Pyramids, Pharaohs, Mummies, and Tombs oh my! 12-day trip thru Egypt to see & experience the best sites

Hi there! Thanks for reading about, and hopefully considering, my trip to Egypt. Egypt is a bucket list destination for many people. It's been on my list for quite some time and I have decided that I am kicking off 2023 with a trip to experience Egyptian culture - famous for its pyramids, pharaohs, mummies, and tombs! This trip will be a mixture of sightseeing, taking in local cultures and customs, and some relaxation. I will be doing this trip alone, although as anyone who has traveled knows, it's nice to be able to share these experiences with another person. That's why I am looking for one other person (although three others can join the trip, and we'd just split accommodations into two sets of two). I have not been to Egypt before, although I've done a "deep dive" on various websites about where to go/stay and what to do. I will definitely be prepared, but I won't be your tour guide... I've done the work and set up a trip that has guides for most of the activities. This way, we can enjoy the country. Anyone who has been to middle eastern countries, knows that the lifestyle can be chaotic and stressful for westerners. I've been to Turkey and Morocco and know how demanding situations can get, so I've made a trip to minimize some of the "tension points". 📍 What's the plan? I've already planned the trip after extensive research. This trip will start in Cairo to take in the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and Saqqara in the daytime, then return to the Pyramids at night to experience the Sound & Light Show. The next day we will take in The Grand Egyptian Museum (scheduled to open in November 2022) before taking an overnight train to Luxor where we will board a cruise down the Nile for 5d/4n on-board the Chateau Laffayette. Along the cruise, we will see: the Dendara & Abydos Temples, Luxor Colossi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut Temple, Karnak Temple, and Philae Temple. The really cool thing about the Nile cruise is that it includes all meals and there is nightly entertainment on-board....belly dance show, Egyptian Galabeya Party, disco night, and a Nubian show. Once we disembark in Aswan, we will visit a Nubian Village and stay for a night before catching a flight to Abu Simbel where we'll take in two massive-cut rock temples built by the Egyptian king Ramses II. Many people consider Abu Simbel the highlight of their trip to Egypt. Because we will fly into Abu Simbel (and not take the day trip with its seven hours of bus riding), we will be able to go back to the temple complex at night for the laser and light show. About myself: I am a 54 y.o. divorced dad of two teens. I live in Arizona. I'm a good conversationalist, although I would describe myself as quiet. Although not a party-person by any means, I can be outgoing and social and have a good time. I have done a lot of traveling these past two years - Costa Rica, Ecuador, Belize, Guatemala, Peru, Norway, Sweden and Estonia. I consider myself travel experienced. I enjoy photography (so if you are a person who likes to post on Insta, I have an excellent eye for composing great pictures. Past travel partners have really enjoyed my photography skills.) About my travel style: First, I am more into experiences than material things, so I do not need 5-star accommodations. I typically stay in 3- or 4-star places, in which I get good deals. All the accommodations on this trip are shared. So we'll be sharing a room, although each place has separate beds. Most of this trip is planned out, although there are a few spots in which there is open time, so we can take your interests and wishes into account. Also, since there are excursions every day on the cruise, you can elect to forego anyone activity and relax by yourself on-board or take in another activity. 💰 The price includes: - all accommodations (shared) - some meals (B,L,D every day on the cruise is included) - in-country flights - I've included a Trip Leader Fee of $100 USD since it takes a lot of time, research and effort to put together such a detailed trip. - a buffer of 10% built-in, although I encourage you to bring extra money since things like tips to guides are not included Are you interested? I'd love to hear from you. If you have questions or want to find out more about me, message me. I hope you'll join this amazing trip.