Backpacker Concierge hosts the University of California on Study Visit to Egypt

Backpacker Concierge and the administration of the University of California - San Diego have teamed up to offer a 17-day study visit to Egypt this September.


20 Students and 4 Professors will be traveling to Egypt during the Ramadan season for an in-depth look at the country's monuments and ongoing archaeological digs. The group will be traveling to some of the lesser known sites in the Lake Nasserarea in addition to extended visits in Cairo and Luxor.

Backpacker Concierge has incorporated some more interesting elements to keep the students entertained, as well - a Hot Air Balloon ride over Luxor's West Bank, 4x4 Motorbikes through the Theban Mountains, a Desert Safari through the White Desert, and a Felucca Journey and Camel Trek in Aswan.

Eco-tour with American NGO, HANDS

Backpacker Concierge and Hands Along the Nile Development Services have just teamed up to offer a truly one-of-a-kind eco-tour in September 2009.

Check out the program at - http://www.handsalongthenile.org/program/InsightTrips.htm

HANDS is an American 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that is committed to building bridges between the people of Egypt and the United States. In addition to their program of exchange and dialogue, HANDS also supports projects aimed at bringing socioeconomic stability to Egyptian communities.

The program that Backpacker Concierge and HANDS have put together features the services of a private Professor of Marine Biology from the University of Maryland, visits to lesser-known areas of Egypt, visits to local organizations that strive to improve the lives of everyday Egyptians, and overnight accommodation that honors the environment and features local building techniques.

We hope to see you in September!

Customized Itinerary: Conner & Kate from NYC

Conner and Kate were referred to us by one of the Columbia University tour participants. The newlyweds asked us to design a customized program before they continued onto the Maldives. We put together a great 6-night whirlwind tour of mainland Egypt. Get jealous!

www.backpackerconcierge.com


After spending two fantabulous nights at the Oberoi Mena House in Cairo, overlooking the Giza Pyramids, Conner and Kate were whisked away by private car to the Bahariya Oasis. They enjoyed a local lunch before beginning their jeep safari with Waheed's family (a fixture of all our Western Desert excursions). Above, Connor is hanging out in the camp the crew prepared for him and Kate.

Our safari crew prepares this typical desert cuisine from scratch over a few burners and a fire. Nice, filling food after an amazing trip.

Conner and Kate traveled down to Luxor by the overnight Sleeper Train. An experience in and of itself (check out Pat and Claud's itinerary below for their take on the Sleeper experience). Mostafa, our expert Egyptologist, graciously took the two around to the best sites in Thebes. As guiding is not allowed INSIDE the tombs at Valley of the Kings, Mostafa explains King Tutankhamun's chamber (above).

Here is a nice snapshot from Luxor's countryside. This is a typical West Bank scene and just so happens to be the same area Conner and Kate spent their night in Luxor. We prefer to place our clients on the quieter West Bank - it's more authentic and sorry to say, there's less harassment than the East Bank. More on their West Bank accommodation below.

Here, Conner is speaking to Eric, owner of Backpacker Concierge. All of our custom itinerary clients receive a mobile phone with local SIM card upon arrival in Cairo, Luxor, Sharm, or any other port of entry. This is a great way for the BC team to keep in touch with clients, but also a way for the clients to keep in touch with their friends and family.

So, back to the accommodation. Since this was a honeymoon, we recommended the romantic Moudira Hotel in Luxor. Above, Kate sits by the pool.

Yep, this was their room. The Moudira features local architectural techniques, including domed ceilings to keep the rooms as cool as possible, especially during the summer months.

After Luxor, Backpacker Concierge arranged a private car down to Aswan where they met their felucca captain for an afternoon sail through the islands, followed by a camel ride through the Nubian villages.

And back to Cairo again. This time, the Egyptian Museum with our Egyptologist Faten. Backpacker Concierge tries to use female guides as often as possible, as the average tourist will not have much contact with the women of Egypt. Pairing our clients with a gregarious guide is a nice way to them to expose them to a somewhat hidden world.

Conner takes one last puff on the sheesha in Khan al Khalili market before returning to Cairo Airport for their onward flight to the Maldives!

