Touring Egypt with the Experts

It’s no secret Egypt is on the rebound as a tourist destination. But to ensure a great trip for your clients, consider booking them with an experienced operator like Central Holidays.

“Travel agents should know that Central Holidays has a strong backing in Egypt with its parent company, Sakarra Group International (SGI),” said Adam Greis, Central Holidays’ group sales manager. “Virtually every element of your travel adventure in Egypt is personally managed directly by us, from the destination management services provided by our in-country staff, to our very own deluxe hotels and SGI-owned fleet of distinctive Nile River Cruise vessels.”

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Here’s an overview of the company’s seven-day “Nile Voyager” tour:

1 Itinerary: Clients will fly into Cairo, where the next morning they will start their day-long exploration of the city, topped off by a visit to the Sphinx and Great Pyramids of Giza. On the third day, travelers will fly to Aswan to begin a three-night cruise on the legendary Nile River. During the cruise, your clients will visit the High Dam, the Granite Alexandria Quarries with the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Isis at Philae. They will sail on a felucca (a traditional Egyptian sailboat), tour the Ptolemaic Temple of Sobek and Haroeris, ride by horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Horus in Edfu, and explore the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Luxor, the temple Karnak and more. Upon their return to Cairo, guests can opt to view a sound-and-light show at the pyramids, easily the best night show in Egypt.

2 Guides: Central Holidays employs licensed Egyptologists. They are not only immensely knowledgeable but also friendly, kind and ready to answer any question.

3 Accommodations and Dining: While in Cairo, guests stay at the JW Marriott located in Mirage City. It’s close to the airport and surrounded by an 18-hole golf course.

The SGI-owned river vessels offer buffet meals, afternoon coffee on the top deck, and the option to buy alcoholic drinks. Bottled water is provided in cabins on a daily basis, as well as when sight-seeing. The rooms are spacious and include TVs in addition to big windows.

4 Ground Transportation: Central Holidays owns its own comfortable motor coaches that feature reclining seats and terrific air conditioning.

5 Typical Customers: Guests come from all walks of life, including families, couples, groups of friends and business travelers. The average age is typically 40 years and older. Greis said the company can customize trips to meet your clients’ needs.

6 Key Selling Points: Seeing the Great Pyramids of Giza from multiple angles and being able to touch them will make for lifelong memories, as will taking a camel ride past the pyramids. Currently priced from $899 per person, “Nile Voyager” is an affordable option for clients who want to tour Egypt.

7 Commission: Central Holidays offers varying levels of tours throughout Egypt, from moderate to ultraluxe experiences, and, according to Greis, pays “some of the highest commission levels to travel agents in the industry.” For more information, contact Vice President of Sales James Zitani at jzitani@centralholidays.com.