Jerry and David's All Gay Cruises and Tours

Book your cruise today with
RSVPCruises.com, call Jerry at:
1.800.748.6968

Please select a month to travel:

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Above & Beyond Atlantis Events roMANce Voyages RSVP Vacations Toto Tours Olivia rFamily

Return To Toto Tours Directory

RIVERS OF PHAROHS
Wonders of Egypt
October 6 – 17, 2008

Living History

No country in the world has so many impressive antiquities as does Egypt. Few civilizations can compete with Egypt’s magnificent buildings, its legendary wealth, or its long centuries of peace. To a large extent this is because other civilizations did not have Egypt’s main advantage—a great river. For tens of thousands of years the River Nile has been the focal point of life, and ancient Egyptians believed the river’s waters came from a “mysterious heaven of plenty.”

     All of Egypt depended on the Nile for water, food, and transportation. The need to maintain irrigation channels as well as the convenient transportation that the river provided were some of the reasons Egypt was the first country in the world to have a national government. The availability of this unlimited supply of water allowed the creation of a society which produced the wonders of ancient Egypt.

     Throughout history people have tried to understand the pyramids. Early Christians thought they were places where priests watched the stars. In the late 18th century some people believed that the Great Pyramids’ measurements were devised by God, and that from them they could predict the future. In time, however, with the excavation of whole towns, temples and tombs, scholars finally came to understand that these were the final resting places of Egypt’s great kings—the Pharaohs.

     The title of Pharaoh certainly sounds impressive, but it simply means “the one who lives in the palace.” The Egyptians believed, however, that no single name could express adequately the greatness of their ruler. They felt that the king, by serving the gods, helped the sun to rise every morning and helped the Nile to flood at the end of each summer, and that in return for the offerings of food and water that only the Pharaoh could make, the gods would feed their souls after death. The Pharaoh’s power was almighty and unquestioned. The Pharaoh’s chief duty was to build and maintain temples to the gods.

     The ancient Greeks saw Egypt as a source of all wisdom. Roman emperors traveled here to marvel at the pyramids. They packed up Egyptian statues and obelisks and sent them home to decorate Rome. The worship of deities like Isis and Osiris spread through the Roman Empire as far as Britain. As a result, Egypt is probably one of the world’s oldest vacation spots. Early Greeks, Romans and others went there just for fun, and to see the wonders of some of mankind’s earliest triumphs.

     For thousands of years Egypt has been the playground of emperors and kings, but it is much more than just its pyramids and monuments. It is also Red Sea tranquility, hot nightclubs, luxury hotels and world-class restaurants. It is romantic cruises down the Nile on deluxe ships, and adventurous excursions into the vastness of the Sahara Desert. Toto Tours invites you on a cultural odyssey to Egypt, the like of which you have never experienced before. Journey with us to a land bustling with life, sound, visual beauty and excitement. It is, without a doubt, the one place you simply must experience in your lifetime.

Click here to view itinerary

2008 Rivers of Pharohs Information

ACCOMMODATIONS
(Click hotel name to read description)

Cairo (first 3 nights and final night): Cairo Marriott Palace & Casino

Luxor: Sonesta St. George Hotel

Nile Cruise: MS Mojito Five Star Deluxe Nile Cruiser

Abu Simbel: Seti Abu Simbel Hotel

TOUR PREPARATION

Entry Requirements—Citizens of the United States and Canada need a valid passport and visa for travel to Egypt. Passports must be valid for a minimum of six months after the end of the tour. The cost of the visa is $15, and is not included. Toto Tours will provide information about how to obtain your visa once your reservation has been received.

Immunizations—No immunizations are compulsory, but inoculations for typhoid, polio, malaria, hepatitis and tetanus are advised. Please consult your personal physician for advice and immunization planning.

Exit Requirements—There is no departure tax levied when leaving Egypt.

WHAT TO BRING

Temperatures in Egypt can be quite hot in October, as it is the end of the summer season. Expect upper 90’s in the daytime during the cruise and at Abu Simbel. As is typical of desert climates, temps drop significantly at night. Expect the weather in Cairo to range from a cool 65 degrees to a comfortable 86 degrees. Bring light-colored, lightweight cotton or linen clothes that breathe well, or the new micro-fiber fabrics.
Dress is casual and conservative; your clothes should not insult local sensibilities, so leave tight, provocative apparel at home. Loose garments are more comfortable and allow wind to circulate, creating a natural ventilation system. Pack light and try to carry only two small suitcases. Pack any medications you require in a carry-on bag just in case your luggage doesn’t arrive when you do. Leave expensive jewelry at home—it marks you as a wealthy tourist and an easy target for mugging.

