Luxury Egypt – Nile Golf Tour
17 Night Tour with 6 Golf Games
23 October to 9 November 2024
from AUD 14,930 per person (sharing as couple or pair)*
Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours invites you to join us on Trendsetter’s Luxury Egypt – Nile Golf Tour, which includes a 7 night luxury cruise on Uniworld’s River Tosca from Luxor to Luxor. The tour is structured to allow you to see the main historic monuments and sights of Egypt while travelling and staying in 5 star luxury – indeed we have booked the best hotels available in Cairo, Luxor and Somabay. Your hotel stays in Cairo and Luxor are in famous 5 star luxury hotels which are both located on the banks of the Nile River. In addition, you will stay 3 nights at a luxury resort on the Red Sea coast and have a chance to golf alongside and swim (and float) in that famous salty sea.
There are 26 golf courses in Egypt and some of the golf courses in Cairo date back to the British military occupation of Egypt. We will have 6 games of golf in Egypt and play 5 different golf courses. All are internationally rated courses including designs by Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Gary Player and Peter Thompson. All are of a standard which should not disappoint. All have been constructed over the past 30 years and not only are they some of the best in Egypt (in terms of ranking we will play the top 4 ranked courses and the 9th ranked) but 4 of the 5 golf courses are in the top 100 golf courses in Africa. There is a lot of competition for these rankings due to the many great golf courses in South Africa and Morocco.
Our journey commences with a 5 night stay in Cairo staying at the 5 star luxury Four Seasons Plaza Hotel and includes 3 games of golf at the best 3 golf courses in Cairo plus a day of guided touring including the famous Cairo Museum and the Pyramids/Sphynx.
We will fly south to Luxor and board Uniworld’s luxury River Tosca for a 7 night cruise of the Nile River returning to Luxor. You will see so much on the cruise which includes countless temples and the Aswan Dam. We have included a special excursion to Abu Simbel which involves a short return flight. Your cruise includes all meals and beverages (standard alcoholic and non-alcoholic), gratuities, wifi and standard shore excursions.
On the cruise, you will enjoy a 30 sqm Grand Suite. River Tosca accommodates up to 82 guests with our tour party expected to comprise circa 30 of those guests. On the 10 nights ashore breakfasts, plus welcome and farewell dinners, are included. This will provide you with 8 evenings for independent dining.
After 11 days of activity, we take a breather and stay for 2 nights at the luxury Sofitel Luxor Winter Palace, one of the world’s most iconic luxury hotels which was constructed in 1886. We will have no scheduled activities these 2 days. However, our hotel is within walking distance of central Luxor and a short drive to all nearby attractions. You can independently explore or take private guided tours. For some, it may be a case of enjoying the beautiful public areas and extensive gardens before our 3 days of golfing in Somabay.
From Luxor we travel by coach for our final 3 nights at the Cascades Hotel from where we will play 3 games of golf.
Late October/early November is an ideal time to visit Egypt with perfect weather near guaranteed. The risk of any rain in Cairo, Luxor and Somabay is low with average minimum/maximum temperatures around 20/30 degrees. Our tour is timetabled to miss the summer months, June to September, when temperatures can be very hot and the winter months of December to March, when temperatures are cool and will not reach 20 degrees.
Your tour hosts are Adrienne Witteman and David Cooper, Directors/Co-Owners of Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours. Both are enthusiastic golfers and longstanding members of one of Sydney’s most prestigious golf clubs. They have golfed and cruised extensively around the world. They invite you to join them on this fantastic tour combined with the chance to play 6 games, all at a wonderful selection of the best Egyptian golf courses.
Significant additional information on the Uniworld component of our tour can be found on the following link:
www.uniworld.com/au/river-cruise/egypt/nile/splendors-of-egypt-and-the-nile/2024-cairo-to-cairo
*price based upon paying an elevated non refundable deposit of AUD 9,000 pp by 31 August 2023 – prices are further reduced by AUD 300 pp if you are a River Heritage Club Member (that is you have previously sailed on Uniworld).
Our tour is strictly limited to 26 golfers plus hosts Adrienne and David.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Wednesday 23 October 2024 – Cairo
Arrive independently at Cairo International Airport. A personal transfer is provided to the Four Seasons Plaza Hotel.
