Urban Intellectuals – Black History in Motherland (Egypt & Ghana) – FEB 10 – 28, 2024

Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt

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$9,129

Deposit: $199

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Feb 10 - 28, 2024

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Group size: 1 - 46

Urban Intellectuals – Black History in Motherland (Egypt & Ghana) – FEB 10 – 28, 2024

Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt

See More Photos



FEB 10 - 28, 2024



Group size: 1 - 46

Contact organizer

Millennial mummies, mouthwatering food and thousands of histories are waiting: welcome to Egypt! Get to know this ancient civilization and wonder at some of humanity’s most impressive monuments. Enjoy breathtaking views over the Nile, the oldest Pyramids of the world and stories of treason and love. Ready for the trip of a lifetime?

In an effort to make your trip a streamlined process, Maximum Impact Travel offers extensive online trainings in preparation for your trip. Once you secure your deposit, you will be invited to participate in a series of online courses that will have you ready for your journey. You can view these courses at your convenience.

Afterwards, get a taste of the real Africa!

Mystical beaches, lush forests and lively people wait for you in Ghana. Explore African diaspora like never before, and walk through the paths where thousands of the enslaved fought for survival. Visit cities with a heavy past, where ancient magic and modernity intermingle. Discover African diaspora history in this eight-day Ghana trip full of memorial sites, scrumptious food, welcoming locals and beautiful landscapes. The Gold Coast awaits!

In an effort to make your trip a streamlined process, Maximum Impact Travel offers extensive online trainings in preparation for your trip. Once you secure your deposit, you will be invited to participate in a series of online courses that will have you ready for your journey. You can view these courses at your convenience.

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Ground Tranportation

Ground transportation and domestic airfare in Egypt to and from scheduled destinations (does not include international airfare)

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Hotel Accommodations

Double Occupancy OR Single Occupancy + Complementary B/L/D. Hotel upgrades available upon request. Additional fees will apply.

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Admission To Activities

Admission to all planned itinerary activities are covered. Additional activities will be the responsibility of the client/guest.

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Hotel Amenities

WiFi, Spa, Bar, Restaurant, Room Service, Fitness Center, Swimming Pool, Meeting Rooms, Air Conditioning, Wheelchair Accessible

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Passport

The United States Postal Service offers passport services. passportvisaexpress.com is another recommended provider

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Visa

You will need a valid Visa to enter. Please do not wait until the last minute to obtain your Visa. Some countries allow border-entry VISAS upon arrival. passportvisaexpress.com is a VISA provider

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Vaccinations & COVID-19

The Yellow Fever vaccination is the only REQUIRED vaccination to enter. COVID-19 negative test results required 72 hours before departure & upon entering.

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Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is highly recommended. Trip deposits and payments are non-refundable. Therefore, it is prudent to protect your investment. Insurance options travelguard.com or insuremytrip.com

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Medical Travel Insurance

Medical travel insurance is highly recommended & different from travel insurance. Your domestic medical policy may not cover an international medical emergency. https://www.travelguard.com/

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Gratuities

Gratuities are not included but strongly encouraged

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Beverages

Beverages are not included with your meal. All of your beverages will be at an additional charge, this includes water, soda, juice, alcohol, etc.

Great Pyramid of Cheops (per person)	$35
Tutankhamun Tomb (per person)	$30
Culture Tour in Luxor (per person)	$0
Hot Air Balloon Tour	$140
Quad Bike around the pyramid(per person)	$75
Camel ride at the pyramids (per person)	$50

Day 1 - Arrival In Cairo

Arrival Day at the hotel

Your Egyptian adventures start as soon as you get to Cairo International airport. Your tour manager will escort you to your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. Once at your accommodation, they’ll help you check-in and review your itinerary. You’ll confirm pick-up times for the daily tours and have the rest of the day to wind down. Overnight in Cairo.

Hotel Amenities: WiFi, Spa, Bar, Restaurant, Room Service, Fitness Center, Swimming Pool, Meeting Rooms, Air Conditioning, Wheelchair Accessible

Meals: Dinner, beverage not included.

Day 2 – Giza Pyramids

Giza Pyramids and Sphinx

Have a filling breakfast at your Cairo hotel and meet at 8AM to go to the Giza Plateau. Visit one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World: the Giza Pyramid Complex is vibrant with history and magic. Wonder at the Great Pyramid of Cheops, Pyramid of Chepren and the Pyramid of Menkaure with its valley temple, and overlook the valley by the Great Sphinx. You’ll have the chance to explores these amazing structures from within (optional activity) and later enjoy a scrumptious lunch at a good quality local restaurant. After a day of amazing views, we’ll go back to the hotel where you’ll spend the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, beverages not included.

Day 3 - Luxor & Nile

Luxor and the Nile East Bank

Today you’ll have an early hotel check-out at 4:30AM and go on a private shuttle to the Cairo airport to hop on a flight to Luxor. This mythical city has been the home of Emperors and Pharaohs for thousands of years! Here, you’ll explore the amazing Karnak Temple Complex, full of intricate sandstone columns, colossal statues and native palm trees. We’ll board our Egypt Nile cruise and enjoy a delicious lunch on board, overlooking the longest river in the world.

