Egypt
Faculty: Carlisle Chambers and Jeff Vargason
Class meeting time: Tuesdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Trip Dates: May, 2024
Highlights
This trip will focus on providing foundational knowledge of the history and culture of Egypt. We will emphasize the place of Christianity in a Muslim world and the archeology, such as the building of the Pyramids in Egypt. These are two diverse topics, but together they will provide an introduction to both ancient and modern Egypt. While the majority of Egyptians are Muslim, approximately 10% are Coptic Orthodox Christians. Of special interest will be the visits to Coptic and Muslim Cairo. No study of Egypt would be complete without studying the Great Pyramids of Egypt. As one of the most recognized structures in the world, these ancient wonders of the world will provide a glimpse into ancient Egypt, their engineering practices and their religious practices.
Egypt also provides a fascinating and diverse landscape from the sand dunes of the Western deserts, to the fertile Nile valley, to the Red Sea in Egypt.
Students will have opportunities to explore the history of Egypt with visits to the Pyramids of Giza and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. In addition, we will take a cruise on the Nile, visit Abu Simbel and Alexandria.
The primary focus for this trip will be Egypt. However, since the US State Department forbids travel to two of the main areas of Egypt that we visited previously, the Sinai and the Western Desert, we will spend two nights in Dubai, EAU. This is a relatively inexpensive addition as our flight with Emirates goes through Dubai and Emirates allows for a free stopover in Dubai.
Tentative Itinerary
| Day 1 | Cairo: Upon arrival Egyptian guide will meet, assist and transfer us to a hotel where we will check in, back to hotel and overnight. |
| Day 2 | Alexandria: After breakfast, transfer to Alexandria, check-in hotel and overnight |
| Day 3 | Alexandria: After breakfast, visit the Kata Comb, Pompey's Pillar, Bibliotheca Alexandria. Lunch in a Local restaurant, free at leisure, overnight. |
| Day 4 | Cairo: Check out after Breakfast, transfer back to Cairo visit Khan El Khalili one of the oldest and most famous bazaars in Old Cairo. Check in hotel and overnight. |
| Day 5 | Sleeper Train: Check out after breakfast then start Visit with your Egyptologist tour guide to the Egyptian Museum then visit to the Coptic Quarter in old Cairo, visiting the very old Coptic churches. Islamic Cairo, see the Fortress of Salah el Din & Mohamed Ali Mosque Lunch at a local restaurant Then visit El Sultan Hassan, Al Rifa’i & Ibn Tulun Mosques then transfer to the train Station and overnight on board. |
| Day 6 | Aswan: Breakfast on board, upon arrival transfer to the hotel, Visit the Nubian museum and the Unfinished Obelisk, Visit Nubian Village. |
| Day 7 | Abu Simbel: Follow the convoy to Abu Simbel, visit the temple, spent time at Abu Simbel and overnight. PM: Visit Sound & Light show in Abu Simbel. |
| Day 8 | Cruise: Return to Aswan, free afternoon and evening, and check in Cruise. Free at leisure, dinner and overnight. |
| Day 9 | Cruise: After breakfast visit the High Dam, and Philae temple. Sail to Kom Ombo, visit the double Temple shared by “Horus & Sobek” the crocodile God. Sail to Edfu and overnight. |
| Day 10 | Cruise: Visit the most complete and entirely Greek Temple of Horus in Edfu. Sail to Esna, sail again to Luxor and overnight. |
| Day 11 | Luxor: Disembark after breakfast then visit the west bank, visit the Necropolis of Thebes where we visit the tombs of the ancient pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings. Then continue to visit the temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon, check in hotel and overnight. |
| Day 12 | Luxor: Check out after breakfast then visit the east bank (Karnak and Luxor temples), lunch in a local restaurant, then transfer to Hurghada check in hotel Dinner and overnight. |
| Day 13 | Hurghada: After breakfast, Free at leisure – Enjoy the beauty of the Red Sea Opportunity of swimming, snorkeling, diving and/or fishing, Dinner overnight at hotel. |
| Day 14 | Hurghada: After breakfast, Free at leisure – Enjoy the beauty of the Red Sea Opportunity of swimming, snorkeling, diving and/or fishing, Dinner overnight at hotel. |
| Day 15 | Cairo: After breakfast transfer back to Cairo, upon arrival check in hotel and overnight |
| Day 16 | Cairo: After breakfast start your full day tour with your Egyptologist tour guide. Visit the 4500 years old Giza Pyramids, the only remaining wonders of the ancient world. Also see the Sphinx carved from a single stone representing a creature with a Pharaohs head and a Lion’s body. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. Then continue to visit runes of the ancient city of Memphis continue to visit the stepped Pyramid in Sakkara that is the oldest ever construction of hard rocks made by man, overnight in hotel. |
| Day 17 | Cairo: After breakfast visit the Garbage city, Free at leisure. Visit Sisters of Charity Orphanage. Felucca sunset cruise |
| Day 18 | Departure to Dubai: Very early morning transfer to airport for departure to Dubai. Arrive early morning in Dubai. Transfer to Hotel. City Tour of Dubai |
| Day 19 | Dubai: Free morning and early afternoon. Desert safari with pickup and drop off, stop in the middle of the desert for photos and walking on the dunes, 4x4 wd jeep desert safari, camel ride, henna designer service, sand boarding in the dune, Arabic costume photography, Tanura show, Belly dancer show, Fire show, snacks and refreshments at the camp, Buffet BBQ dinner, soft drinks water, tea, coffee. |
| Day 20 | Dubai: Transfer to Airport and fly to Seattle – Shuttle to Portland |