Meet up at 6.30 pm for Trendsetter Travel welcome drinks and dinner at the Four Seasons Plaza Hotel.
Tour Inclusions: transfer to hotel, pre-dinner drinks, dinner (including drinks) and accommodation
Day 2 – Thursday 24 October 2024 – Cairo – Golf Game 1 – Allegria Golf Course
For any non golfers, this is a day for independent exploring of Cairo. The concierge at Four Seasons will have ample suggestions.
Golf Game 1: Today we play the Greg Norman designed Allegria Golf Course (2010) and currently managed by Troon Golf. Allegria is presently ranked the # 1 golf course in Egypt and # 28 in Africa. We will depart around 7.45 am for a 45 minute coach transfer to the golf course. We are booked for a multi tee start from 9.30 am which should see us all finish around the same time of about 2 pm. The course is subject to many excellent reviews and will not disappoint.
Independent dining tonight.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast, golf and accommodation
Day 3 – Friday 25 October 2024 – Cairo – Full Day of Touring Including Museum and Pyramids
After breakfast, a full day of touring Cairo commences. First we tour the Pyramids/Sphynx, located on the outskirts of Cairo, with an included (but optional) camel ride. After a pleasant lunch at a highly recommended local restaurant (beer and wine included), we will visit the famous Cairo Museum. The Museum is currently in the process of being relocated to a larger building and the re-opening is scheduled for late calendar 2023.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast, guided tour of Cairo, lunch and accommodation
Day 4 – Saturday 26 October 2024 – Cairo – Golf Game 2 – Katamya Dunes
Golf Game 2: Today we play at Katamya Dunes – a Nick Faldo/Brian Curley/Lee Shmidt designed course (2010) – rated # 2 in Egypt and # 33 in all Africa. We are booked for a 9.30 am tee off. The course forms part of the Westin Golf Resort and Spa and receives excellent reviews.
Independent dining tonight.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast, golf and accommodation
Day 5 – Sunday 27 October 2024 – Cairo – Golf Game 3 – Newgiza Golf Club
Golf Game 3: Today we play Newgiza Golf Club – ranked # 3 in Cairo, # 4 in Egypt and # 89 in all Africa. Newgiza Golf Club (2019) was the final course design of Thompson, Perrett & Lobb before the passing of Peter Thompson. It is a another favourably reviewed golf course.
We are booked for a multi tee start from 9.30 am which should see us all finish around the same time of about 2 pm.
Independent dining tonight.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast, golf and accommodation
Day 6 – Monday 28 October 2024 – Transfer to Luxor
Today we will check out of the Four Seasons hotel and after a coach transfer to Cairo Airport, we take a 1 hour, 30 minute flight to Luxor. We will coach from the terminal to the Uniworld luxury River Boat, River Tosca, our home for the next 8 days.
All our tour rooms are a Grand Suite category with an area of circa 30 sqm. This is approximately double the size of an average stateroom on a European River Boat. All Grand Suites include a French balcony and custom-made beds draped with the finest bed linens. Added conveniences include a vanity and make-up mirror, generous built-in closets, a hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat for air conditioning, direct-dial telephone, iPod® docking station and flat-screen television with satellite channels. Private bathrooms have both a bathtub and shower, and are stocked with thick towels, cozy robes, his and her slippers and soothing bath amenities.
The Uniworld web page describes River Tosca “it perfectly captures the warmth and style of Egypt, taking guests on a culturally enriching adventure down the Nile in absolute luxury. This all-suite ship is elegantly designed with wood finishes and cozy public spaces. From the sprawling Sun Deck with shaded cabanas and a swimming pool, to the stylish lounge decorated with local wares, every space is inspired by the region in which it sails. Comfortable suites are fitted with the finest locally made products—like Egyptian cotton linens, for example. With a maximum capacity of 82 guests and a staff to guest ratio of almost 1:1, a cruise on the River Tosca is about as intimate and indulgent as it gets.”
Before dinner onboard this evening, we will be treated to a folkloric dance performance by a local band of dancers, in traditional costumes representing different Egyptian districts. This is known as the Whirling Dervish show.
