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NILE EMERALD

nile-emerald

NILE EMERALD

With history and culture as beautiful and expansive as the Sahara desert, Egypt is a world unto itself. To truly experience Egypt, you must immerse yourself in its history and get to know the people. On this unforgettable journey, you will walk around the ancient Great Pyramids, marvel at the spectacular treasure of Tut Ankh Amon, travel down the Nile and witness the daily life of the small villagers

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Tour Length: 12 days                                                                      Start From: $2400

 Tour Style: comfort                                                                           Tour Theme: Classic

Advantages

  • Guaranteed departures
  •  Private transportation
  • Must- see Sightseeing
  • 3 night at deluxe Nile cruise
  • Handpicked 4 star hotels
  • Arrival & departure transfers between the airport and your hotel

Highlights:

  • Visit the inspiring Pyramids of Giza
  • Explore the treasure of Tut ankh Amon at the Egyptian Museum
  • Explore the intellectual city of Alexandria
  • Discover the secrets of Valley of the Kings and Valley of the workers
  • Stroll through the impressive temple of Karank
  • Sail aboard Felucca around Aswan islands
  • Barter and haggle for the best deals at the Bazaars

Transportation

  • Arrival transfer from airport to hotel
  • Departure transfer from hotel to airport.
  • Air-conditioned coach to sightseeing
  • First class sleeper train
  • Horse drawn carriage to Karnak temple

Meals

  • 11 BREAKFASTS
  • 4 LUNCHES
  • 6 DINNERS

Day 1: Cairo

Welcome to the land of the Pharaohs. Transfer to your hotel.

Day 2: Cairo

Exciting guided tour of the spectacular Great Pyramids and the world famous Egyptian Museum.

Day 3: Cairo – Alexandria

Drive through the Nile Delta to Alexandria.

Day 4: Alexandria – Cairo – Luxor

Explore the ancient city of Alexandria and board the first class sleeper train to Luxor.

Day 5: Luxor

Board your deluxe  Nile Cruise. Amazing visit to the Karnak Temple.

Day 6: Luxor

Exciting morning visit to the Valley of the Kings, the Worker Village and Hatshepsut’s Temple. Enjoy a day of sailing the Nile River to Esna.

Day 7: Luxor – Esna – Edfu

Visit Edfu Temple, the most preserved temple in all of Egypt. Sail to Kom Ombo.

Day 8: Edfu – Kom Ombo

Visit the unique temple of Kom Ombo and continue sailing to Aswan. 

Day 9: Aswan

Visit the magical Philae Temple and sail around the Aswan islands.

Day 10: Aswan – Cairo

Free morning  at your leisure. Board first class sleeper train to Cairo.

Day 11: Cairo

The day is at your leisure or choose from many exciting excursions.

Day 12: Cairo

Tour ends after breakfast. Transfer to airport.

Day 1: Cairo

Your amazing trip to the land of wonders begins as you arrive at the Cairo International Airport. A company representative will be waiting at Immigration and Customs to assist you and escort you to your hotel. As the capital of Egypt, Cairo is the gateway to the most wonderful culture of the Middle East. This metropolitan city balances ancient history with a modern lifestyle and the very best of Egyptian nightlife.

No activities on your first day. However, if you arrive early, there are a few excursions around Cairo you may be interested in. Please check the optional section.

Meals: No meals

Hotel: Le Meriden Pyramids or similar 

Day 2: Cairo

Today you will visit the Giza plateau, site of Great Pyramids, the last of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World.

After breakfast, your guide will escort you to the spectacular site of the Pyramids. The Great Pyramids are an extraordinary highlight, enticing tourists from around the world to visit Egypt every year. Built during the 4th Dynasty, the site is comprised of three pyramids with three unique stories about ancient civilization. Your Egyptologist will guide you around the Cheops, Kephren and Mykernes pyramids, built as exclusive tombs for Kings and Queens. Although there are more than 93 pyramids throughout Egypt, the most famous are the ones found at Giza. The pyramid of Cheops, built of limestone rock, is comprised of 1,300,000 blocks ranging in weight from 2.5 to 15 tons each. You may have an opportunity to access one of the pyramids or want to visit the Solar Boat Museum located close to the largest pyramid, at an additional cost.

