The WONDERS of EGYPT! Featuring a Nile Cruise Aboard Our Exclusive "Dahabiya"

February 20 – March 1, 2013

Superb Tours for Gay & Lesbian Travelers since 1998

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TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Egypt is a glorious open-air museum of astounding temples and monuments. We take in the full measure of Egypt’s epic 5,000-year-long story from the Great Pyramids to the legendary Nile, where we cruise in the wake of the Pharaohs on our Dahabiya. The grand-scale Temple of Karnak, the famed tomb of Tutankhamen, and the haunting mortuary temple of Ramses the Great are among the wonders of our inspiring journey. Undoubtedly, sailing the River Nile in style is something you’ll never forget! This is a traveler’s dream journey—exploring by a 14-passenger Dahabiya, the traditional two-masted yacht of the Nile. We discover the great monuments of ancient Egypt that line this legendary river valley from Luxor to Aswan, as well as fascinating out-of-the-way sites. Ours is an intimate Nile experience, with behind-the-scenes visits to villages, lovely picnics on sandy riverbanks, and our crew guiding us to dock the traditional way, under oar. Our boat recalls a nostalgic era of travel, yet it has all of the modern comforts.

3-night cruise on our private 14-passenger Dahabiya for extraordinary Nile-side temples from Luxor to Aswan

Valley of the Kings -- Abu Simbel -- the Great Pyramids at Giza

Expert Egyptologist accompanying us The Egyptian Museum in Cairo Luxor Museum Optional hot air balloon and camel rides

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ITINERARY {Please note: The following itinerary represents our best intentions for this 10-day tour through Egypt. We reserve the right to modify some of the itinerary details if circumstances dictate.} Day 1 - Arrival in Luxor - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 Upon arrival at the Luxor airport, you will be met and transferred to our beautiful hotel -- one of the most attractive, unique and stylish in Egypt. Our Trip Orientation meeting early this evening is followed by a Welcome Dinner. Welcome drink and dinner included {Logistical Note: Please try to arrive in Luxor by 5:00pm so that you have time to get to the hotel and meet for our welcome drink and dinner. If you would like to arrive a day early we can set up an extra night at our group hotel. Please note that an early arrival might be required depending on your air schedule.}

Day 2 - Luxor's East Bank We will begin our explorations with the stupendous Karnak Temple, the largest ancient religious site in the world. The complex, with its forest of stone columns, was built by over 30 different pharaohs, starting from 1600BC, making it one of the most special sites in the world. Then we move on to the excellent Luxor Museum, which stands on a promenade overlooking the Nile River and contains one of the best displays of antiquities in Egypt. Among the most striking items on show are grave goods from the tomb of Tutankhamun and a

collection of 26 exceptionally well preserved New Kingdom statues that were found buried in a cache in nearby Luxor Temple in 1989. The royal mummies of two pharaohs - Ahmose I and Ramesses I - were also put on display in March 2004. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included

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Day 3 - Luxor's West Bank Very early this morning you will have the option for an amazing experience to awaken your senses -- a sunrise balloon ride on Luxor’s West Bank, taking in the sites from quite a different and wonderful perspective. (An extra cost applies.) Luxor, the former Thebes and ancient Egypt's New Kingdom capital, is home to a plethora of Egypt’s historical sites. Today we will visit two of these: the

Valley of the Kings, where Howard Carter made his epic discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922, and Hatchepsut’s Temple. The 63 burial chambers in the Valley of the Kings were constructed over a period of 500 years (16th to 11th centuries BC) for the kings and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom. A handful of the tombs are open today, including King Tutankhamun’s. You will be amazed by the vivid paintings found within! (Note: there is a separate admission fee for King Tut's tomb.) The mortuary temple of Queen Hatchepsut was carved into the West Bank Mountains in a contemporary fashion. Inside the hieroglyphics recite the tale of her divine birth and expedition to the lands south of modern day Egypt.

