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From
Chartage to the Nile
Tour
the best of Private touring in Egypt and Tunisia
All in 20 days : Want
a Mediterranean vacation like the Europeans enjoy ? Go to Tunisia!
Tour
the best of Egypt & Tunisia - 20 days , weekly departures
on Sundays , year round . Including a
5 day Nile Cruise, Cairo, Luxor,Aswan , Tunis, Hammamet, Sousse,
Monastir, El Jem, Sfax, Djerba Island, Gabes, Matmata, Kebil, Tozeur,
Chott El Djerid, Kairouan, Gafsa, Skeita . Click
here for the 14 day version
Add Morocco
DAY 1 - JFK - Sunday - Board Air France (or other IATA international
air carrier) wide body jet at JFK International Airport , overnight
across the Atlantic. Dinner is served on board. We may use British Airways,
or Lufthansa. Add-on air fare available from major US cities.
DAY
2 - TUNIS/CARTAGE - Monday
Our staff greets you at Tunis/Cartage airport and escorts you to your
Tunis hotel. After freshening up, take your first look at this Mediterranean
capital as you like. Private transfers at all times. Private air-conditioned
vehicle, private chauffeur.
DAY
3- HAMMAMET TO SFAX (cBLD) -
Tuesday
We drive along the beautiful blue Mediterranean seashore to Hammamet,
passing picturesque castles, stopping occasionally in local souks (bazaars)
for shopping. Continuing to Sousse, once the Phoenician city
of Hadrumatum, we walk through the medina (old city), cooled by breezes
off the harbor, and visit the Roman catacombs and, if there's time,
a local museum. We stop to explore a typical ribat (fort) before enjoying
lunch at Monastir. Our next stop is El Jem, which boasts
a Roman coliseum very similar to the famous one in Rome. Finally we
reach Sfax, and our hotel. Private
air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
DAY
4 - DJERBA - GABES (cBLD) - Wednesday
We explore the old city of Sfax, then board the ferry to the
island of Djerba (Jerba) for lunch. Fertile Djerba, a large island
on the south side of the entrance to the Gulf of Gabes, bears many traces
of Roman civilization and produces an abundance of delicious fruit.
We travel to Gabes in time for shopping in the local market,
and for enjoying the shade of a typical palm grove before dinner and
a good night's rest. Private
air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
DAY
5 - MATMATA TO CHOTT EL DJERID (cBLD) Thursday
Our journey continues to Matmata where we visit troglodyte (underground)
houses where descendants of the Berbers still live as their ancestors
did. We continue to Kebil for lunch, then across the Chott El
Djerid to see its desert Berber villages. We spend the night in a desert
oasis. Private
air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
DAY
6 - CHOTT EL DJERID & TOZEUR (cBLD) Friday
We explore our desert oasis before driving to Tozeur in time
for lunch. In the afternoon, wander at leisure in Tozeur, our
base for the night. Private
air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
DAY
7 - GAFSA, KAIROUAN & TUNIS (cBL) Saturday
We drive to the ancient Roman pools of Gafsa, then to Sbeita
to climb around its Roman ruins. After lunch at a local restaurant,
we continue to Kairouan, an Islamic holy city boasting several
historic mosques and a souk famous for its carpets and leather goods.
We reach Tunis in early evening . Private
air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
DAY
8 - TUNIS (cBL) Sunday
The famous Bardo Museum, with the largest Roman mosaics in the world,
is our first stop, followed by a visit to Tunis's medina (old city)
for last-minute bargain-hunting. After a relaxing lunch in a seaside
restaurant, we visit the ruins of ancient Cartage, including its theater,
circus and baths. Finally, we stop in the picture-perfect medieval village
of Sidi Bou Said before returning to our hotel in Tunis. Private
air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
DAY 9 - TUNIS (B) Monday
Full day at leisure to enjoy exploring Tunis on your own ,or do your
last minute shopping.
DAY
10 - CAIRO (B) - Tuesday
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight to the African
city of light: CAIRO . Air fare is included in our rate , in economy
class , tax included. Our
staff meets you, assists with entry formalities, Complimentary Egyptian
visa fee (valid only for American & Japanese citizens. Passports
must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival). A visa will be issued
at the airport upon arrival in Cairo. We'll
escort you to your hotel. Private
air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
Visa
will be issued upon arrival. As you exit the gate, you will
pass through a door or two , down some stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes
, until you pass the duty free shops, at the end of a wide corridor
, you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local
representative, who will be holding a sign with the name you prefer
to use for the sign . Our local representative will then take your passport
to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak
with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check
on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area,
he will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs .
