First Option Egypt

2008 EGYPTone country a world of holidays!

NILE CRUISES LUXORCAIRO THE RED SEA

02 To book visit your Travel Agent or call 0871 22 777 88 or click www.firstoptionegypt.com

El Fayum

Abydos

Dendera

Thebes

Esna

Edfu

El Tor

St. Catherine

Ras Nasrani

Naama Bay

Quseir

Safaga

El Gouna

Qena

Karnak

Kom Ombo

Philae

Lake Nasser

ASWAN

LUXOR

HURGHADA RedSea

SHARM

CAIRO

EGYPT

SINAIMt. Sinai

OrientationThe magnificent River Nile, with banks steeped in history.Cairo, a frenetic, thrilling and cosmopolitan city wherea rich cultural past mixes with modernity.

The Red Sea, with glistening, clear waters andsophisticated resorts.

Egypt one country - a world of holidays!

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SUNSHINE hours per day

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9

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7

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1

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1

8

25

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Marhaba Welcome in Egyptian...and the First Option Egypt greeting to you!

Our carefully selected variety of quality hotels and excellent cruises is designedto make your choice easier and clearer. Whether you are looking for a simpleweek by the beach or an enthralling passage through the history of time on aNile cruise, we can offer the very best holidays suited to your specific requirements.

And, with such a wide choice of airlines flying from the UK from many regionalairports, we allow you the flexibility to choose and book your own flights at theprices applicable at the time of booking.

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Marhaba!

To book visit your Travel Agent or call 0871 22 777 88 or click www.firstoptionegypt.com

IndexFirst Option EgyptMarhabaThe EssentialsTutankhamun Exhibition

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Nile CruisesIntroductionNile Cruise ItineraryBoarding MondayBoarding Wednesday

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Resorts & CombinationsMaking the most of EgyptLuxor HotelsCairo HotelsHurghada HotelsSharm El Sheikh Hotels

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General InformationThings you should knowTerms & Conditions

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First Option Egypt

33-35 Commercial RoadLondonE1 1LD

Telephone: 0871 22 777 88Fax: 020 7655 0813email: [email protected]: 5670ABTA: K8105

Visit us atwww.firstoptionegypt.com

The Price of Your HolidayFirst Option Egypt has introduced a Base Rate pricing policyto make it easier for you to create your own twin or multi-centreholidays within Egypt without hindering your choice!

As an example, a popular combination is to spend 4 nights inLuxor and 3 nights in Cairo for which you simply need to add thetwo appropriate base rates together. Then, check the supplementboxes on the resort hotel description pages for any seasonalsupplements on your chosen date. All you need then is to allowus your Travel Agent to quote you the best applicable flight pricesfor your chosen itinerary.

If you simply require a single centre holiday, use the Base Rate,applicable supplements and then add the additional number ofnights required.

The Base Price is per person assuming twin share occupancy.Seasonal supplements apply to all hotels and cruises and can befound on resort description pages. Base Price always includes Meet& Greet at the appropriate airport plus return shuttle transfers toyour chosen accommodation in that resort. Where not indicated,prices for internal transportation will be provided at time of enquiry.Flights quoted by First Option Egypt will be subject to the terms andconditions of applicable airline and based on the services they offerincluding all appropriate taxes but not necessarily onboard catering.

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Getting to EgyptThere is a comprehensive choice of flights to the major Egyptian gateways of Cairo, Luxor, Hurghadaand Sharm el Sheikh and, for this reason, First Option Egypt excludes the cost of air transportation fromour Base Price allowing you or your travel agent the flexibility of booking the flight and airport mostsuited to your requirements sometimes at reduced prices.

Scheduled flights operate daily from London Heathrow to Cairo and weekly to Luxor with flight timings 5-6hours. There are numerous charter flights from Gatwick, Manchester and other regional departure points toLuxor, Hurghada and Sharm el Shiekh all with a flight time of 5-6 hours, each offering various levels of service.

Travelling Around in EgyptFirst Option Egypt offers flexibility for your perfect holiday and details of our featured resorts can be foundon Page 15. Holidays to Luxor, including Nile Cruises, can be combined with a stay in Hurghada (coachtransfer 4 hours) or Cairo (air 1 hour or overnight train 8 hours). Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh can becombined (air 30 minutes or catamaran 90 minutes) and both resorts can be combined with Cairo (air 1 hour).Some charter airlines permit one-way reservations allowing flights in to one resort and out of another.

