It’s That Time of Year!
Our First Missive of the 2023 Season
Hello to all our readers, followers, guests and friends,
It’s already April, and I reflect on my adventures this past winter. Where did the winter months go? Who hit the fast-forward button on the seasonal remote? With time passing by so quickly, I took part of the day to stroll through the streets of my home city of Bordeaux. After a weekend of rain and wind, the sun graced us with its warmth and brilliance today, and I felt the obligation to be out and about. It was a productive day topped off with lunch at one of my favorite local brasseries overlooking the Garonne River from Place de la Bourse. I was not alone in enjoying nature’s gift of good weather. As I savored my lunch and perused photos on my iPhone, I reminisced about the end year’s holidays, my time in Egypt, and the upcoming tour season.
I had the good fortune to have my children with me for Christmas at home in the US. My son Oliver, 27 years old and an electrical engineer, lives and works full-time in the US. My daughter Chloe, 24 years old, is now back in France studying for her Master’s in Marine Science at the University of Marseille. Coordinating our busy schedules now that they’re adults can sometimes be challenging. So the three of us reunited for Christmas was the only gift I needed. Once festivities ended and everyone returned to their daily work and school routines, it was time for Mom to go on the run!
I headed back to Bordeaux and took a few days to repack my bags, and off I went. I felt a sense of peace as I embarked on my EgyptAir flight to Cairo and then connected to Luxor. While I knew my dear Egyptian friend and colleague Hela and I would dive head first into our daily yet often unplanned adventures around the country, we were looking forward to sharing time together and with local friends and family.
We chatted the night away when I arrived at Hela’s home in Luxor. And with the first light of the day, a flurry of hot air balloons passing over the house awakened us from a deep sleep. Life in the countryside in Egypt is a life spent outdoors. We drank our coffee as we sat at the outdoor dining table with our computers, admiring the balloons overhead. Treated like family, neighbor and friend Azab dropped by with breakfast of foul (Egyptian fava beans) and falafel and joined us for a morning chat before heading off to his textile shop for the day.
The following weeks would deliver the excitement and unexpected typical to us, from biking in our neighborhood of Medinet Habu to visiting new artisan friends, testing restaurants, spending lots of time on the Nile, and being chauffered everywhere by Azab’s brother Mohammed in his artistic tuk-tuk. A surprise trip to Aswan took us to another friend, Walid’s and Hela’s private island, amidst the cataracts of the Nile. Four days of bliss sleeping in bamboo huts and pampered with gourmet Egyptian cuisine left me teary-eyed when it was time to return to Luxor.
My winter stay ended with a beautiful and heartfelt dinner at home with Azab’s family. We gathered around the table, eating local cuisine Azab’s wife and daughters had prepared. We chatted and laughed the evening away. As we said goodbye, we embraced the entire family with hugs and words of thankfulness for their kindness and endless generosity. We wished each other well until we’ll return with guests in November. The next morning Hela and I flew to Cairo to spend a few days with her mom and friends in the city before I departed this beautiful country back to Bordeaux.
While France remains my true love, Egypt holds a special place in my heart. The Egyptian people’s kindness, generosity, warmth, and spectacular archeological sites and history create the perfect recipe for travelers. Suppose you’ve dreamt of experiencing Egypt authentically. In that case, I offer a limited edition tour of Egypt in partnership with my dear Egyptian friend and colleague Hela. You’ll leave Egypt with a once-in-a-lifetime experience and memories only we and our local Egyptian friends and partners can deliver!
- 2024 – EGYPT *Ultimate in Luxury* Tour Dates & Prices: April 11-21 and November 6-16 and December 1-11. Priced at US$22,998 per person double/twin occupancy (11 days/10 nights), All-Inclusive Tour featuring a combination of suites at luxury hotels and ultimate luxury glamping on our friend’s private island in the cataracts of the Nile in Aswan (A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience) and 4 nights on privately chartered, luxury dahabeya (privately chartered luxury boat exclusively for our group with 6-8 cabins) for Nile cruise portion of the trip.
- 2024 – EGYPT “Semi-Luxury” Tour Dates & Prices: February 27-March 8 and November 17-27. Priced at US$14,998 per person double/twin occupancy (11 days/10 nights), All-Inclusive Tour featuring Exceptional Boutique Hotels, Semi-private, Chartered dahabeya (Smaller Shared/Semi-private Boat with 6-10 cabins).
- Group size is limited to 10 guests per scheduled tour date.
- Review the itinerary here and be sure to scroll down the itinerary page to the photo gallery… https://www.traveloffthebeatenpath.com/egypt-tour
NOW BACK TO MY BELOVED FRANCE!
We launch our 2023 tour season in Champagne at the end of April. We’re thrilled to welcome the Baltimore Best Book Club for a private tour, indulging in the region’s finest Champagnes and gourmet cuisine. Once May arrives, our regularly scheduled Provence, Loire Valley, and Bordeaux tours get underway. Tours depart every week from early May until the end of October, with an annual “vacation break” in August for our entire team. Many 2023 tour dates now have limited space available. Once more, we have many returning guests and friends and family referred by former guests traveling with us this year.
My entire team and I thank you for your ongoing loyalty and friendship. We’re grateful to be able to share the best of our beautiful country with you!!
- Check out our 2024 Schedule of Tours – Click Here for 2024 Dates
Follow us on Facebook or Instagram to keep updated when we post photos and videos. Beginning in May, my friend and fellow guide Summer and I will resume filming for our YouTube channel, “FrenchDish.” And if you haven’t had a chance to watch the videos we published over the past two years, please join us by clicking through to our channel to have a look and subscribe. FrenchDish – https://www.youtube.com/@frenchdish
We look forward to more fun and laughter together in the future!
- Contact us at franceotbp@gmail.com to request space availability and/or ask questions.
- All of our France tours depart weekly from April to November.
- Visit our 2024 Provence, Loire Valley and Bordeaux Tour Dates and Price Schedule page for complete details.
