Egypt Photo Tour 2011
Our itinerary
Day 01: Baharyia Oasis
We drive in our specially adapted 4x4s the 360 Kms away from the pollution and noise of Cairo, to the serenity, quiet and purity of the Baharyia Oasis where our adventure begins. As we near Baharyia, we will stop to take some desert landscapes, before we continue onto Bahariya, where we will meet our host families. We will divide into smaller groups of 2-3, with each small group eating, living and sharing daily life in this desert oasis.
Day 02: Baharyia Oasis
Day 2 dawns with us still with our host families. After breakfast the men will go out to the farms, and the women will stay in the village and we will divide ourselves similarly, capturing unique images of daily life in this harsh environment, before returning for lunch with the family. In the mid afternoon we re-locate to a hotel in the same town, but there is time in the evening to be with people in streets and café shops, before returning back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 03: White Desert Camp
After breakfast at the hotel we drive into white and black deserts, covering nearly 190 KMs off road in our 4x4s, over amazing sand dunes, extraordinary desert rocks and landscapes, before continuing to the Black Desert where volcanic stones cover the whole area. In the El Haiz valley there is the chance for q swim in some natural hot and lunch will be with one of the families in their house. THe afternoon we drive through to Crystal mountain where there is the crystal cave, as well as passing through the nature reserve of El Agabat. As the heat subsides we move through the Eastern white desert through an area known as the “mushroom area” to a wonderful spot where we camp out under the stars – and we promise you, you will never have seen a sky like it!
Day 04: Farafra Oasis
After sunrise and breakfast we have a short drive to Farafra Oasis (40 KMs), where again there is a chance to swim in the hot springs, before going to the guest house of local artists (Bader) to have our lunch. The rest of the day we explore the Oasis and the ruins of old houses, as well as meet some of the local villagers. Dinner and overnight at Guest house.
Day 05: Dakhla Oasis
After breakfast we get on the road for the drive to Dahkla, The first 160 KMs is on a good tarmac road, but the second half of the morning is all off road, over dunes to a 500 year old Islamic village, where some people including a blacksmith still carry on their traditional life. Lunch is a desert picnic amongst the dunes before driving to our simple hotel at one a villages called El Dohous, on the outskirts of Dahkla. THere we will do some street/village photography before having A BBQ dinner under the stars.
Day 06: Dakhla Camping
With pre dawn start, we drive the short distance to the Great Sand Sea, where we have organized for a camel train to pass through , down the ridges of fine sand, their long shadows caste by the early morning light.. Once we have finished there, we can then enjoy the dunes with some local sand boarding and sand surfing. No trip to this part of the desert would be complete without a refreshing plunge into the cold springs before back to our hotel for lunch and a rest. That evening our camels join us again at a small oasis for some sunset shots, and then we camp out under the stars.
Day 07: Assyout
After breakfast at our campsite, we have the chance to nip back to the hotel for a quick shower and change, before we head off through the desert to the Kharga oasis, where there is also a wonderful Coptic necropolis. Kharga oasis is different from the others i that it is more modern, and the bustling market and street life provides a great place for cultural photography and for lunch. After lunch we head to Assyout, and on this leg we leave the desert landscape and start to see the more fertile lush green of the Nile delta. Upper Egypt life – predominately farming – consists of a relaxed pace amongst the myriads of villages, before arriving at Assyout, where we will have time to change and head to into the local town or just relax at the hotel before dinner and overnight hotel.
Day 08: Cairo
The tour officially ends in Assyout after Breakfast. There is the option to do the Luxor/Aswan Extension or to drive back to Cairo, where the driver has agreed to stop on the way at some villages if people still want to take some photos.
OPTIONAL LUXOR-ASWAN EXTENSION
The Nile Delta in Upper Egypt is home to the famous temples of tombs of Ancient pharonic Egypt. We have an optional 3 night 4 day extension to Luxor and Aswan, where we combine the key sites in the morning with some wonderful cultural possibilities in the afternoon.
We will visit Karnak Temple, The Valley of the Kings, Hatchipsuit Temple, Philae Temple and the Aswan Dam, In addition we will visit some off the track old local villages including the unbelievable colored Nubian villages.