After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you
(private vehicle) to the hotel
DAY
11- CAIRO (BL) - Wednesday
Today,
we'll explore the wonders of the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures
of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, statuary, precious stones and metals.
The mummies room and King Tut's gold treasure room are included in our
rate . Travellers have long come to Cairo just to gaze on these sights,
but our day has just started. After lunch at Abu El Sid restaurant or
Naguib Mahfouz , then it's on to the Citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster
Mosque of Mohammed Ali. before we head for the famous Khan El-Khalili
Bazaar district . Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
Private Egyptologist
DAY
12-Alexandria (BL)-Thursday
Today,we
tour Alexander the Great's ancient capital , we'll get to known Alexandria
in depth, as we visit the Greco-Roman Museum, the Roman Amphitheater,
the Koum El Shougafa Tombs, the fortress of Kayet Bey, and the Museum
of the Crown Jewels. After lunch in an Alexandrine restaurant, we'll
travel souththward to Cairo through the lush delta of the Nile River,
the source of the wealth of ancient Egypt.
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur. Private Egyptologist
.
DAY
13-Cairo (BLD)-Friday
Today Cairo is yours to explore on your own, or just relax.
We 'll meet you at the hotel. Late lunch is included at La Bodega restaurant
, before we head , for the railway station , it's all aboard! We'll
settle you into your private wood-panelled sleeping compartment on the
train bound along the banks of the Nile. You'll enjoy dinner on board
, as the lights of villages reflect in the river.
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur. Private Egyptologist.
Our Cairo rep. will escort you on board the sleeper train .
DAY
14-Nile Cruise /Camel Caravan (cBLD)-Saturday
After breakfast
on board, the train arrives in Aswan, where we'll settle you into your
cabin on a Nile steamer. During the train ride, you will have seen feluccas
sailing the Nile. Now we'll experience Egypt at its most authentic,
as we sail in one of these graceful craft. Then, to really immerse yourself,
try your hand at camel riding! We'll take willing passengers on a traditional
caravan to enjoy tea with Nubian villagers. Only Travel in Style affords
this unique opportunity to meet and interact with local people. We are
proud to offer this insight into the Nubian way of life.
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur. Private Egyptologist
DAY 15 - ASWAN, KOM OMBO - Private Egyptologist even on board the
cruise (BLD) - Sunday
After breakfast on board, we'll visit the dams at Aswan, including the
High Dam, a modern wonder in this ancient land. At the ancient granite
quarry, we'll see an obelisk left unfinished, then board a launch on
Lake Nasser to visit the Temples of Philae, rescued from rising waters.
Back aboard our cruiser, we'll sail northward down the Nile at a stately
pace, disembarking for a visit to Kom Ombo, the twin temple dedicated
to the crocodile river god, Sobek.
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur. Private Egyptologist
DAY 16 - EDFU, ESNA - (BLD)- Monday
Horse-drawn carriages or vans meet us at riverside to take us through
Edfu to the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt. Later,
we'll cruise to Esna, and by evening, we'll be in fabled Luxor.
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur. Private Egyptologist
DAY 17 - LUXOR - (BLD) - Tuesday
We'll cross the Nile to view an array of ancient splendors: the tomb
chambers of the Valley of the Kings; the imposing tomb-temple of Queen
Hatshepsut and, the Colossi of Memnon.
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur. Private Egyptologist
DAY
18 - LUXOR, CAIRO - (B) - Wednesday
Check out from our cabins. In the morning we'll visit the imposing Great
Temple of Amon at Karnak and the great Temple of Luxor before heading
back to the airport & the flight back to Cairo and our hotel.
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur. Private Egyptologist
DAY
19 - Giza - Dahshour - (BLD)
After
breakfast, we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious Sphinx
and the Pyramids of Giza.
The museum of the Royal Barge of Cheops The museum is built over the
rectangular pit that housed the Royal Barge for thousands of years ,
the wooden boat was readied for the king's daily journey with the sun
god, Ra . Discovered in 1954, in a completely dismantled state, the
43-metre (140-foot) cedar boat is a rare window on the Royal boats used
by the kings of Ancient Egypt. Those
who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart
of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included
with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking
a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!