Next, we visit the Great Sphinx, one of the most recognized and interesting structures in history. With the body of a lion and a human head, the impressive structure measures 60m long and 20m high. Created from soft sandstone, the sphinx was buried under the sand for centuries. Following your morning at the Pyramids, your guide will suggest a restaurant for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will visit the world famous Egyptian Museum.

After lunch, your guide will escort you through the incredible Egyptian Museum. It is home to amazing and rare collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the treasures of King Tut Ankh Amon. In the Mummy Room, you will have the opportunity to experience the mummies of ancient pharaohs and queens including the most spectacular and famous, King Ramses II. Your Egyptologist will guide you through this massive building pointing out the greatest masterpieces of Egyptian history.

The remainder of your day is at leisure.

After an exciting day, you will return back to hotel and  have a free evening .You may  want to enjoy an authentic meal at one of the famous restaurants or enjoy the Cairo nightlife.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Le Meriden Pyramids or similar 

Day 3: Cairo – El Alamein – Alexandria

In the morning, you will drive to exciting Alexandria, your home for one night.

Alexandria is 220 km from Cairo, approximately a 4 hour drive along the desert road. Built by Alexander the Great, Alexandria was constructed as the intended capital city, and is one of the most beautiful cities throughout Egypt. In ancient times, it served as a light house for the great pyramids, and in modern times, it has become the favourite summer destination for Egyptians.

Visit the memorial site of World War II at El Alamein.

Before we approach Alexandria, we will visit the Commonwealth Cemetery in El Alamein. This memorial site commemorates World War II soldiers from various countries. There is also a small military museum that houses collectables from the war. El Alamein is located 107 kilometers west Alexandria. After our visit, we will continue our journey along the coastal road to Alexandria and check into the hotel.

The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Consider a stroll along the beautiful Cornish road overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, or relax at a coffee shop and mingle with the locals.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel:  Sheraton Montaza or similar 

Day 4: Alexandria­ – Cairo – Luxor

 Explore the intellectual city of Alexandria and visit The Great Library of Alexandria!

After breakfast and check out, will head to the Great Library of Alexandria. The city is quite possibly best known for The Great Library of Alexandria, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This enormous library, was housed the world’s most extensive collection of literature. It was a major center for scholarship and intellectual activity. It was destroyed by an unfortunate series of fires, wreaking havoc on intellectual development around the world. The magnificent new library was opened in 2002 very close to the site of the ancient one.

After a visit to the world famous Great Library, you will visit Fort Qaitbay and the Catacombs.

Alexandria is incredibly rich in ancient history, for intellectual development, military activity, and Egypt’s government and economy. After lunch, you will visit the Fort of Qaitbay, also known as Citadel of Qaitbay. Established in 1477 A.D., this landmark was an important defensive fortress for the entire Mediterranean Sea coast.

Afterwards, head underground and delve into the mysteries of the Kom ash-Shuqqafa catacombs. Through the visit, you will descend the spiral staircase into Alexandria’s intricate maze of highly adorned Catacombs. These human made subterranean passageways were created for religious practice, and as a burial place.

Finish your guided tour at the Amphitheatre.

Many ancient Roman remains have been uncovered throughout Alexandria, including the well preserved Roman Theatre that contains 800 marble seats.

Drive to Cairo and board the sleeper train for Luxor.

In the afternoon, we will drive back to Cairo and head to the Giza station where we will board the 1st class sleeper train to Luxor. The trip is approximately 9 to 10 hours and includes a hot dinner and a continental breakfast. The twin share cabins each have two bunks, a small sink and room to store your luggage. All the beds will be made and turned down for you. Meals are served in the cabin; however, drinks are not included.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Hotel: First Class Sleeper Train

Day 5: Luxor 

Arrive in Luxor and board your Nile Cruise. 

Luxor is called the capital of antiquities because it is home to 1/3 of the ancient Egyptian monuments. As you drive along the Cornish, you will witness a mixture of ancient and modern monuments in this historic city. Our representative will transfer you to your 5 star Nile Cruise, your home for the next 4 days. As you travel between Luxor and Aswan, unwind, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery and witness life along the Nile.

Enjoy a horse drawn carriage to the famous Karnak Temple.

