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Sacred Travel to Egypt in 2016 - CLOSED

04/16/2016 - 04/30/2016

Description

Center for Spiritual Living
The Ultimate Spiritual travel Adventure to Egypt
April 16 – 30, 2016 (Optional extension May 1-3)

To sign up for the Egypt trip and/or extension, contact our Registrar at 206.527.8801, x5101 or Registrar@SpiritualLiving.org

See Egypt through her Eyes & Heart
Rev. Kathianne Lewis
Sacred Sites & Secret Science

 

Cairo / Giza Pyramids / Sphinx / Solar boat / Sakkara / Dahsour / Egyptian Museum / 
Luxor Museum / Aswan / Luxor / King Tut Treasures / Refaai Mosque / Khan El Khalili Bazar / 
Kom Ombo / Valley of Kings / Deir El Madinet / Dendarah Temple / Deluxe Farah Nile Cruise

 

PREREQUISITE: Completion of Beyond Limits or Foundations

Registration is now closed.

 

Private visits on this trip

Sakkara and Zoser Pyramid
Giza Plateau
The Egyptian Museum
Isis Temple
Edfu Temple of Horus

 

Itinerary
April 16 – 30, 2016

Day 1: Sat Apr 16    Upon arrival to Cairo airport you'll be met by a Quest Travel tour manager who will assist you through immigration and customs, then escort you to your deluxe Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel overlooking The Nile and Cairo City. Overnight.

Day 2: Sun Apr 17    Morning “Welcome” orientation meeting and Introduction to the Egyptian team that will serve you during your journey in Egypt.

Following lunch we visit the famous Egyptian Museum, with a collection of relics dating back to 4,000 BC. There we will experience firsthand the different periods of ancient Egypt and the individual artistic and architectural styles of each period. The highlight of this museum is the visit to the priceless treasures of Tut-Ankh-Amon. You will hear the incredible story of this child-king from the first curator of this magnificent collection. You will see firsthand the intricate workmanship and the tiniest details of the contents of the luggage packed for this King to accompany him to the next world. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3: Mon Apr 18    This morning we are transferred from our hotel at Cairo airport by the Quest Travel tour manager to fly to Luxor. Upon arrival at Luxor airport, you’ll be transferred to your Deluxe Luxuries Farah Nile cruise.

Luxor is situated on the southern part of the city or the “Southern Harem” of ancient Thebes, the capital of the Egyptian empire. Homer described Thebes as the hundred-gated city, and from the time of the Middle Kingdom all the wealth of Egypt came to Thebes to be dedicated to Amun, the powerful state-god. The real development of the city began after the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under Ammenemes I reached its apogee during the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties, when it was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. It was here that the Pharaohs built their great royal monuments. The temples of the principal gods and the royal places were situated on the right bank of the Nile. The tombs and mortuary temples were on the left bank further back from the river in the desert cliffs, which was the land of the dead in the west.

In the afternoon we drive through the countryside of Luxor to have a private Exclusive visit to Dendrah temple. The all-overshadowing building in the Complex is the main temple, namely Hathor temple (historically, called the Temple of Tentyra). The temple has been modified on the same site starting as far back as the Middle Kingdom, and continuing right up until the time of the Roman emperor Trajan. The existing structure was built no later than the late Ptolemaic period. The temple, dedicated to Hathor, is one of the best preserved temples in all Egypt. Subsequent additions were added in Roman times. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Tue Apr 19    Today the early morning is devoted to Thebes as we drive across the Nile to the West Bank to visit the Valley of the Kings, where the great and mysterious funerary texts (“The Books of the Dead”) are exquisitely painted or carved into walls. Visit the very special Ramses the VI tomb with its unique colors, We continue our visit to Dier El Madinet, where we see the workers’ village. And we visit the temple of Hatshipsuite.

Our final stop is at Clossis of Memenon.

Sail to Esna passing by Esna lock. In the evening, we are invited to the Captain’s welcome cocktail party followed by dinner. Open evening to experience the lounge or enjoy the solitude of cruising from the ship’s upper deck & Overnight Edfu. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Wed Apr 20    Morning sailing to Kom Ombo as we are enjoying our breakfast, watching the countryside of Egypt. We then enjoy a lecture on “Egypt today” by our Egyptologist. Questions and answers to explore today’s life, customs and traditions of Egyptian people.

In the early evening visit Kom Ombo. The Healing temple of Kom Ombo is a glorious picturesque ruin along the banks of the Nile. You will join our Tour Leader in some special healing exercises within this temple.