Finally today, we head south for Esna and board our beautiful Dahabiya and set sail. The term Dahabiya means "golden boat," as they were once the preserve of the royals and were common on the Nile in 19th and early 20th centuries. Now it’s our opportunity to experience life on the Nile aboard one of these lovely vessels all to ourselves! Our home for three nights, the Dahabiya features seven en-suite cabins (including one suite), a lounge, and a top deck perfect for relaxation, sunbathing, and

just soaking up the Nile scenery as we glide gently past riverbank villages and countryside. With a shallow draft, these vessels navigate not only on the main river but also in the canals threading through its banks. This allows us some opportunities that the large ships just don't have! Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Days 4-5: Sailing / Edfu Temple / Silsileh We continue our easy sailing today as we head for Edfu, home of the Temple of Horus. Once obscured by layers of sand and silt, this temple is a relatively recent discovery and features a completely intact roof and amazing wall carvings. Day 5 is another day of leisurely sailing on the Dahabiya with plenty of time to relax and appreciate the beauty of this majestic waterway that is the Nile. This is what holidays are all about! -- a day of easy-going sailing, enjoying the scenery, and coming to the realization that you really are cruising the Nile! Of geological and Egyptological significance, we make a stop at Silsileh with its gorge and ancient quarries. Together with their associated monuments they make for an interesting visit on the river journey through Upper Egypt.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner both days

Day 6 – Sailing / Kom Ombo / Disembark Dahabiya / Aswan Along the way today we visit the only temple in the region devoted to two different gods. The Temple of Haroeris and Sobek with its crocodile-headed gods is located in the town of Kom Ombo, known for its sugar cane and its friendly Nubian hospitality. The cruise ends as we make our way to Aswan, the meeting point of Egyptian and Nubian cultures. The remainder of the day can be spent soaking up the historic turn-of-the-last-century atmosphere of our beautiful hotel and enjoying the gorgeous views from there. Just now fully restored and right on the Nile,

this is once again one of Egypt’s premier hotel properties after an extensive three-year renovation. We have two nights here. Breakfast included Day 7 – Aswan Early this morning we will travel farther south by road (approximately two hours) to Abu Simbel, home to one of Ramses II’s greatest masterpieces. Ramses II, known as the Great Builder, requested this temple with its colossal statues be built into the face

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of a mountain, aligned with the rising sun. Standing unscathed for millennia, our modern technology eventually threatened its existence. To combat the effects of the Aswan High Dam, a team of archaeologists raised the entire temple 61 meters, trumping the engineering genius of Ramses II. This afternoon we return to Aswan where you’ll be able to do some further

sightseeing according to your own interests. Perhaps you'd like to visit the majestic Philae Temple set on its own island. Also on offer are the wonderful new Nubian Museum, the Granite Quarries, and camel rides. (Extra costs apply.) Or maybe you'll just want to relax at our beautiful historic hotel on the Nile and take advantage of its facilities such as the spa and swimming pools. Breakfast, Lunch included Day 8 – Cairo / Egyptian Museum Today we fly to Cairo to begin our discovery of this amazing city. We will have a tour of the famed Egyptian Museum which speaks for itself – home of the treasures of King Tutankhamun (the Boy King), the Royal Mummies room (a separate admission fee applies to this room), and over 120,000 other artifacts from the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms to keep you awe-struck. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included

Day 9 - The Pyramids at Giza / Islamic Cairo And finally . . . we will visit the only remaining monument of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – the Great Pyramids at Giza which epitomize the mystery of ancient Egypt. They were already 2000 years old when Alexander the Great’s army swept through in 332 BC. You will have the opportunity to explore these wondrous tombs of the Pharaohs dating back to the 25th century BC. For the

more adventurous, you may explore the inner chambers of one of the pyramids. We will also visit the lion-headed Sphinx.

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Also in store for us is a walking tour of Islamic Cairo. We'll enjoy strolling through the beautifully renovated area between Bab al Fetouh and Bab al Zuweila in the Khan al Khalili Bazaar area. Khan al Khalili dates back to 1382, home to caravanserai and madrassas. Nowadays, the souk is known for its array of textiles, perfumes, and jewelry on offer but still holds onto its Islamic past with dozens of beautiful