After checking into your Nile cruise, your Luxor guide will accompany you on your carriage ride and through the Karnak temple. The horse drawn carriage was the old royal mode of transportation and has been adopted as a form of public transportation in the smaller cites. The Karnak Temple is the most famous and largest temple in Egypt. The complex contains a group of temples that has been dedicated to different gods. As you’re guided around this massive complex, you will learn more about the ancient capital of Thebes. Following the temple visit, you will take the horse carriage back to the cruise boat. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the east side of Luxor.

Free evening to enjoy the Luxor nightlife.

The Luxor market is a wonderful place to mingle with the locals, explore the culture and discover great souvenirs. The market is famous for silver jewellery and alabaster stone statues. There are also wonderful coffee shops located within the market where you can enjoy the night life.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Nile Cruise : 5 star deluxe 

Day 6: Luxor – Esna

After an early start, enjoy a guided tour of the Valley of the Kings. 

After an early breakfast, you will join your guide and cross to the west side of the Nile Valley and visit the Valley of the Kings and the Worker Village. The west bank of Luxor is called “The City of the Dead” because of the huge number of ancient Egyptian Pharaohs and subjects buried there. When you arrive at the Valley of the Kings, you will see several entrances that lead to numerous secret underground burial sites beneath a rocky mountain. The colourful vibrant carvings and paintings on the tomb walls each tell a story of a different pharaoh, their life and their expectations of the afterlife. Your entrance ticket allows you to visit three different tombs. A visit to King Tut Ankh Amon’s tomb will require an extra ticket at an additional cost.

After an introduction to the Valley of the Kings, you will continue on to the Hatshepsut Temple, The Worker Village Tombs, and the Colossi of Memnon

Drive in to where Worker Village was found! carved out of a mountain surrounded by ruins and the remains of an ancient city. There are two small tombs located here each with colourful paintings depicting the beliefs of those buried within. The workers buried here were the artisans responsible for building the luxurious tombs found nearby in The Valley of the Kings.

While in the area, you will also visit the amazing Hatshepsut Temple, which is the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut carved directly into the mountain. This temple is the counterpart to the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank of the Nile. Construction of this temple took fifteen years, and its location was chosen based on strategic and significant calculations which all correlate to the nearby Valley of the Kings on the other side of the mountain. After visiting this awe inspiring temple you will see the Colossi of Memnon! These awe inspiring structures are over 18 metre high, and sit facing the Nile. They are made of quartzite sandstone, in the likeness of Amenhotep III. Originally these imposing sculptures were intended to stand guard at the entrance of Amenhotep’s memorial temple. After the tour is complete, you will cross back to the east bank of the Nile Valley and board our Nile cruise boat.

After noon sailing the River Nile to Esna.

As your sailing journey begins, sit back and relax as the magnificent scenery and small villages pass you by. The water levels of the Nile differentiate between Luxor and Aswan at Esna. Although it is a very small city, Esna contains the river lock, which was built to navigate the waters and help the cruise ships cross without any issues. As the cruise boats enter the lock, the level of water either rises to cross towards Aswan or lowers to cross towards Luxor. It is always interesting to watch and be part of while you are on the cruise ship.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Nile Cruise : 5 star deluxe 

Day 7: Esna – Edfu – Kom Ombo

 Visit the Edfu Temple, one of Egypt’s best preserved temples and dedicated to the falcon god, Horus. 

In the morning you will be led to the Edfu Temple, located on the west bank of the Nile. This amazingly preserved temple is dedicated to the falcon god, Horus. As a result it is often referred to as The Temple of Horus. It is the second largest and best preserved temple in all of Egypt! Horus was in fact the son of Osiris, an Egyptian god most often identified with the afterlife, the underworld, and the dead. The temple displays the legendary story of Osiris, Seth, and the creation of the world itself! After a tour of the Edfu Temple you will return to your Nile cruise and start sailing towards Kom Ombo.

Visit and Explore the unique Temple of  Kom Ombo on the River Nile before sailing to Aswan where you will spend the night!

