2020 GeoEx Catalog

New �  Egypt Insider AN ALL-WOMEN JOURNEY ALONG THE NILE

At the helm are two accomplished and delightful-to- travel-with leaders: Sylvie Franquet, an Arabic scholar, textile artist, and writer, and Randa Abdel Wahab, a Cairo-born, charismatic Egyptologist. The pair will wind insightful facts and discussions throughout our explorations. Our five-night Nile cruise aboard a pleasing dahabeya —reserved exclusively for our group—lends itself especially well to easy conversations about life in Egypt and to getting to know one another, whether you wish to talk about favorite finds at the souk or the country’s Islamic and secular forms of feminism. From Cairo to Luxor to Aswan, we cater to the intellect with escapades to museums, medieval homes, mosques, and sacred tombs, even enjoying a private open- ing of the Great Pyramid’s Queen Burial Chamber. But we also nurture the sensual side with henna art, Egyptian cooking, a Nubian dancing lesson, and opportunities for massage. After all, what better way to celebrate world travel with fellow women adventurers than by nurturing our whole selves—mind, body, and spirit.

TOURING · RIVER CRUISING | 13 DAYS · GROUP

O f the countless influential women to have graced and shaped Egyptian history, Cleopatra—one of the most intellectually talented and impactful political lead- ers of her time—may be the best known. Most are not household names, however, such as Merit-Ptah, chief physician to the pharaoh during the Second Dynasty; Hind Nawfal, who inaugurated a women’s press (written by women on women’s issues) in 1892; and modern-day writer-activist-doctor Nawal El Saadawi—not to mention the women who courageously took to the streets in 2011 to advocate for change in their country. Inspired by their fearless- ness and passion, GeoEx has created an all-women journey to explore Egypt’s ancient and mod- ern heart from a female perspective.

Our Splendors of Egypt journey visits similar sites and is open to men and women. See GeoEx.com for details.

North and

nov. 6–18, 2019; nov. 4–16, 2020 from $17,835

Days 1–3  arrive in Cairo and explore ✦  4  fly to Luxor, board dahabeya ✦  5  Valley of the Kings and Queens ✦  6–8  Nile cruising with visits to   Esna, Kom Ombo, and Edfu ✦  9 & 10  Aswan discovery, disembark ✦  11  fly to Cairo via Abu Simbel ✦  12  Cairo ✦  13  depart.

Central Africa

BELOW  Getting a closer look at the hieroglyphic reliefs of the Philae Temple, Aswan.

MICHELE BURGESS / ALAMY

54