Mary Washington Alumni On The Road: Egypt & the Eternal Nile brochure
February 26-March 12, 2027
15 days from $6,997 total price from Boston, New York ($6,195 air, land & cruise inclusive plus $802 airline taxes and fees)
This tour is provided by Odysseys Unlimited, seven-time honoree Travel + Leisure World’s Best Tour Operators award.
An Exclusive Small Group Tour for Alumni and Friends of the University of Mary Washington
Featuring Nabil Al-Tikriti, Ph.D., Professor of Middle East History at the University of Mary Washington
Mary Washington Alumni and Friends,
Travel with us on an exclusive 15-day journey to experience the ancient wonders of Egypt. Discover thousands of years of history, art and culture as you explore storied lands and cruise the legendary Nile River. Begin in Egypt’s capital and largest city, Cairo, with a visit to the brand new Grand Egyptian Museum, showcasing over 100,000 artifacts spanning 700,000 years of Egyptian history. Relax during a four-night cruise on Lake Nasser, visiting Abu Simbel along the way, then enjoy a classic Nile voyage that includes visits to Edfu’s Temple of Horus and Luxor’s acclaimed temples and tombs. Here, visit Karnak, arguably the greatest temple complex of them all. Visit the lively Khan el Khalili bazaar and visit the renowned ancient sites of the Sphinx, Sakkara and the Pyramids of Giza. Explore Old Cairo, the city’s oldest section, also known as Coptic Cairo due to its concentration of historic Coptic churches. A special opportunity to discover the treasures of Jordan is available with an optional 5-day/4-night “Jordan: Petra & Amman” post-tour extension. With room for only 24 guests in total, and this superb itinerary, we expect that our limited space will fill up quickly. Call today or complete the reservation form below to secure your space on this remarkable journey.
Sincerely,
Mark Thaden
Associate Vice President for Alumni and Donor Engagement University of Mary Washington
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON RESERVATION FORM: EGYPT & THE ETERNAL NILE
To reserve your place on tour, please call Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. toll-free at 888-370-6765. Please have the information outlined below available to share with an Odysseys Unlimited Travel Counselor. If you prefer, you may also complete this Reservation Form and submit it to Odysseys Unlimited’s office. Once this request is received, a Travel Counselor from Odysseys Unlimited will contact you within two business to review the tour information and provide you with a secure link to enter your credit card information. Your reservation is not confirmed until your deposit is paid and processed. Payment may be made by American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or VISA, or by personal check. If paying by check, please make check payable to Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. and include with the form. Final payment is due at least 125 days prior to departure. Send to: Odysseys Unlimited, Inc.
Attn: Special Interest Groups
One Newton Place 275 Washington Street, Suite 300 Newton, MA 02458
EGYPT & THE ETERNAL NILE •
FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 12, 2027
I/We would like to request __________ place(s). (Deposit amount is $650 per person.)
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Egypt & the Eternal Nile
15 days from $6,997 total price from Boston, New York ($6,195
Accompanied by an expert Egyptian guide, this singular small group journey through antiquity travels from vibrant Cairo and the Great Pyramids to Abu Simbel and the Upper Nile for a fascinating cruise on Lake Nasser. Then: a classic voyage along the Lower Nile from Aswan to Luxor before returning to Cairo.
Physical Activity Level
Walk 2-4 miles per day, often uphill and on uneven terrain, especially at archaeological sites; several early morning departures; occasional long walks from motorcoach drop-off to sights; embarkation/disembarkation from multiple boats; optional Petra Extension: two-mile round-trip walk from hotel to Treasury site
Your tour at a Glance
Day 1: Depart U.S. for Cairo, Egypt
Day 2: Arrive Cairo We arrive in the Egyptian capital and transfer to our hotel. As guests’ arrival times may vary greatly, we have no group activities or meals planned.
