2011 Top Travel Specialist Award

PRESS RELEASE

November 28, 2011

Contact:          Brenda Pierce

Caravan-Serai Tours, Inc.

                        Brenda@caravan-serai.com

                        206-890-3852

                        3806 Whitman Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98103

For Immediate Release

Rita Zawaideh Named Top Travel Specialist for 9^th Year in a Row by Conde Nast Traveler

SEATTLE: Once again, Caravan-Serai Tours owner by Rita Zawaideh has received the prestigious honor of being named Top Travel Specialist from industry-leading Conde Nast Traveler magazine. 2011 marks the ninth consecutive year in which Rita has received this recognition. In an annual survey of travel specialists, the magazine lists “The Top Travel Specialists” developed after exhaustive interviews, reference checking, and recommendations from other industry insiders. Caravan-Serai Tours and owner Rita Zawaideh have been recognized for excellence and the depth and recent firsthand knowledge of the Middle East and North Africa, but particularly for the countries of Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.

Also part of the equation is Rita's strong relationship with local contacts, the high level of client commitment, a willingness to work with a range of budgets, and discriminating taste. This year's listing and more details on how the list was prepared can be found in the December 2011 edition of the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. 

Caravan-Serai provides expert travel services and tour organization to the Middle East and North Africa. The company caters to small and medium sized groups as well as independent travelers. All inclusive, tailor-made tours blend an educational and cultural experience with fun and adventure. Travel is the only way to bring people together and build bridges of understanding. 

Wondering about travel to Iran?

As usual, Iran is in the news, and not in a good way - what's new? Still, this may give some people pause to think about traveling to Iran "at such a time". On my trip to Iran in October of 2009, it was only months after the world watched in horror at the brutal crackdown on protests over the Iranian elections. We monitored the situation, and determined that it would be ok to travel, and the tour went on schedule. 

We were welcomed warmly and had an amazing time on the tour. People were always happy to talk to us, and even wanted their photos taken with an American. I remember at one of the sites we stopped at, a group of women approached us and handed one of the women in our group an infant, then stood beside her so another person could take a photo. A moment saved for posterity - "here you are at the age of 8 months or so being held by an American!"

There are tourists in Iran - Europeans know that Iran has a lot to offer the visitor in hospitality, excellent services, and sites that are truly breathtaking. Americans, not so much. And many Iranians were out visiting their national treasures right along side the foreigners. This is how we were able to meet so many wonderful people from all over Iran - families, students, all ages touring the sights and willing to talk to us, to tell us about their lives and how they viewed the world. 


Travel to Iran is an immensely rewarding experience. You will be welcomed by the masters of hospitality, see amazing sights, get to know the people a bit, eat wonderful food, and leave thinking "what is the problem with our respective governments!"

If you are interested in learning more about traveling to Iran, just give us a call. We will be happy to answer your questions, and hopefully ease your concerns.

Persian Gardens & History Tour

Join us in May for a tour of Persian Gardens, as well as the many historical sights such as Persepolis, Rayen, and more. Click her for full details.

Sat May 5: Welcome to Iran! We arrive in Tehran late the evening and procede through customs formalities. We will be met and transferred to our hotel for overnight. (Flights arrive just before midnight, or just after midnight on the 6th.)
Sun May 6: TEHRAN
We will have a late breakfast and then have a leisurely half day tour of Tehran to see some of Tehran's palaces, parks and museums. Dinner and overnight in Tehran. (B/L/D)

Mon May 7: TEHRAN
We will have a full day of sightseeing in Tehran to visit several museums and monuments in the city.
Tues May 8: TEHRAN-KASHAN
Today we will drive to Kashan via the holy city of Qom. We arrive in Kashan after lunch and check in to our hotel, then we have a tour of Kashan to see the historical houses as well as the World Heritage Garden of Fin. 

Weds May 9: KASHAN-YAZD
Today we will drive to the desert city of Yazd, en-route visit the ancient town of Nain to see a 1200 year old mosque and the 17th century governor's house that is now an ethnological museum of the desert people.
Thurs May 10: YAZD
Today we will have a full day tour of Yazd to visit the Zoroastrian Silent Towers, the Fire Temple as well as the Water Museum and the Bazaar.

