You and Your FAmILy wILL:

Take a camel ride across desert sands near the Great Pyramids.

Indulge in regional foods at a private, tented Bedouin dinner.

Learn about hieroglyphics, mummification, and

pyramid construction.

Enjoy an unforgettable New Year’s Eve with a gala dinner in Aswan.

Participate in a guided treasure hunt for kids at

the Khan el-Kahlili bazaar

FAmILY HoLIdAY IN

EgypAboard the Nile Adventurer

December 26, 2009–January 6, 2010

With Egyptologists TAREk SwELImand FETIChE POSmA-ZAALOuk

100% K

WH

ITEC

MYK

(FRO

M PM

S 357)

SPECIAL OFFER:

$500 OFF per Child!

dear TRAvELER, You are invited to join a special family adventure into the heart of ancient Egypt—a land of pyramids and pharaohs, gods and goddesses, hidden tombs and golden treasures. This program features opportunities to learn about one of the greatest civilizations of antiquity woven into fun activities for kids and a fascinating lecture program for adults.

Created with families in mind, this program features the highlights of Egypt from the Great Pyramids of Giza to the Temple of Isis and the controversial High Dam at Aswan. You’ll take a three-night cruise along the scenic Nile River aboard the Nile Adventurer, visit Kom Ombo and the magnificent Valley of the Kings at Luxor, and enjoy time to browse the colorful, bustling Khan el-Khalili bazaar and marvel at the treasures in the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities in Cairo.

An experienced study leader team, Tarek Swelim and Fetiche Posma-Zaalouk, and dedicated youth coordinators will bring to life the mighty rulers, ordinary citizens, and daily rituals nurtured by the waters of the great Nile River, along whose banks nearly all of the cultural and historic sites of ancient Egypt were built.

Discover the wonders of Egypt and the Nile over the New Year’s holiday!

Sincerely,

J. William DiebenowExecutive Vice PresidentHigh Country Passage

To register, contact your professional travel advisor, call High Country Passage at 800-395-3288, or visit www.hcptravel.com, or

Cover: Felucca On ThE nILE Back cover: GIZA PyRAmIdS

this page: egyptian man in FrOnt OF the great pyramids, CairOCOver: man guiding FeluCCa dOwn the nile, aswan

“It is one thing to read about Egyp , and look at pictures. It is another to stand between the paws of the Sphinx and gaze up at the pyramids.” —2007 EGYPT TrAvELEr

ABu SImBEL

Your STudy LEAdERS

dR. TAREk SwELIm is an expert on the art, architecture, and history of Egypt and the Middle East. Educated at The American University in

Cairo and Harvard University, Dr. Swelim has been a popular guide and study leader in Egypt since 1979. An assistant professor at The American University in Cairo from 1991 to 1998, he was part of the Bayt El Suhaymi Documentation, Restoration and Conservation Project team (1994–2000). Dr. Swelim has participated in several documentaries, including “Islam” produced by Smithsonian World, and is the author of The Mosque of Ibn Tulun, a book about Cairo’s oldest mosque still surviving in its original form.

FETIChE POSmA-ZAALOuk, a native of Cairo and a tour guide since 1972, received her degree in Egyptology from Helwan University

in Cairo. She is a leading guide in Egypt, Syria, and Jordan and has escorted a wide range of international clients and dignitaries. Fluent in French, English, Dutch, and Arabic, she is also a lecturer in Egyptology at the Leiden Museum in Holland. Fetiche offers unique insights into the ancient and modern history of the Middle East and, in her own words, is happiest “among the tombs and temples of ancient Egypt, describing their art, architecture, and romantic stories.”

You h COORdInATORSTwo experienced youth coordinators will orchestrate entertaining learning activities specifically geared for young people (ages 7–17). Please note that these activities will take place concurrently with the lecture series planned for adults and interested teens. For safety reasons, adult caregivers are responsible for their children at all other times, both on and off the ship.this page: egyptian man in FrOnt OF the great pyramids, CairO

COver: man guiding FeluCCa dOwn the nile, aswan

“It is one thing to read about Egyp , and look at pictures. It is another to stand between the paws of the Sphinx and gaze up at the pyramids.” —2007 EGYPT TrAvELEr

