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CAIRO | ASWAN | LUXOR | ALEXANDRIA

With a $1,000 Deposit

 

January 9 - 20, 2025  •  11 DAYS

Egypt is a unique travel destination at the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and Southwest Asia. It is the birthplace of ancient civilization along the Nile River, with numerous pyramids and fascinating temple complexes extending from Upper Egypt to the delta. Greek and Roman influences are also apparent. Judaism and Coptic Christianity are prominent aspects of Egyptian history as well. The Qur’an encompasses in its narrations of various prophets the lands and people of this fertile and important region. From the early 7th century CE onwards, Islam gradually became the majority faith, integrating with the local culture. As an important Mediterranean nexus for trade, scholarship, and cultural exchange, Egypt came to be seen as umm al-dunya (mother of the world), ruled in turn by various dynasties. Cairo (al-Qahirah) was founded by the Fatimid dynasty in the 10th century, and the region was then governed by Salah al-Din (Saladin) and his family during the height of the Crusades, and later on the Ottomans, each lending a layer of social, aesthetic and historical impact. Join us as we explore this vast heritage spanning centuries, cruising on the ancient Nile, enjoying the beauty of the people and country, visiting mosques and complexes from different eras, and shopping for unique handicrafts.

faculty guide

MUNIR SHAIKH

Bayan’s Vice President and Professor Munir Shaikh will be the faculty escort for the tour. He holds an M.A. in Islamic Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a specialization in the history of Islamic Iberia (Al-Andalus), and certificates from academic programs in Morocco, Egypt and Spain. He has lived for periods in Spain (and Morocco) and is conversant in Spanish. He has taught academic courses on Islamic Spain, Middle Eastern history, Islam, and world history, and led world heritage tours in various countries, including seven previous excursions in Southern Spain.

ITINERARY IN Egypt

                            THURSDAY, JANUARY 9                   DEPART FROM US ORIGIN POINTS

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DAY 1                  FRIDAY, JANUARY 10                       ARRIVE IN CAIRO / WELCOME GATHERING

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DAY 2                 SATURDAY, JANUARY 11                  GIZA PYRAMIDS & SPHINX / GRAND MUSEUM / AL-HUSAYN MOSQUE / KHAN EL-KHALILI

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DAY 3                 SUNDAY, JANUARY 12                      CITADEL / OLD CAIRO - FUSTAT / MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION / AL-AZHAR PARK

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DAY 4                 MONDAY, JANUARY 13                     EARLY MORNING FLIGHT TO ASWAN / ASWAN HIGH DAM / TEMPLE OF PHILAE / NILE CRUISE

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DAY 5                 TUESDAY, JANUARY 14                    SAIL TO KOM OMBO TEMPLE / EDFU TEMPLE / AFTERNOON TEA

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DAY 6                 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15             KARNAK TEMPLE / LUXOR TEMPLE

 

DAY 7                 THURSDAY, JANUARY 16                VALLEY OF THE KINGS / HATSHEPSUT TEMPLE / FLIGHT TO CAIRO

 

DAY 8                 FRIDAY, JANUARY 17                       SAYEDA NAFISSA MOSQUE /  WALKING TOUR OF ASHRAF STREET / IBN TULUN MOSQUE / MAUSOLEUM OF IMAM SHAFI'I

                                                                                          / JUMAH AT SULTAN HASSAN MOSQUE

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DAY 9                 SATURDAY, JANUARY 18                TRIP TO ALEXANDRIA / KOM EL SHOQAFA / MORSI ABOU EL ABBAS MOSQUE / FORT QAITBEY

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DAY 10               SUNDAY, JANUARY 19                    AL-AZHAR MOSQUE / FATIMID CAIRO /WALKING TOUR FROM AL-AZHAR TO BAB AL FUTUH / QALAWUN COMPLEX

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DAY 11               MONDAY, JANUARY 20                   DEPART FROM CAIRO

With a $1,000 Deposit

BAYAN TOURS .png

Since 2017, Bayan has been offering unique faculty-led tours to world heritage destinations such as Uzbekistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Holy Land, Southern Spain, Iran, and Malaysia. Each year, we offer high-quality curated excursions to these and other destinations to satisfy the interests of our diverse community of fellow travelers.

 

WHY JOIN A BAYAN TOUR?

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Tours offered by Bayan cater to the varied interests and needs of families while offering an exceptional educational and cultural program. Each tour is led by one or more faculty members who provide daily background lectures and insights about the historical and contemporary contexts. Local guides are utilized as needed. The itinerary for each excursion is crafted by experienced personnel to maximize your enjoyment and satisfaction. While the scheduled program is robust, ample time is provided to explore on your own, shop for local handicrafts and souvenirs, and enjoy some leisure activities. Bayan’s tour group size is generally kept to 30-35 participants.

