Study Abroad in Egypt - May 2007 - See a full itinerary
This program, which includes UCO faculty members as well as professors from various institutions across the country and across the disciplines, is a team-taught project that offers hands-on experience in an effort to understand more deeply both other cultures and our own. Faculty from many specializations join together and propose activities designed to illuminate different chapters in our western heritage.Our seminars are not merely lectures and tours; instead, they encourage participation in diverse activities such as model-making reconstructions, recreating a mummification ritual, the construction of sundials, water-clocks, or star-maps as part of an introduction to ancient astronomy, and the making of our own hieroglyphic tablets as a way to think more deeply about ancient Egyptian writing and its decipherment, and archaeological exercises.
Lectures are offered after dark and on deck as you cruise up the Nile... you will not miss any precious travel time sitting in a classroom.
Accommodations are first-class and five-star all the way. Above, you may see a photo of our hotel in Cairo.
If you have questions that are not answered below, or if you wish to receive college credit from UCO for the tour, contact Professor Susan Spencer at sspencer@ucok.edu.
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WHO MAY APPLY TO THIS PROGRAM?
This program is open to the entire community! We welcome applications from persons of all ages, backgrounds, and interests (minors are welcome if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian), including those who hold foreign passports as well as U.S. citizens. Participants range in age from 18-86 years. It is usual for the group to have a blend of junior and senior members. Couples and families are welcome. We have set a traveling size for our group not to exceed 40 persons; thus, enrollment is limited. You can secure a place by sending a check for $250.00 made payable to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale [SIUC] along with your completed application to: Mr. Thomas Saville, Study Abroad Programs, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois 62901-6885. The cost is $4,580 (What does that cover?).
The deposit deadline for the trip this May is March 1, 2007.
Each morning we visit an archaeological site and discuss the theme of the day on location.
Download an application (PDF format).
TRAVEL PLANS AND ARRIVAL IN EGYPT
Unlike arrivals at many international locations, travel in Egypt is best arranged in groups. For our comfort, we ask that everyone planning to participate in the 2007 program travel with the group on a regularly scheduled flight of Egypt Air that we have arranged at considerable savings. Payment in full, made payable to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC), should be mailed to: Study Abroad Programs, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901-6885, and should be sent at your earliest convenience to secure a space in our program.
Although we encourage you to join the group on Egypt Air flying out of St. Louis, we will accommodate your arrival by any other carrier. However, there will be additional costs. First, by separate arrangement, we will have you met at the airport by one of our representatives and taken to the hotel for an additional cost of $75. Secondly, our program calls for two separate jet plane flights from Cairo to Luxor, Luxor to Abu Simbel and a return from Aswan to Cairo. The cost per participant is reduced for those flying Egypt Air Trans-Atlantic and is already included in the program price. For those arriving in Egypt without Egypt Air, there will be an additional charge of $300 ($150 per flight X 2).
WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE INCLUDED?
All lodging is included in first class, five-star hotels. Cabins on the luxury cruise all have large exterior views of the Nile, and are aboard five-star cruises. Accommodations are all double-occupancy. Single rooms can be provided for the complete program at an additional cost of $685 (including the cruise) and are subject to availability.
WHAT MEALS ARE INCLUDED?
Fabulous full and open buffet breakfasts and dinners are included everyday. In Cairo, open buffet lunches are included, at the Sakkara Country Club, and at the famous Peace Restaurant overlooking the great pyramids. On the cruise, in addition to three meals a day, afternoon tea and pastries are all included. One dinner in Cairo, one lunch in Luxor, and dinner on the last day of the program are not included.
CHANGES IN THE ITINERARY:
Although we anticipate no changes in the itinerary in either program content or the selection of sites, slight changes in scheduling may occur. This is a consequence of official changes made by the Egyptian government regulating domestic travel and/or the access to specific sites. Currently, our program calls for 2 jet plane flights on Egypt Air, within Egypt, and those schedules are subject to change without notice. The government also maintains the right to open or close certain sites without notice. From out past experiences in Egypt, this has never been a problem but we alert all of the participants to the possibilities. Everyone will receive an updated itinerary upon arrival in Egypt.
PENALTIES FOR CANCELLATION
There is no penalty for cancellation prior to March 1.
All cancellations less than 45 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a $1000 penalty.
All cancellations less than 30 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a $1500 penalty.
All cancellations less than 15 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a $2500 penalty.
There is no refund for cancellation after the departure date.
To qualify for a refund, all cancellations must be submitted in writing to Study Abroad Programs, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois 62901-6885. Study Abroad Programs recommends strongly that all participants obtain separately "travel insurance" just in case their plans should change after the deadline for refund has passed.