Egypt Yoga Retreat

August 29 – September 9 , 2024

☥ Meditation ☥ Mentorship ☥ Mysticism ☥ Yoga ☥

August 29 – September 9 , 2024

Itinerary & Overview

Giza (4 nights) ~ Luxor (2 nights) ~ Aswan ( 1 night ) Esna ~ Edfu ~ Kom Ombo ~ Philae ~ Aswan (4 nights dahabiya, a lux, private sailboat)

12 days and 11 nights in the mystical and magical land of the pyramids. This is a trip of a lifetime! In addition to the immaculately curated itinerary below, we will enjoy yoga & meditation practice once daily guided by Jaina, and Philosophy-Movement workshops with Uschi Gibson.

Experience Traditional Hatha and Raja Yoga within the majestic landscape and backdrops of perhaps the most mysterious and significant megalithic structure in the world. Our yoga practices will be woven with the beautiful mythology and histories of ancient Egypt. All levels of Yoga experience welcome.

What’s Included?

• Meet & Greet at Cairo Airport
• Arrival transfer
• Daily Yoga and Meditation Practice with Jaina & Uschi
• Most meals included: 11 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners and 9 lunches
• Single entrance tickets to all the sacred sites as per itinerary below
• Unlimited bottled water during the entire tour
• English-speaking Khemetologist
• Private visit to the Great Pyramid for 2 hours 
• Domestic flight ticket from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan back to Cairo
• Headsets
• Yoga mats
• All transport and flights between destinations and to/from included activities (not including flight from USA)
• Four-night Nile cruise on private sailboat
• A traditional local Nubian dinner
• Optional Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor ($120)

All entrance fees to included monuments:

• Guided tour of the Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx
• Meditation practice inside the Great Pyramid
• Visit Karnak Temple, including private time in Sekhmet’s Sanctuary
• Tour of Abu Simbel
• Elphantine island and the Nubian Village 
• Luxor Temple
• Dendera Temple and Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple
• Valley of the Kings
• Edfu Temple of Horus
• Tour of Kom Ombo Temple
• Mohamed Ali’s Mosque and the Citadel of Salah El din in Cairo

Accommodations

11 nights or 12 days of accommodations:

• 4 nights accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast basis at Cairo Pyramids
• 4 nights accommodation on full Board basis on Nun & Nut Sailboat
• 2 nights accommodation on Bed and Breakfast basis at Pavillon Winter Palace  
• 1 night accommodation on Bed and Breakfast basis at Basma Hotel 

Transportation

Private individual transfers during the entire journey with AC bus 2023 starts with private transfer from Cairo Airport to Steigenberger Pyramids and ends with the last transfer from the Sailboat to Aswan Airport  

Meals

11 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners and 9 lunches

Allow USD 300-390 for meals not included. This is a great opportunity to cruise around town and find restaurants and shops of the beaten path in smaller groups.

Staff

More about your Retreat Guides:

Jaina

“The Great Pyramids of Egypt feel at once like the most important historical relic of humankind, and an outer space final frontier. The rich human-history and mystery, buried in the sands of this land, and in the walls of these temples are incomprehensible. Egypt points right at the heart of our human existence…. inspiring existential questions, cosmic consciousness, and the after-life. I look forward to weaving together our movement and yoga practices. With the spirits of the land, sea, and skies of ancient Egypt. This is a trip of a lifetime, not to be missed”

Uschi

“Many of you know I’ve had a lifelong connection to Egypt since meeting many of the old Theosophists in my childhood. They shared stories of their travels to Egypt in the 1920’s and 30’s, and sparked my fascination and connection to this culture so many moons ago.  My heart and soul connection to the Goddesses and Gods of this ancient civilization is what I look forward to sharing with you during the journey, as well as some of the stories of the Nubian priestesses who were part of the royal court, acting as healers and mystics.  The entire journey is hosted by a company Jaina has worked with in other countries, meaning we can relax and enjoy all of the highlights of this itinerary without having to manage any details. I’ll be leading a few workshops throughout the week, and can’t wait to share my love for this ancient civilization.”

Investment

Investment: $3,950 per person shared room / $5020 private room

*Please note that if you have booked the “private room” option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops. Shared rooms will have one roommate with individual beds (your choice, or assigned). If you are a male and there are not enough male guests signed up, you’ll have to book a single room.

Deposit of $500 is required to reserve your spot. Final payment due 45 days before departure. Payments can be made via Venmo @Jaina-Portwood or Paypal. Please select “friends and family” to avoid fees.

Have more questions or ready to reserve your spot?

Email jaina@belovedretreats.com

International flight info: Fly into and out of Cairo.

Refund Policy and Covid Details can be found here.

Additional costs: select meals (noted below), international airfare, travel insurance, tipping (plan to have $180 for total tips for trip), any additional beverages ordered during meals beyond the beverage buffet, personal expenses (i.e. room service, laundry, extra nights, spa treatments, etc.), add-on excursions of your choice.