For greater detail on Uniworld’s River Tosca Nile Cruise, please refer to the following link: www.uniworld.com/au/river-cruise/egypt/nile/splendors-of-egypt-and-the-nile/2024-cairo-to-cairo Please note that we are only including the Uniworld 7 night cruise and our tour itinerary only involves Uniworld from the time of boarding ship to disembarking ship 8 days later.
Tour Inclusions: all meals, including drinks, plus Uniworld tours
Day 7 – Tuesday 29 October 2024 – Luxor – Dendera - Cruising the Nile – Day 2 on Nile
This morning we visit the Temple of Karnak – which stands on the site of ancient Thebes, once the the flourishing capital of Egypt’s New Kingdom. After lunch back on River Tosca, we visit the Temple of Hathor at Dendera which was dedicated to the goddess of love and beauty. The temple dates to Egypt’s Ptolemaic era, when the heirs of Alexander the Great ruled over Egypt and adopted Egyptian culture and religion as their own. Built between 125 BC and AD 65, it is one of the best-preserved temples in all of Egypt and features a rare bas-relief of Cleopatra with Caesarion, the son she bore to Julius Caesar.
Tour Inclusions: all meals, including drinks, plus Uniworld tours
Day 8 – Wednesday 30 October 2024 – Luxor – Kom Ombo - Day 3 on Nile
Today we visit Valley of the Kings, one of the most famous archeological sites in the world and where the mummified remains of Tutankhamen are on display. Our day also includes a visit to the gigantic twin statues known as the Colossi of Memnon. Upon return to the ship, we set sail for Kom Ombo.
After dinner onboard tonight, we will enjoy a Galabeya Party with music, dancing and singing by crew members.
Tour Inclusions: all meals, including drinks, plus Uniworld tours.
Day 9 – Thursday 31 October 2024 – Kom Ombo, Cruising the Nile River, Aswan – Day 4 on Nile
This morning we visit The Kom Ombo Temple, a temple dedicated to two gods—the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus the Elder. Several of the 300 crocodile mummies discovered in the vicinity are displayed inside the temple.
After a break for lunch back on the ship, we hop aboard a small boat for a bird-watching excursion along the Nile.
Tour Inclusions: all meals, including drinks, plus Uniworld tours
Day 10 – Friday 1 November 2024 – Aswan Dam - Day 5 on Nile
A big day awaits. We will visit the Aswan High Dam, a marvel of modern engineering. The Aswan High Dam, completed in the 1970s, boasts some truly epic dimensions—it is 3,600 meters long; 980 meters wide at its base; and 93 meters high—with a reservoir capacity nearly five times that of the Hoover Dam.
Today will also see us visit the Unfinished Obelisk and the beautiful Philae Temple complex, which was moved from one island to another back in the 1970s. The day’s touring concludes with a ride in a felucca—a traditional Egyptian sailboat but only after we enjoy afternoon tea at a famous hotel depicted in Agatha Christie’s novel Death on the Nile.
After dinner onboard, we will be be treated to an enchanting Nubian show featuring traditionally attired performers, live music and dancing.
Tour Inclusions: all meals, including drinks, plus Uniworld tours
Day 11 – Saturday 2 November 2024 – Abu Simbel - Day 6 on Nile
While an optional Uniworld addition, all Trendsetter’s tour party have been booked (and pre-paid) for an excursion to see the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel. This tour involves a short return flight and will be one of the highlights of your Nile Cruise. The site of Abu Simbel is one of the most recognizable ancient sites in Egypt. For 3,000 years, it sat on the west bank of the Nile River, between the first and second cataracts of the Nile. However, in a remarkable feat of engineering, the temple complex was dismantled and rebuilt on a higher hill to make way for the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s.
Tour Inclusions: all meals, including drinks, flight to Abu Simbel plus Uniworld tours
Day 12 – Sunday 3 November 2024 – Temple of Esna - Day 7 on Nile
On today’s Uniworld excursion, we will learn how the Temple of Esna was buried under debris for many centuries and is one of the last great Egyptian temples ever built. Our Egyptologist guide will share all sorts of fascinating insights about this significant cultural site and show you the façade bearing the last known hieroglyphic inscriptions ever recorded in Egypt.
