Join John and Karl on a 5 star journey to the land of the pharaohs to experience the greatest sights of ancient Egypt including a 7 night Nile River cruise. We enjoy sights and history beyond imagination, all with the luxury, the beauty, the pace, the leisure and the glory of a bygone era.
On our 7 night luxury cruise, we pass temples, tombs and ruins of the mighty pharaohs along this life-giving river. We marvel at the oldest and only surviving ‘seventh wonder of the world’, the Pyramids of Giza. We trace the footsteps of many archaeologists as we visit the mighty Valley of the Kings with its mysticism and mystery.
We stay at the historic Old Cataract Hotel Aswan where Agatha Christie stopped to write Death on the Nile, and dine at the Winter Palace Hotel Luxor.
Following on from our incredible 2018 tour, we will once again be spellbound by the colour, the history, the grandeur, and the culture of Egypt, but best of all by the Egyptian people, who, without fail, are charming and hospitable and were united in showing us their most extraordinary land.
From day one to the last goodbyes at the airport, we will be guided through our trip by our own exceptional Egyptologist. His passion and far reaching knowledge of this fascinating country will open every vista for us - the best guide in Egypt.
Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel
We begin and end our tour with flights to and from Dubai on Emirates.
As we arrive into Dubai early in the morning, we have arranged another night’s accommodation so we can go to our rooms immediately. On return we arrive into Dubai late at night so we will again have access to our rooms immediately.
Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt. The city’s metropolitan area is the largest in the Middle East and the Arab world. It is a busy, vibrant city and is associated with ancient Egypt and the famous Pyramids.
HIGHLIGHTS in Cairo include:
• Driving introductory tour of Cairo, including historical and iconic sights.
• Visit to Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Cairo’s most visible mosque.
• Visit to the famous Cairo Bazaar with lunch at Azhar park area.
• Visit to the Museum of Islamic Art – considered one of the best in the world.
• Special welcome dinner at our hotel with views of the mighty Nile river below us.
• Tours to ancient Memphis and on to Saqqara’s necropolis which includes the Step Pyramid of Djoser and Mastaba tombs and the Museum of Amenhotep.
• Tour and visit to Cairo’s brand new Grand Egyptian Museum (if completed).
• Tour of old Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo.
• VIP seats in the front row of the Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids.
• Tour of the Pyramids of Giza area and the Giza Solar boat museum. • Visit to a papyrus shop with refreshments, demonstrations and a chance to buy.
• Dinner at a local restaurant on our final night in Cairo, with music provided from John and Karl.
We have booked one of the most spectacular boats on the Nile, with traditional furniture and fabrics that echo the days of yesteryear as we cruise the Nile River and enjoy the sights of ancient Egypt.
Highlights on the St George 1:
• Elegant panelled walls, timber decks and brass fittings, French windows that open wide so we enjoy the best of small ship cruising, gourmet food, amazing crew and service. All meals included.
We embark on this elegant 5-star ship before lunch with time to settle into our cabins.
HIGHLIGHTS include:
• Welcome lunch onboard.
• Free time in the afternoon before our Captain’s welcome dinner.
HIGHLIGHTS today include:
• Set sail for Kom Ombo early this morning.
• Visit of the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, right on the Nile banks and one of the most seducing sites of Upper-Egypt.
• Lunch on board while sailing to Esna for our overnight stay.
• We pass by the ancient quarries on the sides of the Nile where so much of the stone was taken for building the pyramids.
• Afternoon tea is served on deck as we cruise.
• Tonight we channel our inner Mummy with an Egyptian dress up theme dinner.
HIGHLIGHTS today include:
• This morning we pass through the large lock at Esna.
• Sail through countryside on to Luxor, the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes.
• Afternoon visit of the majestic site of Karnak, dedicated to the god Amun.
• A late afternoon visit of the Temple of Luxor, with the dusk light highlighting the perfection of Amenhotep III’s columns.
• This evening after dinner we attend the captivating Karnak Sound and Light show – with VIP seats.
HIGHLIGHTS today include:
• We travel back thousands of years as we visit the West Bank of the Nile today.
• Visit the Valley of the Kings, including Tutankhamun and Ramses V tombs.
• Visit the Valley of the Queens, the secret necropolis of the royal wives.
• Visit the Valley of the Nobles, the Tomb of Ramose.
• Visit the incredible Temple of Queen Hatshepsut.
• Return to the boat for afternoon tea.
• Dinner will be followed by an Egyptian show of local dance and music.
HIGHLIGHTS today include:
• Today is our longest day of leisurely cruising along the Nile watching the many wonderous sights as we pass.
