Day 2: Rise and shine to morning yoga overlooking the famed pyramids before we go see them up close and personal — we’ll spend all morning there so you have time to totally immerse. In the afternoon we’ll have lunch overlooking the famed structures in one of the hottest restaurants to snag a reservation at. Marvel at the ancient wonders at the new Egyptian Museum before we board the night train to Luxor.

Day 3: We’ll arrive early into Luxor and continue exploring Egypt’s greatest hits with an action packed day! We’ll visit the Valley of the Kings up close, then head to the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, and after lunch at a local favorite, sightseeing at the little-visited Luxor Gallery and admire the The Colossi of Memnon. Later, we’ll reconvene for early evening yoga before dinner and cozying up in our colourful rooms for the night.

Day 4: Rise with the sun and watch the hot air balloons drift overhead as we flow on the rooftop overlooking the West Bank. After breakfast it’s time to relax and catch up on journaling, reading, or whatever else puts you in vacation mode — with optional add-on adventures like an excursion to the Valley of the Queens for those who’d rather keep moving! Later, we will coast across the Nile and visit East Luxor for lunch, souvenir shopping, visiting Karnak Temple, and seeing the gorgeous Luxor Temple illuminated at night.

Day 5: Early risers, set your alarm to check out an optional hot air balloon experience to see the Valley of the Kings from a new vantage point! And then we’re off to Aswan, one of Egypt’s most significant historical cities on the Nile. On the way, we’ll stop by the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, and home to some of the best preserved hieroglyphics in Egypt. Later, we’ll check into the incredibly colorful Nubian village, where we’ll enjoy a yummy yoga class before turning up for a henna party with the local ladies.

Day 6: We’ll leave Aswan bright and early to reach Abu Simbel, one of the most awe-inspiring temples in all of Egypt. Fear not — naps aplenty are in our future. Next stop? Lunch overlooking Philae Temple, a famous archaeological site atop its own island which we’ll sail to after. Finally, we’ll board our felucca, a traditional wooden Egyptian boat perfect for channeling your inner Cleopatra (and yes, costumes are welcome and encouraged). At night, we’ll dock in the marshes of the Nile and set up on the banks for yoga before a stargazing sleepover party on the deck.

Day 7: You’ve earned some downtime — now to enjoy it. Melt into the rhythm of the Nile as we continue on our felucca ride, spending the day relaxing on the boat while watching Egypt go by, breaking for a partner yoga sesh on the top deck when the mood strikes. At night our crew will build a bonfire and we will have a jam session as we dance under the milky way.

Day 8: In the morning, we say farewell to our felucca and continue our exploration of Egypt back to Cairo, Egypt’s bustling capital! After getting checked into our hotel and lounging poolside, we’ll head to a local studio for a yoga practice then choose your own adventure — visit a contemporary art museum, watch sunset at Cairo Tower, or hit a local spa.

Day 9: On our last full day, get ready for a whirlwind Cairo city tour. We’ll shop at the famous Khan el-Khalili market and visit a historic mosque in Islamic Cairo all before lunch. After some downtime beside the pool with cocktails, end the epic day with a sunset Dahabiya Cruises and a dinner of tradition Egyptian fare (and wine!). If you fancy a night on the town, cap it off with drinks at the Cairo Jazz Club.

Day 10: This morning, it’s time for goodbyes! Or rather, see you laters. Exchange photos and contact info with all your new Wander Women besties for future get togethers!

Where We’ll Stay and Where We’ll Eat

The first night in Cairo, we’ll stay at the lush Hyatt Regency Cairo West, which boasts instagrammable views of the pyramids from its pool. There’s an extensive onsite gym, sauna, indoor pool and spa, and several bars and restaurants. Shared rooms in Cairo feature two single beds. 

On the way to Luxor we we’ll be rocked to sleep aboard the infamous night train before arriving at a unique and stylish guesthouse that’s been featured in design magazines. Shared rooms at our unique Luxor accommodation, which boast local art and one-of-a-kind furnishings, feature one large bed for two, and a small couch that could be used as a single bed, for anyone who prefers to sleep solo. 

We’ll spend two nights on a felucca, a traditional wooden sailing boat, as we dreamily cruise down the Nile. Sleeping aboard a felucca is a completely unique experience where we all will sleep on deck together — a support boat with bathrooms onboard will follow us down the Nile.

In Aswan, we’ll stay in the insanely instagram-able Nubian village, a preserved isle of one of the oldest civilizations in history. Nubians have not only conserved their ancient traditions but also the Nubian language – which is only spoken and has no official alphabet. Shared rooms in Aswan feature two single beds.

Finally, back in Cairo we will stay at the newly renovated Conrad Cairo that boasts Nile views from chic suites in the heart of downtown. Shared rooms feature two single beds. 

For included meals, we’ll mix it up — one night, we’ll dine on local delicacies aboard a private felucca sail along the Nile River. Another, we’ll eat on a chic rooftop. Egyptian food is generally healthy and delicious, and all special diets can be accommodated! For all non-included meals, we’ll head to curated spots where you can order as you please, or you are welcome to do your own thing.

Getting There and Away

International flights will arrive and depart from Cairo International Airport (CAI). The tour begins and ends in Cairo. 

Is It Safe To Travel to Egypt?

Needless to say, we would never hold a retreat in a destination where we didn’t feel fully confident of your safety, and our own. All the locations we are going to are popular tourist areas, and we will take the same  precautions we would take anywhere in the world.