Continue
to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We
visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:
The "Discovery" of Dahshour: For almost half a century, the great
field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles
south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the
perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great
4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru's pyramid,
the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza's Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal
in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids
were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective,
decorative sheaths, but Senfru's--miraculously--is still in place.
Lunch is included at the Mena House .
Complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals,
you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (
T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This
evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right
into the homes of some of the people of Cairo l! You'll be invited to
a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties,
you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way
of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your
new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background.
Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that
you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may
enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know
your preferences.
DAY 20 - DEPARTURE FOR HOME - (B)
After breakfast, our staff will see you to the airport and assist
you with all the formalities before you board your flight for home.
You'll arrive the same day. Bon Voyage!
Rates per
person in US$ FROM JFK
| Hotel/Cruise |
In
Triple occupancy |
Double |
Single |
| Deluxe
Hotels |
$
7610.00 |
$
7750.00 |
$
8915.00 |
First
Class |
$
7100.00 |
$
7250.00 |
$
8540.00 |
Tour departs
from the USA every Sunday , year round. For Christmas, New Year's &
Easter weeks, please add %20 supplement. Air
fare with taxes from JFK, round-trip. For most west coast cities, please
add : $350.
For May thru end of Sep , air fare supplement is $350 (doesn't apply when
you handle your own air fare). When /if you handle your own air fare,
please deduct $ 800 from the rate.
Your
tour includes:
- Airport
transfers in Tunisia and Egypt , always on a private basis, private
air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur .
- Complimentary
visa fee for Egypt, valid only for American, EU , most of the South
East Asian countries, China & Japanese citizens, passports must
be valid for at least 6 month at time of arrival, no visa is required
for Tunis or France.
-
Air fare with taxes from JFK, round-trip. For most west coast cities,
please add : $350.
For May thru end of Sep , air fare supplement is $350 (doesn't apply
when you handle your own air fare). When /if you handle your own air
fare, please deduct $ 800 from the rate.
-
Hotel accommodations in simple but comfortable Five four category
in the major cities in Tunisia , yet modest 4 -star (first-class)
hotels for rest of Tunisia : Sfax: Sfax Center Syhax; Gabes: Chems;
Tozeur: Ramla)
Egypt : Cairo : Deluxe 5 stars : Grand Hyatt , Conrad , Hilton or
similar .
First class : Oases, Shepheard's or similar.
- Nile
Cruises with all shore excursiones, and all meals while on board.
Sample Nile cruises ( or similar ) : Movenpick M/S Royal Lotus , Movenpick
M/S Royal Lilly, M/S Al-Kahila, M/S El-Jamila. M/S Amarco. M/S Monaco,
M/S Monte Carlo, M/S Mojito .
- Meals
as indicated: cB = Continental breakfast; L
= set-menu lunch; D = set-menu dinner
- Guided
sightseeing as indicated, including all admission fees, by air-conditioned
vehicle .
Not
Included :
Tips
.
Any
insurance, we'll be glad to send you the flyer
Drinks.
Trip
cancellation insurance, travel insurance
The
Mediterranean resorts of Europe are wonderful, but they can be crowded
and expensive. So where do discerning Europeans go to find the perfect
laid-back, affordable Mediterranean vacation? Why, they go to Tunisia,
of
course!
The
clear blue water, the shimmering sun, the white sand beaches are all
the same in Tunisia, the southern shore of the Mediterranean, just across
the sea from Sicily and Sardinia. The prices are lower, the pace is
more relaxed, and the cuisine and service in this former French colony
are
French-inspired. (Everyone speaks French as well as Arabic, and many
people in hotels, restaurants and other tourist spots speak some English,
too.)
Tunisia's
history has always been linked to Europe's. Hannibal of Carthage crossed
from Tunisia to Europe with 30,000 men and a few dozen elephants and
humbled the Roman legions. Rome ultimately triumphed, however, and Tunisia
became the Roman province of Africa. Today the picturesque ruins of
great Roman cities are spread throughout the Tunisian countryside.
Be
sure to see Tunisia's African side as well: its legacy of Umayyad, Abbasid
and Ottoman culture and cuisine, its picture-perfect desert oases shaded
by date palms, its markets filled with handicrafts and exotic spices.
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