I InerarY u.S. ✺ CAIRO, EGyPT Saturday & Sunday, December 26 & 27Depart the U.S. Saturday on the recommended overnight flight or independently. Arrive in Cairo Sunday and transfer to the hotel, located near the pyramids. This evening, gather with fellow travelers for a brief orientation. LE mERIdIEn hELIOPOLIS hOTEL

CAIRO Monday, December 28Venture to the necropolis of Saqqara, the burial place of the early pharaohs. See for yourself how the mastabas (early mud-brick tombs) and the Djoser Step Pyramid led to the architectural techniques used to build the Great Pyramids. Inside Saqqara’s underground tombs, view

ABU SIMBEL

LUXOR

ASWANKOM OMBO

CAIRO

LakeNasser

Red Sea

Mediterranean Sea

Gulf of Aqaba

Gulf of Suez

ESNA

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colorful murals that portray everyday life in ancient Egypt. Visit nearby Dahshur, where the Red and Bent Pyramids provide insights into the trial-and-error process of pyramid building. Enjoy a Bedouin-style tented welcome dinner near the pyramids. LE mERIdIEn hELIOPOLIS hOTEL (B, L, R, d)

CAIRO ✺ Tuesday, December 29Explore the incomparable Great Pyramids—the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still existing. Enjoy private access to the base of the enigmatic Sphinx, and visit the Solar Boat Museum, which houses the magnificently preserved 4,500-year-old funerary boat of the Pharaoh Cheops. Attend a private lecture with Dr. Ali Gaballah, the former head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, then enjoy an afternoon at leisure. LE mERIdIEn hELIOPOLIS hOTEL (B,L)

CAIRO ✺ Wednesday, December 30Delve into Islamic Cairo, with visits to the 14th-century Sultan Hassan mosque; Ibn Tulun, the oldest surviving mosque in Egypt; and Saladin’s Citadel, with the Mohammad Ali mosque. The afternoon is at leisure. LE mERIdIEn hELIOPOLIS hOTEL (B,L,d)

CAIRO ✺ ABu SImBEL ✺ ASwAnThursday, December 31Take a charter flight from Cairo to Abu Simbel to see one of the greatest temples of ancient Egypt. Known for colossal statues of Ramesses II and his favorite queen, Nefertari, the temple of Abu Simbel is also the site of a tremendous feat of modern

engineering. In the 1960s, as rising water from the High Dam in Aswan threatened the site, a team of engineers raised the temples 200 feet and relocated them more than 600 feet from the water’s edge. In the afternoon, take a charter flight to Aswan, where a gala dinner will ring in the New Year. mOvEnPICk ASwAn (B,L,d)

ASwAn (EmBARk)Friday, January 1, 2010This morning visit the Temple of Isis, which was carefully moved to higher ground when the rising waters of Lake Nasser threatened to submerge its original location on Philae Island. Embark the Nile Adventurer in time for lunch on board. This afternoon, sail around Elephantine and Lord Kitchener Islands aboard a felucca, or traditional Egyptian sailboat. After a visit to the High Dam of Aswan,

Kom omBo EGYPTIAN GIrL

reserve tOday! COnTACT yOuR PROFESSIOnAL TRAvEL AdvISOR, CALL hCP AT 800-395-3288, OR vISIT www.hCptravel.COm

return to the ship and join the captain for a welcome reception. Nile adveNturer (B,L,d)

kOm OmBO ✺ ESnA Saturday, January 2Relax on board as the Nile Adventurer cruises past some of the Nile’s most beautiful scenery en route to Kom Ombo. Here, view the unique double temple that honors two gods—the falcon god, Horus, and the crocodile god, Sobek—and its remarkably well preserved brightly colored reliefs. Continue cruising to Esna, where a stroll through the bustling bazaar takes you to the Temple of Khnum. Excavated from centuries of accumulated rubble, the temple’s floor is 30 feet below the present street level. Nile adveNturer (B,L,d)

LuxOR Sunday, January 3Visit the Valley of the Kings, where ancient Egyptians carved magnificent tombs and filled them with treasures for the afterlife. Learn about the early explorers of the Valley and the so-called “Curse of the Pharaohs.” By special arrangement, enjoy private access to tombs normally closed to the public. Visit Karnak Temple to admire Ramesses II’s magnificent hypostyle hall with its 134 giant columns, soaring obelisks, and an enormous temple dedicated to Amun, god of the moon. As the sun sets, stroll the grounds of the lovely Temple of Luxor, whose graceful papyrus-cluster columns were built by Amenhotep III and later embellished by Ramesses II, Tutankhamun, and Alexander the Great. Nile adveNturer (B,L,d)