Wander Women Retreats Founder Alexandra Baackes and Wander Women Retreats Manager Shannon Stevens have traveled extensively through Egypt both guiding tours and on their own, and have utmost confidence in your safety. With the comfort of our group and the advisement of our local experts, we will have a fantastic, hassle-free trip.

Health + Safety

If you’re fully vaccinated, you can enter Egypt without needing to test or quarantine. We recommend all Wander Women be fully vaccinated. 

If you’re not fully vaccinated, you’ll need to show proof of a negative PCR test, or either a COVID-19 ID NOW or rapid antigen test (taken no more than 72 hours before arrival in Egypt). Proof of COVID-19 recovery will not be accepted.

With this trip being over six months away, we are sure travel requirements will change and likely become less stringent over time. We will keep a close eye on things and keep you updated along the way!

Travel With Us

On this trip, you’ll be traveling with Alex Baackes, Shannon Stevens and Sameh Makram as your hosts.

Alexandra Baackes is the founder of Wander Women Retreats and Alex in Wanderland and will lead your yoga practices throughout this trip. She fell in love with Egypt when she first fulfilled her lifelong dream of visiting in 2018 and has been back several times since to soak up the undeniable magic in the air. She is a RYT 200 Registered Yoga Teacher, a Buti Bands and Sculpt instructor, and a regular yoga practitioner for over a decade — she can’t wait to practice and explore with you.

Shannon began teaching yoga in 2017, and she has a vast amount of training and practice in several methods of yoga and healing including yin, restorative, flow, pranayama and meditation. Alex and Shannon met on Koh Tao in 2015 and have been traveling the globe together ever since! 

Sameh Makram is a registered Egyptologist and a tour guide to his native country since 2000. Sameh’s kind of a big deal around here — in 2015 he was chosen as the 5th best tour guide worldwide according to Tour Radar, where he’s received over 700 glowing reviews from his work. Now, he’s branching off on his own to lead speciality tours like ours. And we are so lucky to have him! Sameh and his wife — also an Egyptian tour guide! — are also travelers at heart and love taking their twins on trips all over the Middle East.

Join Us

This tour has limited space — book soon to avoid disappointment! A $500 deposit is required to hold your spot, and payment plans are available upon request. Can’t make it? Don’t stress! Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when enrollment opens on future retreats.

Remember, don’t hesitate to email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com with any and all questions or concerns over whether this Egypt experience is right for you. We’d love to chat.

Wander Women Egypt // October 1-10, 2022

$3,600.00 – $4,200.00

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Wander Women Egypt // October 1-10, 2022 quantity

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F.A.Q.

So does non-refundable really mean non-refundable?

The $500 deposit to secure your space is non-refundable and remaining invoices are due 60 days before departure. If the trip must be postponed or cancelled due to events beyond our control, you will be offered the choice between a full refund and applying your payment to a future trip.

The reason our deposits are non-refundable is that we start incurring costs from the moment someone presses “book” — from credit card fees to high hourly wages for our team who corresponds with guests, manages trip inventory and our e-commerce platform, analyzes forms to create room assignments, coordinates with our local vendors, and beyond.

There’s nothing we want more than for our guests to take and enjoy the travel they have worked hard and paid for. Thank you so much for your understanding and respect of our need to enforce this policy strictly. We want to be here to travel with you for years to come!

Do I need to be good at yoga?

Absolutely not. (And frankly, we don’t believe in the idea of being “good” at yoga!) We have a range of yogis from brand-new beginners to talented instructors join us on our trips. You’ll get the opportunity to sample a wide range of yoga styles, and you can opt in or out of as many classes as you wish.

Will I have time to do my own thing?

This is your retreat and we want you to make it exactly what you want! There’s a lot to see and experience in Egypt, so we’ve tried to design an itinerary that takes it all in. But any time you want to bow out to have some “me-time” or do your own thing, we’re going to cheer you on.

How much money will I need to bring?

The optional hot air balloon ride is $130USD.

For lunches at the local spots we’ll bring you to, you can expect to spend 50-150LE (about $6-10USD) per meal, depending on where you go and what you order. For dinners, plan for around 100-300LE (about $12-20.) Liquor tends to be very expensive throughout Egypt, but beer and wine are affordable — and we’ll stop to pick some up before BYO meals.

You can use your discretion on how much you want to bring for shopping in places like the traditional markets or various boutiques — Sameh will be thrilled to give you guidelines on what you should pay for various items in a culture where haggling is expected.

Can I do a payment plan and pay in installments?

Absolutely. We want to make this happen for you! Email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com.

Will I need travel insurance?

Yes, everyone will be required to have travel insurance for the duration of the trip. Our affiliate, World Nomads offers coverage at affordable rates.

Is there an age requirement?

You must be 18 years old or older.

Do I need a visa for Egypt?

Visas are available upon arrival for Americans, Canadians, Brits, and citizens of about forty other countries. They cost $25, are valid for visits up to 30 days, and can be obtained at Cairo International Airport. For those traveling overland from Israel, visas can be obtained at the border. We are happy to help you navigate any specific questions or concerns.

Is there a waiting list?

There will be a waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis in case spaces open up. If the retreat is full and you’re still interested, email me at retreats@alexinwanderland.com to be added to the waiting list.

I still have questions, or cute photos of my dog. Can I contact you?

Um, yes please! Our email is retreats@alexinwanderland.com.