Scuba Diving Red Sea
Egypt Nile Cruise & Red Sea Liveaboard Diving
Magnificent Egypt and the Red Sea |
The Wonders of Cairo and the Red Sea
The Best of Egypt and The Sinai |
The Wonders of Cairo and the Sinai
Optional Nile Cruise Extension 6 Days/5 Nights
Mediterranean and Red Sea Diving
Unique Diving & Land Safari (8-day) |
Israel, Jordan & Mediterranean Red Sea Diving & Land Safari (8-day)
Israel & Sinai, Egypt Shore Diving & Liveaboard Combo (8-day)
Israel, Egypt & Jordan - Mediterranean Red Sea Diving & Land Safari (12-day)
Red Sea Diving Scheduled Departures
8 Day Israel Highlights, Ancient Diving in Caesarea. Red Sea Diving and Visit the Lost City of Petra
12 Day Ancient Diving in Caesarea & Haifa. Israel Highlights. Red Sea Liveaboard Diving and Visit the Lost City of Petra
-- Mediterranean and Red Sea Diving Info --
Magnificent Egypt and the Red Sea
16 Days/14 Nights
Weekly Friday Departures
Day 1 – Friday Departure
Depart New York for Egypt.
Day 2 – Saturday Cairo
Ahlan Wa Sahlan! Welcome to Egypt, Land of the Pharaohs! Upon arrival at Cairo International
Airport, and clearing Immigration your tour representative will greet you and assist with Custom
formalities. After checkin
at the hotel and time to freshen up, meet with the Learning Through
Travel representative to discuss the exciting days ahead. A welcome dinner this evening will
introduce you to Egyptian cuisine.
ACCOMMODATIONS: LE MERIDIAN HOTEL OR SIMILAR (D)
Day 3 – Sunday Cairo
After a buffet breakfast your exploration of Egypt begins. Visit Old Cairo including the Egyptian
Museum of Antiquities. You will have the opportunity to see the many treasures of ancient Egypt as
well as visit the Mummy Room. After lunch visit the Khan El Khalili Bazaar, known for its narrow
alleys. Hundreds of shops are selling all types of Egyptian handicrafts, silver and gold jewelry,
cottons, copperware, and perfumes.
ACCOMMODATIONS: LE MERIDIAN HOTEL OR SIMILAR (B, L)
Group Camel Ride • Pyramids of Giza
Day 4 – Monday Cairo
Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza. Entrance into one of the pyramids is included. Before leaving Giza
visit the mysterious Sphinx. After lunch visit the first Pyramid ever built, the Step Pyramid of Zoser, in
the Sakkara Complex. Your final sightseeing visit will be to Memphis, the first capital of United Upper
and Lower Egypt. Before returning to the hotel you will visit a carpet and papyrus factory.
ACCOMMODATIONS: LE MERIDIAN HOTEL OR SIMILAR (B, L)
Day 5 – Tuesday – Cairo/Aswan/Nile Cruise
This morning a short flight will bring you to Aswan to board your Nile Cruise or you may select the
optional pre cruise threehour
Abu Simbel excursion to visit the great Temples of Ramses II and his
wife Nefertari. After your excursion and upon your return to Aswan you will embark your Nile cruise.
After lunch, visit Aswan’s High Dam, Granite Quarries, and Unfinished Obelisk. Then continue by
felucca to enjoy Kitcheners Island with its beautiful gardens and to view the mausoleum of the Agha
Khan.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5STAR
DELUXE NILE CRUISE SHIP (B, L, D)
Day 6 Wednesday
– Nile Cruise Aswan/Kom Ombo/Edfu
After breakfast visit the Philae Temple. The main sanctuary on the island is dedicated to the
Goddess Isis and her son Horus. As you enjoy lunch the ship will sail to Kom Ombo. Visit the twin
Temple of the falconheaded
god, “Heroeris,” and the crocodile god, “Sobek”. Sail onto Edfu,
midway between Aswan and Luxor.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5STAR
DELUXE NILE CRUISE SHIP (B, L, D)
The Great Colonnade • Luxor Temple
Day 7 – Thursday Nile
Cruise Edfu/Luxor
Begin the day by taking a calache (horse and carriage) ride to visit the Temple of Edfu. Later today,
sail to Esna, pass the lock, and arrive in Luxor, ancient Thebes. If time permits you will explore the
East Bank of the Nile including the Temple of Luxor. Here, the Avenue of Sphinxes, famous for its
artistic degree of uniformity, leads to the entrance of the temple where a seated colossus of Ramses
II and a towering Obelisk sit. Continue to the Karnak Temple, one of the most impressive
monuments of ancient art and architecture in the world. The carvings, which adorn all of the walls,
depict the history and conquests of many of Egypt’s Pharaohs. (If you arrive into Luxor too late to
visit the East Bank you will do so on Friday before leaving for your live aboard
dive excursion) This
evening you may join an optional excursion to the Karnak Temple for a spectacular Sound and Light
Show.