Important information :

1. Three months before the retreat, we will do one monthly Zoom session to prepare the you for the retreat and the ancient world, as well as to familiarize them with the spirit of the group.
2. I recommend tipping $ 180 per person for local service, bellman, boat crew (16 people per boat), and drivers. We will collect this amount on the first day so that our guide can handle all the tipping throughout the tour.
3. Please keep in mind that the domestic flight allows only one piece of luggage and that any additional luggage must be paid for separately.
4. You will be given a headset to use throughout the tour as well as a yoga mat.
5. If dinner is not included, our guides will take us to a local restaurant where you can pay on their own.

Itinerary

Day 0 / Cairo

Thursday, August 29: Arrival

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included.

Private Airport Escort & Transfer Upon Arrival   A representative will meet and assist you with collecting your luggage and obtaining your tourist visa (USD $25, not included); they will then transfer you by A/C vehicle to your 5-star accommodation in Giza.·   Once you have been checked in to your room, we suggest you rest and acclimate. There are no activities planned until the Welcome dinner the next day at the main restaurant. 

Day 1 / Cairo

Friday, August 30: Welcome Dinner

Yoga session, Breakfast, Shopping for traditional Egyptian dress. Opening Ceremony, which will take place inside the chamber of the Great Pyramid! We will have an exclusive private visit to the Great Pyramid. We will have the entire Pyramid to ourselves; we will begin with our opening circle and be able to explore the entire pyramid. A welcome dinner is included.

Day 2 / Luxor

Saturday, August 31: Fly to Luxor

Transfer to Cairo airport and fly to Luxor, Visit Karnak Temple, including private time in Sekhmet’s Sanctuary, Check into the Pavillon Winter Palace, Lunch on the pool, Silver and Gold Jewelry Workshop [Shopping Opportunity], Luxor Temple.      Dinner is not included

Day 3 / West Bank

Sunday, September 1: West Bank

Drive to Dendera Temple, Lunch in El Marsam, on the West Bank, Drive to visit Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple, Visiting Alabaster Workshop [Shopping Opportunity], Drive back to the hotel, Yoga session.

Dinner is not included

Day 4 / Board Private Sailboat

Monday, September 2: Dahabiya & Valley of the Kings

Optional Hot Air Balloon ($120), Valley of the kings, Board the Dahabiya, Evening yoga session

Day 5 / Edfu

Tuesday, September 3: Entering the Body of Horus

Yoga session, Breakfast, followed by free time, Visit Edfu Temple of Horus, Yoga session, Traditional Nubian Dinner

Day 6 / Kom Ombo

Wednesday, September 4: Kom Ombo, Synergy of Polarity

Yoga session, Breakfast, Visit Kom Ombo (Temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus: Union of polarities), Lunch, Visit Spice shop [Shopping opportunity], Dinner 

Day 7 / Nubia

Thursday, September 5: Exploring Nubia

Yoga session, Breakfast, Exporing the Nubian Land, Visit an Egyptian Cotton Shop [Shopping Opportunity], Lunch, Free Time, Dinner, Zikr Sufi

Day 8 / Philae

Friday, September 6: Philae Blessings of Isis

Breakfast (final breakfast included; check out), Drive to Philae Temple and visit the ancient location of the Island, Yoga session and lunch at the Nubain Resturant with an overview at Isis temple, Check in at Basma Hotel, Exploring Elphantine island and the Nibian Village , Dinner is not included

Day 9 / Fly to Cairo

Saturday, September 7: Mohamed Ali’s Mosque and the Citadel of Salah El din

Fly back to Cairo, Exploring Mohamed Ali’s Mosque and the Citadel of Salah El din in Cairo, Civilization Museum, Lunch on the Nile, Papyrus workshop [Shopping opportunity], Return to the hotel, Yoga session, Dinner is not included

Day 10 / Cairo

Sunday, September 8: Giza pyramids and Saqqara

Breakfast, Walk the way of the Ancients under the shadows of the 3 Giza pyramids, Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, and explore the Sphinx, Driving to Saqqara and visiting the entire complex, Lunch in the Blue Lotus Guest House ·   Egyptian Perfume House [Shopping Opportunity], Return to the hotel,

Farewell dinner is included

Day 11 / Cairo

Sunday, September 9: Transfer home

Depart at any time.

Please note that check-out time from the hotel is normally mid-morning, but luggage storage facilities are available. We are able to organize extra post-trip accommodation if you wish to extend your stay for a few more days.

Ready to save your spot?

Deposit of $1000 per person is required to hold your reservation. Final balance is due 90 days before departure. Pay by Venmo, Paypal, or check. Email jaina@belovedretreats.com. Please note whether you want a roommate or a private room. Welcome to an experience of a lifetime!