We sail through the countryside to Aswan, the capital of the province in the area of the first cataract. The town is situated on the East Bank between the river and the eastern desert hills which rise to a height of 100m (328 ft.). Aswan was the gateway to the interior of Africa and an important center of trade. The stone quarries in the area around the town provided the Pharaohs with gray and pink granite for their buildings and statues. Overnight in Aswan. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Thu Apr 21    Early morning we have a private sunrise visit to Philae Temple / Isis the Great Mother, to receive the blessings of Isis at her beautiful island temple at Philae. This isle represents a fusion of three great civilizations – Egyptian, Greek and Roman. The presence of Isis is palpable in the inner sanctum, the Holy of Holies of her temple. We’ll explore the grounds and enjoy some storytelling on the island.

We will enjoy the felucca ride around the Elephantine Island on the Nile, then a special afternoon of free time in Aswan, where you can explore the local Nubian market. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7: Fri Apr 22    Optional trip: If you would like to, this morning we will drive into the Sahra desert to Abu Simble. Hewn of a mountain for Ramesses II, this magnificent temple is both an ancient and modern engineering marvel. You will visit Abu Simbel temples which are the symbol of the international campaign for the salvage of the Nubian monuments, the temples and his beloved wife Nefertari. After your lunch you then drive back to Aswan to enjoy your dinner in a peaceful atmosphere. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8: Sat Apr 23    Morning sail to Edfu. Enjoy a free day of relaxing as we sail to Edfu. We will visit Edfu temple during the UNIQUE Sound & Light show where you explore the Temple of Horus, one of the most beautifully preserved in Egypt. Here, we follow the pattern of the hero’s quest as we learn how Horus and his followers (the Shemsu Hor) conquered chaos, and we see the sacred marriage of the king and queen as the embodiment of Horus and the goddess Hathor. The side chambers of the temple show the complexity of the rites that include a healing chamber, a perfumery, and singers’ rooms. One chamber, called the House of Life, stored all of the sacred texts used in seasonal and daily rituals. Overnight at Edfu. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 9: Sun Apr 24    Spend the entire morning sailing to Luxor & this afternoon we will visit the great Karnak temple to play in the energies of the vast overwhelming Temple of Karnak. Once connected to Luxor Temple, two miles away, by a long avenue of Sphinxes (still partially in tact), Karnak is dedicated to the Powers of Creation. Karnak is the theater in which humanity (Luxor) plays out its destiny. It is an incredible collage of Kings and Queens and Princes, Priests, and their collective symbolism. Enjoy free time for shopping. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 10: Mon Apr 25    Following breakfast we will enjoy visiting “Luxor museum.” This small but superbly presented museum includes the remarkable discoveries made in 1989 in the great Court of Amenhotep III.

Check in Sonesta St. George hotel.

This evening we visit Luxor temple and view this magnificent structure under the stars. This is where R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz developed his revolutionary Symbolist Interpretation; this temple is dedicated to Amun-Mut-Khonsu.

Tonight there is a Surprise waiting for you. !!! (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 11: Tue Apr 26    Following breakfast we will take our short one-hour flight back to Cairo. Upon arrival we will visit Mosque of Refaai. Completed in 1912 and built in the Mameluk style, its exterior is sumptuously decorated with marble, cedar wood and ivory ornamentation. The Mosque is in fact the family vault of Ismail and within it are buried Princess Khosiar, Ismail himself, his wives, Sultan Hussein Kame, King Fouad and Shah of Iran.

Check in The Marriott Mena House hotel located at the feet of the Pyramids. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 12: Wed Apr 27    This morning we’ll drive to Sakkara to view dozens of Old Kingdom pyramids rise on the west bank near ancient Memphis. Around 2630 B.C. Imhotep, architect to King Djoser (Dynasty III), masterminded the Step Pyramid at Sakkara. The world’s oldest freestanding stone structure, this pyramid consists of six tiers atop a mastaba, or low, oblong tomb, faced with cut stone.

We will visit the unique Serpaiuom in Sakkara which just recently opened for visit after being closed for over 15 years. A serapeum is a temple or other religious institution dedicated to the syncretic Hellenistic-Egyptian God Serapis, who combined aspects of Osiris and Apis in a humanized form that was accepted by the Ptolemaic Greeks of Alexandria. There were several such religious centers, each of which was a serapeion (Greek: Σεραπεῖον) or, in its Latinized form, a serapeum ("seh-rah-peh-um").

We then visit Dahshour area where the White, Black & Red Pyramids are located. This area was closed for over 25 years and just opened recently for visitors, and is considered to be one the Virgin Historical sites that still has its own powerful & light energy in it. Late lunch will take place at a typical Egyptian restaurant at the countryside. On our way back to the hotel we will visit a famous Papyrus institute. Dinner will be served at Christo's restaurant. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 13: Thu Apr 28    Today, we start our tour with a very special private visit to the Giza Plateau, when no one else is there except our group, Listen closely as you awaken and dress for Sunrise at the Valley Temple of Chephren on the Giza Plateau. As you slowly come alive, you will hear the incredible sounds of the entire city being called to prayer. Open your door and listen – Feel the energy of the spirits…we are off to discover some of the most awesome Wonders of the World, to touch them and to feel them: The Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of the Giza Plateau. Pay particular attention to the Sphinx. Our guide, who is an encyclopedia of Egyptology, will give us detailed examinations of various controversial theories surrounding these amazing structures.

