Wherever your heart lies, we work alongside you to enhance your passions and create immersive and authentic experiences worldwide.
The ancient Greeks were ever captivated by the splendour and antiquity of Egypt. Every school of philosophy was bound to tell of their founder sitting at the feet of Egyptian sages for umpteen years before returning with their wisdom and science. After Alexander’s conquest, Egypt shifted to centre stage in the story of Platonism. The new city of Alexandria became the world centre of Platonic science, Jewish Platonism and neo-Platonism. Eventually, with Christianity, the Platonic infusion spread up the Nile and out into remote desert locations, as is found evident in the surviving texts and relics of the Monastic and Gnostic movements. The Platonic influence continued with the rise of Islam through the early Islamic mysticism that came to be called Sufism.
Read More ARRIVAL – OCT 15
Arrive in Cairo. Flights booked individually
Overnight in Cairo
DAY 1 – OCT 16
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit the Pyramids of Giza & the Sphinx.
Afternoon visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Evening, Welcome Dinner
DAY 2 – OCT 17
Breakfast at hotel
Full day tour of Coptic Cairo including Coptic Museum
– NMEC, then later in the afternoon,
– Al-Moez Street
– Khan El Khalili Bazaar.
Overnight in Cairo
DAY 3 – OCT 18
Breakfast at hotel & check-out
Transfer by road to Alexandria the second largest city in Egypt founded by Alexander the Great in 331BC.
Overnight in Alexandria.
DAY 4 – OCT 19
Breakfast at hotel
Full day – Roman Amphitheater,
– The Catacombs
– The Serapeum of Alexandria
– Pompey’s Pillar.
Evening, (optional) City Night Tour of Alexandria on foot.
Overnight in Alexandria
DAY 5 – OCT 20
Breakfast at hotel & check-out.
Visit St. Macarius Monastery and Wadi El Natrun.
Return to Cairo by bus.
Overnight in Cairo
DAY 6 – OCT 21
Breakfast at hotel & check-out
Flight Cairo-Aswan
Hotel check-in.
Afternoon sailing trip around the islands on a traditional Felucca (optional).
Overnight in Aswan.
DAY 7 – OCT 22
Breakfast at hotel & check-out
Overnight Aswan
Very early morning set out to visit King Ramses II’s Abu Simbel Temple.
This is the magical part of your program today.
Return to Aswan – Nile Cruise & lunch on board.
Afternoon free.
DAY 8 – OCT 23
Breakfast on board
Visit the High Dam, the Temple of Philae & the Unfinished Obelisk
Lunch on board while sailing to Kom Ombo
Visit Temple of Kom Ombo including the Crocodile Museum
Sail to Edfu then free time
Overnight in Edfu
DAY 9 – OCT 24
Breakfast on board
Overnight in Luxor.
Sail Edfu to Luxor crossing spectacular Esna Lock.
In Luxor, visit the sites on the East Bank of the Nile, including the
Temples of Luxor and Karnak.
Transfer back to cruise.
DAY 10 – OCT 25
Nile’s West Bank
Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El-Deir El-Bahari
Colossi of Memnon.
Evening – attend the Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple, reputed to be one of the best Sound & Light shows in the world.
Overnight in Luxor.
DAY 11 – OCT 26
Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer to Luxor airport for your flight to Cairo. In Cairo – transfer to hotel
Evening, Group Dinner
Overnight in Cairo.
DAY 12 – OCT 27
Breakfast at hotel & check-out
Transfer to Cairo Airport for your international flight.
Completion of main tour.
PLATO’S EGYPT – OPTIONAL EXTENSION
DAY 12 – OCT 27
Breakfast at the hotel & Checkout.
Drive to St. Catherine taking the route which is believed to be that of the Exodus in the bible.
An early morning trek adventure to the sumit of Mount Moses for those who would like to, or perhaps enjoy a silent evening in the holy part of Egypt’s holy land.
Overnight in St. Catherine.
DAY 13 – OCT 28
Breakfast at the hotel & checkout
Visit St. Catherine Monastery, the oldest Christian monastery in Egypt. Within its amazing walls rests a citadel like no other, incredibly rich in important religious and historical structures. Among its treasures is the Museum of St. Catherine, where you will see icons attributed to the painter Angelos, one of the most famous artists of the 15th century, or to his peers, as well as all six icons by Michael Damaskenos which are considered among the most important works of the Cretan School of the 16th century.
Later this afternoon, head back to Cairo, arriving in the early evening.
Overnight in Cairo
DAY 14 – OCT 29
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Cairo airport for your international flight (optional, additional cost).
COMPLETION OF SERVICES
Booking constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions. Please contact our office for full details.
Contact: jaqui@touchdowntours.com.au or call (03) 9482 5215
Wherever your heart lies, we work alongside you to enhance your passions and create immersive and authentic experiences worldwide.
PLATO’S EGYPT WITH ST CATHERINE AND MT SINAI
The ancient Greeks were ever captivated by the splendour and antiquity of Egypt. Every school of philosophy was bound to tell of their founder sitting at the feet of Egyptian sages for umpteen years before returning with their wisdom and science. After Alexander’s conquest, Egypt shifted to centre stage in the story of Platonism. The new city of Alexandria became the world centre of Platonic science, Jewish Platonism and neo-Platonism. Eventually, with Christianity, the Platonic infusion spread up the Nile and out into remote desert locations, as is found evident in the surviving texts and relics of the Monastic and Gnostic movements. The Platonic influence continued with the rise of Islam through the early Islamic mysticism that came to be called Sufism.
