OCLB - Egypt! Egypt! Egypt! November 2026!

Calling All Enthusiastic Travel Lovers!

Travel to Egypt with the Great Outdoors!

Enjoy a fabulous tour of this ancient and modern country, from the bustling city of Cairo to the ancient sites of the Egyptian civilization, with 3 nights on a 5-star Nile River cruise sailing from Aswan to Luxor.

A professional Egyptologist guide will explain all the history and significance of the sites, and Joe Holliday will be the group leader with an assist from Lance Whitmier.

Space is limited to 24 people!

This is a Member's Only event!

Don’t miss this opportunity! 

GREAT OUTDOORS EGYPT TOUR COST 

$2890 per person - based on sharing a room

REGISTRATION!

 GeoTours Registration Link

will be sent on Feb 16 to those signed up for this trip!

Included Entries/Activities

• Pyramids & Sphinx of Giza
• Grand Egyptian Museum, with King Tut’s treasures
• Museum of Egyptian Civilization, with the royal mummies
• Islamic Cairo – Citadel & Muhammad Ali Mosque
• Coptic Cairo – Center of Egypt’s Christian minority
• Flight from Cairo to Aswan
• Abu Simbel, the amazing monument to Pharaoh Ramses II
• Aswan - Nubian village dinner inside a home
• Philae Temple Aswan High Dam
• Felucca (traditional sailboat) ride on the Nile River
• Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor, 3 nights with all meals
• Kom Ombo & Edfu Luxor Temple, beautifully illuminated at night
• Karnak Temple, home of the pharaohs 3000 years ago
• Valley of the Kings, richly decorated royal tombs
• Temple of Hatshepsut, built at the base of a cliff
• Optional Hot air balloon ride in Luxor (additional charge required!)

Itinerary

Fri 11/13/26  Depart USA to Egypt Depart the USA for Cairo, Egypt (or on an earlier date for more time in Egypt).

Sat 11/14/26  Arrive Cairo, Egypt Welcome to Egypt! Two nights in Cairo at Safir Hotel (5*) or similar.

Sun 11/15/26 Cairo Spend a full day in Cairo to enjoy some of Egypt’s highlights. Marvel at the Pyramids and Sphinx, the most famous ancient site on the planet. For extra cost you can ride a camel or go inside the interior of one of the pyramids. In the afternoon visit the outstanding Grand Egyptian Museum (opened 2025), admiring the treasures from the tomb of King Tut. Night #2 in Cairo.

Mon 11/16/26 Cairo and Flight to Aswan Explore Islamic Cairo: the Citadel, home to Egypt’s rulers for 700 years, with impressive Mohammed Ali Mosque. Visit Khan al-Khalili Bazaar, a medieval-era marketplace with shops selling everything. Visit the Museum of Egyptian Civilization, built in 2017, with Egyptian artifacts and the mummies of Ramses II, Queen Nefertari, and 20 other kings and queens. Night flight from Cairo to Aswan. Two nights in Aswan at Obelisk Hotel (4*) or similar.

Tue 11/17/26 Aswan.  Visit the Temple of Philae in the morning, followed by the Aswan High Dam, one of the largest dams in the world. Possibly take an optional hike or camel ride up to the Tombs of the Nobles, with beautiful views over the Nile River. Take a short felucca ride (traditional Egyptian sailboat) on the Nile. Visit a Nubian village with dinner in a local home. Night #2 in Aswan

Wed 11/18/26 Abu Simbel.  Visit Abu Simbel, perhaps the most impressive monument in Egypt. Board a Nile cruise boat (5*) for night #1 on the boat. All the cabins have Nile-view windows that can open, along with A-C. All meals are included on the cruise

Thu 11/19/26 Nile Cruise.  Cruise down the Nile, enjoying the views of the river and the land. Stop in Kom Ombo to visit a beautifully located temple dedicated to the crocodile-god Sobek. Night #2 on the boat.

Fri 11/20/26 Nile Cruise.  Continue cruising down the Nile. Stop in Edfu to visit the great temple of Horus, one of the largest temples in Egypt. Night #3 on the boat.

Sat 11/21/26 Luxor.  Disembark the boat in Luxor and visit the wonderful Temple of Karnak, a huge complex of columns, temples, and gateways. Karnak was the ancient home of the pharaohs 3,000 years ago. In the evening visit Luxor Temple, spectacularly lit at night. Two nights in Luxor at Eatabe Hotel (4*) or similar.

