can ensure we are meeting all of your needs. Please call us at 866-765-2646 or e-mail cavaliertravels@virginia.edu with your contact information and the best time to reach you.
A deposit of $500 per person (a $200 service fee is non-refundable) is required to reserve your spot. Final invoicing will be done approximately 110 days prior to departure. Final payment is due 95 days prior to departure (November 20, 2023).
Your reservation is not confirmed until your deposit is paid and processed. Payment may be made by American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or VISA, or by personal check. If paying by check, please make check payable to our tour operator, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc.
Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., reserves the right to cancel any reservations that are not paid in full at any time after final payment is due. If you make your reservation after the final payment date, payment in full will be required upon reservation.
Early registration is encouraged as space is limited.
Please read this information carefully, as payment of a refundable $500 deposit per person represents your acceptance of the following Terms and Conditions.
Cavalier Travels reserves the right to use photos that might include you in marketing materials and for other purposes unless you specify otherwise.
Cancellation, Refunds, and Changes: If you must cancel your trip, the effective date of cancellation will be upon the University of Virginia’s receipt of your notification. Refunds for cancellations are subject to the following per person charges: cancel 95 days or more before departure: $200 charge; cancel 94-65 days before departure: 50% of tour price; cancel 64-30 days before departure: 75% of tour price; cancel 29-0 days before departure: no refund. If you make any changes to your reservation from 94 to 30 days prior to departure, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. will apply a $100 per person administrative fee, in addition to any fees or penalties imposed by third parties. Changes are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. If your reservation changes from double occupancy to single occupancy for any reason, you will be charged the single supplement. No changes are allowed within 30 days of departure.
Upon reservation, you must provide your full legal name as it appears on your passport, as well as your date of birth and gender. In the event an airline ticket is issued with incorrect information you have provided, you will be responsible for charges associated with the ticket’s reissue.
Responsibility: The liability of the University of Virginia, as sponsor, and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., as tour operator, is strictly limited. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. purchases transportation, hotel accommodations, and restaurant and other services from independent suppliers not under our control. We serve only as agents for these suppliers in securing tour arrangements, and therefore will not accept responsibility for wrongful, negligent, or arbitrary acts or omissions of these independent contractors, or of their employees, agents, servants, or representatives. The University of Virginia and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. are not liable for injury, damage, loss, accident, or delay that may be caused by events not within our control, including, without limitation, acts of terrorism, war, strikes, the defect of any vehicle, or the negligence or default of any third party. All coupons, receipts, and tickets issued are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the air carriers, cruise lines, and other independent suppliers. We will make every effort to operate our tours as planned, but we reserve the right to make itinerary changes as necessary. If unforeseen circumstances require us to change a hotel, we will select alternative accommodations of the same or better quality.
Health and Medical Issues: We request that you be in good health to participate in this University of Virginia tour. There is a considerable amount of walking, and you must be able to get on and off motorcoaches on your own. We regret that we cannot offer individual assistance; in such cases you must be accompanied by a companion who will assist you. Please note that many of our itineraries, for reasons beyond our control, cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Please call or e-mail us to inquire and we will do our best to answer any questions you may have. We reserve the right to remove anyone whose physical or mental condition, in our opinion, compromises the operation of the tour or detracts from the enjoyment or safety of the other passengers. In that event, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. and the University of Virginia assume no financial responsibility for any unused portion of the tour.
Air Transportation – Important Information: Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. includes in its tour price round-trip economy air from designated gateway cities, and contracts with those airlines the company feels provide the level of service, routings, and value necessary for your entire trip. While another airline may offer a more direct connection, it may be at a price unavailable at the lower group rates. You will receive your preliminary air schedule approximately 2½ months prior to departure. Please note that seat assignment on your international flight is usually done at airport check-in. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. is unable to guarantee any seat assignments. Due to the nature of tour operator tickets, other restrictions apply, including, but not limited to, frequent flyer mileage accrual, stopovers, alternate travel dates, upgrades, and airline taxes and fees. If you prefer to make your own travel arrangements, Land Only is available on most tours. Since international and domestic air schedules are subject to change at any time, we recommend that if you choose to make your own airline reservations, you do not purchase non-refundable tickets or those with high penalties for changes. If you choose to make your own air arrangements, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. shall not have any liability for any loss resulting from cancellation of this tour or changes in this tour.