Read More ARRIVAL – OCT 15
Arrive in Cairo. Flights booked individually
Overnight in Cairo
DAY 1 – OCT 16
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit the Pyramids of Giza & the Sphinx.
Afternoon visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Evening, Welcome Dinner
DAY 2 – OCT 17
Breakfast at hotel
Full day tour of Coptic Cairo including Coptic Museum
– NMEC, then later in the afternoon,
– Al-Moez Street
– Khan El Khalili Bazaar.
Overnight in Cairo
DAY 3 – OCT 18
Breakfast at hotel & check-out
Transfer by road to Alexandria the second largest city in Egypt founded by Alexander the Great in 331BC.
Overnight in Alexandria.
DAY 4 – OCT 19
Breakfast at hotel
Full day – Roman Amphitheater,
– The Catacombs
– The Serapeum of Alexandria
– Pompey’s Pillar.
Evening, (optional) City Night Tour of Alexandria on foot.
Overnight in Alexandria
DAY 5 – OCT 20
Breakfast at hotel & check-out.
Visit St. Macarius Monastery and Wadi El Natrun.
Return to Cairo by bus.
Overnight in Cairo
DAY 6 – OCT 21
Breakfast at hotel & check-out
Flight Cairo-Aswan
Hotel check-in.
Afternoon sailing trip around the islands on a traditional Felucca (optional).
Overnight in Aswan.
DAY 7 – OCT 22
Breakfast at hotel & check-out
Overnight Aswan
Very early morning set out to visit King Ramses II’s Abu Simbel Temple.
This is the magical part of your program today.
Return to Aswan – Nile Cruise & lunch on board.
Afternoon free.
DAY 8 – OCT 23
Breakfast on board
Visit the High Dam, the Temple of Philae & the Unfinished Obelisk
Lunch on board while sailing to Kom Ombo
Visit Temple of Kom Ombo including the Crocodile Museum
Sail to Edfu then free time
Overnight in Edfu
DAY 9 – OCT 24
Breakfast on board
Overnight in Luxor.
Sail Edfu to Luxor crossing spectacular Esna Lock.
In Luxor, visit the sites on the East Bank of the Nile, including the
Temples of Luxor and Karnak.
Transfer back to cruise.
DAY 10 – OCT 25
Nile’s West Bank
Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El-Deir El-Bahari
Colossi of Memnon.
Evening – attend the Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple, reputed to be one of the best Sound & Light shows in the world.
Overnight in Luxor.
DAY 11 – OCT 26
Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer to Luxor airport for your flight to Cairo. In Cairo – transfer to hotel
Evening, Group Dinner
Overnight in Cairo.
DAY 12 – OCT 27
Breakfast at hotel & check-out
Transfer to Cairo Airport for your international flight.
Completion of main tour.
PLATO’S EGYPT – OPTIONAL EXTENSION
DAY 12 – OCT 27
Breakfast at the hotel & Checkout.
Drive to St. Catherine taking the route which is believed to be that of the Exodus in the bible.
An early morning trek adventure to the sumit of Mount Moses for those who would like to, or perhaps enjoy a silent evening in the holy part of Egypt’s holy land.
Overnight in St. Catherine.
DAY 13 – OCT 28
Breakfast at the hotel & checkout
Visit St. Catherine Monastery, the oldest Christian monastery in Egypt. Within its amazing walls rests a citadel like no other, incredibly rich in important religious and historical structures. Among its treasures is the Museum of St. Catherine, where you will see icons attributed to the painter Angelos, one of the most famous artists of the 15th century, or to his peers, as well as all six icons by Michael Damaskenos which are considered among the most important works of the Cretan School of the 16th century.
Later this afternoon, head back to Cairo, arriving in the early evening.
Overnight in Cairo
DAY 14 – OCT 29
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Cairo airport for your international flight (optional, additional cost).
COMPLETION OF SERVICES
Booking constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions. Please contact our office for full details.
Contact: jaqui@touchdowntours.com.au or call (03) 9482 5215
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are airfares included in the cost?
Domestic flights from Cairo – Aswan and Luxor – Cairo are included in the cost. International fares (i.e. from Australia) are not included. You can either make your own arrangements to/from Cairo, or you can contact our office for a competitive price.
What is the cultural expectation regarding tipping and gratuities?
Like most countries around the world, tipping is part of the local culture in Egypt. All tipping is included in the cost of our tour, so you do not need to worry about over-tipping or under-tipping. It is all taken care of!
Do I have to have prior knowledge of Plato to join this tour?
No prior knowledge of Plato or Platonism is required to join this tour. Everyone is welcome.
What is the situation with travel insurance?
It is a requirement of the Platonic Academy of Melbourne that everyone takes out travel insurance at the point of paying their first deposit, and a copy of your insurance certificate is also required at this point. Travel insurance will cover you (subject to the terms and conditions of your policy) in the case of any unforeseen circumstances that may require you to cancel your participation on the tour, and should also ensure you are covered in case of any unexpected accidents whether hospital, medical or dental, that might arise while you are overseas.
Is there a dress code for travel in Egypt?
Modest dressing is required. Shorts, tshirts, dresses and skirts are absolutely fine. When entering mosques, churches or monasteries, ladies should bring a head scarf to cover their hair and men and women must not be wearing shorts above the knee.
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