Biblical Egypt FAM Trip 2024

Jan 2 (Tue): Depart from New York

Jan 3 (Wed): Arrive Cairo Airport
Our representative will meet you before immigration, customs and baggage claim, with a “FAM TRIP-TUTKU TOURS” sign. He will help you with your visas and customs check. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)

Jan 4 (Thu): Cairo
Visit: Giza Pyramids. The great pyramids and sphinx are among the wonders of the world, and a highlight of any visit to Egypt. In addition to visiting these wonders, we will explore some small tombs of private individuals buried in the shadows of the pyramids. Dinner and overnight in Cairo. (B,D)

Jan 5 (Fri): Cairo
Visit: Sakkara and Dahshur pyramid sites and Memphis. At Sakkara we can see the first pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser including New Kingdom tombs. The Dahshur Pyramids precede the Giza group and allow one to see the evolution of the pyramid. These necropoli were the burial grounds for the kings and elite of the nearby capital, Memphis. At Memphis we will visit an outdoor museum that includes a colossal statue of Ramesses II. Dinner and overnight in Cairo. (B,D)

Jan 6 (Sat): Cairo
Visit: Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Dinner and fly to Luxor. (B,D)

Jan 7 (Sun): Luxor
Visit: Karnak and Luxor Temple. Karnak Temple is the cult center of Amun, No-Amon (Thebes) of the Bible. Here Thutmose III’s Annals record his famous battle at Megiddo and Shishak’s relief records the campaign of 925 BC against Israel and Judah. The temple is also home to the Egyptian text of the treaty of Ramesses and Hatusili the Hittite ruler and the classic Hypostyle Hall. The Pylon at Luxor temple contains reliefs of Ramesses II’s battle of Kadesh and a portrayal of his tabernacle-like camp. Dinner and overnight in Luxor. (B,D)

Jan 8 (Mon): Luxor
Visit: Theban Necropolis. The western side of Luxor is the burial ground of Thebes and includes the Valley of Kings (and Tut’s tomb), Deir el-Bahri (Hatshepsut’s funerary temple), and the Ramesseum, which features “Ozymandias,” and mud-brick storage facilities like those for which the Hebrews made bricks (Exodus 1:11). Dinner and overnight in Luxor. (B,D)

Jan 9 (Tue): Luxor - Fly Cairo
Visit: Theban Necropolis, day two. The Tombs of the Nobles include remarkable painted and carved scenes. In the Tomb of Rekhmire we will see the famous scene in which foreigners are forced to make bricks, and in the Tomb of Ramose, we will witness the finest New Kingdom art and the transition to the Amarna style. Medinet Habu is one of the best-preserved temples of the New Kingdom and contains the renowned panorama of the Sea Peoples (including the Philistines) invasion of Egypt. Fly to Cairo in the evening. Dinner and overnight in Cairo. (B,D)

Jan 10 (Wed): Cairo
Visit: Old Cairo and the Cave Church. In Medieval Cairo we will visit some of the earliest churches and the Ibn Ezra Synagogue (where the Cairo Geniza manuscripts were found). Visit the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, home to the New Kingdom royal mummies. We will experience the Cave Church, the largest church in the Middle East, which is in the remarkable garbage collector’s town. Dinner and overnight in Cairo (B,D).

Jan 11 (Thu): Departure Transfer to Cairo Airport for flight
back to USA. End of services.

Option 1 ASWAN TRIP

Jan 11 (Thu):
• Morning transfer to Cairo Airport to fly to Aswan. • With a guide, visit Philea Temple, Un-Finished Obelisque, Elephantine Island & High Dam. • Overnight in Aswan. (B,D)

Jan 12 (Fri):
• Early morning drive by a private car and guide to Abu Simble. Visit the temples of king Ramses II & queen Nefertari. On the way back to Aswan, stop to visit the temple of Kalabsha. • Overnight in Aswan. (B,D)