Day 3: Cairo After a morning briefing, we tour the exciting (and recently opened) Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). The GEM’s collection showcases over 700,000 years of Egyptian history. After our guided tour, we enjoy lunch and free time for further exploration of the museum on our own. Tonight, we enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. B,L,D
Day 4: Cairo/Aswan/Embark Lake Nasser Cruise Early this morning we fly to Aswan. Upon arrival, we visit the Aswan High Dam, considered a marvel of engineering when completed in 1965. Then we board our Lake Nasser ship in time for lunch then disembark to explore the ruins of the acclaimed Temples of Philae. Tonight we dine on board as we overnight in Aswan. B,L,D
Day 5: Lake Nasser Cruising – Kalabsha Temples/ Wadi el-Seboua On tap today: “new” Kalabsha, Egypt’s largest freestanding temple which was moved and reconstructed on higher ground after the construction of the Aswan High Dam (and the subsequent flooding that created Lake Nasser). After touring this significant ancient Nubian site, we sail to Wadi el-Seboua. B,L,D
Day 6: Lake Nasser Cruising – Wadi el-Seboua/ Amada This morning we see two important New Kingdom temples that, like Kalabsha, were dismantled and relocated to make way for Lake Nasser. We explore Wadi el-Seboua, the next largest of all the pharaonic temples after Abu Simbel, and see the Temple of Dakka, with its huge, well-preserved pylon. Upon returning to our boat, we sail on to Amada, where we encounter the oldest of Nubia’s Egyptian temples, the 18th-dynasty Temple of Amada. B,L,D
Day 7: Lake Nasser Cruising – Amada/Kasr Ibrim/ Abu Simbel We sail this morning to Kasr Ibrim, the last remaining Nubian settlement in its original location. As it is forbidden to go ashore here, we
learn about this ancient site while overlooking it from the ship’s sun deck. Then we continue on to Abu Simbel’s massive complex of temples guarded by statues of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari, with well-preserved murals inside. B,L,D
Day 8: Disembark/Abu Simbel/Aswan/Embark
Nile Cruise Ship We disembark then travel by coach to Aswan, where we board our Nile ship. This afternoon we tour the Nubia Museum, an acclaimed showcase of Nubian art and architecture. From here we we board our Nile ship and enjoy lunch on board. This afternoon we sail aboard small feluccas, replicas of ancient Nile sailboats. B,L,D
Day 9: Nile Cruising – Aswan/Kom Ombo/Edfu/ Luxor We cruise today to the site of the ancient trading town at Kom Ombo, with its unusual double temple and outstanding Nile views. Then we sail on to Edfu, where we visit the Temple of Horus, Egypt’s best-preserved ancient temple. After this, we continue on to Luxor, our port for the night. B,L,D
Day 10: Nile Cruising – Edfu/Luxor/East Bank
Often known as the world’s “greatest open-air museum,” Luxor boasts vast temple complexes, tombs, and statues dating from 2755 bce which represent the pinnacle of Egyptian architecture. We explore the East Bank and the mile-long ruins of Karnak, considered by many to be Egypt’s greatest temple complex. We also visit Luxor Temple, whose builders included both Tutankhamun and Alexander the Great. Back on board, tonight we enjoy a belly dancing show. B,L,D
Day 11: Disembark/Luxor/West Bank We have the choice to rise very early to see the West Bank from above on an optional hot air balloon ride (at additional cost). After we disembark our ship later this morning, we tour
the haunting Valley of the Kings, where 34 royal tombs feature magnificent paintings; the Valley of the Queens; and the dramatic Temple of Hatshepsut honoring one of the few female pharaohs. We also see the massive Colossi of Memnon, two 64-foot-high statues of Amenhotep III that once guarded the gates of his own tomb. B,L
Day 12: Luxor/Cairo We fly to Cairo today, where this morning we visit Khan el-khalili bazaar, the sprawling, 700-year-old souk. B
Post-Tour Extension
March 12-16, 2027
Jordan: Petra & Amman
5 days/4 nights for $1,895 total price Single Supplement: $435
Discover the fabled “rose-red city, half as old as time” on this exciting exploration. Plus: ancient Jerash and the capital of Amman.
Your Tour Price Includes
• Air transportation Cairo/Amman
• 4 nights’ accommodations: 2 nights in Petra at Mövenpick Resort Petra (Sup. First Class), 2 nights in Amman at Grand Hyatt Amman (Deluxe)
• 9 meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
• Extensive included sightseeing: Madaba (City of Mosaics); Mt. Nebo pilgrimage site; full day at Petra; Amman’s Roman theatre and Citadel; Roman ruins of Jerash
• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
• Private motorcoach transportation
• Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
The magnificent temples at Abu Simbel commemorate Ramses II and his queen, Nefertari.
The charm of Egypt had laid hold of me.”
– Agatha Christie
Day 13: Cairo This morning we encounter the astounding Pyramids of Giza, the wonders of antiquity that have drawn visitors for millennia. Here, too, we see the enigmatic Sphinx, whose leonine body and human face were carved from a single piece of limestone. Then we have lunch at a local restaurant and this afternoon tour Old Cairo, where we visit 5thcentury St. Sergius Church, the Coptic church of elMuallaqa, and the famed Ben Ezra Synagogue where, according to legend, baby Moses was found floating on the Nile some 3,300 years ago. B,L
Day 14: Cairo Today’s touring begins at the necropolis of Sakkara. After enjoying lunch together, we tour the Citadel of Saladin, housing the alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner. B,L,D
Day 15: Depart for U.S. Very early this morning we transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S. B
Lake Nasser Cruise
M/S Omar el Khayam
Your Tour Price Includes
• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within Egypt
• 13 nights’ accommodations: 6 nights in Deluxe and Superior First Class hotels; 7 nights aboard Deluxe and Superior First Class ships
• 33 meals: 13 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 9 dinners
• Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
• Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip, including shore excursions
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
Meet your Faculty Lecturer
Nabil Al-Tikriti is currently Professor of Middle East History at the University of Mary Washington. An expert on the modern Middle East, Dr. Al-Tikriti earned a bachelor’s degree in Arab Studies from Georgetown University, a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a doctorate in Ottoman History from the University of Chicago in 2004. He has also studied at Boğaziçi Üniversitesi in Istanbul, the Center for Arabic Studies Abroad in Cairo, and the American University in Cairo. He is the recipient of several grants and scholarships, including three Fulbrights, a U.S. Institute of Peace Fellowship, and a NEH/American Research Institute in Turkey grant.