The Kom Ombo Temple is one of the most unique structures in Egypt! It is also one of the rarest temples we will visit on this tour. The Kom Ombo Temple is divided into two symmetrical sections, containing an inner and outer temple. Each of which are dedicated to a different god. The southern half of the temple is dedicated to Sobek, a crocodile god associated with fertility and the creator of the world with Hathor and Khonsu. Meanwhile, the northern part of the temple is dedicated to Horus the falcon god. The perfectly symmetrical layout of this temple makes it one of Egypt’s most rare temples! While in Kom Ombo you may wish to visit the amazing Mummified Crocodile Museum. Once you are finished exploring these compelling sites you will head back to the Nile cruise and enjoy the Nile cruise entertainment for the night.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Nile Cruise : 5 star deluxe 

Day 8: Aswan

Upon waking up in the scenic town of Aswan, the first item on your agenda today will be a tour of the infamous Philae Temple!

Waking up in Aswan, you will be amazed at how beautiful the scenery is. Aswan, located in Upper Egypt, is a unique city home to two both Nubian and Egyptian cultures. Located along the beautiful Nile River, Aswan is surrounded by fertile greenery and a rocky landscape backed by magnificent golden sand dunes. You cannot help but fall in love with this quaint city. The unique location of Aswan has helped it become a fantastic winter resort with the most sun in all of Egypt.

This morning  you will be led on a guided tour of the Philae Temple. This world famous temple is dedicated to Isis, the famous goddess and Mother to the god, Horus. Due to the proximity of the nearby Aswan Dam, the temple was at risk of being destroyed. This temple was moved to a beautiful island ( Agilika Island) nearby that mimics its original, and it was completely reshaped to imitate Philae Island as closely as possible. After exploring the ancient Philae temples, you will return back to the Nile cruise.

In the evening , try your hand at bartering in the bustling Aswan Markets! Purchase souvenirs, or sit in a cafe and watch life in Aswan unfold before your eyes.

This evening will spend at your leisure. You may want getting lost in the Aswan Markets. The evening is the best time to explore the markets, when the crowds are at their largest! Locals and tourists alike barter and haggle for the best deals on jewelry, textiles, and spices. Immerse yourself in the local economy, or simply enjoy watching the spectacle!

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Nile Cruise : 5 star deluxe 

Day 9: Aswan

Free morning at your leisure.

This morning and after breakfast you will check out from Nile Cruise. Our representative will transfer you to your hotel in Aswan.  Through your free time in Aswan, you may  have a chance to participate in one of the excursions of Aswan or relax by the pool.

This afternoon enjoy a felucca ride around the scenic Aswan Islands, of Elephantine Island and Botanical Gardens.

A felucca is the traditional sailing boat used around Aswan and will definitely be one of the highlights of your trip! As you relax on your felucca ride, you will enjoy the very best section of the River Nile and the beautiful Aswan islands. Elephantine Island houses the remains of the old temple of Khnum. Inside the temple is a Nilo meter, an ancient device used to measure the level of water which would set the taxes for the country. The island is also famous because of its rocky landscape that resembles the backs of elephants. The Botanical Gardens, located between the east and west bank of Aswan, include various types of flowers and plants brought in from five continents.

Free evening to enjoy Aswan or choose the optional to visit the Nubian village.

The Nubian Village it is the right place to learn and interact with the Nubian culture. Although the culture has merged with Egyptians, they continue to maintain their unique traditions that have been passed down through spoken language only. Wandering through the village, you will be impressed by their nature inspired architecture, simple art and hand crafts. The Nubian Museum displays the history of the people and their unique culture. The optional to visit Nubian Village include dinner at local Nubian House.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel  : Helnan Aswan  or similar 

Day 10: Aswan – Cairo

Free day to explore Aswan. Optional tour of Abu Simbel Temple. 

During your morning free time, you will have a chance to participate in one of the excursions of Aswan. We highly recommend visiting the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel. Located on Lake Nasser, Abu Simbel was carved out of a mountain and created from the rocky surface to become one of the most powerful and breathtaking temples in all of Egypt. Created during the reign of King Ramses II, the temples are for himself and his beloved wife Nefertari. The temple is famous for its magical design when the sun rises and passes through the corridor, illuminating the face of King Ramses II on his birthday and day of coronation. The remarkable complex was relocated in 1968 to avoid being submerged and damaged by Lake Nassar when the Aswan Dam was created.

