OPTIONS
We offer a range of extra options, which can be added onto our set tour itineraries. Details of which options are available on a particular tour, and how they fit in with the rest of the itinerary, are given on the tour page on our website, and in the detailed tour factsheet. A full list with descriptions and prices is given below.
You can select options you would like to take when you make a
reservation through our website, after you book, or while you are on
the tour itself (not available for all options - details in the tour
factsheet). If an option has a minimum number required to run it, and
you don't have enough people in your booking to meet that number, you
may still be able to do it if other people in your group also choose
it.
If you have any questions about how the options would fit into your tour, please do not hesitate to
contact us.
You may also find this list of options useful if you are looking at constructing your own
tailor made tour. For more details or help please
contact our office here in the UK, either by email or by phone.
Extra Days
If you would like to extend your time in
, or your flight times mean you need extra nights in the hotel at the start of finish of the tour, then we are happy to arrange extra days/nights at each of our tour levels - economy, standard and superior. These prices are per person per night, and include breakfast, all taxes, and your airport transfer. The hotels we normally use for each tour are detailed on the
Accommodation page of our website, and are linked to from the
Tour Facts Box on all of our tour pages.
|
Economy |
Standard |
Superior |
|
twin/single
N/A |
twin/single
UK£20/UK£25 |
twin/single
UK£45/UK£60 |
This option replaces the long overnight coach journey from Luxor to Dahab (approx. 15hrs). You leave Luxor at around the same time (17.00), but just drive for around 4 1/2 hours to Hurghada, where you spend the night in a 3 star hotel. Early the next morning (normally at 09.30, four times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays) you catch the ferry from Hurghada to Sharm-el-Sheikh (approx. 1 1/2 hours). We meet you on your arrival in Sharm, and include a private transfer from there to Dahab (approx. 1 1/2 hours). You can book this option in advance, or while you are in Egypt (single supplements apply).
Note - the ferries are not 100% reliable and if they are cancelled for any reason, you will need to do a long journey overland from Hurghada to Dahab (approx. 13 hours - depending on your itinerary we may be able to break this in Cairo).
You need to have your own diving course manual, to take away with you after the course is completed (the dive schools are no longer able to keep and provide copies for use just during the course). The price of this manual is included in the tour price.
Our standard tours use the First Class carriages on the ‘sitting train’ from; Cairo to Aswan, Cairo to Luxor, and Luxor to Cairo. These are comfortable reclining seats with plenty of space around them. If you wish, you can exchange this train for the European-style ‘wagon-lit’
sleeper train, where you get your own private cabin and berth. This option covers a one-way journey on the train and includes transfers and a light evening meal & breakfast on the train.
Spending a night at Abu Simbel will give you the option of seeing the impressive
sound and light show in the evening and give you a chance to watch sunrise over
the magnificent temples. We leave Aswan in the afternoon, and return to Cairo
before midday the next morning.
We include all transfers in Aswan, return flights to Abu Simbel, and one nights
accommodation in a 4-star hotel with breakfast. Transfers and guides in Abu Simbel
are not included.
Take time to relax on the beautiful sandy beaches of one of Egypts most famous
Red Sea resorts. This 4-day extension is a perfect opportunity for you to try
your hand at some scuba diving or snorkelling, as the coral reefs around Hurghada
are some of the best in the world. A desert safari by camel or jeep, makes a great
day out. Alternatively you can just take it easy and soak up the sun in your 5
star beach resort. An extra night in Cairo is included when you return from Hurghada.
Note: If travelling on your own, a single supplement will be added.
In Cairo, you have the option of a guided tour around the city. This will include
the Egyptian Museum (which houses a vast collection of artefacts from EgyptÂ’s
past, including the famous King Tutunkhamun display), the Citadel (a collection
of mosques and palaces, with a great view over the city), and the Khan al Khalili
bazaar (a mazy market that offers a window to the past and a guaranteed souvenir).
The tour lasts for a full day and includes a local English-speaking Egyptologist
guide.
If you wish to take a luxury cruise instead of the basic felucca sailboat cruise, then we offer this option. You check on board a Luxury 5-Star cruise boat for 3 days and 3 nights on the Nile. During the day we make our way slowly downriver from Aswan to Luxor, relaxing in the sun and watching Egyptian life on the banks of the Nile drift by. In the evenings we dine on classical Egyptian food and listen to the distinctive sounds of traditional music in the sumptuous surroundings of the cruise boat. On our way we stop at Edfu Temple, a well-preserved complex dedicated to the God Horus; and also at Komombo, where there are the remains of a temple dedicated to the Gods Sobek and Haroeris. The final night of the cruise is spent moored in the centre of Luxor. All your meals are included. This cruise will sometimes run in reverse depending on your date of departure.
Twin cabins are available on the boat, which can take 2 adults and one child. A single supplement will be added if you need a single cabin.
This trip runs early in the morning in Luxor, so that you catch the early morning
sun over the Valleys of the Kings & Queens, temples and desert. The trip runs
from between 5.00am and 10.00am (start times vary), with about 1 hour in the air.
