Egypt is a stunning open-air museum of soaring pyramids, temples, and bazaars that weave a fascinating spell in a timeless desert landscape. Give comfort and care to Cairo’s lost generation of ’street children’ and work in a Luxor orphanage, bringing light to the lives of these adorable kids. Ride camels, break bread and overnight with nomadic Bedouins, deep in the desert, and share their unique culture. Journey down the legendary Nile River in a traditional felucca, sailing in the historic wake of the Pharaohs. Bask in the spectacularly clear turquoise waters of the Red Sea, and SCUBA dive and snorkel fluorescent canyons of coral.
Cairo Exploration and Orphanage Work
We fly from New York to Cairo to begin our journey in the land of historic Egypt. After getting acquainted with our new surroundings and taking some basic Arabic lessons, we link up with an established orphanage and spend the next few days refurbishing their home and getting to know the needy children that live here. Spending quality time with the orphans, we have the chance for an incredible cultural exchange and to witness first-hand, a population of great need.
Tour Pyramids and Help Out Cairo Street Children
While in Cairo we also visit the famous Egyptian Museum, home to the largest collection of artifacts in the world including the Pharaoh tombs of Ramses and Tutukama. We also are accompanied by a recognized Egyptologist to tour the grandeur of the Sphinx and Giza Pyramid. Our time in Cairo comes to an end with a few hours of service work with the Cairo Street Children Project. A United Nations affiliated project that has brought love and support to the one million strong community of undernourished and marginalized street kids. During a basketball camp for the kids, we help hand out T-shirts, provide lunches and shoot hoops with these children.
Luxor, Valley of the Kings and Queens and Sailing on the Nile River
We take the train down to Luxor and see this quaint historical city on the banks of the Nile River. We explore the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the sacred burial place of the Pharaohs and Queens, and watch the sun dip behind the mystical Karnak Temple. In Luxor we get back to work and are invited into an orphanage where we work and play with the children for two full days. Learning how even a brief interaction can change a child’s life, we leave the orphanage with new friends and memories. Our time in Luxor is highlighted by an afternoon felucca ride, sailing up the Nile River.
Summit Mt. Sinai and Ride Camels with the Bedouins
Our adventure continues by taking a ferry across the Red Sea to the Sinai Peninsula. Climbing Mt.Sinai, considered a spiritual and sacred place by three of the world’s most prominent religions, we step back in time and watch the sun rise over the Middle East. Next we head out into the desert and meet the nomadic Bedouin people. Guided by their camels, we spend 3 days learning about and living this unique way of life.
SCUBA Dive the Red Sea
Our odyssey comes to a close at the idyllic beaches of the Red Sea. Home to some of the best diving in the world, we spend the next five days becoming PADI Certified Open Water Divers or upgrade to a PADI Advanced Open Water Certification. Reefs teeming with exotic fish, opportunities to dive in the famous “blue hole” or “the canyon”, these crystal clear waters are a perfect location to learn to dive. (All students wishing to SCUBA dive must pass a thorough diving physical and cannot have used an inhaler or suffered from asthma in the past three years. For those not wishing to dive, alternative water activities are available.) We then travel back to Cairo for a final celebration and bid a warm farewell to the Land of the Pharaohs. After many sand swept vistas, high fives, smiling faces, spitting camels, iridescent blue waters, and golden pyramids, we say goodbye to our newfound friends and board our flight home, the “lost civilization” has now been found.
