Transformational Travel
Awaken to the Heart of Being:
A 13-day Odyssey
to the Nile Valley and Western Desert of Egypt
12 – 16 participants
February 6 - 18, 2009
Registration Deadline: December 15, 2008
RReizen - Egypte is your host for a 13-day transformational adventure to the power places of the Nile Valley and the Western Desert of Egypt. Rita van der Heijden, founder and director of RReizen - Egypte has been leading private groups from The Netherlands to Egypt for eight years. In that time, she has developed a wide network of connections among the Egyptian people and the Bedouin natives of the Western Desert. Because of the relationships she has built over the years, Rita offers us access to an Egypt that most tourists never see. Through Rita we get a real sense of the Egyptian people and their land, and can experience the energy and power of this birthplace of human civilization.
Rita has now invited Alan Seale to join her Egyptian trips as transformation coach and facilitator. Many people have heard of the mystical qualities of the temples, pyramids, and tombs of ancient Egypt. Yet few are aware of the transformative power of the Western Desert. Regardless of your expectations and intentions when you arrive in Egypt, this motherland will have its agenda for you. This part of the world is rich in ancient wisdom, and the pulse of life is strong here. Through group dialogues, one-on-one conversations, and workshop exploration, Alan will help you make the most of your experience and of your deeper awakening to the heart of being that is sure to be a part of this Egyptian odyssey.
Our trip will begin in Cairo with visits to the Great Pyramids and Sphynx, the Egyptian Museum, and the Khan El-Khalili—the largest bazaar in the world—so that you begin to get a flavor of this part of the world. Cairo is a city of over 20 million people. Here East meets West.
From Cairo we will then travel to the Western Desert in our own private, air-conditioned, motorcoach. Here we will spend five days in oasis settings among the Bedouin people and in the vast open space of the Black and White Deserts. Then for the last part of our trip we will be based in Luxor, home of the Luxor and Karnak Temples and the Valley of the Kings, with easy access to points further south.
Our emphasis for this trip is on experiencing the energy and power of Egypt, receiving the gifts she has for each of us, and being with the native Egyptian people and culture. Our accommodations are simple but very clean and comfortable. Everywhere, except for our night sleeping under the stars in the magical White Desert, you will have a room with private bathroom and shower. We eat very well but simply—a lot of chicken, rice, and vegetables, especially in the desert. If you are looking for a 5-star luxury vacation, this is not it. However, what we can promise is a 10-star life experience and a 15-star heart experience. You will experience Egypt in extraordinary ways that few people have the opportunity to do.
Below you will find a more complete itinerary for our trip. Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity and experience your own deeper awakening to the heart of being.
Rita van der Heijden — Tour Guide and Host Extraordinaire
Hamdi Mosa — Local Chaperone, Driver, and Liason to Egyptian Life
Alan Seale — Awakening and Transformation Guide
Trip Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Cairo in the evening on flights from Amsterdam or New York, or your location in the world. Transfer provided to the Shepheard Hotel in the center of Cairo (www.shepheard-hotel.com)
Day 2
Welcome breakfast, followed by a visit to the Egyptian Museum. After lunch, we visit the Hussein Mosque and the Khan El Khalili, the largest market bazaar in the world. After dinner, we witness the Dervish Dancing. Overnight again at the Shepheard Hotel.
Day 3
After breakfast and check-out, we spend the morning at the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphynx. In the afternoon we travel by motorcoach to the Bahariya Oasis, a trip of about 350 km. After dinner, we walk through the village where you will have your first experience and impressions of the Bedouin culture. Overnight at the Hotel Old Oasis.
Day 4
This morning we travel by jeep to the Black Desert and the Crystal Mountains, with time for outdoor experience in each area. After lunch at a Bedouin café, we travel on to the White Desert where our Bedouin safari drivers and guides prepare our camp for overnight stay and cook us a wonderful dinner. Here we walk among the beautiful and protective white limestone monoliths, enjoy the sunset, sleep under a canopy of stars like you’ve never imagined, and are awakened by the rising sun.
