TRIP DATES INCLUDING TRAVEL DAYS:  Depart MSP Nov 28 and return Dec 8 (or return Dec 13 with Nile River Cruise). 

Red Sea Aggressor Liveaboard – November 30 – December 7, 2024

Join Steve & Jolene Philbrook on this amazing adventure! The Red Sea is a world class destination!  We will land into the coastal city of Hurghada to relax in a seaside hotel for the first night to rest and acclimate before heading out on the Aggressor IV!  Our group will tour the divesites on their St Johns / Daedalus itinerary.  If you like beautiful soft corals, pelagic sealife, and massive schools of fish…this trip is for you!  You will be pampered between dives and enjoy the comradery of cruising the crystal-clear seas with an entire boat of Aquaventure divers!  Yes, we have this luxury vessel secured for Aquaventure travelers only!  Join us on this trip of a lifetime!

DIVESITE SAMPLES

DAEDALUS: This large reef, also referred to as Abu El Kizan, is found 80 km offshore from Marsa Alam. A lighthouse which was built in 1861 by the British stands tall on the center of this small artificial island.  Currents tend to be predictable here, and divers have an excellent opportunity to spot large pelagic life such as schooling Hammerheads and Thresher Sharks. Grey Reef Sharks and Whitetip Reef Sharks patrol the reef walls. Whale Sharks occasionally pass by in the summer months. Candy colored Broccoli Corals grow from the reef on all sides. Pristine hard coral formations and overhangs are home to schools of Glass Sweepers. The south plateau is covered in yellow Litophyton Arboreum and Pulsing Xenia. ‘Anemone City’ is a section of the reef wall covered in Magnificent Anemone while another section of the wall covered in Elephant Ear Coral. Many different fish, such as Wrasse, Parrot Fish, Rabbit Fish, and Unicorn Fish congregate on top of the reef in the clear, shallow water.

ELPHINSTONE: Elphinstone is a very famous, cigar-shaped reef which sits 6 km out to sea from Marsa Alam. There is a long plateau in the north and south of Elphinstone with the rest of the reef being a steep, colorful wall rich in hard and soft corals. Currents are variable, and can be strong or not present at all. While shark sightings are not guaranteed, the Longimanus cruises in the shallows in the season, and every so often divers encounter Hammerhead Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, Silky Sharks, and Manta Rays. Barracuda hang in the blue, and Cornet Fish use divers for cover while they hunt the Anthias!

MARSA SHOANA:  (Local – Marsa Alam) Marsa Shoana is an awesome local dive site in Marsa Alam, and normally our first port of call on our itineraries. A white sandy bottom meets a gentle, sloping reef with coral heads small, medium and large dotted about. Divers will come across lots of different ecosystems here which, in turn, promise a wide variety of marine life both big and small. Green Turtles, various Rays and even Dolphins and Dugongs surprise those enjoying the underwater realm.

ST JOHN’S CAVES: (St John’s) The famous St John’s Caves are a photographer and videographers’ paradise. Sunlight streams through cracks in the reef of the passageways above and falls as dappled sunlight on the rubbly and sandy floor. While visiting it’s dive sites, Paradise Reef Elturfa and Elorug Reef, watch for Bluespotted Rays gliding past and Porcupine Fish in the shadows. The many passageways are adorned with feathery Hydroids that glow red, orange and yellow as they catch the light. George, the friendly Napoleon Wrasse commonly approaches divers beneath the boat and checks his reflection out in the domes of their cameras. Enjoy searching for the Juvenile Clown Coris, Bicolour Parrot Fish, Gold-Dotted Flatworms, and at nighttime, Spanish Dancers!

Nile River Cruise (add-on option) – December 7-12, 2024

After disembarking the Red Sea Aggressor, we will transfer the beautiful Aggressor Nile Queen II and travel back in time to see the land of the pharaohs that has changed very little since they ruled.

Your adventure includes guided tours of Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings,  Hatshepsut Temple and many other ancient sites between Luxor and Aswan. This is truly an Adventure of a Lifetime!

SAMPLE ITINERARY:

DAY 1:  LUXOR – The Karnak Temple: The large complex consists of many temples and chapel ruins. Luxor Temple:  This beautiful temple is located on the east bank of the Nile River. The inner part of the temple was built by the King Amenhotep III, and the outer part by Ramesses II.