We normally book this for you on your second day in Luxor, before the West Bank
tour. There is a minimum number of people required for the trips to run, and they
are also weather dependent. It is very rare however that are cancelled, and if
this happens, we will refund you in full.
This day trip to Alexandria leaves Cairo early in the morning, and includes a
private A/C car or minibus to and from Alexandria (approx. 2½ hours each way),
and a guided tour of the city.
The tour is flexible, and includes the Roman amphitheatre, which has twelve semi-circular marble
tiers and is in remarkably good condition, and the Catacombs of Kom al-Shoqafa,
which is the largest Roman cemetery in Alexandria. Dating from the beginning of
the Second Century AD this cemetery displays a unique blend of Pharaonic and Roman
art. Later in the afternoon we have the chance to stroll around Alexandria, see
the famous library and other sites before returning to Cairo. The tour includes
all transportation, lunch, a local English-speaking Egyptologist and lasts for
the full day, returning to Cairo by around 19.00. Entrance fees are not included.
Note: If travelling on your own, a single supplement will be added. If other people
in your group also take the option, this supplement will be removed.
This day trip to Alexandria leaves Cairo early in the morning, and includes a
private A/C car or minibus to and from Alexandria (approx. 2½ hours each way),
and a guided tour of the city. The tour is flexible, but will include the Roman amphitheatre, which has twelve semi-circular marble
tiers and is in remarkably good condition, and the Catacombs of Kom al-Shoqafa,
which is the largest Roman cemetery in Alexandria. Dating from the beginning of
the Second Century AD this cemetery displays a unique blend of Pharaonic and Roman
art. Later in the afternoon we have the chance to stroll around Alexandria, see
the famous library and other sites before returning to Cairo. The tour includes
all transportation, lunch, entrance fees, a local English-speaking Egyptologist
and lasts for the full day, returning to Cairo by around 19.00.
Note: If travelling on your own, a single supplement will be added. If other people
in your group also take the option, this supplement will be removed.
If you have 4 or 5 days in Dahab, why not embark on the PADI Open Water diving course, the most popular diving course in the world. Successful completion leads to entry-level certification, and the exotic world of scuba diving. Where better to learn how to dive, than in the crystal clear, warm blue waters of Dahab, renowned for its extremely diverse marine ecosystem including some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world.
Note: An extra local payment of GBP 30 p/p is to be paid to the dive centre at the start of the course for your PADI Course Manual, which you keep with you and take home with you afterwards.
Watch this spectacular laser light and sound show at the pyramids. Listen to
the head of the Sphinx as it tells the story of the Pharaohs and how the great
pyramids were built. The show is available in different languages and runs from
early to late evening. All transport is provided along with entrance fees.
Introductory dives take approximately two and a half hours and begin with some
basic training in the classroom. Then you are accompanied into 'confined water'
to practice basic skills (mask clearing, equalising and regulator recovery). Finally,
you go into 'open water' for a dive on the reef with an instructor by your side.
The instructor will control your buoyancy the whole time as you descend to a maximum
depth of 12m. Actual dive time underwater varies on an individual's air consumption
but on average lasts 30-40 minutes. You do need to be able to swim for an Introductory
Dive. All instruction, transport and equipment is included in the price. An Introductory
dive is the perfect way to discover whether scuba is for you without committing
yourself to the full course.
If you haven't dived in a while, why not take one of our Refresher dives? A one
to one dive with an Instructor, these are designed to help you to brush up on
your skills, techniques and knowledge before you take the plunge again. If it's
been over 6 months since you last dived you will be required to dive under supervision
anyway but these refresher dives are open to anyone who feels the need to re-familiarise
themselves in the water. All instruction, transport and equipment is included
in the price.
Get away from the hustle and bustle of Cairo with a visit to the Al Fayoum Oasis.
Situated close to Cairo, this is Egypts largest oasis and is extremely fertile
and criss-crossed by numerous irrigation channels. The green orchards and fields
surround the Birket Qarn lake, which is home to a multitude of birdlife. You
will see many mud-brick villages, which seem to have remained unchanged for centuries.
The ruins of the ancient city of Karanis are situated on the edge of the oasis
and there are various ruined temples, bathhouses and other sites to see. The tour
includes all transportation, lunch and a guide.
Note: If travelling on your own, a single supplement will be added.
Our standard tours use the First Class carriages on the ‘sitting train’ from; Cairo to Aswan, Cairo to Luxor, and Luxor to Cairo. These are comfortable reclining seats with plenty of space around them. If you wish, you can exchange this train for the European-style ‘wagon-lit’
sleeper train, where you get your own private cabin and berth. This option covers a return journey on this train and includes transfers and a light evening meal & breakfast on the train.