This extension is designed to be a mix of some tourism and a continuation of the tour. The photographic opportunities (with the exception of The Valley of the Kings) where the use of cameras is forbidden, are bountiful. However because the area is so conditioned to tourists, prices tend to be high. We have got an amazing deal for you, where we have passed on nearly everything at cost.
April 23rd to April 30th, 2011
Price: $4,235
Includes: all in-country travel, accomodation (twin share), food and entry fees within Egypt. Single rooms are available via a single supplement fee. Please contact us for details.
Excludes: international flights, passport & visas fees, travel insurance, vaccinations and medical cover/treatment, accommodation on the night prior to starting, and personal expenses such as beverages/snacks, internet access fees, laundry fees etc.
Luxor Aswan Extension
May 1st to 4th, 2011
Price: $2,600 based on dual occupancy for four people
The Tour Leaders
The Egypt Photo Expedition will be led by professional photographer Gavin Gough with Marco Ryan and local photographer Ramy Salem. As well as providing participants with an insight into the local culture and customs, the tour leaders will share their knowledge and experience, helping you to make the most of the opportunities and to capture the very best images possible. Daily tuition is available to those who seek it and evenings are often spent discussing post-production techniques, critiquing images and enjoying photographic and software tutorials.
“Our aim is for our tour participants to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experience, whilst capturing images that they can be proud of.”
Gavin Gough
Gavin Gough is an independent, freelance travel photographer. Originally from England, Gavin is currently based in Bangkok, Thailand, from where he travels extensively, working on assignment, on commission, creating stock images, writing and teaching.
“As a travel photographer, my studio is the world outside my door and the only equipment required is a camera and a willingness to look for new perspectives. Lighting comes courtesy of whatever is available; sun, sky, tungsten and neon – travel photographers have access to it all. We are not restricted by subject or location, only by an obligation to record the world we see with honesty and compassion. More than just exotic locations and wild adventures, travel photography is about seeing our surroundings with fresh eyes and childlike enthusiasm.”
Gavin Gough works primarily as a freelance photographer, working on assignment. He has been commissioned by a variety of NGOs, humanitarian and charitable institutions and has completed commissions for organisations as varied as Sony, Vanity Fair magazine and the Vietnamese Tourist Board.
Gavin produces stock photographs for Getty and Lonely Planet images. His vibrant stock collection includes images from more than forty countries which have been reproduced in hundreds of newspapers, magazines and books and are regularly featured in publications such as National Geographic, Geo, Vogue, The New York Times, The Guardian, and many more. His stock images have appeared on everything from postage stamps to magazine covers and billboards.
When time permits, Gavin contributes articles of words and pictures to several photographic and trade publications, relating his travel experiences and offering technical and career advice to enthusiastic photographers around the world.
Marco Ryan
Marco is originally form the UK but moved to live and work in Cairo in 2008.
He is the founder of the popular Cairo Photo School, as well as the joint owner of the Cairo Photo Studio. His love and passion for travel and humanitarian photography has taken him all around the world, and he has a vast network of Professional photographers, editors and enthusiasts that he regularly keeps in touch with through social media and his blog.
Marco is passionate about helping humanity through photography, and has set up a leading Charitable foundation – Focus for Humanity – to help young photographers establish careers in this demanding field and to work with NGOs. You can find out more from www.focusforhumanity.org.
His website can be found at www.marcoryanphotography.com.
Ramy Salem
Ramy’s was born and bred in Cairo, Egypt and became a professional photographer in2006, following a very successful 10 year career in tourism.
He has worked with some of Egypt and the Netherland’s leading companies, and his main commercial work focuses on Event. Fashion and product photography. An experienced studio photographer he blends these different disciplines to create compelling and powerful images for both companies, publishing and individuals.
More recently Ramy has co-founded both the Cairo Photo School and the Cairo Photos Studio and support visiting photographers on photo safaris within Egypt. Ramy is fluent in English and Arabic and has good Dutch and Russian
Our Terms and Conditions
We hope that you will enjoy your time on our Photo Expedition. In association with our local contacts, we make every effort to ensure that the tour runs smoothly but ask you to appreciate that the itinerary is necessarily flexible. Locations and timings may vary depending upon prevailing local conditions. The following terms and conditions should cover most potential situations but please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions or comments.