Suggested Packing List:

____ Passport and Visa

____ Sturdy walking shoes / cool sandals

____ 4 pairs long pants, lightweigh cotton or khaki trousers for dinners

____ 1 pair sturdy denim jeans for riding camels or horses (not necessary if you just want to climb on one for a photo op)

____ 3 pairs shorts for hot desert sightseeing excursions

____ T-shirts (6 - 8).

____ Socks and underwear for 10 days

____ Daypack & fanny pack (you will want to carry water at all times)

____ Sunscreen / lip balm / bug spray

____ Sunglasses / sun hat

____ Personal toiletries

____ Swimsuits.

____ Jacket or sweater for cooler nights and mornings.

____ Camera & plenty of film or memory cards / extra batteries

____ A good book for the plane / ship

MONEY MATTERS

The monetary unit is the Livre Egyptian or the Egyptian pound (EGP), which is subdivided into 100 piastres (PT). Notes come in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 LE, and 50 and 25 PT. Coins are 25, 20, 10, and 5 PT. On December 16, 2007, the interbank exchange rate was 5.62 EGP to the U.S. $1. All international hotels and most restaurants and shops accept the major credit cards. ATMs are widely available, and many banks provide cash advances on credit cards.

Taxes and Tipping—Tipping or “baksheesh” is generally around 5% of the full sum, usually less if the bill is very high and slightly more if the bill is low. In other words, the more you spend, the less you tip. Hotel maids should get around LE10 per week, porters LE2 and elevator or door men LE1. Taxi drivers are particularly aggressive and any demands for higher tips should be studiously ignored. Most cabbies already add an illegal “foreigner” surcharge.

RESERVATIONS

To reserve a place on this tour, click on the “Reservations” link above. Type in the information requested in each field, print the form, then sign and mail it to Toto Tours with your $500 deposit check. You also have the option to pay for your tour deposit with a Visa or MasterCard. The remaining balance is due 80 days prior to departure (by July 18, 2008). Tour registration is not complete until we have received both the form and your deposit check.
Toto Tours does not accept credit cards as a form of payment except for the amount of the tour deposit ($500 maximum can be charged per tour). An installment plan is possible. Our mailing address is: Toto Tours, 1326 W. Albion Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60626-4753. Make checks payable to: Toto Tours, Ltd.

LIABILITIES / DISCLAIMERS

Making a reservation with a deposit shall be deemed to be consent to these conditions: Toto Tours does not accept responsibility in whole or in part for any delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medical expenses, or property damage occasioned by fault of any person from whatever cause. All tour participants are required to sign a standard liability form.
The tour operators reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a member of the tour at any time and to make whatever changes become necessary with or without notice. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of 10 participants. Toto Tours is not responsible for airline cancellation or change penalties incurred by individual tour participants for air tickets purchased prior to notification that the tour is a confirmed departure.

THE TOTO SPIRIT

Toto Tours provides Adventure Travel Experiences as differentiated from tours in the traditional sense. Adventure Travel allows (even encourages) you to be an active participant. Adventurers can be identified by certain traits. They are:

fun-loving optimists who have a sense of humor and accentuate the positive;
good natured realists who are willing to accept situations as they exist;
undaunted by the unexpected, like occasional delays or bad weather;
willing to forego some of the amenities we normally take for granted;
eager to try new things & test limits;
punctual;
not whiners!

Toto Tours is known for attracting great groups of guys who are outgoing, interesting, and fun. You wouldn’t want to do this tour with anybody else! Come with us to the River of the Pharaohs for absolutely the most memorable vacation experience of your life! If you have any questions, please call toll-free: 800-565-1241.

THE BOTTOM LINE
(tour prices per person)

Price: $4,295 double occupancy (including air from New York)

Private Room: $700 extra, if available. (Paying a single supplement is not required. Toto Tours can match you with a roommate if you are traveling alone and prefer to share a room.)

Deposit: $500 (Due at time of registration for the tour. May be paid with a credit card.)

Remaining Balance: $3,795 double / $4,495 single
(Assumes $500 deposit has already been made)

Remaining Balance Due: July 18, 2008
(Full payment required with reservation form if enrolling after this date.)

Included: Round-trip air aboard Egyptair flights between New York City and Cairo, three flights within Egypt (CAI/LXR, ASW/ABS, ABS/CAI); services of a full-time Egyptologist Guide plus services of a full-time Toto Tour Manager; air-conditioned motorcoach for sightseeing in Cairo; all entrance fees for guided excursions except those listed as “optional”; meals and accommodations as listed in the itinerary.

Not Included: Cost of obtaining a visa for entry to Egypt; optional excursions, meals and other items not specifically covered in the itinerary; insurance; beverages at “included” meals; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; bottled water; laundry; telephone calls; internet; faxes; or any other expenses of a personal nature. Tips to drivers / guides are not included.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We recommend you purchase travel insurance with CSA Travel Protection to cover for unforseen events prior to and during your trip. Please ask Jerry for more information.