LuxOR ✺ CAIRO Monday, January 4After bidding farewell to the Nile Adventurer, visit the fine collections at the Luxor Museum of Ancient Egyptian Art. Take a charter flight back to Cairo to explore Cairo’s most famous souk—the colorful, bustling Khan el-Khalili bazaar, filled with local crafts, jewelry, spices, and incense. After lunch in one of the bazaar’s traditional Egyptian restaurants, children can participate in an optional treasure hunt, conducted by our youth coordinators. This afternoon is at leisure. SOFITEL EL-GEZIRAh (B,L)

CAIRO ✺ Tuesday, January 5Take a guided tour of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which houses more than 100,000 relics and artifacts from nearly every period of ancient Egyptian history, including the golden treasures of Tutankhamun. A special tour, guided by an Egyptologist, will be offered for younger travelers. This evening, enjoy Egyptian hospitality during our farewell reception and light dinner in the private home of our Egyptologist and Islamic expert, Tarek Swelim. SOFITEL EL-GEZIRAh (B,L,R,d)

CAIRO ✺ u.S. Wednesday, January 6Transfer to the airport and depart for the U.S. on the recommended flight, or independently.

photo credits Cover: © Punchstock. Itinerary: kom Ombo © iStockphoto.com/Sue Colvil; funerary boat © Craig McAteer/BigStockPhoto.com; spices © Sophie Bengtsson/BigStockPhoto.com; hieroglyphics © iStockphoto.com. General Information page: © iStockphoto.com/Karim Hesham. Back cover: Pyramids © Dobi /Dreamstime.com; Camel © iStockphoto.com/Ljiljana Pavkov.

FuNErArY BoAT oF THE PHArAoH CHEoPS

EGYPTIAN SPICES

HIEroGLYPHICSreserve tOday! COnTACT yOuR PROFESSIOnAL TRAvEL AdvISOR, CALL hCP AT 800-395-3288, OR vISIT www.hCptravel.COm

he Nile adveNturerThe Nile Adventurer is a state-of-the-art river cruiser designed expressly for Nile cruises. Launched in 1990 and completely renovated in 2005, the 32-cabin vessel offers stylish design, spacious cabins, and luxurious amenities. All cabins have a Nile view, private bathroom with bathtub, shower, and hairdryer, color television with satellite TV and in-house movies, telephone with international access, air-conditioning with individual cabin controls, safe deposit box, and mini-bar. The ship also features an upper sun deck with heated swimming pool, lower deck with bar, gymnasium, library, gift shop, and a restaurant accommodating all guests at a single seating.

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RECEPTION

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LOUNGE & BAR

GIFTSHOP

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LOWER SUN DECK

LIBRARY

DECK

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PROGRAM RATES DOUBLE SINGLE

TYPE X Nile Deck $0 $0 LEAST EXPENSIVE

TYPE X Main Deck $0 $0

TYPE X Promenade Deck $0 $0 MOST EXPENSIVE

CHART PROVIDED FOR REFERENCE ONLY; OK TO REBUILD IN InDESIGN

Cabin description

Cabin description

Cabin description

TYPE X Main Deck $0 $0

Cabin description

TYPE X Bridge Deck $0 $0

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TYPE X Promenade Deck $0 $0

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Program RATES (per person, double occupancy, unless otherwise indicated)

STANdArd CABIN

dECK AduLT CHILd* SINGLE TrIPLE**

■ nILE dECk $7,990 $6,990 $11,190 $6,690

Standard Cabin, approximately 188 sq. ft., window

■ mAIn dECk $8,840 $7,840 $12,380 —

Standard Cabin, approximately 188 sq. ft., window

■ BRIdGE dECk $9,790 $8,790 — —

Standard Cabin, approximately 188 sq. ft., window

■ mAIn dECk $9,990 $8,990 — —

deluxe Cabin, approximately 237 sq. ft., window

■ PROmEnAdE dECk $10,690 $9,690 — —

Standard Cabin, approximately 188 sq. ft., window

■ PROmEnAdE dECk $11,890 $10,890 — —

Presidential Suite, approximately 441 sq. ft., window

* ages 7–17. **a rollaway will be provided for the third person. the other travelers pay the applicable double per person rate.