Tour Departs: February 26, 2027
Prices include int’l airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees. Boston, New York $6,997 Chicago, Houston, $7,297 Los Angeles, Washington, DC Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, $7,397 Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia Denver, Minneapolis, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland (OR), $7,497 San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa Land Only (transfers not included) $5,795
Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy in an outside cabin on both cruises and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $802, which are subject to change until final payment is made.
Single travelers please add $1,595. All tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.
Airline upgrades on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: Business Class – $5,295 per person; Premium Economy –$1,695 per person in addition to the above costs (upgrades are subject to availability and pricing is subject to change).
Please contact Odysseys Unlimited for information on our new Flexible Travel program, which allows you to arrive on tour up to three days before your tour begins and/or extend your stay after touring ends.
For reservations and questions, call Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. toll-free at 888-370-6765
Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–7:00 PM, Eastern Time
We sail traditional feluccas along the Nile.
Nile Cruise M/S Royal Lily
The University of Mary Washington Alumni Association 1119 Hanover Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The following is intended to provide you with a description of what to expect when you reserve this tour. Upon booking, you will be asked to acknowledge your acceptance of the full Terms and Conditions on the secure on-line portal, My Odyssey.
Not Included in Tour Price: Airfare when purchasing a Land Only package; costs of passports and visas; immunizations and inoculations; personal expenses such as beverages, laundry, room service, and meals not specified; airport transfers when purchasing a Land Only package; communication charges; optional sightseeing or shore excursions; gratuities to your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director and shipboard personnel, which are at your discretion (suggested gratuities: $10-$15 per traveler, per day); and travel protection insurance. Additional baggage fees may apply and are subject to change at any time. You should confirm directly with your airline(s) prior to departure. Cancellations, Refunds, and Changes: I f you must cancel your trip, the effective date of cancellation will be upon Odysseys Unlimited, Inc.’s receipt of your notification. Refunds for cancellations are subject to the following per person charges: cancel 125 days or more before departure: $200 charge; cancel 124-95 days before departure: 25% of tour price; cancel 94-65 days before departure: 50% of tour price; cancel 64-30 days before departure: 75% of tour price; cancel 29-0 days before departure: no refund. If you make any changes to your reservation from 124 to 30 days prior to departure, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. will apply a $100 per person administrative fee, in addition to any fees or penalties imposed by third parties. Changes are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. If your reservation changes from double occupancy to single occupancy for any reason, you will be charged the single supplement. No changes are allowed within 30 days of departure. Upon reservation, you must provide your full legal name as it appears on your passport, as well as your date of birth and gender. In the event an airline ticket is issued with incorrect information you have provided, you will be responsible for charges associated with the ticket’s reissue. Responsibility: The liability of the University of Mary Washington, as sponsor, and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., as tour operator, is strictly limited. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. purchases transportation, hotel accommodations, and restaurant and other services from independent suppliers not under our control. We serve only as agents for these suppliers in securing tour arrangements, and therefore will not accept responsibility for wrongful, negligent, or arbitrary acts or omissions of these independent contractors, or of their employees, agents, servants, or representatives. The University of Mary Washington and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. are not liable for injury, damage, loss, accident, or delay that may be caused by events not within our control, including, without limitation, acts of terrorism, war, strikes, the defect of any vehicle, or the negligence or default of any third party. All coupons, receipts, and tickets issued are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the air carriers, cruise lines, and other independent suppliers. We will make every effort to operate our tours as planned, but we reserve the right to make changes as necessary. If unforeseen circumstances require us to change a hotel, we will select alternative accommodations of the same or better quality.
JOIN THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON FOR AN EXCLUSIVE TOUR TO EGYPT!
Health and Medical Issues: We request that you be in good health to participate in this tour. There is a considerable amount of walking, and you must be able to get on and off motorcoaches and boats on your own as well as keep pace with the tour group. We regret that we cannot offer individual assistance; in such cases you must be accompanied by a companion who will assist you. Please note that many of our tour itineraries, for reasons beyond our control, do not accommodate wheelchairs. Please call or e-mail us to inquire and we will do our best to answer any questions you may have. We reserve the right to remove anyone whose physical or mental condition, in our opinion, compromises the operation of the tour or detracts from the enjoyment or safety of the other passengers. In that event, the University of Mary Washington and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. assume no financial responsibility for any unused portion of the tour.
