Cultural Immersion
About once a year we schedule an international cultural immersion trip. The country may vary, but our commitment to a deep interaction with the people and traditions of the place we visit does not.
We also customize and provide cultural immersion to China/Tibet, Kenya, Egypt, and Honduras for any group of 6 to 12 individuals.
Why Cultural Immersion?
Cultural Immersion trips provide people with opportunities to learn about other cultures on a person-to-person level. These are not vacations or service trips. They are experiences that enable people to see the usual lens through which they view the world and ultimately realize we are all connected.
Every international destination holds a unique beauty and opportunity to delight: customs, traditions, folk tales, dance, art, language, nourishment. Every destination holds its own spirit, its soul, its way of understanding, its place in eternity. We offer an invitation to see and taste and experience a piece of this glorious reality.
WE OFFER THREE TYPES OF CULTURAL IMMERSION TRIPS
“What I truly appreciate about these tours is the attention to detail ahead of time; setting up opportunities for us to interact with people...to see them as they really live and learn about their lives. You come back enriched with memories to last a lifetime.” —Chrys M.
Previous Trip to Egypt
Day 1
Depart US
Day 2
Arrive at Cairo International Airport. We will be met by our rep who will assist us in getting our visas, then will escort us to our hotel. Welcome dinner will be included.
Day 3
The great pyramids, sphinx, Memphis and Sakkara step pyramid. After breakfast, we will meet our guide in the lobby to start our tour to the great pyramids of Giza. We will take a camel ride around the great pyramid area, including the sphinx, then we will have lunch, which will be a local Egyptian meal. Next, we drive to Memphis, the first Capital of ancient Egypt. We will visit the first pyramid and stone building in Egypt better known as the step pyramid of Sakkara. Sakkara includes one of the oldest tombs. Its bright colors date back to 2650 B.C. Drive back to the hotel.
Day 4
After breakfast, we will meet our guide to start our tour to visit the Egyptian museum, with its great collection of monuments that cover Egyptian history including the golden mask of the boy king Tut Ankh Amoun. We will enjoy a light Egyptian meal known as kushary. Then we drive to Old Cairo to visit the Hanging church that dates back to 800 A D, the crypt where Jesus and Mary hid, the Synagogue, and the mosque of Amer ibn el Asi , the oldest mosque in Egypt before returning to our hotel.
Day 5
After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and drive to the airport to catch our domestic flight to Luxor. Upon arrival, we will be met and escorted to Luxor West Bank where we will explore the village with the locals who live there.
Day 6
After breakfast we will drive to check in to our Dahabiay sail boat Nile cruise. We will eat lunch on board then tour the East Bank of Luxor, including, Karnak temple which is the largest temple in the Middle East, covering an area of 60 acres. The oldest block in the temple dates back to 2050 B.C. We will then tour the Luxor temple which is much smaller but has monuments from the pharaohs age, Ptolemaic age, Roman age, Coptic age and Islamic age, all in one temple.
Lunch and dinner will be on the cruise. (Note that while we are the cruise ship we will dock by villages where we will have our own tour with the locals.)
Day 7
We begin with an early morning hot air balloon ride followed by breakfast. After breakfast, we will meet our guide and head to King's Valley to explore the tombs of the kings of Ancient Egypt since 1550 B.C. This tour will include the tomb of King Tut Ankh Amun, that was discovered in 1922 as it is the last one discovered and the only intact tomb in the valley. We will also have the rare opportunity to visit the Village of the Workers, entering a tomb that dates back to 1300 B.C. with colors that look like they were painted yesterday. Next, Hatshepsut temple, the first female pharaoh in ancient Egypt. Her mortuary temple dates back to 1500 B.C., and Colossal of Memnon. We will then return to the cruise to start sailing to Aswan via Esna Lock.
Day 8
After breakfast we are off to Edfu temple by horse carriage ride. This is one of the best preserved temples in Egypt, dating back to 237 B.C. Back to the cruise for sailing and lunch. After tea time, we will stop at Komombo to visit the double temple of Horus and Sobek. This is one of the most interesting temples as it tells us about the calendar and Medicine in ancient Egypt. Back to the cruise to sail to Aswan. During the sale, we will enjoy an Egyptian meal then the galabya party where everyone will be dressed as an Egyptian. If you prefer to attend without a costume, you can still participate in the games.
Day 9
After breakfast we visit the Camel market with traders from Egypt and Sudan. After exploring the city, we will continue our cruise to Aswan.
Day 10
Today we explore the Aswan High dam, Phila temple which is one of many temples were moved from its original location because of the construction of the dam, and the unfinished obelisk at the granite quarry used by ancient Egyptians since the old kingdom age. Back to the cruise for lunch followed by a Felucca sail boat ride. Back to the ship to enjoy the Nubian show and dinner.
Day 11 and 12
We will spend two full days in a Nubian village, enjoying the Nubian culture, meeting locals and spending time with the children in school.
Day 13 and 14
Fly back to Cairo to drive to the Siwa Oasis to spend two days with the Bedouins.
Day 15
We will drive back to Cairo and catch our flight back home.