• The Nile feeds the country’s plantations, including sugar cane, corn and cotton, as well as yellow tea, black tea and coffee. The air is sweet as we sail past crops in the swampy areas on the banks of the Nile.
• Afternoon tea is served as always.
• Special dinner with the Captain tonight.
• Time for our own private concert from Karl!
HIGHLIGHTS today include:
• Visit the best-preserved temple of the Ptolemaic Dynasty; the Temple of Horus (The Falcon God) at Edfu. Once buried in sand, it now stands proudly once again.
• Cruise towards Kom Ombo temple.
• Free time to sit on the deck and read Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile maybe? Then a private movie screening based on this book.
HIGHLIGHTS include:
• Visit the Temple of Philae, which was moved block by block to make way for the Aswan Dam.
• Visit the High Dam at Aswan built to control the annual floods.
• Final Dinner and overnight stay on board.
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel
This morning we depart our lovely ship for the final time. Aswan, located on the Nile River, has been southern Egypt’s strategic and commercial gateway since ancient times.
HIGHLIGHTS include:
• Fly to Abu Simbel to see the colossal statues of Ramesses II located on the banks of the lake. This was cut into thousands of blocks and moved onto higher ground so that they would be saved from the flooding of the New Aswan Dam in the 1960s.
• On our return from Abu Simbel we transfer to the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel, the best hotel in Egypt!
• We have a late breakfast on the famous terrace of the hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile, and later check-in to our rooms.
• Tour of Aswan including the Coptic Cathedral, Nubian Museum and the ancient unfinished obelisk.
• We visit a perfume factory and take in the smells of the ancient spices and herbs such as Frankincense and Myrrh.
• Free time to enjoy our lovely hotel, shop, explore or organise your own tours.
• Dinner under an Arabian dome in the famous 1902 Restaurant.
Sonesta St George Hotel
HIGHLIGHTS include:
• Fly from Aswan to Luxor, then set off by coach for the Great Temple of Hathor at Dendera, one of the best preserved and most famous monuments in Egypt with its many depictions of Cleopatra. The temple covers some 40,000sq metres and is comprised of more than 50 temples within temples and surrounded by an ancient brick wall.
• Dendera temple is the original home of the disc depicting all the zodiac symbols known to the ancient Egyptians, and which continue to this day such as Taurus and Libra. Today the original is in the Louvre in Paris.
• We have a horse and carriage ride to Luxor Museum.
• Visit to the best book shop in Egypt and lunch at a cafe above the book shop, overlooking the Luxor Temple.
• Dinner and sunset drinks on the terrace of the famous Sofitel Winter Palace Hotel overlooking the Nile, the very hotel where Howard Carter announced he had found the Tomb of Tutankhamun and where he held his press conferences.
JW Marriott, Cairo
We fly back to Cairo from Luxor this morning. We have ample time for relaxing in this opulent hotel, enjoying the five pools situated here. We can indulge in some shopping, including visit to Festival Shopping Centre, until our sumptuous final night dinner in the JW’s Steakhouse.
Return economy airfares Emirates airlines Auckland - Dubai / Dubai - Egypt return.
24-day tour. Dubai (4 nights including early check in), Cairo (5 nights plus 2 nights on return), Aswan (2 nights), Sonesta St George 1 cruise (7 nights), Luxor (2 nights).
7-night cruise on the Sonesta St George 1 - one of the most elegant ships on the Nile with only 110 guests on board. All cabins have large panoramic French windows that open to bring the sounds and scents of Egypt to us.
Accommodation in historic 5-star hotels including Four Seasons Cairo Nile, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel and St George Hotel, Luxor, JW Marriott Cairo.
Our own exceptional private guide and Egyptologist throughout the entirety of the trip to enlighten and educate us about the last 5000 years of Egyptian history - the best guide in Egypt!
All entrances and tours as listed in itinerary including tours of Valley of the Kings, Queens and Nobles, with entry to Tutankhamun’s tomb, temples including Karnak, Philae and Luxor, Mohammed Ali Mosque, Coptic Cathedral, Cairo and Luxor museums, solar boat.
Special flavours including cultural show on the boat; Sound and Light shows at both Giza Pyramids and Karnak Temple with VIP seats, plus our own private music concerts from Karl and John.
Special shopping experiences plus demonstrations including Cairo Bazaar, perfume shop, papyrus shop and best bookshop in Egypt.
Internal airfares as follows: Cairo – Aswan / Aswan - Abu Simbel return / Aswan – Luxor / Luxor - Cairo.