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5STAR
DELUXE NILE CRUISE SHIP (B, L, D)
 Day 8 – 14 Friday
– Thursday – Luxor/Hurghada
Disembark the ship in the morning and cross the West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings,
housing 63 tombs belonging to the Pharaohs of the New Kingdom, including the famous tomb of
King Tutankhamen. Many of the tombs, carved out of the bedrock, retain their original bright colors
and fine relief’s and scenes, thought to guarantee the safe passage of the Ka to the after life.
Afterwards, continue on to Deir El Bahri to visit the mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut,
considered one of the finest buildings in Egypt. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt as King for 20 years.
Cross back to Luxor and travel to Hurghada where you will board the liveaboard
boat. Starting from
Hurghada and sailing north offers a perfect combination of reef and wreck diving. The famous
horseshoe shaped reef of Shaab El Erg is a perfect example of the reefs on this cruise with its
beautiful hard coral garden and the chance to see dolphins.
Abu Nuhas has four wellknown
wrecks:
Giannis D, Carnatic, the Lentil Wreck and the Tile Wreck, all offering spectacular dives and plenty of
fish life. Night dives can be superb in this area as Gubal Island offers protected anchoring for the
night. A small wreck at 2733
feet makes for a spectacular night dive with lionfish, scorpion fish and
its resident giant moray eel. A short ride across the straits of Gubal and you visit the most famous
wreck of the Red Sea, the Thistlegorm! An aweinspiring
World War II British vessel with a cargo full
of armament. Depending on divers' experience, weather and current conditions, we also try to offer a
night dive on the Thistlegorm. Close by is the Ras Mohamed National Park, offering a morning dive
at the 'Shark Reef', a sheer wall falling into the blue. The Ras Mohamed Park is usually the 'border',
from here the boat heads back towards Hurghada.
ACCOMMODATIONS: EMPEROR SUPERIOR LUXURY LIVEABOARD OR SIMILAR (B, L, D)
Nile Story Cruise Ship • Nile River: Aswan to Luxor
CLASSIC CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS: NORTHERN RED SEA FROM HURGHADA TO THE SINAI
PENINSULA INCLUDING ABU NUHAS GIFTUN
ISLAND STRAITS
OF GUBAL –
SS THISTLEGORM RAS
MOHAMED
Wreck of the Thistlegorm
To most, I am sure this wreck needs no introduction. In October 1941 it was at anchor behind Shab
Ali and awaiting orders to move through the Suez Canal to deliver a cargo of munitions to British
troops in North Africa when German aircraft bombed the 426 foot freighter. The cargo is still intact
and includes railway locomotives, bren gun carriers, trucks and motorcycles. You need to do two
dives on this wreck to get a feel for the site. Dive the deeper stern section first and the bow for the
second dive of the day. The wreck is home to bat fish, jacks, barracudas, surgeon fish, nudibranchs
and rabbit fish graze the hull. The current here can be strong and the visibility reduced so ensure a
full briefing from your dive guide and enjoy your visit to this part of history.
Abu Nuhas
Also known as the 'Ships Graveyard', this reef is dangerously positioned close to the busy shipping
lanes of the Gulf of Suez. This reef has claimed more ships than any other in the area. On the
northern side are four wrecks laying on a sandy seafloor at the bottom of a steep sloping reef
layered with table corals. The wrecks are sometimes inaccessible in anything other than a RIB or
inflatable due to the heavy swell driving down the length of the gulf. On the south side you find safe
anchorage for live aboards
and two beautiful ergs, known as Yellow fish reef that make an
excellent third dive, night dive or an alternative if the weather is extremely bad.
 Giannis D
This Greek freighter hit the reef in April 1983 and over the course of two weeks slowly broke in two
and sank. It is the most dived wreck here, resting in 28m and leaning to port with a fully intact stern
section and an impressive engine room packed with glass fish. Locally known as the 'wood' wreck
for the cargo it was carrying when it sank. The bow is also very interesting but is a long swim out. It
is a great wreck for penetrations however, beware of disorientation due to the angle at which she
lays. Be wary of the many lion fish and scorpion fish that call this wreck home and watch out for the
strong surges in and around the wreck in rough weather.