Sun 11/22/26 Luxor.  Visit the sites of Luxor on the west bank of the Nile. See the Temple of Hatshepsut, dramatically nestled amidst stark limestone outcrops. Explore the Valley of the Kings with rock-cut corridors leading to tombs of the pharaohs. Entry ticket allows visits to 3 tombs of your choice; King Tut’s tomb costs $20 extra. See the Colossi of Memnon, standing solitary in a field; these 60’ tall statues are the sole remnants of an ancient temple. Night #2 in Luxor.

Mon 11/23/26  Important Note: The tour ends in Luxor.  You can stay longer in Luxor at your own expense or get a flight from Luxor to USA or fly to Cairo and then to USA.  GeoTours will offer recommendations once you are registered with GeoTours.

Please note:  The tour ends in Luxor, which means you are responsible for your flight to the USA from Luxor!

Tue 11/24/26 Arrive home in the USA

• $2890 –EGYPT Land Tour

o Price based on sharing a room; single supplement (if available) is +$600

o Includes 9 nights in Egypt in 4 to 5 star rated hotels

o 5 star rated Nile River cruise

o Private tour bus

o Flight Cairo-Aswan

o Many entries and activities

o All breakfasts

o All meals during the cruise  

o English-speaking Egyptian guide

• NOT INCLUDED:

o Airline tickets to/from Egypt - Please Note: Arrival in Cairo and Departure from Luxor (probably flying to Cairo to connect with a return trip to the USA).

o Egypt visa ($25)

o Meals not listed above

o Shopping

o Optional activities

o Airport transfers if traveling separate from the group.

GeoTours will provide detailed information on recommended flights once deposits are paid.

• Participants will purchase their own international airline tickets. Very Important Note:  Tour begins in Cairo and ends in Luxor.  

• As of January 2026, the best fares/flights to Cairo are on Royal Air Maroc (subject to change).

• Depart USA to CAI (Cairo) on 11/13/26. Return from LUX or CAI on 11/23/26 arriving in the USA on 11/24/26.

o LAX-CAI-LAX costs ~$800 on Air Maroc with one connection in Casablanca. Fares could increase at any time!

o Luxor (LXR) to CAI on 11/23/26 costs ~$150 on Air Cairo.  Fares might increase at any time!

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT SCHEDULE

• Registration online at GeoTours website. A link to register with GeoTours will be sent to you via a separate email when registration opens on the GeoTours website.

• Payments can be made by:

o Venmo or Zelle to [email protected] or 310-686-8171 (GeoTours phone).

o Check to GeoTours LLC, 1547 E. Puente St., Covina CA 91724

• 1st payment of $400 is due within 7 days of registration.

• 2nd payment of $500 is due April 30, 2026.

• 3rd payment of $600 is due June 30, 2026.

• Final payment is due September 15, 2026.

• Late penalty of $100 pp for payments made after October 1, 2026.

PACE/PHYSICAL EFFORT/CULTURE SHOCK

• This trip has a moderate pace; you should be able to walk up to 3 miles per day.

• There is one long day on the bus from Aswan to Abu Simbel, about 7 hours in the bus round-trip.

• Some days start early, departing the hotel at 8 am.

• The weather in Egypt in November is warm, 75- 85F in the day, 55-60F at night. Egypt gets almost no rain.

• Egyptians are friendly but sometimes aggressive salespeople (they figure they have 10 seconds to get your attention as you walk past their shops). They drive a hard bargain and prices are rarely labeled. Travelers need to learn to bargain effectively.

• Poverty and litter are sometimes shocking and depressing.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Although not required, GeoTours and GO strongly recommends that trip participants purchase travel insurance.

• GeoTours has partnered with Generali Global Assistance (GGA), a well-established provider of travel insurance. You can use this GeoTours-Generali link, and the premium will be the same as going straight to the Generali site.

• GGA’s ESSENTIAL policy covers Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Medical Evacuation, Medical costs, and Lost/Stolen Baggage. Trip Cancellation coverage means that travel insurance will reimburse non-refundable trip costs if you cancel for a covered reason. Cancellation coverage only works if you purchase the insurance BEFORE a sickness or injury forces you to cancel, and an insurance claim requires a physician’s written advice that you should cancel your trip due to your illness or injury.

• GGA's ESSENTIAL coverage costs about $250 for a 60-year-old, $3900 trip cost (airfare + GeoTours price), November 13 – 24, 2026. Cost depends on age and is less for younger travelers, more for older travelers.

• You can also compare travel insurance policies from other providers at squaremouth.com.

• If you travel frequently, you should consider an annual policy from Allianz.

CANCELLATION POLICY

To cancel your participation, you must inform GeoTours in writing or by email. Cancellation date is the date when GeoTours receives your written notice.

*Cancellation penalty is the amount shown below PLUS any non-recoverable expenses already paid on behalf of the passenger, such as non-refundable tickets or hotel rooms.