Included is a visit to the Solar Boat, excavated in 1954. With more than 1000 pieces of well-preserved wood, it took ten years to re-assemble. A sophisticated sailing object, it is still debated as to whether it sailed in reality or was simply a funerary symbolic boat to take the sovereign along the journey of the solar disc. After an Invigorating Sunrise we are back to our hotel for an incredible buffet breakfast.

Later on this evening we shall have an opportunity to go for a horseback ride and camel ride into the Eastern desert for sunset view looking at the Pyramids.

In the afternoon we have our very powerful experience inside the King’s Chamber in the great pyramid. Be open to this experience that has changed many people’s lives. (Breakfast)

Day 14: Fri Apr 29    Today is a free day for your own activities or for horseback riding or camel riding into the desert of Egypt, or shopping one of the oldest shopping districts in the world, the Khan El Khalili Bazzar. It is like going back to the time of Ali Baba and Aladdin. Merchants have been trading on this site since at least the 14th century. In 1384 an Amir named Al Khalili built a great Khan here, a three-story hostelry intended to accommodate traveling merchants and their wares. Buyers visited the khan for the goods brought in on the merchant caravans, and the selling and bartering spread to the streets around. The earliest surviving parts of the bazaar today are several great stone gateways that date back to the 1500s.

To an extent, the type of goods offered today has changed little over the centuries. While you no longer find silk, jewels, or diamonds, the aroma of spices is still very much present. Stalls are heaped with colored powders and stacks of seeds and pods. Coppersmiths still hammer out platters and create coffeepots and enormous crescent shaped tops for minarets. However, it is unlikely that the medieval citizens of Cairo would recognize the stuffed leather camels, alabaster pyramids, paperweights, and their ilk that pile the stalls of the central section of the bazaar.

Whatever you are buying, expect to bargain. It is a ritual of the bazaar, equally applicable to local Egyptian customers and foreign visitors. There are no hard-and-fast rules except one, which is that if you do not bargain, then you will certainly end up paying over the odds.

Tonight we enjoy our Farewell dinner party with our Egyptian friends. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 15: Sat Apr 30    Following breakfast we will transfer to Cairo International airport for final departure. (Breakfast)

(Itinerary is subject to change due to reasons beyond our control)

Pricing for land package: 
Per person Double Occupancy: $ 4,000
Per person Single Occupancy: $ 5,300

 

Nonrefundable $500 deposit due to hold your space. Payment in full and payment plan available.

To sign up for the Egypt trip and/or extension, contact our Registrar at 206.527.8801, x5101

 

Included in the land package price:

  • Greeting and assistance at airports in all cities in Egypt
  • All touring and transfers in air-conditioned motor coach.
  • Transfers from and to the airport / hotels in all cities
  • Entrance fees to all visits mentioned in the above itinerary.
  • Domestic Air tickets from Cairo / Luxor / Luxor / Cairo
  • 2 nights at Semiramis Intercontinental hotel Apr 16th – 18th 
  • 7 nights on deluxe Nile cruiser Apr 18th – 25th
  • 1 night Sonesta hotel in Luxor Apr 25th – 26th
  • 4 nights at Mena House Marriott hotel Apr 26th – 30th
  • Daily buffet breakfast at hotel
  • Dinners & Lunches where indicated
  • Farewell dinner
  • Licensed English speaking guide throughout the trip
  • All hotels taxes, service charges, and government sales tax
  • Luggage handling at all airports

WHAT’S EXCLUDED?

  • International airline tickets
  • Travel & health Insurance and other items of a personal nature
  • Visa $25 - Obtained upon arrival in Egypt for USA, European Union citizens, and UK
  • Meals and drinks, laundry, telephone calls, etc, not specified in the proposal
  • Airport departure tax, if any

Optional Trip Addition

4 days / 3 nights ... Sharm El Shiekh
The Red Sea


Day 1, Sat, Apr 30, Cairo / Sharm El Shiekh:
Following breakfast, we transfer to Cairo airport for our short flight to Sharm El Shiekh. Arrive and check in to Sonesta Royal hotel, located in a wonderful spot on the Red Sea with its sandy beaches and blue crystal water. Sharm El Shiekh was selected by United Nations to be the City of Peace. The rest of the day is at leisure for water private activities or diving.  (All inclusive)