SPECIAL OFFER:

take $500 OFF per Child!

SPECIAL OFFER FOR SInGLE TRAvELERS:Do you need a roommate? High Country Passage will try to find a share for you and you will be charged the double occupancy rate even if no roommate is found.

AIRFARERound-trip airfare between New York and Cairo, Egypt, is not included in the program rates. As of March 2009, economy-class airfare is estimated at $1,040 per person (subject to change). Cost savings may be available through High Country Passage,

who is happy to assist you with making your air travel arrangements. Please remember to book your flights early to avoid higher airfares during the holidays.

POTEnTIAL FuEL SuRChARGEEvery effort is made to keep program costs as low as possible, and rates do not include allowances to cover possible increases in fuel costs. Please be aware that the volatile nature of oil prices may make it necessary to assess a fuel surcharge. We appreciate your understanding.

GYM

RECEPTION

RESTROOM

RESTAURANT GALLEY

LOUNGE & BAR

GIFTSHOP

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LOWER SUN DECK

LIBRARY

DECK

100

110

108

106

101

111

109

107

208

206

204

202

205

203

201

210

209

309

307

305

303

301

308

306

304

302

406

405

403

401

404

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DECK

DECK

DECK

PROGRAM RATES DOUBLE SINGLE

TYPE X Nile Deck $0 $0 LEAST EXPENSIVE

TYPE X Main Deck $0 $0

TYPE X Promenade Deck $0 $0 MOST EXPENSIVE

CHART PROVIDED FOR REFERENCE ONLY; OK TO REBUILD IN InDESIGN

Cabin description

Cabin description

Cabin description

TYPE X Main Deck $0 $0

Cabin description

TYPE X Bridge Deck $0 $0

Cabin description

TYPE X Promenade Deck $0 $0

Cabin description

310

207

Included Four nights at Le Meridien Heliopolis Hotel in Cairo, one night at the Movenpick Aswan Hotel, and two nights at the Sofitel El-Gezirah Hotel in Cairo • Three-night cruise aboard the Nile Adventurer • 25 meals (9 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 7 dinners) • Welcome and farewell receptions with wine, and welcome and farewell dinners • Comprehensive program of lectures, excursions, and special events • Complete packet of pre-departure information including suggested reading list and luggage tags • Transfers to and from airports for those participating in or meeting group flights • Visa fees for those on recommended group flights or with private transfers • Baggage handling for those traveling on recommended group flights • Gratuities to porters, guides, drivers, and waiters for all group activities, and to ship’s crew • Port charges • All on-tour transportation • Bottled water on coaches during excursions • State-of-the-art headsets for clear reception of expert commentary during excursions

FAmILY HoLIdAY IN

EgypPlease send your completed reservation form and deposit to High Country Passage, 500 Third Street, Suite 455, San Francisco, CA 94107; (800) 395-3288. Or contact your professional travel advisor.

con ac InFORmATIOn (please print) nAmE 1 (AS On PASSPORT)

nAmE 2 (AS On PASSPORT)

ChILd 1 (AS On PASSPORT) dATE OF BIRTh

ChILd 2 (AS On PASSPORT) dATE OF BIRTh

ChILd 3 (AS On PASSPORT) dATE OF BIRTh

ChILd 4 (AS On PASSPORT) dATE OF BIRTh

AddRESS

CITy STATE ZIP

PhOnE (hOmE) (wORk) (CELL)

FAx EmAIL

PaYmen❏ Enclosed is a check for $ ($1,000 per person), payable to High Country Passage, for space(s) on the Family Holiday in Egypt tour. OR❏ Please charge my deposit of $ _________ ($1,000 per person) to the following credit card: ❏ MasterCard ❏ VISA ❏ American Express CARd nO. ExP. dATE SEC. COdE

SIGnATuRE nAmE (On CARd) dATE

accommoda IonsCabin category preference (refer to deck plan): 1ST ChOICE 2nd ChOICE

