• > How Strenuous are these Trips?
• > Group Participants and Tour Leader
• > Private Tours and Custom Dates
• > Local Transportation
• > Accommodations
• > Meals
• > Climate
• > Travel Documents
• > Flights
• > Airline Tickets
• > Money
• > Health
• > Luggage & Clothing
• > Resources
• > Communication

How Strenuous are these Trips?

Djoser participants enjoy an active style of travel. On a Djoser tour, we do lots of walking. You will also have opportunities to rent bikes to explore.  Our hotels are often located so that you can walk to the nearby sites. Once in a city, we will only take transport to sites that are far away.  You must be capable and willing to carry your own luggage from the bus to the hotel, as usually, there is no porter.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

GUIDES: At certain momuments you will have the assistance of an Egyptian guide who will tell you of the history. Your tour leader is a Dutch guide who will address the group in Dutch and then in English. Tour leaders are knowledgeable about the area we travel and will willingly share their information. However, these are not lecture tours. The guides will handle logistics for travel and lodgings. The guide organizes many meals and activities.  The element of freedom is important on all Djoser trips. Your guide will recommend safe activities and restaurants for free time and exploration. You can generally expect a free day if you are spending a second day in a city. Again, the guide will suggest options.

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Local Transportation

For transportation we use a locally rented bus or a van depending on the size of the group. The bus is spacious and air-conditioned. You will also make use of the train, local taxis or a horse and carriage (caliches), which is a perfect way to get from place to place in Aswan and Luxor. The sailboat is a traditional open-air felucca which holds 10 passengers. Participants sleep communcally on a thick mattresses, under the stars (or actually, under the canvas covering). A facilities boat follows behind with bath/shower facilities. Refershments are also served from the facilities boats. We stop along the banks of the Nile.

 The overnight train is surprisingly comfortable.

Use the following link to view slides of the transportation we use:
http://www.djoserusa.com/transportation

Nile Cruises

We have several options for Nile Cruises. We offer a 14-day trip that includes the Nile Valley and a 4 day/3 night tour on board a luxury cruise boat. This trip can be booked for two or more people. A truly special and intimate way to take a Nile Cruise the traditional way…is on a felucca, or sailboat. Join Dutch participants (from Djoser, Netherlands) on our 13-day tour of the Nile Valley with a 4-day, 3-night cruise aboard a traditional felucca. You will sleep in private cabins (for 2) and dine on board. The boat houses 14 participants plus the boat staff.  On the longest programs (22 and 26 days with our Dutch groups), you will spend two nights on sailboats, sleeping under the stars in 10 person sailboats.

Life in Egypt revolves around the Nile so you will not miss the beauty of the Nile if you don’t book an overnight Nile Cruise. On our programs for North Americans (which can also be booked privately) you can spend afternoons on a sailboat stopping to explore Elephant Island, the Botanical Gardens and fascinating temples. Then take in dramatic sunsets. In Aswan our hotel is on the bank of the Nile and in Luxor you are a brief walk from the River.

Accommodations

The hotels we use in Egypt can be classified as three-star hotels selected for their welcoming atmosphere and favorable location. Rooms have private bathrooms and are air-conditioned. Most have televisions with satellite and telephones. The hotels in Aswan and Luxor have swimming pools.  

In Cairo, most groups are accommodated in a pleasant hotel in the center of the city. This three-star hotel has a lovely rooftop restaurant and very friendly staff. In Aswan the comfortable, air-conditioned hotel is centrally located and ideal for exploring the town on foot, or to wander down to the Nile or take a stroll on the boulevard. The cozy, yet modern hotel in Luxor is located in the center of town and all air-conditioned rooms have a private shower and toilet. Adjacent to the restaurant is a relaxing lounge providing the perfect place to rendezvous to swap stories and compare souvenirs.

Use the following link to view some of our lodgings:
http://www.djoserusa.com/hotels

Unless you request a single room, you will be matched with a roommate of the same sex. Singles are not available on the felucca. If you request a roommate but we cannot match you for the land portion of the trip, you will not be charged extra.  You will find the rate listed on the price chart.

Meals

Meals will be provided on the sailing portion of the trip. Breakfasts are provided in the hotels. Other meals will be at your expense. The guide will suggest nice alternatives for you. You may join other group members for meals or you can dine independently.

