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LUXURY TRAVEL ADVENTURES

A Boutique Travel Agency

email: denise@luxurytraveladventures.com

phone: 240-744-4749

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For me, this was a true highlight of my time in Egypt…..to go into the actual tombs of pharaohs that lived and ruled thousands of years ago. The Valley of the Kings and Queens is where you feel like Indiana Jones. Talk about living history…. It IS where Howard Carter and team found the undisturbed and completely intact tomb of Tutankhamun, or “King Tut” as we commonly call him.

These tombs are decorated with so much detail that it will floor you.

The tombs are in a remote and barren landscape, you can see why it was chosen as a royal resting place. And they are still excavating here! The newly found “Golden City” was just unearthed in the Valley of the Queens.

So far, 62 tombs have been discovered here, and you have to pay extra to visit some exceptionally well-preserved tombs such as Seti I and Nefertari. Totally worth it!

Queen Nefertari was the wife of Ramses the Great. She was highly educated and able to both read and write hieroglyphics, very rare at that time. She is one of the best known Egyptian Queens, along with Hatshepsut, Nefertiti and Cleopatra. Her tomb in the Valley of the Queens is very large and very colorfully decorated!

A DO-NOT-MISS is the tomb of Seti I (son of Ramses I and father of Ramses The Great (II) who ruled around 1290 BC.

His lavishly decorated tomb (the longest at 446 feet and deepest in the Valley) with detailed reliefs and colorful paintings set the precedent for all royal tombs after him. INCREDIBLE!

By the time you reach the bottom line, your jaw is about to hit the floor…..every inch of his burial chamber is decorated, including the ceiling. This is phone video and it’s dark, but at least you can get an idea.

King Tut’s tomb is very small and only his burial chamber is decorated, probably because he died so unexpectedly and it was a rush job. Really.

His mummy lies in repose in his tomb.

The descent into Ramses the Great (Ramses II) Tomb. Ramses II is regarded as the greatest and most powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom. He built the temple at Abu Simbel, the famous 134-column Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, and added temples at Luxor among many others. It is said that he reigned for 67 years and fathered over 100 children!

Questions about Egypt? Just reach out to us!

denise@luxurytraveladventures.com

Office: 240-744-4749

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Yes, everyone who goes to Egypt wants to see the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx

And they certainly are MUST-SEES.

But so is Sakkara, the VERY FIRST PYRAMID from 2700 B.C. and pre-dating the pyramids at Giza!

It’s about 45 minutes outside of Cairo. The day we went, there was NO ONE THERE except excavation teams. Their work is never done in Egypt! There are tombs all over this site.

We were able to go INSIDE the Sakkara pyramid, which opened to the public for the first time ever last year. The inside shaft was completely hand-dug and it’s an engineering feat-especially when you remind yourself that it is almost 5,000 years old.

There’s a small museum dedicated to the genius architect of Sakkara, Imhoetep, who designed this for King Zoser. Very worthy to spend time inside checking out the artifacts that have been found onsite, including this gorgeous blue tile, check it out in the video clip below:

I recommend Sakkara as a DO NOT MISS when in Egypt!

And of course we went to check out the Pyramids at Giza. It was super hot and hazy but once again, there was hardly any people here! You simply are in awe looking at these last great wonders of the ancient world, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Did you know you can go INSIDE the Great Pyramid (that would be the largest one)?

I recommend only if you are not claustrophobic, not afraid of heights as its pretty steep, and don’t mind crouching for a long way! I could only get this far. And-there’s NOTHING inside anyway!

The Sphinx is also on the Giza plateau, and—it’s smaller than you think!

There’s a nightly Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids, but don’t expect a Disney-esque presentation, more like 1970’s Richard Burton doing Marc Antony!

Questions about Egypt? Just reach out to us!

denise@luxurytraveladventures.com

Office: 240-744-4749

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The Egyptian Museum (currently open in downtown Cairo) or Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) when it opens, likely in 2022.