Bed preference (not guaranteed): ❏ One bed ❏ Two beds

sIngle APPLICAnTS OnLy❏ I prefer single accommodations.❏ I plan to share accommodations with: .❏ Please arrange a share for me. I am a ❏ smoker ❏ non-smoker. We will try to find a share for you and you will be charged the double occupancy rate even if no roommate is found.

acceP ance OF TERmSI/We have read the program information and the Terms and Conditions in this brochure and agree to the terms as stated therein. SIGnATuRE dATE

SIGnATuRE dATE

NoT INCLudEd u.S. domestic and international airfare • Passport fees • visa fees for those not on recommended group flights or with private transfers • Immunization costs • Airport security fees imposed by the government or airlines • meals and beverages, including alcohol and wine, not specified as included • Transfers for those not participating in or meeting group flights • Excess baggage charges • Baggage and cancellation insurance • Personal items such as laundry, telephone, fax, and email charges, gratuities for non-group services, and other items not specified as included

TErmS & CoNdITIoNS

rESErvATIoNS & PAYmENTS A deposit of $1,000 per person (payable to high Country Passage) is required to confirm all reservations. Please mail the check to high Country Passage, 500 Third Street, Suite 455, San Francisco, CA 94107. Final payment deadline is August 28, 2009, 120 days prior to departure.

CANCELLATIoNS & rEFuNdS deposits are fully refundable if a written notice of cancellation is received by high Country Passage within 30 days of receipt of deposit; after that, they are 100% non-refundable. Cancellations after final payment deadline: 100% penalty. All cancellations must be made in writing.

ITINErArY, ProGrAm, & CoST modIFICATIoNS The itinerary, as contained in this brochure, is subject to modifications and change by high Country Passage. Every effort will be made to carry out this program as planned, but alterations may still occur after the final itinerary is sent. Costs, although given in good faith and based on information available upon publication of the brochure, are also subject to change and revision. due to fluctuations in oil prices, a fuel surcharge may be added to your tour fee. details and costs will be advised prior to your departure.

INSurANCE Trip cancellation/interruption insurance is highly recommended and should be considered for your financial protection. Another important consideration is medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation coverage. A comprehensive package will be made

available to you upon receipt of your initial deposit. Early purchase will provide coverage of pre-existing medical conditions.

HEALTH All participants should be in good health and capable of walking over rough terrain. By forwarding the deposit for passage, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers.

rESPoNSIBILITY high Country Passage (hCP) acts only as an agent for the suppliers and contractors providing transportation and/or all other travel-related services and assume no responsibility howsoever caused for personal injury, or for personal or property loss or damage, in connection with any service. Additionally, responsibility is not accepted for losses or expenses due to sickness, weather, strikes, terrorism, wars, or other such causes. hCP reserves the right to make changes to the published itinerary whenever, in their judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the tour. Occasionally, unforeseen changes in transportation schedules or other pressing matters necessitate a change in the land portion of the tour or cause a tour to be extended beyond its scheduled completion; any extra costs incurred in such cases are the responsibility of the passenger. hCP reserves the right at their discretion to alter, change, omit, and/or feature any part of the itinerary or any reservation, conveyance, or routing at any time and without notice and for any reason whatsoever without allowance of refund. hCP also reserves the right to decline or accept any person as a member of the tour, or to require any person to withdraw from the tour at any time, when such action is determined by their representative to be in the best interests of the health, safety, and general welfare of the tour group or the individual participant. hCP reserves the right to withdraw without penalty any tour announced. Personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times.

CST #2070901-40 • 091226 EGF hCP

SPECIAL OFFER:

$500 OFF per Child!

You and Your FAmILy wILL:

Take a camel ride across desert sands near the Great Pyramids.

Indulge in regional foods at a private, tented Bedouin dinner.

Learn about hieroglyphics, mummification, and

pyramid construction.

Enjoy an unforgettable New Year’s Eve with a gala dinner in Aswan.

Participate in a guided treasure hunt for kids at

the Khan el-Kahlili bazaar

500 Third Street, Suite 455San Francisco, CA 94107-1805

FAmILY HoLIdAY IN

EgypAboard the Nile AdventurerDecember 26, 2009–January 6, 2010With Egyptologists TAREk SwELImand FETIChE POSmA-ZAALOuk

100% K

WH

ITEC

MYK

(FRO

M PM

S 357)