Later in the day, we will experience a relaxing sail north up the Nile viewing the majestic scenery before our ship berths in Luxor for the night.
Tour Inclusions: all meals, including drinks, plus Uniworld tours
Day 13 – Monday 4 November 2024 – Cruise Ends – Luxor – Day 8 on Nile
Post breakfast, you will be transferred by coach to Sofitel Winter Palace Hotel in Luxor. Those on the full Uniworld tour (none of who are not part of the Trendsetter tour) will fly back to Luxor this morning,
After an energic and full 1st 12 days of your tour, we are having 2 rest days staying at arguably the most famous hotel in Egypt, the 5 star luxury Sofitel Winter Palace. The hotel has 92 guest rooms.
You will be able to book private tours through the hotel (or via the local tour company which has assisted with part of our tour arrangements) or independently explore Luxor. There is a golf course in Luxor but we decided to not include within the tour as there were residual concerns over its conditioning and that it may not sit well with the 5 high end golf courses we are scheduled to play on tour. Your hosts will inspect the course today with a view to perhaps including an optional golf game at Luxor’s Royal Valley Golf Course on the following day.
The story of the gardens at The Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor begins in 1886, when the hotel was built by Italian J.S. Crozzo. Perched on the Nile River amid luxuriant tropical gardens and ancient temples, the hotel in its early days was supplied with vegetables and fruits from its own gardens. The historic hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2014. Today, this 10-acre garden is kept for its beauty as well as its fruits, and features over 50 species of trees, some of which are over 100 years in age.
The hotel offers 3 restaurants and 5 bars. The fine dining 1886 Restaurant requires men to wear jacket and tie.
Tour inclusions: breakfast, transfers to hotel and accommodation
Day 14 – Tuesday 5 November 2024 – Luxor – Free Day
Free day in Luxor
Tour inclusions: breakfast and accommodation
Day 15 – Wednesday 6 November 2024 – Luxor/Somabay -–Golf Game 4 – Cascades at Somabay
After an early breakfast we coach to Somabay (which faces the Red Sea) and is now a high end tourist resort area catering for the European leisure and golfing market. Unlike the rest of Egypt (where pricing is in either local Egyptian Pounds or USD), pricing in Somabay is in EUR (and of course Egyptian Pounds). We will stay at the Cascades Golf Resort for the next 3 nights. The Cascades Hotel adjoins the Cascades at Somabay Golf Club and is a 1 minute walk from Reception to the Pro Shop. Located beside the Red Sea, this 5 star hotel is a fitting venue to conclude our tour. Your upgraded rooms are large at 44 sqm, feature a separate bath and shower and offer both golf and sea views.
Golf Game 4 – We will arrive at The Cascades Hotel around 12 noon and have golf scheduled for a multi tee start at 12.50 pm/1.00 pm from the 1st to the 4th tees (with the 1st tee blocked off from 12 noon). A desert links style course, Cascades at Somabay is the # 3 ranked golf course in Egypt and ranks # 50 in all Africa. Opened in 1998, the course was designed by Gary Player and offers stunning views from many holes, most with views looking out to the Red Sea. Signficantly, there is an island hole on each nine and guest reports indicate the course is maintained to a very high standard. For many this will be a good warm up prior to playing the course a second time two days later. In addition to the daily prizes, we will offer prizes for the best scores over the 54 holes of golf we play at Somabay. We should just complete our rounds in daylight with sunset scheduled for just after 5 pm.
Tour Inclusisons: breakfast, golf and accommodation
Day 16 – Thursday 7 November 2024 – Somabay – Golf Game 5 – Madinat Makadi Golf Club
Golf Game 5 – We drive 30 minutes drive north to play Madinat Makadi Golf Club. Designed by American architect, John Sandford, the course is the 2nd in Somabay and is ranked # 9 in Egypt. However, the course claims to have been awarded by World Golf Awards Egypt’s Best Golf Course for 6 consecutive years from 2014 – 2019. We are booked for a 10 am tee off with the prospect of excellent facilities post golf as the golf course forms part of a 5 star hotel facility.
You will dine independently on your return to Cascades Hotel.