Fri May 11: YAZD-KERMAN
Today after lunch we will drive to Kerman, en-route visit to a wonderful 17th century Royal Safavid Caravan Serai where we can have a tea and see some camels in the vicinity of the mysterious KAVIR (desert). After our break we continue towards Kerman with some very nice stops at the famous Rafsanjan Pistachio Gardens where the famous Persian Pistachios come from.
Sat May 12: KERMAN (Excursion to Rayen and Mahan)
Today after breakfast we drive 80 KM to Rayen, in the foothills of the 14000ft Hezar Mountain to see a 2000 year old citadel as well as visit to the World Heritage site of the Prince Garden in Mahan city.
Sun May 13: KERMAN-SHIRAZ
Today after breakfast we have full day drive to Shiraz. We will also visit a 5th century Sassanian hunting lodge that is a great example of the Sassanian architecture of dome designs.
Mon May 14: SHIRAZ
Today we will start our tour of Shiraz with a visit to another World Heritage site called Eram Persian Garden of Eden and then visit the tomb of the beloved poet Hafez located in a beautiful garden park, and then the Nasirol Molk pink mosque and Narenjestan, a traditional old house of Shiraz.

Tues May 15: SHIRAZ (With excursion to Persepolis and Necropolis)
Today after breakfast we will drive to Persepolis to see the highlight of Persian archeology to see the palaces of Darius the Great and Xerxes, and the necropolis of Naghshe Rustam, site of an Achaemenid-period fire-temple and sanctuary, four Royal Tombs and eight Sassanian rock-reliefs including the impressive victory scene of Shapur I over Roman Emperor Valerian.

Weds May 16: SHIRAZ-ISFAHAN
Today after breakfast we will drive to Esfahan with a lovely stop at the first Persian capital Pasargad to see the remains of the ancient city and palaces of Pasargad from Cyrus the Great, including his tomb and private palace.
Thurs May 17: ISFAHAN
Today after breakfast we start our tour of the biggest, man-made, Garden city in the world, Isfahan, by visiting the world heritage Garden Palace of Chehel Sotoon (40 Columns), dating back to the 17th century Safavid Era. Then we will continue our tour to see an old bridge as well as the 17th century Cathedral of Vank in the Julfa Armenian Quarter.

Fri May 18: ISFAHAN
Today after breakfast we will have a full day tour of Isfahan to see the Old Friday Mosque then return to our hotel for lunch. After lunch we will go by bus to the famous World Heritage site of Naghshe Jahan Square to see Ali Qapou Palace, Lutfollah Mosque and the Shah Mosque, then enjoy free time exploring in the 17th century bazaar of Isfahan, and doing some last minute shopping.
Sat May 19: ISFAHAN-TEHRAN
Today after breakfast we will drive back to Tehran with some great stops at the cities of Natanz and Abyaneh. We will be back to Tehran around 6 PM for dinner and overnight.
Sun May 20: TEHRAN-USA
Early morning transfer to the IKA airport for your flight back to the USA. END OF SERVICES

Western Desert & Nile Cruise March 2012

March 1: Welcome to Egypt, Land of Pharaohs! Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport we will be met and transferred to our hotel for overnight in Cairo.
March 2: After breakfast at the hotel we will begin our tour with a visit to Tahrir Square, which became known worldwide. After a visit with time for photos we will head into the Egyptian National Museum of Antiquities where you will see the fabulous treasures of the tomb of Tutankhamon. Lunch will be served at a typical restaurant, and afterwards we will go to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - the Pyramids and the Sphinx at the Giza Plateau. Return to hotel. Overnight in Cairo. (B/L)
March 3: This morning we leave Cairo at 8:00am for the Bahariya Oasis. This first part of our excursion to the Western Desert will be on an asphalt road, and we will stop to see the local market and have lunch in a local restaurant. We will then head southwest to reach the White Desert where we will camp overnight at our campsite located at the heart of the White Desert, and enjoy a BBQ dinner. (B/L/D)

March 4: Today we will explore the White Desert, a unique open air sculpture museum created by nature, where rocks and sand have been eroded by the wind. We will watch the spectacular sunset in the open desert then we will return to our camp for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)

March 5: This morning after breakfast in the camp we will go to the Farafra Oasis. We will visit explore the oasis, including its authentic museum known for its unique art. Then we will have a bath in a natural hot water spring before going back to the White Desert to our camp for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)