Payment:
A deposit payment of US $900 is payable at the time of registration to secure your place.
Full payment is required 90 days prior to departure.
Cancellation Policy:
On cancellations more than 120 days prior to departure, all monies are refunded less a $275 administrative fee.
Less than 120 but at least 90 days prior, total deposit amount is forfeited.
Less than 90 but at least 75 days prior, 50% of trip price is forfeited.
Less than 45 days prior to departure, 100% is forfeited.
Notification by phone or email is acceptable, but please follow with written notice. In the unlikely event we have to cancel a tour, a full refund will be given.
In the unlikely event that we are forced to cancel a tour, as much notice as possible will be given and a full and immediate refund of the deposit will be made.
Travel Insurance:
All tour participants are required to obtain full and comprehensive travel insurance, which must include evacuation and cancellation cover. The policy duration must extend for thirty days beyond the intended conclusion of the tour. A copy of the policy schedule must be submitted to Gavin Gough prior to departure
Liability Waiver:
Participants will be required to sign a standard Liability Waiver form before the tour commences.
Responsibility:
Gavin Gough, Cairo Photo Tours, and their agents act only in the capacity as agents in all matters pertaining to hotel accommodations, sightseeing tours, and transportation, and are not responsible for any loss, damage, theft, or injury to person or property resulting from a defect in any vehicle, or the actions of any persons who provide services for this tour or for the action or inaction of any third party. Baggage is at the owner’s risk entirely. The tour operator reserves the right to withdraw the tour at any time, to decline any person as a member of the tour for any cause at any time. All prices are based on current rates of exchange and, while every effort will be made to hold them firm, they are subject to change.
Health:
It is the responsibility of the client to inform Gavin Gough of any potential health issues at the time of booking. Agreement of these terms and conditions indicates that you certify that you do not have any physical or other conditions that may hinder your participation in the tour or which might present a potential risk to yourself, the tour organiser or other tour participants.
Itinerary
Whilst Cairo Photo Tours endeavors to make the itinerary as accurate as possible, it should be considered as an approximate schedule of activities rather than a rigid schedule of events. Trip itineraries are subject to revision due to weather, ocean or trail conditions, government restrictions, and other reasons beyond our control. The tour leader has the right to make changes in the published itinerary whenever in his sole judgment conditions warrant, or if he deems it necessary for the comfort or safety of the tour.
Acceptance:
Payment of a deposit constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.
My Testimonials
The opportunity to spend time with enthusiastic photographers is always one that I’m grateful for. When those photographers who have joined me for workshops, classes and photo tours feel moved to convey their appreciation, that’s the icing on the cake. Here’s a small selection:
“I had an amazing day. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, insight, and experience with me. I really think this workshop made me grow as a photographer, and as a person. I have started to walk a bit more slowly, talking more with people and getting to know them better before bringing up my camera (the results were amazing). By the end of the day I have new friends and interesting stories to tell, not to mention a better knowledge and understanding of the place and its people.” Daniel Torres
“It was such a memorable experience… Your golden tidbits of instruction have stuck with me since our time together. Thinking about things differently and digesting your teachings has been empowering.” Linda Sykes I’Anson
“I cannot recommend the experience highly enough. Gavin is delightful company; incredibly experienced and your photography can only improve when you spend time with him.” Marco Ryan (Read Marco’s full review)
“ I feel that I know my camera so much better and I am trying out new ideas every weekend. I felt entirely comfortable asking questions and making comments. All sessions were excellent. I would be happy to recommend this course to others, let me know when you are planning another.” Jane Monks
“I think the course was absolutely fabulous. I have recommended it to many and should you consider to do more I will endorse every aspect. You were thorough, professional and enjoyable. The fieldtrip was incredibly helpful, even for those of us with some experience.” Penny Fournel
“I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the workshop, it was incredibly informative and was great to see the way you work. It has certainly given me lots of ideas to stretch my creativity when I am feeling “stuck”, and I just wanted to say thanks for sharing.” Sally Slack