Before you go to Egypt, it’s best if you have some sense of the historical timeline before you start taking in loads of ancient Egypt data points!

To that end, I think it’s incredibly helpful to make a visit to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo BEFORE you venture out to the Valley of the Kings, where all the tombs are located.

The brand new ‘Grand Egyptian Museum’ or GEM is not yet open, so there are still many exhibits on display in the “old” museum, including highlights of the Tut collection (as of May 2021).

NOTE: Not all the Tut pieces are still in the old museum, items like the chariots have been moved to GEM already. But the famous death mask and solid gold coffin, among many other items, are still there (as of May 2021) and will be the last items moved to GEM.

The Tut pieces are an absolute do-not-miss! You will be blown away by the intricacy, beauty and craftsmanship of these objects that are 3,000+ years old and you will marvel at the story of thier discovery.

And when GEM opens, for the very first time EVER, all 5,000+ artifacts found in Tut’s tomb will be on display together. Only a fraction of what Howard Carter found has been on display for the last 100 years, so there will be literally thousands of items never before seen by the public on display at GEM. Worth another trip back to Egypt for me!

MAJOR TIP: Go here with an Egyptologist, or a very, very good guide! Things are not well marked and a knowledgeable guide will help you with context and you will get so much more from the experience. Also-the Mummy rooms cost extra and are worth it!

But wait-there’s more!

There are other notable items here besides the King Tut collection!

Tut was a minor pharoah who ruled for only 9 or 10 years, and is famous mainly because his tomb was found intact instead of totally looted like all the others.

There is the Narmer Palette, which is one of the earliest records of hieroglyphics (kind of like the Rosetta Stone) and is considered one of the first historical documents in the world. It documents the unification of Lower & Upper Egypt.

Here you can also find ‘The Meidum Geese’ painting, considered to be “Egypt’s Mona Lisa”. The painting depicts a now globally-extinct species of geese in incredible and artistic detail.

There are also the famous “Mummy Portraits of Faiyum”, dating back from the Roman era around 260 BC. These portraits are famous for their highly realistic depictions.

And maybe my favorite exhibit besides the Tut Collection was learning about “Yuya & Tuya”, extremely well-preserved mummies that seemingly were not royalty but very well-connected, and thought to be Tut’s great grandparents. Their tombs were found in 1904, and until Tut’s tomb was discovered in 1922, Yuya and Tuya’s mummies and tomb were the most intact ever found.

LOOK at her hair and curls!!

I cannot wait for the GEM to open, it’s going to be a world-class showcase for ancient history!

If this inspires you to put Egypt at the top of your travel bucket list, don’t hesitate to reach out to us to help you plan the trip of a lifetime!

Contact denise@luxurytraveladventures.com

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Egypt has so many iconic sights to see!

Of course you will come to see the Great Pyramid at Giza and the Sphinx, but there are many things to see and do that I would recommend not missing.

So here is my own personal highlights list based on my most recent trip starting with:

1. The Khan al Khalili Bazaar, Cairo

Transport yourself back in time to an old Arab souk by visiting this large labyrinth-like bazaar in the heart of Cairo. The twisted alleyways go on for days, and you can buy anything here from spices to jewels. There is even an old Jewish quarter tucked away behind an enormous old wooden door. End with a cup of freshly roasted coffee with cardamon or tea from the 300 year old El Fishawy coffee shop that attracts locals and tourists alike.

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-by Denise Burcksen

I just returned from my own bucket-list trip to Egypt, and it felt terrific to enjoy international hospitality once again!  Although the jet lag from flying back really kicked my a*#, so I guess I’m rusty:)

Here’s a recap of my trip in terms of what you can expect when traveling internationally these days.

The most important take-away?

NO CROWDS!

As you can see in the picture above, there I am at the Giza pyramids WITH NO PEOPLE in the background.  This is a site that normally gets tens of thousands of international visitors every single day.  

My traveling companions and I were fully vaccinated, and I recommend traveling internationally only if you are too.