DAY 2 :  LUXOR – Valley of the Kings: This valley contains tombs of the pharaohs including Tutankhamun and is the burial place of the Egyptians of the New Kingdom. Hatshepsut Temple:  This mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut is located beneath the Deir el-Bahari complex, near the Valley of Kings. Valley of the Nobles:  The valley is in an area of the West Bank called Sheik Abd El Korna. The site includes the rock tombs of ancient Egyptian nobles and high officials who served the ancient pharaohs. Colossi of Memnon:  These are the twin stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III standing in the Theban region across the Nile River.

DAY 3:   EL KAB AND EDFU – El Kab:Temple of Nekhbet, as well as a row of fascinating decorated tombs carved into the slope of the mountain. Upon docking, guests embark on a beautiful walk through a small fishing village to visit the necropolis. Edfu: This is among the best preserved of all Egyptian temples. Horse and carriages will take guests to the temple through the bustling city streets.

DAY 4:  GEBERL SILSILEH AND EL BASHIER ISLAND – Gebel Silsileh: After visiting the small temple of Horemheb and walking through the sandstone quarries, where ancient Egyptians cut stone for many of their most famous temples, guests visit a picturesque café to enjoy tea and shisha. El Bashier Island: In the afternoon, the Aggressor Nile Queen visits the island of El Bashier where guests can swim and explore the island. In the evening, guests enjoy a traditional Bedouin barbeque on the island.

DAY 5:  KOM OMBO – The temple was built during the Ptolemaic period on the site of an older temple and at one of the most beautiful bends in the river. The temple was dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile-headed god. After enjoying the temple, guests will visit the new crocodile museum, that includes many mummified crocodiles, attesting to the historic importance of the animals in this region in Egypt.

DAY 6:  CHECKOUT AND ASWAN – Guest awake to the beautiful sight of the desert closing in on the river at Aswan Bridge. Check out is at 8:00am. Guests have the option to visit the Aswan Philae Temple, High Dam, and Unfinished Obelisk, and lunch at a local restaurant. The tour ends at 2:00pm and is included in the trip package price.  We will be transferred to the airport for an evening flight out.

 

RED SEA LIVEABOARD Includes:

• RT Airfare from Minneapolis
• Ground Transfers
• 7 nights’ accommodations Red Sea IV Aggressor Liveaboard
• All meals and snacks on boat
• Alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks on boat
• 3-5 dives per day (includes several night dives)
• 2 nights hotel accommodations + breakfast
• Unlimited Nitrox (if certified)
• PRICE for Red Sea Liveaboard only:
  • Double Occ Deluxe Stateroom (1 or 2 beds):  $4375
  • Double Occ Deluxe Upper Stateroom (2 beds):  $4475 
  • Double Occ Master Stateroom (one bed):  $4575

NILE RIVER CRUISE Includes:

• Ground transfers from Red Sea Liveaboard to Nile River
• 5 nights’ accommodations on the Aggressor Nile Queen II
• 3 meals daily + snacks
• Alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks
• Daily tours and shore excursions
• Archaeological and historical tours + birdwatching
• One night hotel stay + breakfast
• One-Way airfare Aswan/Cairo
• PRICE for Nile River Cruise Add-on Only:
  • Double Occ Deluxe Stateroom (2 beds):  $2150
  • Double Occ Master Stateroom (one bed):  $2275

NOT  INCLUDED:

• $45 Port Fee (paid onsite)
• $105 Marine Park Fee (paid onsite)
• $25 Egyptian Visa (paid onsite)
• $50 Fuel Surcharge (paid onsite)
• Lunch and Dinner during hotel days
• Single Occupancy upcharge for Hurghada hotel ($175)
• Gratuities
• Dive Medical Insurance (mandatory)
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

• Nonrefundable Deposit:  $500 to hold spot
• 2^nd Deposit:  $1000 May 20, 2024
• Final Balance:  September 1, 2024

NOTE: $500 Non Refundable deposit holds your spot for this trip.  2nd payment due May 20, 2024.  Final payment is due by September 1, 2024. We strongly recommend travelers insurance, ask for details. Land/dive/air prices are payable by cash, check, or credit card. Airfare rates are based on early sign up, future rates are approximate. Due to rising fuel costs, airlines have been imposing additional charges without notice, prices subject to change.