Because of the choice that should be available to you, First Option Egypt will always recommend the bestitinerary to suit your requirements.

The Essentials

To book visit your Travel Agent or call 0871 22 777 88 or click www.firstoptionegypt.com

Included in the PriceMeet & Greet upon arrival in EgyptAssistance with visa process upon arrivalTransfer to/from accommodationAccommodation and meals as booked24-hour Emergency Contact

Additionally on Nile CruisesFull boardTEN VISIT PASS Excursion packageServices of accompanying Egyptologist during cruise

Not IncludedFlight prices we will quote you the cheapest price applicableat time of booking!Visa Charge GB10 payable upon arrivalGratuities of GB25 per person during cruise, collected anddistributed amongst crew, staff, drivers and other behind thescenes operatives.Optional excursionsOther items of a general nature

FIRST OPTION EGYPTBASE RATE

7 nights 2494 nights 844 nights

3 nights

5 nights

Nile Cruise

Luxor Hotel

Hurghada Hotel

Cairo Hotel

Sharm el Sheikh Hotel

95

115

159

There is no better way to explore the ancient sites of Upper Egypt than on aleisurely cruise along the majestic Nile. First Option Egypt offers a choice offloating hotels, carefully selected to ensure your comfort, enjoyment and a basefrom which to discover the awesome architectural treasures.

Our cruise itineraries are specifically designed to enable you to visit some ofthe worlds most extraordinary archaeological wonders. All our cruise holidaysinclude a Ten Visit Pass, escorted by an Egyptologist guide, within the price.

The quayside berths offer wonderful opportunities to experience town life.Wander along the cornice in Luxor, visit the market in Aswan, take a horse andbuggy ride through the streets or felucca trip across to an island.

During the cruise, watch an ever-changing portrait of Egyptian life along thegreat river as farm hands tend their cattle, fishermen land their catch and childrenwave you on your way.

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Optional Excursion:

FROM ASWAN:Abu Simbel a choice of excursion by air or road (recommended)involves a very early start but visits the incredible reconstructedtemple that overlooks Lake Nasser.

FROM LUXOR:Cairo by air a full day to visit the Pyramids and Sphinx atGiza as well as the Egyptian Museum (book in advance)Hot Air Baloon an exhilarating 45 minute journey over theWest Bank.Sound & Light Show enjoy the narration about the historyof Luxor and the Pharaohs.

Optional excursions are booked onboard with exception ofCairo by air which should be reserved prior to arrival.

TEN VISIT PASS INCLUDES SIGHTSEEING TO:

IN LUXOR:Luxor Temple right in the heart of the city and built by AmenophisII and Rameses II. The sanctuaries and courtyards are dedicatedto Theban gods.Karnak Temple with its huge Temple of Amun and theHypostyle Hall.Hatshepsut Temple incredible terraces were carved fromthe rock to house the temple dedicated to Queen Hatsheput.Valley of the Kings it is here that the great Pharaohs rest andthe corridors and chambers of the tombs are adorned with spectacularcarvings and inscriptions. We include entry to three tombs with afee payable locally should you wish to visit the tomb of Tutankhamun.

IN ASWAN:Philae Temple once feared to be lost under the water, marvelat the reconstruction of the relocated temple on Agilika Island.Unfinished Obelisk an insight in to how the Ancient Egyptiansconstructed their temples at this abandoned site.The High Dam modern day technology, albeit during the lastcentury, helped to develop land for agricultural purposes.Botantical Gardens take a felucca ride across to the islandfor a leisurely stroll through the attractive and fragrant gardens.

IN EDFUEdfu Temple dedicated to the falcon headed god Horus, thisis the best preserved monument in the country.

IN KOM OMBOTemple of Haroeris & Sobek The crocodile god is honouredby this spectacular temple overlooking the river.

Nile Cruising

To book visit your Travel Agent or call 0871 22 777 88 or click www.firstoptionegypt.com

First Option Egypt Cruise Programme - A typical week cruising on the Nile

DAY 1: Arrival, Welcome & Familiarisation: Upon arrival at Luxor Airport, met and assisted with thestraight forward visa process before transferring (approx 20 mins) quayside to board the Floating Hotel,home for the next seven nights. Meals: Dinner followed by introduction to the itinerary bythe accompanying