TOUR pricing

land packages only

All pricing is double-occupancy.  International airfare is not included. 

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Adult                                 $3,795

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Single Supplement        $1,000

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PACKAGE INCLUSIONS

  • Airport transfers on January 10th and January 20th, 2025

  • 10 nights in 5-star hotels

  • Ground transportation by private A/C coach

  • Internal flight from Cairo to Aswan

  • Internal flight from Luxor to Cairo

  • 5-star Nile Cruise - Luxor to Aswan  (full board)

  • Daily breakfast and 1 dinner

  • All entrance fees for sites

  • Daily commentary/discussions with faculty guide(s)

  • English speaking local guide(s)

 

EXCLUSIONS​​​

  • International airfare to Egypt (budget about $1,300 round-trip per person from US gateways) and applicable baggage fees

  • Travel insurance

  • Tourist entry visa (obtain online in advance for $25 USD)

  • Additional meals/beverages

  • Porterage (hotel luggage assistance)

  • Personal items

  • Incidental charges (telephone bill, mini bar, room service, laundry, etc.)

  • Covid-19 testing costs (if required for entry or return to country of origin)

TOUR pricing

land packages only

All pricing is double occupancy and per person.  International airfare is not included. 

 

                                           Early Bird (Reserve by 8/15/24)       After 8/15/24

 

Adult                                 $3,795                                                              $3,995

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Minors (8-17)                  $3,595                                                              $3,795

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Single Supplement        $1,500                                                              $1,700

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PACKAGE INCLUSIONS

  • Airport transfers on January 10 and January 20, 2025

  • 7 nights in 5-star hotel

  • Ground transportation by private A/C coach

  • Internal flight from Cairo to Aswan

  • Internal flight from Luxor to Cairo

  • 3 nights on board 5-star Nile Cruise - Luxor to Aswan  (full board)

  • Daily breakfast (10) and Lunches (9), and 4 dinners (beverages not included on Nile cruise)

  • All entrance fees for sites

  • Daily commentary/discussions with faculty guide(s)

  • English-speaking local guide(s)

 

EXCLUSIONS​​​

  • International airfare to Egypt (budget about $1,300 round-trip per person from US gateways) and applicable baggage fees

  • Travel Insurance

  • Tourist entry visa (obtain online in advance for $25 USD)

  • Beverages on Nile cruise

  • Additional meals

  • Porterage (hotel luggage assistance)

  • Personal items

  • Incidental charges (telephone bill, mini bar, room service, laundry, etc.)

  • Covid-19 testing costs (if required for entry or return to country of origin)

Take Advantage of Early-Bird Pricing!

With a $1,000 Deposit

international travel arrangements

Arriving to Egypt (Cairo)

Numerous airlines provide service to Cairo International Airport (CAI). Turkish Airlines is a good option for flights originating from various US gateways. EgyptAir from New York (JFK), Air France, and other carriers also provide direct or connecting service. Participants should book “roundtrip” flights arriving in Cairo (CAI) on Friday, January 10 (for travelers from the US, this means departing from your city of origin on Thursday, January 9). The tour officially begins at 5:00pm on January 10 with a group orientation meeting in the hotel, followed by a brief walk-around in nearby areas and dinner. You may plan your travel to add extra days in transit before reaching Cairo, or in Cairo before the tour begins, if you wish. Hotel check-in for the tour is on January 10.

 

Departing from Egypt (Cairo)

The tour concludes on the morning of Monday, January 20 in Cairo. Depending on your departure time on that day, you can continue sightseeing or plan to head to the airport. Your outgoing flight can be to any destination or transit point of your choice. You may also consider spending more time in Egypt after the conclusion of the tour, and plan your flights, local transportation and additional hotel accommodations accordingly.

 

Booking Your Flights

Once you’ve paid your deposit to Bayan Tours, you should book your flights as soon as possible to try and obtain well-priced airfare with suitable flight timings and layovers (if you don’t have a direct flight to Cairo, we recommend that you choose a route with a layover of not less than 90 minutes). You can use your own travel agent, check airline websites, or use other booking sites to select the flight legs that are best for you.

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Hotels

Our tour group will stay at the following hotels:

 

  • Cairo: Marriott Hotel Zamalek - 5* (7 nights)

  • Luxor-Aswan Nile Cruise Boat - 5* (3 nights)
     

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TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Cairo

  • Giza Pyramids & Sphinx

  • Fustat (Old Cairo)

  • Ibn Tulun Mosque

  • Al-Azhar Mosque

  • Al-Husayn Mosque

  • Citadel

  • Al-Moez Street (Fatimid Cairo)

  • Khan El-Khalili (bazaar)

  • National Museum

  • Al-Azhar Park

 

Luxor - Aswan Cruise

  • Valley of the Kings

  • Temples of Horus, Hatshepsut, Karnak etc.

