Travel with Sew Many Places founder Jim West as they take off for this quilting adventure that starts in Egypt, and continues through down the Nile and into further into Africa. This 18-day tour takes place from November 14 - December 1, 2009.

• Round-trip airfare from the United States
• 4-star hotel accommodations
• All taxes and transfers
• Private motor coach & driver
• Most meals
• Special Sew Many Places Gifts
• Sightseeing as listed in the itinerary

This deluxe adventure can be taken as a full 18-day tour of Egypt and Africa or can be taken separately as a 8-day Egypt or 10-day Africa tour.

Our journey begins with a flight from Chicago, O’Hare Airport to Laguardia Airport in New York. We will change planes and continue on, with an overnight flight to Cairo, Egypt. Dinner will be served on-board the plane. D

Before our arrival in CAIRO, a breakfast snack will be served on-board the plane. Upon our arrival, we will collect our luggage, pass through customs and be met by our bus driver and local guide, and proceed to our deluxe motor coach. We will drive to the deluxe Four Seasons Hotel, where will check in and stay for the next two nights. A brief orientation will take place before everyone breaks away for dinner on your own. Thus we begin our KINGDOM OF THE PHARAOHS adventure. B

This morning, following breakfast at our hotel, we will board our motor coach and begin a full day Panoramic Tour of Cairo. We will first visit one of the most recognizable icons in all of ancient Egypt, THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF GIZA. They are, without a doubt, the main destination for tourists and a source of imaginative thought to the world for over 3000 years. Near these pyramids sits a huge creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. This monumental statue, the first truly colossal royal sculpture in Egypt, is the GREAT SPHINX, and is a national symbol of Egypt, both ancient and modern. We will spend some time here, learning more about these structures and their history. There will be time for free time to walk around, and you may even opt to spend a couple dollars and take a ride on a camel, which should provide a nice souvenir photograph for you to bring back home.

Following our visit to Giza, we will continue our tour and visit the EGYPTIAN MUSEUM, which is situated at Tahrir Square in Cairo. This museum was built during the reign of Khedive Abbass Heimi II in 1897, and opened its doors on November 15, 1902. The museum has 107 halls total, which houses all kinds of ancient statues, jewels, Tutankhamon treasures and hundreds of mummies. Following this visit, we will have lunch together at a local restaurant.

After lunch, we will drive to the KHAN EL KHALILI BAZAAR (nicknamed Khan), once known as the Turkish bazaar during the Ottoman period. This market was created in 1382 by the Emir Djaharks el-Khalili in the heart of Fatimid City. Our tour will end back at our hotel, where the remainder of the evening is at your leisure. B, L

This morning, following breakfast, we will checkout of our hotel and transfer to the Cairo Domestic Airport for our flight to LUXOR. Upon our arrival, we will be met and transferred to our Deluxe, 5-star Cruise Ship, where we will check in and get settled. In the afternoon, we will visit the magnificent Karnak Temple of Amun, with its famous Hypostyle Hall and the 134 huge columns, the Statue of Ramses II, the Obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut and Luxor Temple. Unlike a standard cruise ship, all of our shore excursions are included in with our package price.

We will return back to our ship and enjoy dinner, as we set sail on the NILE RIVER. The remainder of the evening is free for you to enjoy relaxing out on the open deck of the ship, as we pass villages and towns along the way. B, L, D

Today, following breakfast onboard our ship, we will dock and participate on a land tour of the WEST BANK (Thebes). Our tour will include visiting numerous tombs of Pharaohs and Nobles were buried, including one of the richest treasures in the world, the tomb of Tut Ankhamon. We will also visit the Tomb of Ramses II in the Valley of the Kings.

Our tour will continue and we will visit the Colossi of Memnon and take have an opportunity to take photographs of the remains of the Temple of Amenhotep III, which has been damaged by nature and ancient tourists, but is still quite impressive to see. Later in the afternoon, we will return back to our ship, and sail to ESNA, where we will dock overnight. The evening is free for you to enjoy on your own. B, L, D

Today our ship will sail to EDFU, the capital of the second Nome of Upper Egypt. This is an important regional center from the Old Kingdom. Our tour today will include a visit to the Edfu Temple, a beautiful preserved sandstone temple dedicated to the Falcon God Horus.

We will come back to our ship and sail a short distance to KOM OMBO, where we will dock overnight. B, L, D

This morning we will visit Kom Ombo Temple, which is actually two temples consisting of the Temple of Sobek and the Temple of Haroeris. In ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank near here. Very little remains of the temple, due first to the changing Nile, then the Copts, who once used it as a church, and finally by builders who used the stones for new buildings.

We will come back to our cruise ship and sail to ASWAN. This is Egypt’s sunniest southern city and ancient frontier town located about 81 miles south of Luxor. Aswan has a distinctively African atmosphere.

One of the highlights of our tour today will be a visit to see the High Dam. Located near Aswan, this Dam was an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960’s. It contains 18 times the material used in the Great Pyramids of Cheops. The Dam is 11, 811 feet long, 3215 feet thick at the base, and 365 feet tall.

Following this, we will continue our tour and visit the Temple of Philae. Philae is the main temple complex relocated from that island (after the High Dam was built) to the island of Agilika. It was the center of the cult of the Goddess Isis, and her connection with Osiris, Horus and the Kingship, during the Ptolemaic period of Egyptian history.