Meals: Breakfast box, lunch, dinner, beverages not included.

Day 4 – Luxor West Bank

Luxor West Bank, Valley of the Kings

After breakfast overlooking the Nile, you’ll go on an excursion to the mythical Valley of the Kings. This impressive monumental complex is the eternal resting place of 62 ancient Pharaohs and hundreds powerful nobles of Ancient Egypt. Visit the mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut built in 1500 BCE: this masterpiece of ancient architecture is full of altars, shrines and halls waiting to be explored. Afterwards, we’ll head to the Colossi of Memnon to find these two statues guarding the city. As an optional activity, you can also visit Tutankhamun’s tomb (entrance fee not included). After lunch we’ll sail via Edfu, enjoying a leisurely dinner on the cruise where we’ll spend the night

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, beverages not included.

Day 5 – Edfu / Kom Ombo

Edfu / Kom Ombo

After breakfast on the cruise, we’ll visit the Temple of Edfu. This well-preserved monument from the Ptolemaic Kingdom was dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed God. After some exploring, we’ll sail to Kom Ombo to get to know the unique Temple of Sobek, where ancient Egyptians honored both Sobek and Horus.

After exploring the secrets of these mythical places, we’ll hop on the cruise again to continue our journey to Aswan. A delicious dinner will be served on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, beverages not included.

Day 6 – Aswan Sightseeing

Aswan Sightseeing including Nubian Museum and Nubian Village

After breakfast on Nile cruise, enjoy a day’s sightseeing in Aswan. Start with the High Dam and the largest known ancient obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt, the Unfinished Obelisk, proceeding to the beautiful Temple of Philae, which is devoted to the two goddesses Isis and Hathor.Also, a visit to the Nubian Museum and the Nubian Village (the other side of Movenpick are included). Dinner and overnight on board deluxe Nile Cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, beverages not included.

Day 7 - Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel tour and back to Cairo

After breakfast, we’ll say goodbye to the Nile Cruise and go on a day trip to Abu Simbel by land. You’ll take a private shuttle with AC that will take you to Abu Simbel, where we’ll explore the Great Temple of Ramses II and the small Temple of Hathor and Nefertari. These ancient structures have an amazing history: discovered in 1813, the UNESCO and the Egyptian government moved them in the 1960s to keep them safe from the construction of a dam. Wonder at these amazing monuments and explore the life of Ramses II and his favorite wife Queen Nefertari. After the visit you’ll take the shuttle back to Aswan and transfer to the airport to take a flight to Cairo. Overnight in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, beverages not included.

Day 8 – Egyptian Museum

Egyptian Museum tour in Tahrir

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel in Cairo, you’ll meet your guide at 9:30AM to take you to the Egyptian museum. Explore the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East and wonder at the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world. After touring the museum, we’ll enjoy a hot lunch at a good quality local restaurant. Spend the afternoon winding down at the hotel where you’ll have dinner. Overnight in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, beverages not included.

Day 9 - Travel to Ghana

Day 10 - Free Day

Day 11 – Arrival to Ghana

Arrival to Ghana

Welcome to Ghana! Your adventure starts today as you step foot in Kotoka international airport. No need to deal with taxis or car rentals, we’ll arrange for a private shuttle that will take you to the hotel in no time. Once settled, you’ll get to know the tour team and have the rest of the afternoon to decompress. In the evening, we’ll enjoy a scrumptious dinner at a local restaurant as we go over the tour briefing. Your Ghana escapade is about to begin.

Day 12 - Historic Accra

Touring Historic Accra

Your Ghana adventure begins with a visit to Accra, Ghana’s bustling capital. We’ll start the day by touring the city’s beating heart, going to the local markets bursting with new smells, tastes and colors. To get even closer to Ghanaian culture, we’ll have the chance to enjoy an authentic Ghanaian drumming lesson. Feel these ancestral rhythms and enjoy an in-depth look at what makes this people unique.

Our tour will take us to Nkrumah memorial museum, the Black Star National Square and the Independence Arch, all built by Ghana’s first democratic government. As we walk across these spaces, we’ll get to know part of the country’s convoluted political past. Take a break by eating at a local restaurant full of mouthwatering dishes: it’s the best way to relax and enjoy the city!

Day 13 - Kumasi

Exploring Historic Kumasi

Today we’ll head to Kumasi, the long-lost capital of the powerful Ashanti kingdom. The second largest city in the country still drips with Ashanti traditions.

To get here, we’ll hop on a quick domestic flight from Accra. Once in Kumasi, we’ll explore the traditions that still linger below the surface. The day starts with a visit to the traditional Adinkra village. Here, you’ll enjoy an authentic Kente weaving and stamp printing experience, followed by a tour at a local cocoa farm where we’ll get to know how these beans became the best-quality cocoa in the world.