All breakfasts, 13 dinners, 11 lunches.
All transfers, porterage, tips, taxes and activities as listed in itinerary.
Hosted by John Cameron and Karl Perigo.
EXPLORING TOUR
This is still a moderately paced tour, but you will be required to walk longer distances, walk on cobblestones and ancient ruins and stand in museums. To really get the best out of this tour you need to be able to stand or walk for a couple of hours comfortably, be it at a leisurely pace.
PLEASE NOTE: No booking will be accepted for this trip without the initial deposit.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
• All trips are subject to change but any changes will be of equal or greater value.
• Deposits refundable until final payment date minus any costs incurred, or an administration fee of up to $300.
• Travellers need to be independently mobile and fit to travel.
• Travellers are required to obtain comprehensive travel insurance for all international trips.
• Please refer to terms & conditions on our booking form.
PLACES WE STAY
Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza: Situated on the banks of the Nile in Cairo’s central district, this is a beacon of sophisticated hospitality with panoramic views of the city, river below us and panoramic views to the pyramids. With prestigious Nile View rooms, we can sit on our terraces with a drink in the evenings and soak in the 5000 years of history that surrounds us.
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan: Located in the Nubian Desert on the banks of the Nile, opposite Elephantine Island, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract is based around a Victorian building with a pink granite façade and magnificent grounds and decor. It is considered the best hotel in Egypt and we have Nile facing rooms in the new wing.
Sonesta St. George 1 cruise ship: Our home for seven wonderful nights we enjoy the luxury of one of the most elegant ships on the Nile, with only 110 guests on board. All cabins have large panoramic French windows that open to bring the sounds and scents of Egypt to us.
Sonesta St. George Hotel, Luxor: Situated on the banks of the Nile and close to the Luxor Temples, the Sonesta Hotel Luxor has a history of hosting royalty and celebrities throughout the years. The interior features grand staircases, high ceilings and lounge areas that are appointed with antique furniture, as well as a magnificent pool with sweeping views of the Nile beside us.
Every customer is required to take out insurance for all international travel when taking a trip with Operatunity Ltd.
DOMESTIC INSURANCE
Insurance for Domestic travel is currently available from many companies. Insurance for New Zealand trips is entirely at your discretion. Please email our office for our current recommendation if you wish our advice.
INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE
Insurance for International travel is currently available from many companies. For our trips overseas it is a requirement that proof of cover be sent to our office some time before departure from NZ. We can not accept travellers who hold no cover for international travel as per our term and conditions.
Please email our office for our current recommendation if you wish our advice. Email travelbookings@operatunity.co.nz Phone 0508 886 489
Operatunity provides group senior travel and with this in mind we plan trips to suit our target market. But not every trip is created equal in terms of mobility. We want to give you the best possible experience but that will only be achieved if you are able to enjoy everything that our trips have to offer.
Most of our long haul trips require a better level of mobility. We will look after everyone as well as we possibly can, but we cannot look after one at the expense of the rest of the group. We also cannot have one person slowing the rest of group to the point where the group is not able to enjoy every experience we are able to provide.
With this in mind we have put a mobility clause into every trip. Under each explanation here I have popped a statement. Ask yourself if this is ‘you’, when booking on a trip.
None of the following mobility clauses preclude you from ordering a wheelchair at the airport if required.
1. GENTLE TOUR This tour will suit most people, even with a stick or a walker, but sorry not someone in a wheelchair. The activity level is gently paced, but you still need to be able to get on and off buses easily. There will be walking, but not a lot. “I love travelling, but at a gentle pace. I like to avoid stairs or too much activity, but I am able to get on and off buses easily.”
2. EASY TOUR This tour will suit people with a stick, but not a walker. You will be required to walk to get from place to place and stand in museums, but it is designed to be an easy tour with lots of times to rest, travel on a coach and walk easy leisurely distances. ”Walking is fine. I can get on and off a coach. I am happy to stand for an hour or two in museums and galleries and gently stroll through places of interest. I am happy to climb the odd set of stairs.”
3. MODERATE WALKING TOUR This tour requires a better level of fitness with no wheelchairs or walkers. Generally, there may be times when we can’t get the coach close. In some of our Pacific Island tours we will need you to transfer onto a tender and walk on soft sand. We also will have much longer flights and long walks through airports. “I like walking at a moderate pace. I love to keep my days full and experience everything the tour has to offer. Stairs, tender transfers and cobblestones don’t bother me.”