Read on for specifics from my trip-

PRE-FLIGHT

• Travel Insurance is an absolute MUST these days!   I made sure I had a policy that covered Covid and even quarantine costs, as a precaution. 
• I flew Turkish Airlines, and they require a negative PCR Covid test taken a max of 72 hours before flight departure.    
• So everyone that you are flying with also has to test and provide a negative Covid PCR test to get on the flight. 
• Egypt entry requirement is the same criteria, so one PCR test could take care of both requirements.  Just depends on your timing, but most countries are allowing 72 to 96 hours for a test result to be valid so it’s not difficult to satisfy this requirement.
• I took a drive-through, never-get-out-of-my car rapid result PCR test at Same Day Testing the day before my flight–a nurse swabbed me through my car window- and got the email results within 16 hours.  I printed out 2 copies and was all set to go.
• Dulles airport was literally empty, no lines anywhere and stores were open.  
• Turkish Air checked my hardcopy Covid test result at check-in and also two more times before boarding.  
• It’s 10 hours nonstop from DC to Istanbul and you have to wear a mask for the entire flight, except when eating or drinking.  Flight crew was very vigilant about mask wearing, reminding passengers to put their their masks up above their nose.   Yes, it’s a pain -in theory.  You get used to it.
• Business Class busier than Economy, as I’ve experienced before on international flights.  Flight was probably 30-40 % full so lots of space but I expect this will change drastically as countries open up and restrictions lift.

I’ve said this before and will say it again–airports and planes have never been cleaner!

In summary, you need a negative PCR test, hardcopy of your test, masks and patience.  That’s it.

ARRIVAL

• I had to connect through Istanbul to continue on to Cairo, and the new Istanbul airport is fantastic.  Everything was open and it was bustling.  
• Upon arrival, your temperature is checked via infra-red technology and you don’t even know it has happened. 
• Arrival in Egypt was incredible smooth, they asked to see my Covid test result at passport control, and that was it. Our handler did our visas upon arrival and was super convenient.
• We had a private car (van) and driver, and the van was spotlessly clean, with hand sanitizers, tissues and bottled water.  There was a plastic barrier between the driver and the back rows.  Our driver was properly masked.  It was the same car and driver we would have for the next 4 days so you stay in a travel bubble.
• We did not have to wear masks in our own vehicle  if we didn’t  want to-and since I was traveling with another advisor and a mutual friend and we were all fully vaccinated, we chose to not wear masks while traveling together in our little travel bubble.

TOURING / SIGHTSEEING

So what is it like to sightsee and tour these days? 

• We had a private guide in Cairo for just our group of 3, she was a fantastic Egyptologist named Azza, pictured here on the right.   Azza was PCR-tested by Abercrombie & Kent, the tour operator I used for this custom trip, before she met us for the first time.  All guides are PCR-tested before meeting clients!
• Our guide Azza ALWAYS wore a mask, inside and outside. 
• Our driver was PCR-tested by A&K before he met us at the airport for the first time, and he remained with us for the entire time.
• Masks are not required to be worn outside, but we chose to wear them through the Khan el Khalili Bazaar pictured here. 
• NO CROWDS!    This is the largest bazaar in the Middle East, and the usual throngs of people are missing.  It was the same all over Egypt.  This is the biggest benefit to traveling this year.  I have picture after picture of myself at some of the most iconic sites on this planet, like the Great Pyramid at Giza, and there are NO people in the background.  This is simply unheard of.  
• Locals may or may not wear masks, as well as the other tourists we encountered (Russians and South Americans). Another reason why I recommend being fully vaccinated before you take on this type of travel.
• The highlights of the King Tut collection (the sold gold coffin, the solid gold death mask, throne, etc) are still in the Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo, but will be moving to the new, billion dollar Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) when it opens, now most likely in 2022.  It was a real treat to see Tut’s collection without people bumping into me. 
• There was hardly anyone out in The Valley of the Kings down in Luxor, where all the pharoah tombs are.  You feel like Indiana Jones here.  I was literally the only person in the tomb of King Tut!  Well, me and the security guard who wanted to take pictures of me with Tut’s mummy.  
• NO LINES ANYWHERE.  I was inside the Great Pyramid at Giza with no one.   
• Security guards out at the tombs will take you to areas that usually are off-limits, and they will show you more and explain more becuase they  have the time and there are not a gazillion people jostling for positions. 