How to get to Abu Simbel Temples.

Abu Simbel is located 280 kilometres southwest of Aswan. There are two ways that allow you visit the temples. First, Abu Simbel by bus is approximately 6.5 hours round trip. Departure is in the early morning around 3:00 am, and returns around 1:00 pm. Second, Abu Simbel by flight is approximately 40 minute one way flying. There are two flights that leave in the early morning. Both options allow the same amount of time visiting the temples.

In the evening board the sleeper train for Cairo.

Our representative will transfer you to the Aswan train station where you will board the 1st class sleeper train to Cairo. The trip is approximately 12 to 13 hours and includes a hot dinner and continental breakfast.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Hotel: First Class Sleeper Train

Day 11: Cairo

The remainder of your day is at leisure

Upon arrival at Giza Station, you will be transferred to your hotel where the remainder of the day will be at your leisure. There are many options for your last day in Cairo that were not included in your trip. For example, you can visit Islamic Cairo and Coptic Cairo, last minute shopping at the famous Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, the Pyramid sound and light show or nice dinner at a famous restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Steigenberger El Tahrir or similar 

 

 

Day 12: Cairo

Tour ends after breakfast and transfer the airport. 

Our representative will transfer you to the Cairo International Airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Inclusions:

  • Service of representatives
  • Arrival/departure transfer
  • Accommodations as listed ( 5 star)
  • 5 star Nile Cruise for 6 nights on FB basis
  • Transportation in private bus, as per itinerary
  • All transfers as listed, as per itinerary
  • All entrance fees as listed, as per itinerary
  • Tour guide at sites as listed, as per itinerary
  • Horse drawn carriage to Karnak Temple
  • Flight to Cairo
  • First class sleeper train to Luxor
  • Meals, as per itinerary
  • Felucca ride

Transportation :

  • Air conditioned buses
  • First class sleeper train
  • Horse-drawn carriageAirplane

Meals

  • 11 breakfasts
  • 4 lunches
  • 6 dinners

Exclusions:

  • International airfare, airport departure and taxes
  • Visa entry to Egypt
  • Abu Simbel entrance ticket
  • Extra meals not listed in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees for any sites not listed in the itinerary
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Any item not specified in the “Inclusions”
  • Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages
  • Any transfers not mentioned in the attached detailed itinerary
  • Any sightseeing not mentioned in the attached detailed itinerary
  • Travel insurance
  • Gratuities
  • Telephone calls
  • Personal items

To inquire about this tour, please select one of the available dates, enter your email address and one of our representatives will contact you within one business day.
We are looking forward to give you an unforgettable trip.

Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa is beautifully set in its own landscaped gardens with an unrivalled and time-honored location, less than 1 km from the Sphinx and the Giza Pyramids, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and only twenty minutes from Cairo’s city centre.

The hotel offers  breathtaking view of the great pyramids With optimum taste and comfort in mind, the state-of-the-art rooms & suites are generously sized, offering the latest in-room facilities and services. Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa offers all the pleasures of the world’s finest dining. Guests can enjoy the exotic gourmet cuisine ranging from different dinning menu options to choose from, and live entertainment every evening.

Optional excursions

Cairo

  • Camel ride by the Pyramids
  • Coptic and Islamic Cairo
  • Memphis and Saqqara (step Pyramid)
  • Dinner Nile cruise
  • Pyramids sound and light show

Aswan

  • Abu-Simbel by bus
  • Abu-Simbel by flight
  • Philae sound and light show
  • Nubian Village

Luxor

  • Luxor Museum
  • Karnak sound and light show
  • Luxor by night on Horse-drawn Carriage
  • Balloon ride in west bank

Optional excursions

Cairo

  • Camel ride by the Pyramids
  • Coptic and Islamic Cairo
  • Memphis and Saqqara (step Pyramid)
  • Dinner Nile cruise
  • Pyramids sound and light show

 

Optional excursions

Luxor

  • Luxor Museum
  • Karnak sound and light show
  • Luxor by night on Horse-drawn Carriage
  • Balloon ride in west bank

Optional excursions

Aswan

  • Abu-Simbel by bus
  • Abu-Simbel by flight
  • Philae sound and light show
  • Nubian Village

Tour Theme: Classic

  • With our classic tour packages, you could save the time, effort and hassle spent in planning your trip. Citadel tours has everything ready for you; all you have to do is to pick the date that fits your schedule.
  • Guarantee to run with minimum 2 guests. Itineraries designed perfectly to take advantage of all the highlights of each destinations. We pride ourselves on being able to offer different travel style at best possible price.  We arrange everything for you, from your airport transfers, guided sightseeing, handpicked hotels bookings, tour transportation, tour guides at sightseeing, consideration and effort by citadel tours representative go into each tour to insure every details are taken care of.