4. EXPLORING TOUR This is still a moderately paced tour, but you will be required to walk longer distances, walk on cobblestones and stand in museums. To really get the best out of this tour you need to be able to stand or walk for a couple of hours comfortably, be it at a leisurely pace. “I like to spend most of the day exploring. Whether walking historic neighbourhoods on cobblestones at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I want my days full. Stairs don’t bother me and I am keen to see and do as much as I can with the odd day off to recuperate.”
Operatunity is a company specialising in music lovers tours to the senior market. Each trip has been especially planned to include music and arts experiences and has a level of friendliness and care which cannot be found anywhere else! Our trips are packed with features not found anywhere else
Yes we have lots of people who travel on their own. We endeavour to match you up with someone who lives close to you or is close in age to you. Often you will get a chance to meet with your matchup or ring them before you leave on your trip. You also may prefer to travel solo and pay the single supplement price. We travel as a happy band so there will be lots of chances to meet people. You will find fellow music lovers and those with other similar interests. In fact those like the nicer things of life so you will travel with like-minded people. It is also important to remember that our singers are our escorts so you will see at least a couple of familiar faces as you leave.
If you live outside of Auckland, we can arrange travel and accommodation on your way to meet up with our group. We have access and can book domestic airfares in conjunction with Air New Zealand international airfares. Plus we can book your pre and post tour accommodation if required.
It is compulsory for our international trips and highly recommended for our domestic tours.
No as most airlines offer various special meals and any restaurants we visit are happy to accommodate special dietary requirements.
We seek to accommodate the needs of guests with disabilities whenever possible. However in most cases we are unable to take customers with walkers, wheelchairs or other mobility issues. Certain trips may be unsuitable due to walking or limited availability of accommodation with disabled facilities. We cannot be responsible for the care of customers suffering from significant cognitive illness (such as dementia). We ask such customers to consult with your doctor to obtain medical clearance. Guests needing assistance mustbe accompanied by an able companion who will be available to assist them and assume full responsibility for their wellbeing.
We ask that you can walk at least 100 metres unaided and be able to get on and off buses with little or no assistance. We cater for a senior market but it is important that you do not jeopardise the enjoyment of others by requiring more care and holding up the rest of the group. Talk to our office or staff at concerts and any advisory notes for individual trips to get a better idea of your suitability for each trip.
We stay at 4 and 5 star character hotels, avoiding package, tourist or big hotel chains. We choose hotels with a more personal feel often with historic content or hotels of beauty and character, centrally located or in parks, by the water, or with beautiful gardens.
Breakfast is included daily, and many dinners and lunches are also included as per our itinerary.
There are no hidden costs. Included in the trip are tips, taxes, porterage, breakfast, meals where specified, inclusions listed in the itinerary, entry fees where listed in the itinerary, concert/show tickets where listed in the itinerary, tour escorts and local specialised guides.
Some of our trips sell out very quickly and we recommend you make your booking as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.
We will ask you to pay an initial deposit when making your booking. We will then follow up for a second deposit and then a final balance payment prior to travel.
All deposits up until final payment are refundable minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs the company may incur.
After final deposit refunds are unlikely and the refund becomes an insurance claim.
Our numbers vary from destination to destination, please contact our office for further information. We have a minimum number required to operate a tour. Should minimum numbers not be met, a full refund will be made.
For international trips, all guests must have a valid passport that does not expire earlier than at least 6 months beyond their intended stay.
Music is a key element in making our experiences special. There are special experiences and events every day, such as themed dinners, impromptu concerts, music, art tours with art experts and garden tours with garden experts.
Most hotels now have internet connection and all hotels have telephones in the room or at reception. If using your mobile telephone check calling and text rates, and disable data roaming before leaving New Zealand. Consider purchasing a prepaid SIM card. And you can keep in touch using social media such as Facebook. We have a copy of your next of kin details in case of emergency and we are also happy to help out with texts, phone calls and emails if you can’t get in touch with your family and need to while away. We are also happy to help out with getting your phones, ipads and cameras to work if needed while away.
We spend less time travelling between regions, allowing more time to enjoy experiences when you arrive. We avoid one night stops and “conveyor belt” travel, so you really can capture the local colour and vitality of the region. Our trips are planned so that there is a balance of included activities and free time for you to relax or do some exploring on your own.
Contact Operatunity Travel
Phone toll free: 0508 886 489
Mail your booking form to PO BOX 132 150, Sylvia Park, Auckland 1644
Email: travel@operatunity.co.nz
Phone toll free: 0508 886 489
Email: travelbookings@operatunity.co.nz
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