  • Temples of Kom Ombo

  • Aswan High Dam

  • Nile Villages

  • Optional: Luxor hot air balloon ride

 

Alexandria

  • El Corniche and Qaitbay Fortress

  • Kom el Shoqafa (Catacombs)

  • Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque

  • Bibliotheca Alexandrina​

With a $1000 Deposit

  • Who is leading the tour?
    Bayan’s vice president and professor Munir Shaikh will be the faculty escort for the tour. He holds an M.A. in Islamic Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a specialization in the history of Islamic Iberia (Al-Andalus), and certificates from academic programs in Morocco, Egypt and Spain. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on Middle Eastern history, Islam, and world history, and led world heritage tours in various countries, including eight previous programs in Southern Spain.
  • What is the expected group size?
    Bayan’s tours are focused on providing a well-rounded experience featuring academic knowledge, historical site visits, cultural exposure, recreational activities, and free time. The itinerary includes visits to mosques and other sites of prayer. By participating in a tour, you are helping sustain and advance Bayan’s mission as a non-profit educational institution. Our group size tends to be in the range of 20-30 participants. This enables participants to get to know one another and develop bonds of friendship and camaraderie that can last a lifetime.
  • When is the registration deadline?
    We are accepting registrations for the tour until February 28, in order to book desired hotel rooms, obtain entrance tickets to monuments, and finalize other details. You must pay a refundable deposit of $750 per traveler. Deposits are partially refundable through January 31, 2025, however, a cancellation charge of $ 100 per traveler will apply for any cancellation requested 24 hours after time of booking. For other important terms and conditions, please click here. Deposits after this date are non-refundable but can be applied to a different tour within a one-year time frame. After payment of your deposit, you will receive an invoice for the remaining balance for your party, reflecting any applicable discounts. The balance payment is due no later than January 31, 2025.
  • Is a visa required for U.S. citizens to enter Spain?
    Bayan’s tours are open to participants who wish to join from anywhere in the world. However, the majority of participants tend to be from the United States. US passport holders do not need to obtain a visa to enter Spain for tourism. This is true for nationals of many other countries as well. However, non-US passport holders are encouraged to check requirements for their nationality and obtain a visa if required. We are unable to assist in obtaining visas.
  • How physically demanding is the tour?
    Our group will be transported from city to city in a luxury air-conditioned tourist bus. However, in each city, since we will be in the historical centers where buses can't go, we will mainly be walking from site to site. In Madrid we will use the metro (subway) at times, as well as taxis. In any case, there will be a significant amount of walking on most days, on slight inclines and steps. The streets at times will have cobblestones. participants should expect to walk roughly 12,000 steps each day (about 6 miles in aggregate) during the first few days of the program, and perhaps 8,000 steps per day during the latter portion of the itinerary. At any given time, we will cover 1/4 to 1/2 mile between rest points. We will take into account the differing abilities and health conditions of group members and regulate the pace and intensity of the tour accordingly. Even so, this tour may not be suitable for those with knee, hip or foot pain that could be aggravated by the amount of walking involved, and a private tour might be preferable. Ideally, all participants should prepare for the tour by walking at least 5,000 steps per day in the weeks leading up to the tour.
  • What type of food will we have on the tour?
    Spain’s food is a mix of Mediterranean and local traditions. Some dishes, such as paella, reveal their roots in Arab/Muslim cuisines. While the types of vegetarian options have grown in recent years in Spain, most local meat dishes feature pork. During the tour, we will dine at restaurants that serve zabiha halal foods, or at places that offer seafood and vegetarian options. We will be sure to avoid any foods prepared with pork or alcohol. You can expect meals to include Middle Eastern, Turkish and Moroccan dishes at restaurants run by local Muslims, and Italian and other types of dishes more generally. You’ll have the option of sampling various suitable tapas, small dishes with beverages.
  • Will you provide more information about the daily schedule and other details?
    Yes, all participants who have completed their full payment will receive a detailed information packet that includes descriptions of the cities and sites to be visited, the daily schedule, currency exchange, local prayer times, electrical adapters, weather, what to pack, and more.
  • What precautions are you taking with regard to COVID-19?
    We encourage participants to be fully vaccinated with at least one booster shot for all who are eligible to receive these shots. U.S. citizens can travel to Spain if they show that they are vaccinated against COVID-19, or have a recovery certificate, or show a negative diagnostic test result performed either within 72 hours prior to departure to Spain for a PCR test or within 24 hours prior to departure for a rapid antigen test. We do not expect to mandate masking during the tour, but we encourage masking whenever possible and according to each individual’s comfort level. For example, when shopping in crowded areas, it would be best to wear a mask. General sanitary practices should be maintained at all times, such as washing hands with soap, using sanitizing gels and wipes, and maintaining a reasonable distance between individuals.
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