BOTTOM LINE:

You can have a very unique and maybe never-to-be-repeated travel experience this year IF you are willing to deal with a couple of small (at least to me) compromises such as testing and some mask wearing. 

Onsite Hotel & Ship Experience

We were met by friendly smiles and hospitality everywhere we stayed.  People are so happy to see and welcome tourists again, it’s very noticeable.  It was great to experience!

• Four Seasons First Residence was our home for the first 4 nights.  High security including bomb-sweeping every car and entering through a metal detector every day.  Staff always properly masked.  Sanitary kits including masks, gloves and sanitizer provided in your room.  Rooms spotlessly clean.   Housekeeping twice daily.  The cigar bar was closed due to Covid, but all restaurants open.  Outdoor pool open.  There was a large open air restaurant  around the pool, and that’s where we ate and drank all the time.  Here, we were introduced to an Egyptian white wine, Jardin du Nile, that became our go-to drink the entire trip.  Not just because of the crisp taste, but also because of the 400% tax that Egypt puts on imported alcohol, whoa!!
• We sailed 4 nights on the Nile on A&K’s own ship, the Sanctuary Sun Boat IV.  40 state rooms but operating at max 50% capacity.  So only 40 passengers allowed onboard and we had 34 people on our sailing.  ALL CREW PCR TESTED before a sailing.  ALL GUIDES PCR-TESTED before being allowed onboard.   Hand sanitizer everywhere and required when you come back onboard after sightseeing.  Personal hygiene kits (masks, gloves, personal sanitizer) provided in every room.  Buffets at breakfast and lunch but food spread is behind very high plexiglass shields.  The gloved staff puts the food on your plate and brings to your table.  A la carte dinners.  Masks required while walking round inside onboard but not on outside decks.  The small tiled pool on the top deck was open (and fab!).  A doctor travels onboard in a stateroom that has been turned into a medical suite.  The doctor’s services- should you need them- are free of charge, as is any medication he prescribes (and that is carried on board). 
• Sanctuary ship crew was terrific and could not do enough for you.  So happy to see tourists again!   Food and drink were excellent, but alcohol prices were ridiculously high. 
• We ended our stay in Egypt at the famous Mena House Hotel, overlooking the pyramids at Giza (picture above).  This hotel has seen better days and is trading on its killer location and reputation.   I will say, it’s green grounds and gardens are beautiful  and the large sparkling pool was a real treat after seeing all that beige of the desert!

TESTING

• I had to test to get on my first flight on Turkish Air, and that test also sufficed for my entry to Egypt requirement.  MUST BE A PCR TEST!
• The US government is currently requiring all travelers above the age of 2, regardless of  vaccination status, to provide proof of a negative PCR or rapid result antigen test  (the cheaper test)  to return to the US.  You can show proof with either a hardcopy lab result OR electronic on your phone. 
• I arranged for a doctor to come to the Mena House Hotel  and he nasal-swabbed the three of us right in the lobby in between our spa appointments!  Took 5 minutes, we paid on the spot.  I received our scanned results via Whats App and they dropped off hardcopies of our test results at the hotel front desk 24 hours before our flight home.  Easy and convenient and no-stress.  

For any traveling clients, I can arrange to have your Covid test done onsite wherever you are.  

 FYI- the airlines check your test result before you board your flight to the US, but once I landed at Dulles, NO ONE asked to see a test result.

If this inspires you to start planning something for later this year or 2022, we are here for you.  

Questions?  Feel free to contact me anytime, I love to talk travel!

There’s nothing like the anticipation of a trip to look forward to:)

-DENISE

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