Day 5
After a simple breakfast, we return by safari jeep to our motorcoach and then travel to the Dakhla Oasis, where we will spend the next three days at a Bedouin Camp. On our way to Dakhla, we stop in Farafra to visit Badr who calls himself “an artist with a dream.” We will also have lunch along the way. Just a note about the Bedouin Camp—although this is called a camp, we actually stay in the “hotel” part of the camp where you have the comforts of a simple room with private bathroom and shower. In the evenings after dinner we enjoy sitting in the “coffee shop” around a fire where you can have some Bedouin tea, listen to Bedouin music, and sample the apple-flavored tobacco of the shisha or water pipe if you wish to try it.
Day 6
After breakfast, we travel out into the desert by camel. This part of the desert has a very different feel than the Black and White Deserts, and the perfect way to explore it is by camel. After lunch Alan Seale will lead a workshop to explore your discoveries, feelings, and experiences of the desert. We wrap up the day with dinner and relaxing conversation around the fire. Overnight at the Bedouin Camp.
Day 7
This is primarily a workshop day. You continue your journey into the heart of being under Alan’s expert guidance. Then in the late afternoon you have options of visiting the local hotsprings or the sand dunes to watch the sunset before dinner. After dinner we can again enjoy relaxing around the fire. Overnight at the Bedouin Camp.
Day 8
This morning we have an early breakfast and then depart for the trip to Luxor by motorcoach. The six-hour trip is broken up by a visit to the Hibis Temple in Kharga, as well as lunch. We also use a part of the drive for facilitated dialogue about our journey through Egypt and your journey within. We arrive in Luxor by 17.00 (5:00 PM) and settle into the Hotel Nile Valley on the West Bank of the Nile, where we will stay for the next five nights. Dinner is at the roof garden restaurant at our hotel overlooking the Nile. Overnight at the Hotel Nile Valley.
Day 9
Today is dedicated to visits to the Karnak Temple and the Luxor Museum on the East Bank of the Nile in Luxor. Overnight at the Hotel Nile Valley.
Day 10
After breakfast, we travel south by motorcoach to Denderah to visit the Hathor Temple. After lunch we enjoy an afternoon falucca trip (the traditional Nile sail boat) and sunset on the Nile. Overnight at the Hotel Nile Valley.
Day 11
Today we explore the West Bank region, beginning with a visit to the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, and the Tomb of Aye. We will also visit alabaster and papyrus shops where you will see fascinating and informative demonstrations of how alabaster and papyrus products are made. There will also be time to shop here. After a late lunch there will be time for a rest before crossing back to the East Bank to visit the Luxor Temple after sunset. The day ends with a late dinner. Overnight at the Hotel Nile Valley.
Day 12
After breakfast, you have the day to yourself to enjoy Luxor as you please. You may choose to visit the Karnak or Luxor Temples again, to shop in the wonderful Luxor bazaar, or to visit the West Bank farm villages with Hamdi, our driver. Lunch and dinner is on your own. In the evening we gather for a final farewell and wrap-up of the trip.
American travelers may have to return to Cairo this evening for early morning flights the next day to New York.
Overnight at the Hotel Nile Valley or the Shepheard Hotel in Cairo.
Day 13
Morning transfer to the Luxor Airport for the flight from Luxor to Cairo, and then Cairo to Amsterdam or New York or the destination of your choice.
Trip Price
The price of 1,900 euros* per person includes:
- Egyptian visa fees
- all hotels (double occupancy—single room surcharge of 100 euros)
- Jeep Safari Excursion in the White Desert
- all meals (excluding beverages and bottled water) except lunch and dinner on Day 12
- all entrance fees
- all excursions
- taxes
- tips
- airport transfers in Egypt
- ground transportation in Egypt
- facilitation and workshop with Alan Seale
This price does not include:
- round-trip airfare to Cairo, and from Luxor to Cairo at the end of the trip
- beverages and bottle water (readily available everywhere and very inexpensive)
- final day lunch, dinner, and activities on your own in Luxor
- shopping and personal spending
- required personal travel insurance
* Visit www.oanda.com for current currency conversion rates.
Information and Registration
Contact Rita van der Heijden, Tour Host, via e-mail or by telephone from the U.S. at 011 31 6 5394.0589. If calling from Europe, the number is 0031 6 5394.0589. Visit RReizen-Egypte website.
Contact Alan Seale, Awakening and Transformation Guide, via e-mail or at +1 585 473 9793.
Register for the trip by requesting a booking form from Rita van der Heijden and RReisen - Egypte.