Day 2, Sun, May 1, Sharm El Shiekh:
Free morning in Sharm to take you to the national park of Ras Mohamed area for snorkeling. Or you may wish to enjoy a horseback ride into the desert of Sharm El Shiekh. (All inclusive)

Day 3, Mon, May 2, Sharm El Shiekh:
Enjoy a free day in Sharm and its crystal water. 
Another relaxing day of horseback riding before we go to airport to fly to Cairo. Check in Le Meridian Airport hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 4, Tues, May 3, Sharm / Cairo:
Transfer to Cairo international airport for your final flight departure. (Breakfast)

 

Pricing for Extension
$1,000 USD per person sharing DBL room
$1,400 USD single room

 

The above rates include:
* Round trip air tickets Cairo / Sharm / Cairo
* Transportation by A/C modern deluxe Bus during the excursions.
* Professional English speaking guide during the excursions 
* Daily Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner (All inclusive) 
* Entrance Fees to all visited sites.
* 3 nights at Sonesta Royal Sharm deluxe hotel 
* 1 night Le Meridian Cairo airport hotel 
* Tipping for guide & driver


PAYMENT SCHEDULE AND CANCELLATION POLICY:
1.    There is a nonrefundable $500 deposit required to reserve your spot. Once you register, we will contact you for passport information (passport name, passport number, passport expiration date, nationality, and date of birth).
2.    60% of total registration is due by September 15, 2015.
          a.    $1,900 per person double occupancy
          b.    $2,680 per person single occupancy
          c.    $2,900 extension per person double occupancy
          d.    $4,080 extension per person single occupancy
3.    Balance of total registration is due by February 15, 2016.
          a.    $1,600 per person double occupancy regular trip
          b.    $2,120 per person single occupancy regular trip
          c.    $1,600 per person double occupancy regular trip + extension
          d.    $2,120 per person single occupancy regular trip + extension
4.    If you cancel after Jan 1, 2016 you will forego the $500 deposit, plus be charged a cancellation fee of $500.
5.    If you cancel after Feb 1, 2016 you will forego the $500 deposit, plus be charged a cancellation fee of $1,000.
6.    If you cancel after Mar 1, 2016 you will be charged full price of land package / no refund.

 

Extra nights for pre arrival at Semiramis Intercontinental hotel:
Double room $190 including 25% taxes, services charges and buffet breakfast
Single room $170 including 25% taxes, services charges and buffet breakfast
Nile View rooms supplement $40 per room per night

 

Extra nights for post departure:
Double room $200 including 25% taxes, services charges and buffet breakfast
Single room $180 including 25% taxes, services charges and buffet breakfast
Pyramids view supplement $70 per room per night

 

Day use room near airport:
Day use around $100 per room near the airport for up to 6 hours.

 

Airport transfers for pre arrival or post departure, if requested:

** Anyone arriving or departing on same group arrival or departure day there is no charges, no matter how many flights are there.
** For anyone pre arrival or post departure we charge $35 per person one way airport / hotel and or vice versa.

 

To sign up for the Egypt trip and/or extension, contact our Registrar at 206.527.8801, x5101. 

Terms of Travel:
Seattle Center for Spiritual Living (“CSL”), a recognized 501(c)(3) religious non-profit, is arranging a tour for interested parties to Egypt on April 16 – 30, 2016. In the past CSL has had an arranged travel tour cancelled due to elevated security risks. In today’s uncertain world it is possible that this trip may be cancelled due to circumstances beyond CSL’s control. CSL therefore asks that you consider and agree to the following before making a deposit for this tour.
1. I am eighteen (18) years of age or older.
2.  I am physically able to complete this travel.
3. I recognize that CSL is NOT a “seller of travel” as defined in RCW 19.138.021(6).
4. I realize that CSL is arranging travel directly through vendors in Egypt and will pay to the Vendors necessary deposits from the funds I pay to CSL. The deposits might not be refundable in case of a cancellation no matter the circumstances.
5. I recognize that circumstances beyond the control of CSL, such as an act of terrorism or the U.S. State Department canceling all American flights to or from Egypt, might require a postponement or cancellation of this trip.
6. I agree to hold CSL harmless if the trip is cancelled for reasons outside CSL’s control. Although I know that CSL will do everything in its power to obtain refunds on my behalf, I will not hold CSL liable for any refunds not received.
7. I understand that if CSL cancels the trip for its own convenience then I will be due a full refund.
8. There is a minimum $500 non-refundable deposit due at registration.
9. By registering I am agreeing to the financial and time deadlines as spelled out above.
10. I agree that CSL shall not be obligated to refund any cancellation penalties imposed by the vendor with whom the services were arranged.

 

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