mosques scattered within the market area. If you enjoy haggling, you'll be in heaven here! In the evening we will gather for a farewell dinner at one of Cairo’s trendy restaurants. Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner included Day 10 – Departure – Friday, March 1, 2013 You will be transferred to the airport for your homeward-bound flight -- no doubt with some amazing stories to tell when you get back! Breakfast included {Please note: The preceding itinerary represents our best intentions for this 10-day tour through Egypt. We reserve the right to modify some of the itinerary details if circumstances dictate.} OUR DAHABIYA Our journey through Egypt will include three nights on a beautiful, privately chartered Dahabiya. We will travel north to south on this hand-crafted ship. The boat is outfitted with seven deluxe air-conditioned cabins, including one suite. Each cabin features one double bed or two twin beds as well as a private bathroom with sink, toilet, and fresh-water shower. The suite features a sitting area, spacious bathroom, double bed, and private wrap-around balcony at the rear of the vessel. When not relaxing in your cabin, you can visit the lounge or sit on the top deck and take in the scenery. All meals will be cooked on board in the fully equipped kitchen by our private chef and served on the top deck. We'll enjoy Egyptian and international dishes. All meals are included, along with tea, coffee, and soft drinks. As an added bonus, our private Egyptologist will be on the Dahabiya with us for the duration of the cruise (if space is available; otherwise the Egyptologist will be with us but stay overnight on land.)

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The boat is outfitted with a state-of-the-art generator that produces virtually no noise. The generator runs a few hours a day and will be used as the source of electricity on the boat, powering the lights, air-conditioning, and the television in the lounge. In case the wind is insufficient, we will use a motor to sail. The Dahabiya is an ideal way to cruise the Nile as it offers most of the amenities of the large cruise ships but in a discrete, charming, and intimate environment.

LAND ACCOMMODATIONS Following is a description of the delightful and upscale hotels we intend to use on this tour. We reserve the right to make changes to these accommodations if necessary. Luxor The only luxury establishment on the Nile's west bank, this small property is one of the most beautiful and original hotels in the entire Middle East. A pink Oriental palace of domed suites set between sugarcane fields and desert not far from the Madinet Habu Temple, the hotel is stylish yet unpretentious. The wooden Mashrabiya porticos and

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other design elements were sourced from abandoned 19th-century Egyptian houses. The suites, connected by gardens, terraces, and shaded courtyards, have wrought-iron beds, inlaid Damascene tables and other pieces from the owner's collection of colonial and Oriental antiques. Walls feature Ottoman- and Pharaonic-themed murals, and some rooms have private fountains and ceilings with colored glass skylights. There is a heated pool and a Moroccan-style

hammam for spa treatments.

Aswan Locations don’t get much better than this. Rising out of a granite bluff overlooking the temples of Elephantine Island and the stark mountains of the West Bank, this Grande Dame of Nile hotels belongs to the river. Our selected hotel not only fronts the Nile, but the property is historically famous and has just

undergone a top-to-bottom revamp! The cinnamon-colored Nubian manse has hosted dozens of politicos and bold-faced names since the turn of the last century, and now this updated icon is making quite the splash again. The public spaces have Egyptian antiques and Oriental rugs. You can relive a bygone era with tea or a cool cocktail on the hotel’s legendary terrace, a particularly memorable experience, which still offers an inimitable view of felucca boats and lovely sunsets. This is the place that inspired Agatha Christie’s novel Death on the Nile, and the hotel was featured in the film version. Three restaurants, well-tended exotic gardens, a great spa, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools complete the elegant picture. Cairo Egyptian and European charms come together at this 5-star hotel opened in 2010, Cairo’s newest luxury boutique

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hotel. Situated in an affluent district of Cairo, on the banks of the Nile, the hotel offers luxurious rooms, a wellness center with full-service spa, and a rooftop swimming pool with sweeping views over Cairo. Each of the guest rooms is fitted with Wi-Fi and high definition LCD TVs with satellite channels. For guests’ comfort, it offers a butler service and pillow concierge. There’s a selection of good restaurants and bars, including a jazz bar and a chocolate lounge! TOUR COST and IMPORTANT TRIP DETAILS $3,495 (13-14 participants) $3,695 (11-12 participants) $3,795 (8-10 participants) Suite Supplement on Dahabiya: $400 ($200 per person) Single Supplement: $895 (hotels and Dahabiya) Single Supplement: $725 (hotels only) Please note: There is a limit of 2 rooms available for a single supplement on the Dahabiya portion of the tour. To offer the lowest possible cost, most of our trips are priced according to the number of participants on the trip. Costs are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling alone and wish to have a single room, the single supplement fee will apply. If you are willing to share accommodations we will match you with a roommate if one is available. However, if we are unable to match you with a roommate, the single supplement will apply. Tour Cost Includes: * 9 nights' very comfortable accommodations (6 in deluxe hotels; 3 on the Dahabiya) * All meals except 1 lunch and 2 dinners; mineral water included at group meals * Tea, coffee, soft drinks on board the Dahabiya * Welcome drink * Tour Leader accompanying the group throughout the trip * Professional Egyptologist(s) for all sights visited * Entrance fees at sights mentioned in the itinerary * One-way air ticket from Aswan to Cairo * Ground transportation in Cairo and around Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel * Individual private airport transfers in Luxor at the beginning and Cairo at the end