Tour Style: comfort

The best value to explore your destination
Staying on budget
Four star accommodations
Variety of transportation with A/C
All entrance fees as per itinerary included
Breakfast meals included.
Free time to explore and a range of Optional Experiences to choose from

Make it Private

You may wish to make a special experience for just the two of you or your family, we can make this tour private and customized as you desire

Visa & Passport

Do I need visa to Egypt

Most tourists require a visa to enter Egypt. A single entry visa can be obtained at the borders. Cash is the only method of payment. A double entry visa can be obtained only through an Egyptian consulate in your home country. Please check the Egyptian embassy for the updated changes before your tour.

Upon arrival at the Cairo International Airport, you can purchase your single entry visa at a banking institution located before customs and immigration. We highly recommended that you check the required visa updates through the Egyptian embassy or consulate in your home country before your departure.

Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond your expected departure date from Egypt.

Vaccinations

Will I need any vaccinations

We recommend that you talk to your local doctor or consult a travel health specialist.

Will we get sick

Standards of hygiene can sometimes be lower than at home but if you take a few basic precautions it is simple to keep you healthy while you are away. In most cases food is freshly prepared for you, however it will probably contain ingredients that you are not familiar with or may be prepared in a different way. This change in diet is one of the most common causes of upset stomachs. Therefore it is a good idea to treat food and drink with caution – at least in the first few days of your holiday. It is a good idea to avoid tap water (even for cleaning teeth), ice-creams and to beware of ice in drinks. Bottled water is widely available and you should drink plenty (much more than you probably would do at home). Finally, and most importantly, try to ensure that you keep your hands clean – especially before you eat. Antiseptic wet wipes or antiseptic hand gel (which you can use without water) are essential.

Insurance

Do I need insurance

Yes, It is mandatory to have travel insurance. Insurance policy needs to provide full medical cover for expenses through illness or accident during your holiday, including the cost of repatriation if necessary. Coverage for cancellation and interruption thus it is important to take out insurance at time of booking. Coverage for loss or theft of personal belongings.

Money

What’s the best way to take money with me

We’d recommend that you take some cash as foreign currency, ATM cards and credit cards that works international.

How much money will I need for meals and excursions

Every trip has different inclusions and please checks the trip details and it would give an idea how much you need.

Hotels

What are the hotels like

It depends on what type of trip style you are doing. We use 4 & 5 stars hotels between all our trip styles. The star rating based on what the country has to offer in terms of hotels and can’t be equated with western style. All the rooms have en-suite bathrooms with toilet plus shower or bath. Most of the hotels will have swimming pools and at-least one restaurant. We usually provide a list of all the hotels you are going to stay in but the final confirmation would be at booking time.
If you trip include camping, the accommodation would be very basic and basic facilities.

Responsible Travel

Do your tours take care of the locals and environment

Absolutely, we cannot operate and run tours without the help of the locals. We employ a high number of locals and we choose our partners overseas with care. We include in our tours visits to locals projects and offer all the support. We participate in humanitarian and environmental projects. You will have chance to visit this project during the tour. Please check our responsible travel project www.citadeltours.com

Packing

What should I pack? What should I bring

After you booked with us, we send you a packing list that you can consider.

Tour

What will the tour be like

Our tours are designed by experts who led successful tours in each country. They understood what could interest all out guests. Tours runs at a relaxed pace with a mixture of sightseeing and free time.

Couldn’t I do all this on my own

Yes, you probably could. However, it will take alot longer to organize the suitable accommodation and transportation for your trip. During your trip, you lose some of your precious time to figure out how to get to place or organize excursion. Also, the language barrier could be overwhelming and frustrating. We organize everything for you and make sure you have a good time. The money difference is not huge and could be cheaper to do organized tours rather than do it in your own.