Date of Cancellation

Cancellation Penalty On or before February 28, 2026 $0

March 1 – March 31, 2026 $100

* April 1 – April 30, 2026 $200

* May 1 – May 31, 2026 $300

* June 1 – July 31, 2026 $500

* August 1 – September 30, 2026 $700

* After October 1, 2026 No Refund

TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

Trip participants must agree to the Terms and Conditions below. The program participant agrees that GeoTours LLC and California Great Outdoors Inc. (GO) assume no liability whatsoever for loss of property, injury, accident, illness, death, irregularity, and delays during the duration of the tour. In addition, the program participant agrees to hold GeoTours LLC and GO harmless for damage, delay, or cancellation due to equipment problems, quarantine, pandemic, declared or undeclared war and insurrection, terrorist and criminal activity, revolt, civil disturbance, hostility, military action, strikes, labor unrest, any “act of God” or nature and for any act of any third party.

The participant, by registering for this tour, agrees that GeoTours LLC and California Great Outdoors Inc. (GO) are not responsible for delays, rerouting, omission, and additional expense resulting from the passenger’s improper travel documents such as passport, visa, and health document. Any losses and expenses related to such circumstances are within the responsibility of the program participants and not of GeoTours LLC or GO. GeoTours LLC and GO are not responsible for acts of any government authority. GeoTours LLC and GO reserve the right to adjust itinerary and contents and to substitute accommodation providers as deemed necessary. GeoTours LLC and GO reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a program participant as well as to refuse to retain any participant’s membership in the program. Participants that do not participate in an activity or entry, or who leave the tour early or arrive late, will not be entitled to any refund. By registering for this tour, the participant agrees to all such terms and conditions.

Personal Considerations & Safety: 

While several LGBTQ groups visit Egypt every year with no problems, all participants will need to understand and acknowledge the following cultural notes to ensure the group's safety:

Egypt is generally not considered safe for openly LGBTQ+ travelers due to conservative social norms, lack of legal protections, and potential persecution under "morality" laws, with arrests and hostility possible, so extreme discretion, avoiding PDA and dressing modestly are crucial for those who choose to visit.

Key Considerations for LGBTQ+ Travelers:

• Legal Situation: 

  Homosexuality isn't explicitly outlawed, but "debauchery" and "public morals" laws are used to prosecute LGBTQ+ individuals, with severe penalties like long prison sentences.

• Social Environment: 

  Public attitudes are conservative, and while some tourists have positive experiences, hostility and potential violence are risks.

• Discretion is Key: 

  Avoid all public displays of affection (PDA), even for straight couples, and don't wear LGBTQ+ symbols like rainbow attire.

• Safety in Numbers: 

  Group tours and reputable tour operators (some specifically LGBTQ+-focused) offer better safety and navigation than solo travel.

• Accommodation: 

  Staying in larger, international hotel chains (Marriott, Hilton) can offer more anonymity than smaller places.

• Online & Apps: 

  Use extreme caution with social media apps like Grindr.

• Gender Non-Conformity: 

  Transgender individuals may face scrutiny; binding for FTM individuals is suggested to avoid unwanted attention.

Tips for a Safer Trip:

• Dress modestly: Blend in by adhering to local cultural norms.
• Be discreet: Don't openly discuss your sexuality or gender identity.
• Consider a fake ring: Wearing a fake wedding/engagement ring can deflect unwanted questions from locals.
• Stay aware: Be mindful of your surroundings, especially in less touristy areas or at night.

While many travelers report successful trips by taking precautions, the risk of legal trouble or harassment exists, making it essential to prioritize safety and cultural sensitivity.

This is simply a notice and if you are interested please list your name on this GO registration.   When GeoTour's registration opens you will be sent a link for registration.

You must register DIRECTLY on the GeoTours website/link if you intend to partake in this tour; GeoTours will handle EVERYTHING, payments, room assignments, administration of the tour, etc.

We expect the GeoTours site to go live February 16! 

Only registered members will receive a link for GeoTours when registration opens.

We are excited!  Are you?

Lance Whitmier is the Trip Leader

Joe Holiday is the coordinator with the Travel Company hosting our group.

We are ready to do it again!  

Join us!

Here are photos from our last Cruise (Iceland, Norway, Belgium, Amsterdam and London) and our Guided tour ( 8-day Musical Journey through the South) .  Here are some photos from those excursions and needless to say it was spectacular. 

Photos from the Iceland Cruise:

In Norway meeting new friends.

Viewing our ship below!

Chowing down and Cheers to you!

Below:  Photos from the 8-Day Musical Journey through the South

Photo of us in Memphis - Beale Street!

At the Tina Turner Museum

Ready to board our bus to experience another amazing day!

In New Orleans!