How to Plan an Unforgettable Journey in Egypt (Pdf
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1 | P a g e How to Plan an Unforgettable Journey in EGYPT Kenn Laya Director North America – EGYPT Tourism USA – New York, New York CEO / Product Development – Vuitton Travel & Luxury Lifestyle – New York, New York Edited By Maria Koehmstedt Cover Photography & Design Charls Lamber Contributor / Ferskov Communications 2 | P a g e To all the people of Egypt, this e-book is for you. By writing "How to Plan an Unforgettable Journey in EGYPT", it is my hope that the many people who read this work come to realize just how amazing it is to visit your incredible country. May they come to see your bountiful sites for themselves and then send their friends. And when they are there, it is my hope that they meet as many of you as is possible during their journey so that when they return, like myself, they can proudly say "I have friends in Egypt." To all of you who I already know in Egypt, and to all of you I have yet to meet, forever you will remain in my heart, as my friends. 3 | P a g e An Egyptian Journey immerses travelers in more than 7,000 years of history – ancient Egypt to the Roman Empire, Islamic dynasties to modern metropolises. With vast and beautiful deserts, fresh oases, simple villages, chaotic metropolises, tranquil Red Sea resorts, the palm-lined Nile and awe- inspiring, sand-swathed monuments, there’s a place for all personalities of traveler. While the country comprises a mixture of different cultures and religions, a unifying and omnipresent sense of hospitality runs deep in the blood of every Egyptian – a warmness toward one another and a kind embrace to all who visit her. Should the desert awaken your inner explorer, there’s opportunity to explore miles of it during your private Egypt tour – 95 percent of Egypt’s landscape consists of desert, interspersed with lush oases. Meet Bedouins who carry out centuries-old traditions, camp in the dunes under an impossibly starry night sky, go quad biking or experience the unique thrill of sand boarding in the Great Sand Sea. Marvel at prehistoric rock art in the Swimmers Cave and the gem-like, yellow-green tektite of the natural phenomenon that is Silica Glass Field. The Nile flows northward from its entrance point near Wadi Halfa, Sudan, and for this reason, the southern border of the country is coined "Upper Egypt." It is here that history buff travelers are treated to the world's most intensive concentration of temples, tombs, and palaces, all constructed over the course of 4,000 years. The Nile Valley itself is home to the Valley of the Kings, where Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered. You'll see the Great Pyramid, the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing, and the iconic Sphinx. Much of the Egyptian culture and lifestyle depends on the Nile, the country's lifeblood, and those who choose to cruise this longest of the world's rivers will get a first-class view of spectacular ancient monuments, as well as local lifestyles. A rich mosaic of cultures, religions and landscapes, a private Egypt tour presents the increasingly valuable opportunity to become a more educated world citizen. Cairo, the City Victorious, was the focal point of Egypt's empire and home to medieval Islam and native Coptic Christians. Today, the city is a treasure trove of medieval schools and mosques, minarets and churches – one could spend hours delving solely into religious history, tracing traditions back to the pharaohs. Moving on from the desert, there are beaches to stroll along, vibrant coral reefs to snorkel and dive and remarkable desert sunrises and sunsets. Some of the most beautiful seafloors in the world are here, along the Mediterranean and Red Sea coastlines. The Red Sea's coast has, in fact, become the adventure capital of the country with its azure waves, rocky capes, windswept beaches and endless mountain ranges. Shark dive, snorkel, kite surf, golf, shop, dance – it's all here. 4 | P a g e What makes this planning aid different from all others is that In my signature off-the-beaten path style, it is an accumulation of knowledge dating back from 1991 together with local expert Egyptian associates, when I first visited Egypt. Since then, I have returned your private Egypt tour will unveil the time countless times. I have watched the country develop, then fall capsule that is Egypt, bringing to life its into decline with the recent revolutions and ultimately bounce back bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. incredibly rich history, its timeless treasures, its cultures and traditions, and its unique and I have visited Egypt from her northern ports of Alexandria, varied natural beauty. Considering it's a country Port Said, El Alamein and Marsa Matruh to Nubia at her largely composed of sand and dust, the southern border. Into the desert and the remote oasis of Siwa to the palm fringed shores of Sharm el Sheikh. And of course, extensive range of destinations and activities as much as possible, everything in between, including the Red you can enjoy during your Egypt vacation Sea's marine playground. I have cruised the Nile in both surpasses the imagination. directions by cruiser, dahabiya, and by felucca. And believe it or not, I have been buried up to my neck in the Sahara to detox my body. Each activity, guide, restaurant, route and hotel property is selected for you from our personal After the revolution, I was hired by a Washington DC based TV company to create two one-hour travel shows from a travel shortlist. With trip-planning experts based both advisor's point of view on Egypt focusing on more than just here in New York City, in Cairo, and in the major the Sphinx. What ensued was a wonderful partnership with Egyptian destinations as well as hand-selected the Egyptian Tourism Authority that kept me in Egypt for over two months. It's a time I would never trade for anything, ever. guides out in the field every day, you know our I learned about the country, her people, cuisine, customs and advice is always of-the-moment, unbiased and cultures. Now, I share this precious information with my fully vetted. valued passengers to intensify their travel arrangements. My dedicated team both here and in Egypt and I When I write and plan, it comes from the point of view of a professional specialist travel advisor, not as a tourist or a have the connections that will take you to travel influencer. The information and secrets that I share world-class resorts, ancient treasures, with you in these pages is what I would share with you if you underwater wonders, open-air museum cities came into my office to plan your journey to Egypt. like Luxor and Aswan and everything in When you combine my four decades of experience as a between, and we look forward to partnering specialist travel advisor with the services of my appointed with you to plan your unforgettable trip to, in DMC (destination management company) in Cairo founded in the words of Greek historian Herodotus, the 1976 and which remains a premier inbound travel company in Egypt, you have a winning combination of knowledge, talent, "gift of the Nile." dedication and commitment, all working together with one singular mission! To plan your unforgettable journey in Egypt. Travel advisors know more than just the popular sites. When we travel, we invest our time visiting hotel properties, lesser known sites, restaurants, stores and much more. We know hotel properties intimately and 10 to 1 we also know several key personnel at those properties. That's beneficial because we have 'go-to' people who can be called on to take that little extra special care of you when you visit. With my little black book of go-to people, let me partner with you to plan your unforgettable journey in Egypt. 5 | P a g e This is not an Egyptian guidebook. It is a logical planning aid written by a highly qualified specialist travel advisor who has been planning journeys since December 1977. In today's internet age, you can google Wikipedia for any information that you want on the sites you read about in my itinerary recommendation. There is no need to repeat that information here to unnecessarily lengthen your read. Here, we're going to focus on logistical planning – the type you don't get in guidebooks. Throughout this e-book, you'll see prompts to Click Here for additional information that is of value during the planning stages of your journey. Click the link and you will be redirected to the specific topic on our website BLOG page. And keep visiting because we keep adding virtually daily. When you choose to work with me on your journey to Egypt, this general information that follows is what I would share with you before we start creating your own personal journey. Reading this to start with, will steer you to an appropriate understanding of how journeys in Egypt operate. You're never on your own. From our first contact, I take care of absolutely everything for you until you return home safely. So while this is a planning aid, it has not been written with the intention of you planning your journey on your own. If it is private custom-designed travel you desire, I'd recommend you don't even try. Read my remarks on the right of pages 8 and 24 on planning. When I set out to custom-design private travel arrangements in Egypt, while I know that where you travel to in the country is important, I do believe that how you travel is what makes all the difference.