Itinerary:
- March 4 - Arrival and transfer to the Mena House for free afternoon
- March 5 - Full day sightseeing to Giza Pyramids and Saqqara, overnight at the Mena House
- March 6 - Transport to Bahariya for 1-night White Desert jeep safari
- March 7 - Return to Cairo for overnight Sleeper Train to Luxor
- March 8 - Early morning visit of Valley of the Kings and Hatchepsut Temple before a relaxing afternoon at the Moudira
- March 9 - Morning visit of Karnak Temple and onward transport to Aswan. Upon arrival, felucca excursion and camel trek on the West Bank.
- March 10 - Morning flight to Cairo and guided sightseeing of the Egyptian Museum and Islamic Cairo

Customized Itinerary: Pat & Claud from USA

While on their around-the-world adventure, Patrick and Claudia spent one week in Egypt with Backpacker Concierge. With such limited time, we focused on a cost-efficient program that took in the Nile at a somewhat leisurely pace.

Itinerary:
January 9 - Transfer from Cairo Airport to Giza Station for overnight Sleeper Train to Aswan
January 10 - Morning camel ride on Aswan's West Bank and 2-night felucca trip to Kom Ombo
January 11 - Full day sailing
January 12 - Transfer to Luxor, via Edfu Temple and free afternoon
January 13 - Sunrise hot air balloon ride, guided visit of Valley of the Kings, and return flight to Cairo, sunset guided tour of Islamic Cairo
January 14 - Full day guided excursion of the Giza Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum

http://www.backpackerconcierge.com

We have copied their blog below for everyone to enjoy!

Egypt.... is the one place we would like to go back to, first. There are so many things to see that are like no other place we've been. We started our trip by traveling for 36 hours from Beijing, including an 8 our layover in Qatar (lots of email time in the Qatar Airlines Lounge) and a 12 hour, overnight train from Cairo to Aswan.

When we arrived in Aswan, Egypt we were whisked off by our boat (felucca) guide, Mamud, to a guesthouse on the Nile for tea before our camel ride through the desert.

Mamud went on the camel ride with us as we saw the vastness of the desert and the charm of a Nubian Village.

After the camel ride we hung out with the locals at the guesthouse (there were no actual guests at the guesthouse while we were there) and waited for lunch. Our stomachs full, we stepped aboard our felucca (a traditional, Egyptian sail boat). This was going to be our home for 2 days and there were no bathroom facilities on the boat. Eeek! But instantly we were awed by the beauty of the Nile. It was such a “peaceful, easy feeling”. It was perfect! Our boat crew, Hussein and Luli, let me steer for a while (it was heavy). We spent our nights with our crew talking over the yummy Egyptian meals Luli made. It was such an unique and authentic experience. We sailed for 2 days and nights before disembarking in Edfu.

Did we mention it was freezing at night and blazing hot during the day. It is the desert, after all.

We drove through the Sahara Desert to our guide Mamud's home where his mom had prepared us lunch. His nephew impressed the teacher in me by saying the letters of the English alphabet accompanied by their sound and a word that starts with that sound (b, “b”, book). So cute.

Then we explored Edfu Temple and traveled on to Luxor.

The next morning, we got up early to go on a sunrise hot air balloon ride. It was, in a word, incredible.

Without a nap, we then went on a guided tour of the Valley of the Kings, an alabaster factory, and the temple of the artists (where the artists of the kings temples lived and painted their own temples). We got one photo in the first temple before a guard took our camera (only to return it to our guide). The detail in the art work was incredible.

(head archaeologist at the Valley of the Kings)

Then, still with no nap, we flew back to Cairo and went on a guided tour of Islamic Cairo. Our guide, Randa, was wonderful and I especially appreciated that she was a women. (Most of Egypt is a male dominated society. Women do not usually initiate conversation with a man so it was nice to be in the presence of another woman I could trust and was super assertive to boot.) Islamic Cairo was the original, walled city of Cairo. It is filled with shops and mosques and people. The market hidden deep in the maze of streets was a destination in itself. I could have stayed for hours and spent loads of money. Patrick thanked his stars we were on a schedule.

We explored the Citadel Mosque with 200 year old oriental rugs and an interesting history.

The next morning, our driver took us to meet Randa at the Egyptian Museum where we saw several items from the famed King Tut's tomb. Then off to the Pyramids. They are absolutely amazing. The sheer size made our jaws drop and then we heard the stats and history.

We also saw how papyrus (original paper) was made. It was hectic but bursting with history. We loved it! The Red Sea and Mt. Siani are among the sights we hope to see on our next trip to Egypt.