How much free time is there

The beauty of picking one of our suggested itinerary or customize your own trip is the flexibility. You decide when you will have your free time and how long is your free time.

What’s the difference between all your trip styles

We provide three main core styles for travel and the differences represented in the hotels category, types of transportation, meals and excursions inclusions. Please visit our trip styles for more detailed in formations.

When should I book by

We usually recommend to book early. The availability is subject to change and usually is not guarantee if you tried to book last minute you find spaces available. Remember, we use trains and airplanes in our trip and this is always subject to availability.

What time should I arrive on Day 1 and when the tour starts

The tour officially stars day 1 at 3:00 pm.. Usually day 1 no activities and just for arrival. However, you requested special optional excursion to be done on day1. We will advice you at the time booking when you should be there.

Where’s the meeting point

This information will be in your trip details and should also be included on your travel documents.

Do I have a guide the whole time

Mostly our tours include the service of representative and local guide. However, they don’t escort you the whole time. The representatives always available in each city you visit and they take care of all the tour service. Guides are always escorting you at the sightseeing areas. Some of our tours include guides the whole time and also you can request to have a guide escort you the whole time with any tour with additional cost. The trip details of each tour will mention all the tour inclusions.

When will I be sent my travel vouchers

You will be sent all travel vouchers approximately three weeks before you departure.

I’m a vegetarian – will it be a problem

In most countries you won’t have a problem. At the time of booking, you could mentions that you are vegetarian and we do our best to accommodate your request.

Will we suffer from culture shock

Most travellers experience some level of culture shock. Although the chance to learn about new customs is a positive part of travel, strange or odd customs, sounds, tastes and smells can sometimes be overwhelming.

What will the toilets be like

Toilets vary depending upon where you are – Mostly will be western-style toilets. In very rare cases and camping will be of the squat variety.

Will there be somewhere to charge my camera

This is depending on where in the world you are travelling. Mostly there is electricity everywhere you go but you have to bring the right transformer for the country. This information is available at the country travel guide.

Are there porters to carry my luggage

Porters may be available some of the time, and we always do our best to make your trip as comfortable as possible.

What will the trains be like

This differs from country to country but, in nearly we are using first class trains and sleeper trains in our tours. Please don’t except that you are going to be like your home trains.

Does the price include international flights

The prices are shown in our website for land only. It doesn’t include international flights. If the tour has domestic flights, that would be included in the tour. Also, we can arrange your international flights.

What sort of transport will we be using

We use different type of transportation from adventure type to high-end. It all depends on the travel style.

Can I choose certain activities and places to visit

You have the flexibility to customize your trip before departure and we do our best to accommodate all your requests. During your tour, you still able to request other activities but it would be subject to availability and time. Also, it will be at your own cost.

How do I check the departure dates

It is all listed in each tour under dates and prices in the website. You can click on request this tour and fill the dates you desired. We usually take 2 business days to confirm the availability.

Are airport transfers included in the trip price

Transfers are included in all our tours prices.

What time can I check in

Generally, check in after 3:00 pm but if the rooms are available before, the hotels would check you in. If you arrived after midnight before the tour officially starts, you will require booking a pre accommodation.

Can I book extra nights of hotel accommodation before or after my tour

Yes, we can arrange extra accommodation at our starting or ending hotels but it would be subject to availability.

Ramadan

Does Ramadan affect our tour

Ramadan is big celebration for the Muslims country. It is really good time to visit and experience the atmosphere. Usually the opening hours change during this time but it doesn’t really effect the tour 100 percent. The night time is most lively time. Shops and restaurants extend the opening hours to late time in the evening. Everything shut during the sunset time and opens after. Alcohol is hard to get hold of.

Tipping

Is tipping included and if not, how much should I budget

Tipping is very common in the Middle Eastern counters. Regard the tours, tips are not included but we provide you with a break down sheet of a minimum guide line of how much you should tip during the tour. For the extra excursion that not part of your tours, usually the price includes the tips. At the restaurants that not part of your itinerary you will consider to tip.

Want to tweak this tour?

We can customize this tour just for you. Anything can be tailored!