Jan 13 (Sat):
• Check-out of your hotel by noon. Visit a Nubian village, and a short motor boat ride on the Nile around some of the cataracts. Visit the Nubian Museum. Free time in Aswan. Night train to Cairo. • Dinner and overnight on board. (B,D)

Jan 14 (Sun):
• Morning arrival at Giza Station, transfer to the Le Meridian Airport Hotel. • Overnight in Cairo at the Le Meridian Airport Hotel. (B,D)

Jan 15 (Mon):
• Walk to the terminal across the terminal bridge to check-in for your flight back home. (B)

Option 2 ALEXANDRIA TRIP

Jan 11 (Thu):
• After breakfast early transfers to visit The Monastery of St. Macarius, 92 kilometers from Cairo on the western side of the desert road to Alexandria. It was founded in 360 A.D. by St. Macarius the Egyptian, who was spiritual father to more than four thousand monks of different nationalities-Egyptians, Greeks, Ethiopians, Armenians, Nubians, Asians, Palestinians, Italians, and Spaniards. Among them were men of letters and philosophers, and members of the aristocracy of the time, along with simple illiterate peasants. From the fourth century up to the present day the monastery has been continuously inhabited by monks. • Transfer to Alexandria to visit Bibliotheca of Alexandria the New Library of Alexandria, which is dedicated to recapture the spirit of openness and scholarship of the original Bibliotheca Alexandrina. • The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. These tombs were tunneled into the bedrock in the age of the Antoine emperors (2nd century A.D.) for a single wealthy family still practicing the ancient religion. These tombs represent the last existing major construction of the old Egyptian religion. • Transfer to visit Quitbay fortress, the site that was built in the location of the old destroyed Pharos Lighthouse. • Back to Cairo. • Dinner and overnight in Cairo. (B,D)

Jan 12 (Fri):
• Walk to the terminal across the terminal bridge to check-in for your flight back home. (B)

Egypt

• International flights from New York to Cairo, based on Turkish Airlines
Economy Class.
FAM trip group flights depart from NEWYORK.
For all other departure city requests, please ask for the specific flight
rate at an extra cost.
• Cairo-Luxor-Cairo roundtrip domestic flights
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• Accommodation at 5 star hotels as per hotels specified below or similar
• 3 Nights at Movenpick Media City Hotel in Cairo (or similar)
• 3 Nights at Steigenberger Nile Palace in Luxor (or similar)
• 2 Nights at Le Meridian Cairo Airport Hotel in Cairo (or similar)
• Daily breakfast at the hotels
• 8 dinners at the hotels
• Entrance fees to all archaeological sites included in the program
• English Speaking licensed tour guide throughout the itinerary
• Transfers & transportation by private A/C motorcoach based on the
size of the group
• Portage for one piece of luggage at the hotels
• Guide wireless headset system
• Service charges and local taxes

OPTION 1 ASWAN TRIP

• Cairo-Aswan one-way domestic flights.
• 2 Nights in Aswan at Tolip Aswan or similar (breakfast and dinner).
• 1 Night in the Sleeper train based on Half board basis (breakfast and dinner)
• 1 Night at Le Meridian Cairo Airport Hotel in Cairo (or similar).
• Entrance fees to all archaeological sites included in the program.
• English Speaking licensed tour guide throughout the itinerary.
• Transfers & transportation by private A/C van or mini bus (depends on the
size of the group).

OPTION 2 ALEXANDRIA TRIP

• 1 Night in Cairo at 5* Le Meridian Airport Hotel (or similar) on half board basis
• Entrance fees for all sightseeing in Alexandria as per the itinerary.
• English speaking private guide for all the sightseeing tours.
• All transportations are made by a/c van or mini bus (depends on the size
of the group).

Lunches and drinks.
• Egypt Visa ($25)- Subject to increase if applied by the government
• Personal expenses, any other item which is not included above
• Charges for camera permit at museums and some sites.
• Tips to tour guide ($60) and driver ($30)

•Tips to tour guide ($30) and driver ($15) (Aswan Trip)
• Tips to tour guide ($20) and driver ($10) (Alexandria Trip)