The Egyptian Red Sea August 14-28, 2015 with Dr. Bill

[drbill]

I'm heading out to the Egyptian Red Sea August 14-28 with a group from Indian Valley SCUBA. There are still openings for this trip and it should be a very interesting one. Of course I'm not sure who this Dr. Bill they describe is... I'm just a dive bum!

http://www.starthrower.org/diving/Trip Flyer - Egypt-1.html

Much of the diving will be based at the Roots Camp in El Quseir. Here is TripAdvisor's description of the camp:

Roots Luxury Camp (El Quseir, Egypt) - Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor

 

[Tjack]

Looks like an awesome adventure!!!

 

[drbill]

It certainly should be!

 

[drbill]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]INDIAN[/FONT][FONT=Trajan Pro, serif][/FONT][FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]VALLEY[/FONT][/FONT]
T R A V E L
_{A deliberately different approach to adventure!}






[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Matura MT Script Capitals, serif]Ancient Egyptian Culture & Red Sea Adventure![/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A Citizen Scientists Dream Come Through with Dr. Bill Bushing![/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]15 Days / 13 Nights – August 14-28, 2015[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Indian Valley Travel, the Deliberately Different Adventure Travel Experts, are proud to bring you the perfect combination of excitement, education, exploration, and relaxation, above and below the sea, in the land of the Ancient Pharaohs![/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Led by our own David Valaika, an experienced international tour leader with numerous Egyptian adventures under his belt, and featuring Dr. William ‘Bill’ Bushing, world-renown Harvard Educated Marine Scientist, Founder of the Star Thrower Educational System, author of “Dive Dry with Dr. Bill” newspaper column and TV show, expert in Marine Biological Research & Education, Recipient of the 2011 California SCUBA Service Award, and so much more! Dr. Bill will be studying the marine ecosystem, leading educational seminars with our participants, gathering data, photos and videos to support his research. More on Dr. Bill’s StarThrower Foundation can be found at www.StarThrower.org [/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This is truly the long-awaited trip of your lifetime to go where so few have traveled, and see what so few have seen or experienced, and all this under the care and guidance of an experienced, well-organized professional travel organization that understands the local cultures and traditions, and factors the comfort and safety of our guests at the top of our lists.[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Here we present our itinerary on a day-by-day basis. Of course, flexibility is a given, but the itinerary includes the details of where, when and how for this two week adventure! [/FONT]




[h=3][FONT=Arial, serif]Egypt & the Red Sea Itinerary[/FONT][/h]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 1: Friday, 14^th August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This is our departure from your selected gateway city, as the members of our group gather embark from far and wide join us on this very special adventure together. Bags, checked, hunkered down in your seats, well fed, lights dimmed, and the idea is that you’ll arrive rested and ready to go at the other end. Amazingly, it often works for some! You’ll need all that energy stored up for when our adventure begins the next day![/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 2: Saturday, 15^th August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Depending on your chosen flight, our group will arrive in Cairo sometime between 1:00 and 6:00 pm, but regardless of your flight, our professional guide will meet & greet each of us as we arrive, conveniently on the ‘Airside’ of the terminal, with our Egyptian Travel Visas in hand, before we even pass immigration. Then we’ll be VIP’d through Immigration, collect our bags, pass through Customs and load up into our dedicated shuttle bus with our escort, for the short ride the Mensa House Bed & Breakfast to check in and freshen up.[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]For those of us who are feeling spritely after our long flight, we are planning to start the program directly with an evening visit to one of the civilized world’s oldest market places, Kham El Khalili. From there we’ll return to the hotel to relax and enjoy dinner (not included)[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 3: Sunday 16^th August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]We start the day with short trip across to the Pyramids while the sun is low and the temperature not too hot. Its then back for breakfast before leaving the hotel for a morning visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities for a thorough tour by our registered Egyptologist Guide. We’ll catch a local lunch [not included], then visit famous Mohamed Ali Mosque.[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]We’ll return to the hotel to check out, and our bags will be loaded to travel by truck directly to Roots Camp. Then our bus will take us directly to the domestic departure gates at Cairo Airport. Our 6pm flight to Hurghada [included] is under an hour, and we’ll again be greeted by our new guides, from Roots Camp, who will transfer us for the approx. 90 minute ride along the coast of the Red Sea to Root Luxury Camp, our base of operations for the next nine days. There we’ll enjoy a detailed orientation, served over the first of many sumptuous meals we’ll come to expect at Roots![FONT=TT195t00, serif] [/FONT][/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 4: Monday 17^th August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]After breakfast, we’ll get our Morning Check and General Dive Briefing completed at Pharaoh Dive Club. That behind us, we’ll walk the 200 yards to the shore of the Red Sea for an Orientation Dive at Abu Sauatir. With all the gear working well, our 2^{n d} dive will be an Abu Hamra Shore Dive. Back for Lunch at Roots, and then we can enjoy an afternoon or relaxing or take advantage of the unlimited shore diving on the house reef.[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 5: Tuesday 18^th August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Breakfast, followed by two Morning Shore Dives, before we return for Lunch at 2pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Bellies full, we’re free to enjoy Unlimited Afternoon Diving on the House Reef[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]That evening we have a special Night Dive, served up with a fun and delicious Beach BBQ[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 6: Wednesday 19^th August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Wake up to another wonderful breakfast, then we’re off in the Zodiaks for a 2-tank morning dive[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Return for Lunch at 2pm, then we have the choice of Unlimited Afternoon Diving on the House Reef; or Quad Bike Safari with Camel Ride[/FONT]