Tour inclusions: breakfast, golf and accommodation
Day 17 – Friday 8 November 2024 - Somabay -–Golf Game 6 – Cascades at Somabay
Golf Game 5 – After a leisurely breakfast, we will tee off at Cascades at Somabay Golf Club from 9.30 am for the final round of the tour with the potential to be crowned Trendsetter Travel’s ladies and mens individual champions of Somabay. Post golf, there should be an opportunity to relax at the resort and maybe take a swim in the Red Sea (refer below image).
We will have our farewell group dinner tonight with the 54 hole golfing awards being made during dinner.
Tour inclusions: breakfast, golf, final tour dinner and accommodation
Day 18 – Saturday 9 November 2024
Say goodbye to your many new found friends with complimentary transfers to the Hurghada Airport – individual car transfers will be provided by Cascades Hotel with the cost covered as part of your tour. This transfer can be taken on a subsequent day if you extend your stay at the Cascades Hotel.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast and transfers to Hurghada Airport
Deck Plan of River Tosca
The following diagram is the Deck Plan of River Tosca.
Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours has a group allocation of 18 Grand Suites (30 sqm) of the 39 Grand Suites which we retain until at least late October 2023. The cruise is now sold out with no rooms available. There are 2 Royal Suites which have been sold elsewhere and are thus not available to our group.
The Finer Details...
1.Inclusions
- ALL Trendsetter Travel Golf Tour guests, as part of our golf tour, will receive an 18 day, 17 night golf tour, which includes a 7 night inclusive luxury cruise on Uniworld, 10 nights in 5 star hotels (including breakfast) in each of Cairo (5), Luxor (2) and Somabay (3);
- Meals as specified to include breakfast daily and selected lunches (8) and dinners (9). Apart from the welcome and farewell dinners and while on-board River Tosca, we have left you free to enjoy dinner as you please;
- 6 games of Golf as specified with included green fees, carts, drinks post golf and prize money;
- Luxury coach transfers as a group throughout tour;
- 1 day of guided touring in Cairo including Pyramids, Sphynx, Egyptian Museum and lunch at a local licensed restaurant.
2. If for whatever reason you need to cancel from the tour, we will refund 85% of your deposit payment (but not any of the deposit payment passed through to Uniworld which Uniworld will not refund) subject to a replacement guest being found for the tour to take your place.
3. The non-refundable balance of payment will be due in full by 23 June 2024
4. Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory – and is recommended at the time of deposit to fully protect your payments in the unfortunate event of cancellation. Please ensure that you are covered for any pre-existing illnesses.
5. 5 star accommodation has been booked for all 17 nights of the tour – including at the best available hotels at all locations.
6. As a result of Trendsetter Travel being a Virtuoso travel agent, you will receive an on board Uniworld credit of AUD 200 pp. While there are other options, this is particularly useful for paying to have your laundry serviced.
7. Tee times have been booked for all 5 golf courses (6 golf games). These are the best available courses in both Cairo and Sumabay. The golf package price does NOT include golf club hire. It does include green fees, motorised cart hire (subject to availability – all courses booked should have sufficient motorised carts), coach transfers, prize money each game, and drinks post golf.
8. The stated price reflects Early Bird pricing provided in conjunction with an increased non-refundable deposit if the elevated deposit is paid before 31 August 2023. Bookings deposited from 1 September 2023 or made with a lower deposit will be at an increased price.
9. Payment may be made either by bank transfer to the following:
- Trendsetter Travel & Cruise Centre Pty Ltd, BSB 012 003, ACC NO. 8334 12763 or
- by credit card with merchant fee surcharges of 1% for Visa/Mastercard and 2% for AMEX
Egypt Golf Cruise – Package Pricing Options
If you have previously sailed with Uniworld, you are a River Heritage Club Member and are entitled to an AUD 300 pp reduction in the above prices.
If you wish to exclude part of the tour (eg shorten the time in Cairo or miss Somabay), upon request, this requirement is likely to be accommodated with an equitable pricing adjustment.
For further information, please contact either David Cooper by email david@trendsettertravel.com.au or on mobile + 61 (0) 413 010 638 or Adrienne Witteman by email adrienne@trendsettertravel.com.au or + 61 (0) 413 010 639.
