10 days/ 9 nights including Cairo, Luxor, Aswan

This bike tour is designed for people who are interested in combining a cruise on the Nile with easy biking along the river banks. This is an excellent introduction to Pharaonic Egypt in an adventure style. You will enjoy staying on one of the famous Nile cruise ships combined with biking through the picturesque villages along the river and into the Sahara Desert.  This will offer us a glimpse into the
glamour of Pharaonic Egypt as well as a look into the life of contemporary villagers in modern day Egypt.  We will sleep each night on board the ship, thus enjoying the luxury of a moving, floating hotel.  This has the added advantage of allowing non-cyclists to join the groupand participate fully in the great fun of adventure travel!

Difficulty:  easy to moderate with biking mostly over flat lands.

Friday: Depart New York at 11PM on your non-stop flight to Egypt.

Saturday: Arrive Cairo, be met by our staff who will assist with clearing immigration and customs and transfer you to a fine hotel.  O/N Cairo.

Sunday: A full day tour (by air-conditioned vehicle) of Memphis,
Sakkarra, and Dahshur with its famous "bent" pyramid, Black pyramid and Red pyramid.  Built of Red Granite brought all the way from Aswan it is open for entry. O/N Cairo. (B)

Monday:  A full day's tour of the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the
Egyptian museum plus the Khan el Khalili bazaar where travelers have
found bargains since the middle ages. O/N Cairo. (B)

Tuesday:  Fly to Luxor, transfer to the cruise ship and be fitted for your bike.  The rest of the day is spent cycling around Luxor.  We will visit the temples of Karnak and Luxor as well as view some of the traditional farms in the surrounding areas. today we have cycled some 12 miles.  O/N Ship (B,L,D)

Wednesday:  A morning sail on the Nile by Felucca (native sailboat)
taking us and the bikes to the west bank.  From here we will cycle
around the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, visiting tombs of famous Pharaohs.  We will also visit the temple of Queen Hatshepsut.  After about 20 miles of cycling around the valley we will return by Felucca to the ship.  O/N Ship. (B,L,D)

Thursday:  Today we will cycle south along the Nile, from Luxor to Edfu,
passing the famous sugar and rice plantations of Southern Egypt.  Until
lunch the Nile will be on your right-hand side and by lunch we will
arrive to the small town of Esna on the west bank.  Stop for lunch and a visit to the Temple of Khnum, the ram-headed God of inundation.  After
lunch continue south along the river (now on our left side), cycling through many picturesque villages where we will be greeted by cheering children. We will arrive at Edfu in the early evening and meet our ship which has sailed from Luxor to meet us.  We board the ship, enjoy dinner and evening entertainment.  We have completed some 58 miles on flat
terrain today. O/N Ship (B,L,D)

Friday: This is the longest cycling day of the tour, about 70 miles, mostly flat terrain.  We continue along the Nile and the veer off into the Sahara desert.  We stop for lunch on the river and continue on to the city of Aswan, which is actually located in the desert.  We board a local ferry that will take us across the river to the East bank where we will meet our ship.  Dinner and evening entertainment on board. O/N Ship (B,L,D)

Saturday: Today we will spend the day exploring Aswan and it's surroundings. We will disembark then we will experience the contrast of ancient and modern by visiting the Aswan Dam, the temple of Philae and the temple of Isis. Lunch at the Basma hotel then in the afternoon a visit to the Nubian Museum, a world class presentation of the Nubian history and culture. We have cycled some 37 miles today. A late afternoon flight returns us to Cairo. O/N Sonesta. (B on the ship, L at the Basma)

Sunday:  Staff who will transfer you to the airport, assist with exit formalities and checking in for your 9AM international departure. (B)

GROUP TOURS INCLUDE:
Maximum of 16 travelers. Round trip air from JFK (add on air from other U.S. cities available). All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle relating to the tour program starting with arrival to Cairo. Baggage handling of no more than 2 pieces of luggage per person however baggage and personal effects are at the owner's risk at all times during the tour. Hotels (based on double occupancy). Meals as outlined by B for Breakfast, L for lunch and D for dinner. Fees for visiting antiquity sites and museums. Services of an English speaking licensed Egyptologist. Service charges and taxes. Tips for ground personnel except guide. Travel Insurance for those departing from the USA or Canada.

Not included are: items of a personal nature such as tips for guide, entry visa (available at the airport on entry for USA and Canadian citizens.  Other nationalities should check with the nearest Egyptian consulate), phone calls, laundry, bar bills, beverages during meals, any items not specifically covered in the included items.

Biking the NIle  TEA-125

Groups:  $2795 p.p. (dbl. occ)
Single supplement: $950

Group Departures:  2001: Oct. 19, Nov. 09, Dec. 07
2002: Jan. 11,  Mch. 15

NOTE:  THIS TOUR REQUIRES A MINIMUM OF 8 BIKERS TO OPERATE. RESERVATIONS ARE TAKEN, HOWEVER NO ONE IS INVOICED AND NO ONE PAYS  UNTIL, AND UNLESS, THE MINIMUM NUMBER IS OBTAINED.