October 21, 2004 -- Egypt is a once in a lifetime trip. The kind of place you know you won't be back to soon but dream about forever. The Nile is as wide and mystical as people say. The Valley of Kings, hauntingly ancient. The Sphinx at Giza and Pyramids of Cheops deserving wonders of the world. Cairo's crowded markets. King Tut's Tomb. The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. With so many sights, Egypt can be the crown jewel for your lifetime travels.
This fall, tour operators are making this jewel more accessible with reasonable air and land packages. Four Winds Travel has an air-inclusive tour starting in Cairo that starts $1,699 for departures out of New York. Details on the eight-night/ten-day trip called the "Treasure of Egypt" can be found at www.4windstravel.com/hot/keytour3.html or by calling the Illinois-based travel operator at 630/966-9060. Travelers get the option of staying at First Class or Deluxe hotels depending on how much they want to spend. The trip's itinerary includes stops at Egypt's major tourist spots of historical significance -- the Sphinx, Cairo's markets and religious sites, Luxor, the Aswan Dam and a four-day cruise down the Nile ending at Abu Simbel, one of Egypt's little known but most incredible monuments. From Chicago, the trip costs $1,899.
Crown Travel (tel. 800/853-6453; www.crown-travel.com/Egypt15DayGrandTour.htm#15DAYHURGHADA) offers a unique view of Egypt that includes a few days on Egypt's unheralded but beautiful beaches. A fifteen-day tour of Egypt with a long stop at the Red Sea beach resort of Hurghada starts at $2,395. The tour departs several times a month (excluding February) in 2005 and the New Year's trip includes a night of fine dining and dancing. The small cruise boat (most ships are too big for the narrow Nile) the King of Thebes has many amenities including a small casino, a dining hall and a large deck offering panoramic views. The site offers many travel tips, guidebooks to see before you leave, and a detailed itinerary. Licensed guides are provided for each leg of your tour. A non-refundable deposit of $300 is required at time of booking. An online special 13-day "Leisurely Cruise Trip" to Egypt starting at $1,695 is available if you subscribe to the company's online special page at https://specials.travelhub.com/crown. U.S. taxes, foreign departure taxes, airport user fees not included. Travel is good through April 30, 2004 with Holiday surcharges applying.
Gate 1 Travel, a leader in worldwide packaged tours, has an excellent deal to Egypt starting at $1,299. The eight-day "Egypt Super Saver" with a three-day cruise can be found at www.gate1travel.com/Destinations/Egypt/egypt-vacation-cheap.asp or by calling 800/682-3333. The discounted tour gets even less expensive if you pay by cash with 10 percent discounts per passenger. Airport taxes, fees, the September 11th security fee, visa fees and optional tours & tips to guide and driver are not included. Just about everything else is, including air travel within Egypt and 12 meals (6 breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners).
Remember to read the fine print on terms and conditions. For global travel to far-away destinations, cancellation fees can be steep.
You can find additional information on traveling to Egypt in our online-only guide starting at www.frommers.com/destinations/egypt or on our Egypt Message Boards at www.frommers.com/cgi-bin/WebX?13@@.ee6b358.