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Tour Cost Does Not Include: * Airfare to/from Egypt * Visa for Egypt (can be obtained upon

arrival) * Tipping to Tour Leader and

Egyptologist * 1 lunch and 2 dinners * Any extra hotel nights that may be

needed or desired * Optional activities, such as hot air

ballooning, camel ride, etc. * Optional entrance fees (e.g, tomb of

Tutankhamen, Royal Mummy room in Egyptian Museum) * Beverages other than water at group meals * Personal expenses such as phone calls, room service, minibar charges, laundry, etc. Please note: A tipping pool will be collected on the first day of the tour. The amount per person will depend on the number of guests enrolled on the trip. Please figure approximately $150. It will cover all drivers, hotel staff, Dahabiya crew, security, airport representatives, and other incidentals along the way. Tipping to your Tour Leader and Egyptologist is separate. If you would like any extra hotel nights in Luxor (pre-tour) or Cairo (post-tour), we can arrange those for you at the group hotels. TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE We highly recommend that all clients purchase trip cancellation insurance. A travel insurance application will be provided with your trip confirmation letter. FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS Our guests are responsible for making their own arrangements for international air transportation. Please do not purchase your airline tickets until you are confirmed on the trip and have checked with us to make sure that your intended flights coordinate with the timing of the program’s first and last days. Once your tickets have been purchased, please send us a copy of your airline schedule. Note: The first and last name on your airline ticket must match the name on your passport, first and last, otherwise you may be denied boarding. Please remember this when reserving your flights.

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Luxor is the arrival airport and Cairo is the departure airport for our Egypt program. Airport codes: Luxor = LXR; Cairo = CAI.

TOUR MANAGER At the time of publishing this program one of our favorite tour managers is scheduled to lead this fantastic journey through Egypt for us. Originally from Michigan, he is now based in Cairo and is involved in a couple of innovative businesses and knows the ins and outs of the Egyptian way of life and culture -- something that’s very important for this destination! Having led many tours for us through Egypt (as well as Jordan, Turkey, Syria and Morocco!), he’s passionate about his adopted home and is eager to share it with you.

WEATHER Cairo: In February the average high temperature is around 67 and the average low temperature is 50. Rain is unusual in February in Cairo. Aswan: In February the average high temperature is around 76; the average low temperature is 53. The chance of rain is negligible.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS A valid passport is required for your trip. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your departure from Egypt, and it must have at least three blank pages for visa stamps. U.S. citizens need a visa for Egypt and can obtain the visa upon arrival (approximately $15) at the Cairo or Luxor airports. If you are a citizen of another country, please check with the Egyptian embassy regarding your documentation requirements.

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MEDICAL INFORMATION / IMMUNIZATIONS No immunizations are required for entry into Egypt, but you should consult with your physician or a travel clinic regarding recommended immunizations, such as hepatitis vaccines and tetanus and typhoid boosters. You can also check with the Centers for Disease Control for updates. Venture Out is not in a position to provide medical advice as to whether a certain individual should have a particular vaccination. Please consult with your personal physician, a travel clinic, the Centers for Disease Control, and/or MD Travel Health. ITINERARY CHANGES We ask that you make a special effort to bring flexibility, a spirit of adventure, and a tolerance for organized, group travel so that everyone is able enjoy his or her adventure to the utmost. While as accurate as possible at the time of printing, this itinerary should be considered an approximate indication of the schedule and scope of activities, trip routing, and meals, rather than an inflexible schedule of events; it is subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control. This trip is subject to the Limitation of Liability and all the Terms and Conditions as detailed in the Trip Enrollment Form. To realize the maximum enjoyment from your Venture Out trip, you must remember that it is an adventure. The essential requirements are flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity and enthusiasm about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected. With a spirit of adventure and positive attitude, we’re sure you will have a very special travel experience. If you are uncertain about the level of comfort, difficulty, or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please call Venture Out at 1-888-431-6789 to discuss your concerns. California Seller of Travel #2036134-4