Climate

A trip to Egypt can be enjoyed in every season. Every period has its advantages for tourists. In the summer it is dry and hot, but the high temperatures are bearable because humidity is low and there is often a constant breeze from the north. If you get up early and hold siesta in the afternoon, you will avoid the hottest time of day. There are lots of evening activities here and fewer tourists crowding the sites in high summer. In the winter months it is pleasantly cool and from November to May you might even see a few drops of rain. The summer nights are warm. Summer temperatures are in the 80’s and 90’s or higher. Spring and fall are pleasant and in winter it can get chilly. If you are traveling fall, spring, or winter, bring warm clothing for the cool evenings.

Travel Documents

United States and Canadian citizen visiting Egypt must obtain a visa and be in possession of a passport valid for at least six months after departure. You can obtain a visa here in the States for approximately $15. You can also secure a visa quite easily at the airport in Cairo for $30. For additional entry requirements, U.S. citizens can contact the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, 3521 International Court, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 895-5400, or the Egyptian consulates in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, or Houston. If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen please check with the Egyptian consulate for visa requirements.

In the event you would like to use a passport and visa expediting service, we recommend “It’s Easy”. This company offers Djoser customers a discount. Just identify Djoser, Inc. on your It’s Easy Forms as you referral source and they will take 10% off of the service portions of the passport and visa fees. (There is no discount over the government portions of the fees). For download forms and requirements please visit: www.itseasypassport.com. You will need to know the entry and departure dates which we provide for you on an itinerary. You will also need to list a contact name in each country, which you will also find in the literature we send you when you book a trip.  For a higher fee they can process your passport in a few days.

It’s Easy  (Passport & Visa Expeditors)
Satellite Airline Terminal
125 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone - (212) 286-8500,
Fax (212)-490-3224
Website   www.itseasypassport.com
E-mail      mail@itseasypassport.com

Flights

Airline Tickets

Money

The currency is the Egyptian pound. In most tourist areas U.S. dollars will be accepted. It is always important to carry plenty of small bills and coins of the local currency. In most places you can access ATM machines.  Of course in most large restaurants, souvenir shops, and hotels, major credit cards are accepted. The Egyptian pound cannot be exchanged and Egyptian currency may not be taken out of the country. It is therefore better to spend all your Egyptian currency before you leave. As you read in our literature, the tour cost does not include meals and personal expenses. For meals, drinks, entry fees, souvenirs, and such you should budget around $300 per week. Of course this is an average and totally depends on your own spending patterns. It is always sensible to bring a little extra money in case of unexpected expenses, such as special souvenirs or medical expenses. One other additional cost to consider is an optional excursion to Abu Simbel, which is an unforgettable experience. Flight and entry fee should run about $115. If we are able to travel overland the cost is about $65 per person. You will procure a visa at the Cairo airport for $30. You may also be subject to a departure tax upon leaving, which is not included on your invoice.

Tipping
Tipping is expected everywhere in Egypt so have small change handy.

Health

You can read about travel issues on the Center for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. Further questions may be directed to the CDC at 1-800-311-3435. There is a CDC traveler’s information call line at Travelers Health 1-877-394-8747 if you need information faxed to you. Internet is the best mode of communication. Here are the current CDC recommendations:

•    Hepatitis B (usually for exposure to blood or sexual contact with locals)
•    Hepatitis A/yellow fever: one shot with gamma globulin, duration depending on dosage
•    DTP booster
•    Polio

We also suggest that you bring something to combat upset stomachs. Don’t swim in the Nile or canals as you could contract bilharzias, a serious parasitic disease that affects the liver.

Luggage & Clothing

A duffle style suitcase is best or a frameless backpack as they pack best on the bus. If you bring a suitcase, carry a bag that is not heavier than 30 pounds. This will make transporting your luggage easier for yourself as well as for the tour operator: the luggage compartment in the bus is not always spacious. You will also want a small daypack to carry essentials. In most hotels en route you can have your clothes washed so you do not need to over-pack. In general, airy summer clothes are preferable; however do make sure to bring a sweater or a fleece and pants for cool evenings. Evenings in winters can be cold. It is sunny year round in Egypt so we would suggest bringing a hat, plenty of sunscreen and not to forget your swimwear! Closed shoes will protect your feet from the sun. The trip encompasses some substantial walking tours in the program so a pair of sturdy shoes with good traction will be beneficial. Locals will take a dim view of men going shirtless or women exposing shoulders and legs or wearing skimpy garments, particularly in Cairo. Doing so will draw unwanted attention often to the point of harassment.

Resources

Communication