Carnatic
A British P & O steamer which struck the reef in 1869 and sank the next day as the weather got
worse. It was a passenger and mail ship and is sometimes known as the ‘wine’ wreck for the
numerous bottles once found in the holds. Sadly not many now remain to be seen. Rumor has it that
it sank with forty thousand pounds sterling of gold bullion, much of which was never recovered. It
rests in 96 feet and now the hull is draped in multicolored soft corals and the inner areas are full of
glass fish complete with red mouthed grouper sentinel. One davit supports a beautiful table coral.
The wreck is home to grouper, octopus, morays and jacks and tuna cruise overhead.
The Wreck of the Dunraven
At the southern extreme of 'Shab Mahmoud' there are a series of shallow reefs and lagoons among
which lies the wreck of the 238 foot English steamer sunk in 1876 on its way from Bombay to
England loaded with timber and spices. The hull lies upside down and is totally covered in corals
(max. depth 96 feet)? the prop and rudder lie at 63 feet. The wreck is home to a wide variety of
marine life, morays, napoleon, groupers and schools of glass fish and goat fish inside the wreck.
 Ras Mohammed
It has earned itself a reputation as one of the top diving areas in the world. Here at the tip of the
Sinai where the vast bodies of water, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet, created an
ecosystem like no other and wall diving is at its very best.
Shark Observatory
This site is not aptly named as it is not noted for its shark sightings, however, it is a fantastic dive.
Beneath the towering cliffs that continue below the surface to disappear into the deep abyss the wall
is covered with soft coral and honeycombed with numerous gullies and canyons that are home to
hoards of glass fish and hatchet fish herded by red mouth grouper. An overhang, fringed with sea
fans at 33 feet, is a great place to watch the Trevallies, Jacks and Turtles passing in the blue. At the
southern end, Anemone city is worth a visit.
Shark & Yolanda Reefs
Situated right at the tip of the Sinai this site is world renowned. The two small ergs are joined by a
vertical wall dropping into the abyss. Start your dive at Shark reef and use the prevailing current to
explore the wall abounding in multihued soft corals. At 100 feet large schools of barracuda and
snappers gather in oftenstrong
currents just off the wall. Swim through the schools to the outside as
silky sharks usually gather there, but be careful not to lose your orientation to the wall. As you
proceed toward Yolanda you will reach a plateau at 5080
feet scattered with small ergs and coral
outcrops where stone fish and scorpion fish wait for a meal. Continuing round the reef you will come
upon the scattered remains of the wreck of the 'Yolanda' complete with its cargo of toilets and baths.
This area is big fish territory so keep an eye on the blue for the action with tuna, bluefish, and the
occasional hammerhead. Ensure your dive guide gives you a thorough briefing as the currents here
can be strong and complicated.
Day 15 – Friday Hurghada/
Cairo
Return to Cairo today, where the remainder of the day is at leisure or may choose to revisit
some of
the city’s exiting sites or shop at the famous El Khalili Bazaar. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner.
ACCOMMODATIONS: FAIRMONT HELIOPOLIS HOTEL OR SIMILAR (B, D)
Day 16 – Saturday Departure
Farewell to Egypt as you transfer to the airport for your return flight to New York. Arrive home your
hearts and minds filled with happy memories of ancient and modern day Egypt. (B)
Liveaboard Dive Boats • The Brothers
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- International air New York/Cairo/New York
- Domestic Air Cairo/AswanHurghada/
Cairo
- 3 nights accommodation in Cairo at the Le Meridian Hotel or similar
- 4 Days/3 Nights 5star
deluxe Nile Cruise
- 7 Days Live Aboard on board Emperor Divers boat following the Classic Cruise program
- 1 night accommodation in Cairo at the Heliopolis Fairmont Hotel or similar
- All transfers: Cairo/Aswan/Luxor/Hurghada
- Sightseeing and transfers by deluxe motor coach
- English speaking guide throughout Egypt
- Full day sightseeing Pyramids (entrance into 1 pyramid)/Sphinx –Memphis/Sakkara
- Full day sightseeing Egyptian Museum of Antiquities including entrance into the Mummy
RoomCitadel,
Mosque & Bazaar
- 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 13 dinners
- Hotel taxes and service charges and porterage
- Luggage Tags, Travel Bag, Passport Wallet and First Aid Kit
NOT INCLUDED
- U.S. Departure Taxes, Airport Security, Fuel surcharges ($300.00 subject to change),
oversized/overweight and extra luggage.
- Egypt Visa
- Domestic air within the U.S.
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, internet
services, dive
equipment,
- National Park fees, soft drinks, coffee, tea (except at breakfast), mineral water,
alcoholic beverages, passport fees, gratuities for drivers, guides, transfer personnel, travel
insurance, etc……
PLEASE NOTE: Itinerary sequence subject to change based upon government regulations,
live aboard boat program, weather conditions, Nile Cruise schedule, etc………
Please ask for rates and dates
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