You’ll have the chance to attend your own Asante naming ceremony where the elders will give you a soul and a spirit name.

The day finishes with a return flight to Accra.

Day 14 - Botanical Gardens

Day 15 - Cape Coast

Slave River, Coconut Grove

Bursting with history and pride, Cape Coast is one of Ghana’s most significant spots. Discover the city as we revisit some of the country’s most painful memories. Get knee-deep into Ghana’s slavery past by stepping on the path of thousands of the enslaved captives. Our journey begins in Donkor Nsuo, or slave river, were prisoners had the chance to bathe before a 3-week naked trek through the dense forest. Then, we’ll go back to the city and visit the Slave Dungeon, in the bowels of the dungeon. Listen to first-hand accounts of the country’s grueling slavery route and go up to the Door of Return, also known as ‘door of no return’, the last frontier between the dungeons and the huge slave ships waiting on the port. Afterwards, we’ll return to Coconut Grove where you’ll have the time to dine, ride local horses, and relax.

Day 16 -Kakum Canopy Park

Kakum Canopy Park & Cape Coast Slave Dungeon

After breakfast you will visit Cape Coast Slave Dungeon. After the heavy emotions of Cape Coast Dungeon, it’s time to unwind and enjoy Ghana’s lush landscapes. Today we’ll visit Kakum national park, where ancient trees, curious monkeys and beautiful birds await. After a short hike, we’ll get to the canopy trail, a series of 7 narrow swinging canopy bridges. Get face-to-face with Ghana’s most exotic fauna as you go through their natural habitat, more than 40 feet above the ground. For the faint of heart, no worries: there’s an outdoor lounge just for you!

Day 17 - Oxford Street

Shopping at the Makola Markets

Oxford Street a bustling, lively place where you’ll find unique souvenirs and get to know the rhythm of the city. Smell the traditional Ghanaian ingredients, touch authentic Kente cloth and revel in the feeling of being a local while you do some last-minute shopping.

Day 18 Shai Hills Reserve

Day 19 - Departure

Travel Home

Maximum Impact Tours

Maximum Impact Tours has been created to encourage international and domestic travel experiences. Maximum Impact Tours was founded by entrepreneur, playwright, author and philanthropist, Jay Cameron. Realizing that most of his life had been consumed working domestically, a trip to Ghana changed his perspective. His experience transformed the way he saw traveling. As a result, he set out to encourage others to see the world through their own eyes and not only through the eyes of television and social media. You are invited to join Jay and his team on their adventures around the globe.

My trip to Ghana with Urban Intellectuals was the very BEST! The planning it took to put this together was nothing short of phenomenal. The places we stayed were just beautiful and the treatment and the heartfelt welcome we received from everyone no matter where we went was an extreme breath of fresh air. The people, the places, the sites, the food and the friends we made in the group will forever be cherished. Our guide, Morris and the others with him, provided those insights that only can be gotten from someone who knows. So much to say, but let this suffice. Jay has put together a once in a lifetime program that will have impact beyond our days on earth. If anyone is thinking of going to visit Africa, Jay Cameron and Maximum Impact Travel is THE way to go. They literally held our hand the entire trip. Thank you 🙏🏽

By Kamau w on 18 Nov, 2022

TRIP OF A LIFETIME! We had an amazing time during our trip to Egypt. It was an educational experience that you could never receive from a book. There was never a dull moment with the fun and engaging scheduled activities planned each day. The tour managers were very knowledgeable about the Egyptian history and culture, sharing the untold story that has been left out of many history books. It was so surreal seeing in person and visiting the pyramids and temples of ancient kings and queens. The cultural food was delicious with a variety of healthy choices available. The friendly people and comfortable accommodations made me feel at ease traveling this great distance with my child. The family-friendly environment and personalized experiences of visiting a local Nubian family (where my son made a friend), seeing how alabaster is carved into vases and ornaments, and taking a cruise down the Nile River has made this an unforgettable excursion. We look forward to traveling with Urban Intellectuals on our next trip to Africa. Thank you Jay and Freddie for this phenomenal experience!

By QueRon H on 14 Nov, 2022

This was my first group trip and first trip to Africa (Ghana). The team made us all feel welcomed and thought of every Plan B before we arrived. The people in my group were like old friends. Everyone was kind and friendly. This created a wonderful atmosphere for connecting and experiencing the trip with joy. We talked, we shared, we laughed, we had fun together! Jay and his Ghana team were patient and always accommodating. It was a wonderful experience and perfectly timed to see the release of Wakanda Forever! Thank you for the opportunity!!

By Phyllis M on 14 Nov, 2022

My husband and I had a wonderful time, the history lessons and the food was amazing and the living conditions were top of the line and the people in our group and handlers were friendly and helpful especially Morris he when above and beyond making sure we were taken care of. We will be returning on more trips with urban intellectuals . Thanks Jay for your hospitality and always keeping us informed. Lodia & Anthony Merritt

By Lodia M on 14 Nov, 2022