We will end our tour today with a visit to the Botanical Garden, taking a ride by felucca, an Egyptian wooden boat. Following this, we will come back to our cruise ship for dinner . The remainder of the evening is at your leisure, as our ship stays docked in Aswan. B, L, D

Today is without doubt, one of the longest we will do the entire tour. We begin with a very early disembarkation from our cruise ship and transfer to the Aswan Airport for our flight to ABU SIMBEL. We will arrive mid-morning, and tour one of the most beautiful structures in Egypt, the Temple of Ramses II and Queen Nefertary. This structure consists of four colossi statues, each 60 feet high, of the Pharaoh seated on his throne. After 2,000 years, the engineers of the world community are facing challenges to save it from the waters of the Nile River. We will visit this temple, in addition to Queen Nefertary’s Temple, which was dedicated to the Goddess Hathor.

Following this visit, we will transfer back to the Abu Simbel Airport for a flight to CAIRO, via the Aswan Airport. We will meet our local representative in Cairo, who will direct us to our flight to the Kilimanjaro Airport in ARUSHA. We will be met by our local guide and transferred to our deluxe hotel, the Mountain Village Arusha Hotel in TANSANIA, where we will enjoy dinner and a good night sleep. BB, D

TANSANIA is a country that conjures up a lot of excitement, which typifies Africa. The landscape is stunning and its beauty unmatched. The natural resources are plentiful, Mt. Kilimanjaro-Africa’s highest mountain, Lake Tanganyika-Africa’s deepest Lake, and Lake Victoria-the world’s second largest lake and the source of the Nile River.

In addition to this, Tanzania also prides itself with game parks of international fame, including the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, and Lake Manyara to name a few. Thus we begin our KINGDOM OF THE ANIMALS Adventure.

Following a relaxing sleep and a hearty breakfast, we will drive to the Ngorongoro conservation area, on our way to the Gibbs Farm, where we will have lunch. There will be time to walk around on your own and learn more about how they process the coffee from their plantation. We will continue our journey until we reach the deluxe Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, where we will stay for the next two nights. Dinner will be served at the hotel. B, L, D

This morning, following breakfast, we will descend into the spectacular NGORONGORO CRATER for our first animal game drive. Here we will see a remarkable concentration of wildlife, including the Big Five. We will drive across the dense forest and near the Soda Lake and enjoy view a variety of bird life.

We will ascend to the lodge for lunch and the remainder of your afternoon and evening are free at your leisure. B, L, D

Following breakfast this morning, we will check out of our hotel and drive to the SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, via the Olduvai Gorge, and archaeological site with game drives en route in the Serengeti. Olduvai Gordge archaeological site is where findings of prehistoric man can be found, dating back 3.5 million years ago.

A picnic lunch will be provided during our drive today. We will arrive at our next hotel later in the afternoon, the deluxe Serengeti Serina Safari Lodge. Upon our arrival, we will check in, get settled, and enjoy a delicious dinner. The even is free for you to enjoy at your leisure. B, L, D

Today is an entire day of game viewing drives. Following breakfast, we will drive through the Serengeti National Park, where animals live in absolute freedom on the endless plains. It will be a wonderful opportunity to capture those once in a lifetime photographs of animals in their natural habitat. This will be a most memorable day to be sure. Later in the day, we will return back to our lodge for dinner, relaxing and reminiscing about the day. B, L, D

This morning following breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and transfer to the Serengeti Airstrip for our scheduled flight back to Arusha. Upon our arrival in Arusha, we will be met and brought to a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we will be transferred to Namanga, the border between Tansania and Kenya. Our guide will assist us with customs and immigration formalities as we enter KENYA.

We will continue our journey to AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK and our deluxe hotel, the Amboseli Serena Lodge. Upon our arrival, we will check in and enjoy dinner before retiring for the evening. B, L, D

Following a very early breakfast, we will enjoy two game drives today. Again, we will have great opportunities to view the Big Five and take spectacular photographs. We will return back to our lodge hotel in the late afternoon. After dinner, we’ll enjoy some great conversation and an evening nightcap. B, L, D

Early this morning, we will check out of our hotel and depart for the Amboseli Airstrip, for our scheduled flight to NAIROBI. Upon our arrival, we will be met and transferred to our deluxe Tented Camp called Sweetwaters. The Sweetwaters Game Sanctuary, among other things, is home to a very special Chimpanzee orphanage, which we will visit in the afternoon. There will also be time for an afternoon game drive before returning to our camp for dinner. This evening will be very unique, as we hear the sounds of the African jungle right outside our tents. But not to worry, this is a safe, deluxe campsite, and we are well protected from any wild animals. B, L, D

This morning gives us an opportunity to continue seeing the exciting regions of Kenya, as we check out of our hotel and drive to the SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE in the northern most part of the region. We will check into the deluxe Samuru Serena Lodge, and enjoy lunch before beginning an afternoon game drive. The three reserves contain a number of wildlife species rarely found anywhere including Grevys Zebra and the Reticulated Giraffe. We will travel to the Nyiro River, which runs through the park, making game viewing particularly good. We will enjoy dinner at the Lodge before we retire for the evening. B, L, D

Following breakfast this morning, we will check out of our hotel and drive south to the world famous Mount Kenya Safari Club, founded by actor William Holden. This deluxe hotel is situated along the Equator line in a glory of luxurious cottages and elegant buildings, set amid manicured lawns and decorative ponds. Today is completely a day of leisure, for relaxing, massages, strolling, shopping, and just doing absolutely nothing. The facility will offer some optional tours if you want to plan something for the day. Lunch and dinner will be served at the hotel. B, L, D

Today is our last day in Africa and the day that brings our entire adventure to a close. We will leave our hotel and drive to NAIROBI, where we will have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will have the opportunity to relax in day rooms at the Nairobi Serena Hotel. There will be time for last minute souvenir buying and sightseeing on our own.

Later this evening, we will all enjoy a special farewell dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant, renowned for its variety of delicious exotic meat as well as dishes.

Following dinner, we will transfer to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for our night flight back to CHICAGO.

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