| Operatunity

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4 - 25 February 2024

20-day luxury tour of Egypt including Cairo (4 nights plus 3 nights on return), Aswan (2 nights), Sonesta St George cruise (7 nights), Luxor (3 nights), all in 5 star accommodation, including the historic Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan where Agatha Christie stopped to write Death on the Nile and the Marriott Mena House which overlooks the Pyramids!

$22,490 NZD Single Room Supplement Add $6750

Initial Deposit On Booking

$2,000 NZD

Second Deposit Due 8 August 2023

$4,000 NZD

Final Balance Due 17 October 2023

Egypt in the Footsteps of the Pharaohs

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Musical flavours include a cultural show on the boat; sound and light shows at both Giza Pyramids and Karnak Temple with VIP seats, our own concerts from Sue and John and local entertainers, time for balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings (own cost), sail on a felucca, dinner cruise with belly dancing display and dinner and sunset drinks at the famous Winter Palace.
• We travel with our own exceptional private guide and Egyptologist throughout the trip to enlighten and educate us about the last 5000 years of Egyptian history - the best guide in Egypt!
• Enjoy our 7-night cruise of the Nile on the Sonesta Moon Goddess Cruise Ship.
• On our cruise we visit Aswan, Esna, the Temple of Kom Ombo, Luxor including the Bazaar, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Temple of Philae, high dam and Botanic Gardens, Kitchener Island plus ancient quarries, farm life and daily activities of this life-giving river.
• Visit and tour Pyramids, Sphinx, Temples of Karnak and Luxor, Step Pyramid, Valley of the Kings and Queens, Mohammed Ali Mosque, Coptic Cathedral, Cairo and Luxor museums, new Grand Egyptian Museum (opening now confirmed), behind the scenes conservation tour and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, Cairo, home to the Pharaoh Mummy collection.
Hosted by Operatunity owners Susan Boland & John Cameron.
Marriott Mena House, Cairo by the Pyramids (4 nights) A frequent stop for dignitaries and celebrities, this 5 star hotel offers travellers a taste of modern luxury. Set at the base of the Pyramids, we can enjoy views of the pyramids from our hotel rooms.
Sonesta Moon Goddess Cruise Ship (7 nights) Our home for seven wonderful nights we enjoy the luxury of one of the most elegant ships on the Nile. All cabins have sliding doors that open to an outside veranda that serves to bring the sounds and scents of Egypt to us.
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan (2 nights) 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 Hotel, Luxor (3 nights) 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.
Sofitel Nile El Gezirah, Cairo (3 nights) Our 5-star hotel is centrally located on the Nile, where every room enjoys a view of this mighty river. It also boasts a magnificent swimming pool and restful rooms which combine with the French elegance of the Sofitel brand with Egyptian flavour.

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This trip includes

• Return economy airfares Emirates airlines: Auckland - Dubai / Dubai - Cairo return.
• Internal airfares as follows: Cairo – Aswan / Aswan - Abu Simbel return / Aswan – Luxor / Luxor - Cairo.
• Cairo (4 nights plus 3 nights on return), Aswan (2 nights), Sonesta Moon Goddess cruise (7 nights), Luxor (3 nights), all in 5 star luxury accommodation.
• 7-night cruise on the Sonesta Moon Goddess Cruise Ship. All cabins have sliding doors that open to an outside veranda that serves to bring the sounds and scents of Egypt to us.
• Accommodation all in historic 5-star hotels including Marriott Mena House, Sofitel Nile El Gezirah, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel and Sonesta St George Hotel, Luxor.
• We travel with our own exceptional private guide and Egyptologist throughout the trip to enlighten and educate us about the last 5000 years of Egyptian history - the best guide in Egypt plus an assistant always travelling with us to help with luggage and general duties.
• All entrances and tours on cruise are included in Aswan, Esna, the Temple of Kom Ombo, Luxor including the Bazaar, the Temple of Horus (the falcon god) at Edfu, Temple of Philae, high dam and Botanic Gardens, Kitchener Island.
• All entrance and tours are included at numerous temples and ancient archaeology sites including Valley of the Kings with entrance to Tutankhamun and Ramses V tombs, Valley of the Queens, Valley of Noblemen, Tombs of the Monkeys, Luxor Temple,Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Karnak, Sphinx, Step Pyramid, Giza Pyramids, Abu Simbel and the Great Temple of Hathor at Dendera.
• Included visits and tours of Mohammed Ali Mosque, Coptic Cathedral, Cairo and Luxor museums, new Grand Egyptian Museum (opening now confirmed), behind the scenes conservation tour and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, Cairo, home to the Pharaoh Mummy collection.
• Special flavours including cultural show on the boat; sound and light shows at both Giza Pyramids and Karnak Temple with VIP seats, our own concerts from Sue and John and local entertainers, time for balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings (own cost), sail on a felucca, dinner cruise with belly dancing display and dinner and sunset drinks at the famous Winter Palace.
• Special shopping experiences plus demonstrations including Cairo Bazaar, perfume shop, carpet factory, alabaster shop and best bookshop in Egypt.
• All breakfasts, 13 dinners, 14 lunches.
• All transfers, porterage, tips, taxes and activities as listed in itinerary.
• Hosted by Operatunity owners: Susan Boland and John Cameron.

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.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

All itinerary details are subject to change, but changes will be replaced with a comparable or better option.
Initial & Second deposits are fully refundable up until final balance due date, minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs.
All monies are non-refundable at final balance due date. This becomes an insurance claim.
Payment by direct credit incurs no surcharge. Credit card payments will incur a surcharge of 1.5%.
Travellers need to be independently mobile and fit to travel.
Bookings will only be accepted with initial deposit.
All travellers must obtain comprehensive travel insurance for international travel and insurance for domestic travel is recommended.
Please refer to our terms and conditions on booking form.

Travel Insurance

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

MOBILITY

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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