March 6: Today, we head north to reach the mountain of crystals, where we will do some exploring. We will then continue to Bahariya and visit the museum of the Golden Mummies as well as the temple of Alexander the Great and a Pharaonic tomb. We will have lunch then head back to Cairo arriving around sunset with lots of wonderful memories and superb photos of this memorable unique experience. Overnight in Cairo. (B/L)

March 7: We will have an early breakfast and then check out and transfer to the Cairo Domestic Airport for our flight to Aswan. Arrive in Aswan and transfer to the Nile Cruise ship to check in. Lunch on board, relax and get settled in. After lunch we will meet our local guide go to see the Aswan High Dam, which took over for the Old Dam and resulted in the creation of Lake Nasr. Next we visit the Temple of Philae located on an island just above the High Dam. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Isis and was saved from the flood waters of the lake by removing it from its original location to its present location. Our last visit in Aswan is the at the ancient pink granite quarry where we will see the Unfinished Obelisk. The stone cracked as the stone cutters were trying to cut the massive stone from the surrounding rock, making it useless, so they left it, and left us with clues about how the ancient Egyptians constructed their giant monuments. Return to the ship and dinner and overnight on board in Aswan. (B/L/D)

March 8: The ship will sail to Kom Ombo while we are having breakfast, and once we dock there we will go visit the Temple of Kom Ombo. The Temple of Kom Ombo is shared by the two Gods Sobek and Haroeris. Sobek is depicted as a crocodile and you will find his image everywhere, as well as other signs of worship to this god. After visiting the temple return to the ship and sail on to Edfu. Enjoy afternoon tea as the banks of the Nile glide by. Once in Edfu we will visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu. The large well preserved temple complex was built between 237 BCE to 57 BCE, into the reign of Cleopatra VII. Built from sandstone blocks, the huge Ptolemaic temple was constructed over the site of a smaller New Kingdom temple, oriented east to west, facing towards the river. Enjoy afternoon tea and dinner on board as we sail to Esna and pass through the locks, and on to Luxor for overnight. (B/L/D)

March 9: After breakfast we begin our sightseeing in Luxor with a visit to the West Bank. In the Valley of the Kings we will visit several tombs that have been preserved. The tombs of Tut Ankh-Amon, Ramses III, Seti I, Ramses VI, Amenhotep II, and more are located here. See the differing types of construction of the burial chambers located in this cut in the mountains. Afterwards visit Queen Hatshepsut's Temple. At Queen Hatshepsut's Temple, we will see the reconstructed temple of this fascinating ruler of Egypt. Her story is full of political intrigue and rivalry, a power struggle, murder, and more! Head back to the ship, stopping to see the Colossi of Memnon at the ruins of the tomb of Amenhotep III. Lunch will be on board the ship, and dinner and overnight in Luxor. (B/L/D)

March 10: After breakfast on board we will disembark (check out), then visit the Temples of Karnak and Luxor. The Temple of Karnak is dedicated to the Theban Triad of Amon, Mut, and Khonso, and is the largest religious complex in the world. The complex was constructed over several hundred years. We will see the many efforts of successive rulers to put their individual mark on the temple, and efforts to remove the presence of others. After exploring this magnificent site, go to the smaller but just is beautiful Temple of Luxor with its elegant colonnaded hall and sculpture of King Tut and his wife. Afterwards we transfer to Luxor Airport for our flight to Cairo. On arrival at the Cairo Airport we will transfer to our hotel and check in. The rest of the day is free. Overnight in Cairo. (B)
March 11: After breakfast we will have a sightseeing tour in Old Cairo. We will visit the Hanging Church built in the ancient city walls of the Gate of Babylon, and then the oldest Jewish Synagogue in Cairo, followed by a visit to the Citadel of Salah El Din and the Alabaster Mosque of Prince Mohamed Ali. Return to the hotel, and the rest of the say is free on your own. Overnight in Cairo. (B)

March 12: Breakfast, check out and transfer to Cairo International Airport for departure flights. (B)
End of services.

Pricing & more info: http://www.caravan-serai.com/NewSite/Countries/Egypt/Egypt-WesternDesertMar2012.htm