If you want to visit Cairo during your trip to Egypt, or your flights will leave
from Cairo rather than Sharm-el-Sheikh, then we offer this option to add on to
the end of our diving tours. On your last night in Dahab (Day 7), we transfer
you to Cairo on the overnight coach (approx. 8 hours). The next day you do a full
day tour of the city of Cairo, visiting the famous Egyptian museum, the Citadel,
mosques, and the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar. In the evening we take you on a 2-hour
sunset felucca cruise on the Nile. The tour ends the next morning, and we transfer
you to Cairo airport for your departure.
Note: If travelling on your own, a single supplement will be added.
Take time to relax on the beautiful sandy beaches of one of Egypts most famous
Red Sea resorts. This 5-day extension is a perfect opportunity for you to try
your hand at some scuba diving or snorkelling, as the coral reefs around Hurghada
are some of the best in the world. A desert safari by camel or jeep, makes a great
day out. Alternatively you can just take it easy and soak up the sun in your 5
star beach resort. An extra night in Cairo is included when you return from Hurghada.
Note: If travelling on your own, a single supplement will be added.
If you want to visit Cairo during your trip to Egypt, or your flights will bring
you into Cairo rather than Sharm-el-Sheikh, then we offer this option to add on
to the start of our diving tours. You fly to Egypt on Saturday, and are met at
Cairo airport and transferred to a 3 star city centre hotel. The following day
you spend a full day visiting the Pyramids and Sphinx at Gisa and Saqqara. In
the evening you board the overnight coach to Dahab (approx. 8 hours). You are
met on your arrival in Dahab on Monday morning, and transferred to your hotel.
You now continue with the standard diving tour itinerary.
Note: If travelling on your own, a single supplement will be added.
The awesome temples at
Abu Simbel are a must see for anyone travelling to Egypt.
Lying 280 km south of Aswan this remarkable temple, reclaimed stone by stone from
the rising waters of lake Nasser, stands as a testament to the greatness of the
Pharaoh Ramses II, and to modern engineering. You will be provided with a transfer
to and from the airport, a return flight and guided tour of the temples (the flight
leaves Aswan at around 06.00am
and returns by 11.30am. You can do this tour and still enjoy the set excursions
included in the main tour).
Climb aboard a 5-star river steamer for a sumptuous dinner on the Nile. You will
enjoy the unique taste Middle Eastern cuisine whilst experiencing traditional
Egyptian Sufi and Belly Dancing. This is a great chance to see Cairo at night
from the most luxurious of settings.
Should you wish, you have the option of taking an evening flight to Luxor, instead
of the sleeper train, and spending an extra night in Luxor. All transfers are
included.
Note: Flight prices quoted above are approximate and given only as a guide. Further
information and exact prices will be given upon final confirmation of your booking.
Cruise along Lake Nasser from Aswan on board a comfortable cruise boat for a
more interesting way to visit the temples at Abu Simbel. The cruise takes 4 nights
from Aswan, departing Monday, or 3 nights from Abu Simbel, departing Friday, and
includes all meals and sites en route. Flights to or from Abu Simbel are not included
(approx. UK£50 one way).
Should you wish, you have the option of spending another night at your hotel
in Cairo and taking the early morning flight to Aswan, instead of the sleeper
train. All transfers are included.
Note: Flight prices quoted above are approximate and given only as a guide. Further
information and exact prices will be given upon final confirmation of your booking.
Should you wish, you have the option of taking the evening flight from Luxor,
instead of the sleeper train, and spending an extra night in Cairo . All transfers
are included.
Note: Flight prices quoted above are approximate and given only as a guide. Further
information and exact prices will be given upon final confirmation of your booking.
Should you wish, you have the option of taking the morning flight from Hurghada
to cairo, instead of an overland transfer. All transfers are included.
Note: Flight prices quoted above are approximate and given only as a guide. Further
information and exact prices will be given upon final confirmation of your booking.
This option adds 2 extra dives into your tour. You can arrange when and where
to take these dives while you arrive in Egypt. We can also offer any number of
'Extra Dives' on all of our Dive courses and Packages. Please contact us for more
details and prices.
The PADI Emergency First Response (EFR) course covers basic training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
and emergency care. This course meets the CPR and first aid prerequisite for the
PADI Rescue Diver course. Although this is a separate course, it is often done
in conjunction with the Rescue Diver Course. The EFR is open to anyone and as
well as CPR, also covers primary care, secondary care and treatments. If you elect
to take this option, you will need to let us know as soon as possible.
If you have taken the EFR previously or have taken an equivalent CPR course within
the last 24 months you shouldn't need to take this option prior to undertaking
the Rescue Divers course. Please check with us first.
There is an extra local payment of GBP 16 p/p for the manual to go with this course.
Consists of 3 dives. We leave Dahab in the evening and drive down to Sharm and
spend the night on a boat. In the morning we sail out to the wreck and do 2 dives
on the wreck with a surface interval in between the two dives. You are then treated
to a buffet lunch on the boat while it heads off to Ras Mohammed. Your final dive
will be at Ras Mohammed (usually Shark/Yolande Reefs), and then it's back to Dahab
arriving in the evening. The cost includes full equipment.