[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 7: Thursday 20^th August [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Early morning start today at 5:00 am to go to Elphinstone for 2-tank Zodiak dives on this massive offshore pinnacle, just teeming with life. Surface interval between dives will be on the zodiacs and we’re often treated to a show by some of the pelagic creatures that pass through the area[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]We return for Lunch at 2pm, then again have the afternoon to relax or enjoy Unlimited Afternoon Diving on the House Reef[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 8: Friday 21^st August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Breakfast, then 2-tank Morning Shore Dives[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Return for Lunch at 2pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Unlimited Afternoon Diving on the House Reef[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A special treat this evening as we visit El Quseir for Dinner at a local Fish Restaurant[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 9: Saturday 22^st August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Today we set off to Hurghada at 4:00 am to board the a large Day Boat to dive one of the signature wrecks of the Red Sea, the British war victim Thistlegorm[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Our tentative schedule is as follows:[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1st Dive 10am Abu Nuhas Wrecks[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2nd Dive 2 pm Thistlegorm[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]3rd Dive 6pm Dusk Dive on Thistlegorm[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]We’ll overnight on board our vessel[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 10: Sunday 23^rd August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Early roll call and we set off from our anchorage for another day of diving[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Today’s dive schedule is:[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1st Dive 8am Rosalie Moller – Deep Dive[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2nd Dive 11am Rosalie Moller – Deep Dive[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]3rd Dive Dolphin House with high chance of Dolphins[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Return to dock for 5:00 pm and head back to Roots for Dinner[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 11: Monday 24^th August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Breakfast, followed by 2-tank Morning Shore Dives at Serib Kebir[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Return for Lunch at 2pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Unlimited Afternoon Diving on the House Reef[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 12: Tuesday 25^th August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Breakfast, followed by two Morning Shore Dives, before we return for Lunch at 2pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Bellies full, we’re free to enjoy Unlimited Afternoon Diving on the House Reef[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]That evening we have a special Night Dive, served up with a fun and delicious Beach BBQ[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 13: Wednesday 26^th August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Our last breakfast at the camp, and then it’s off for a 2-tank Morning Zodiak Dive at Erg Monica & Erg Lassal[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Return for Lunch at 2:00 pm, then load the van and be on the road to Luxor by 4:00 pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Check in at the Martime Hotel on Bed & Breakfast[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple - Optional[/FONT]




[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 14: Thursday 27^th August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Dawn Balloon Ride over the monuments – Optional[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Full Day Tour of Luxor with our guide, including[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Valley of the Kings[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Queen Hatshepsup Temple[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Karnak or Luxor Temple[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Collossi of Memnom[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Sail on the Nile in a Faluka[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Lunch included[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]At the end of the day, we’ll collect bags from the hotel and head to the airport for our 7:20pm flight to Cairo[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Check in at Concorde el Salam Hotel in Cairo[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 15: Friday 28^th August[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Up early to be at airport to catch our return flights[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Fly back to New York or your gateway city, exhausted, but thrilled over what you just experienced![/FONT]








[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Package Prices[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Trip Cost: $1,995 per person, dbl occ[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Single Supplement: $600[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Board Basis:[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Cairo & Luxor (Bed & Breakfast basis)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]El Qusier & Hurghada on All-Inclusive (except alcohol)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Interior Flights Included[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Flights to and from Cairo excluded[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Local Reef Tax extra[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Tips & Gratuities[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Indian Valley Travel[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]601 Yoder Road Harleysville, PA 19438 215-256-8600[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][url]www.IndianValleyTravel.com[/URL][/FONT]

 

[drbill]

Note, this trip will be nowhere near the Sinai where much of the current trouble is happening in Egypt.