B = Breakfast included L = Lunch included D = Dinner included
Overview
Itinerary
Purpose
Arrangements
Price
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Journey Overview
Join us as a fellow traveler on A Classical Journey to Egypt. CUC’s alumni, educators, friends, and students who embark on this journey are sure to enrich their lives by deepening their commitment to truth, freedom, and their vocations.
A Classical Journey will explore the fascinating and complex ancient culture of Egypt that includes both Old and New Testament connections as well as contributions of ancient Egyptian society. The ancient Egyptians made advances in architecture and engineering, as well as in writing, record-keeping, science, technology, and medicine, among other areas, including art, cosmetics, and timekeeping. Educators from classical traditions will recognize many of these sciences as key elements of the Quadrivium.
A Classical Journey has been created to appeal to CUC alumni, educators, and students. Dr. Dawn and Dr. Holwell will offer travelers daily briefings. We will be guided by an expert Egyptologist who is a resident of Egypt. We will balance our heady intellectual encounters and deep theological considerations with spectacular accommodations, excellent food as a window to Egyptian culture, a luxury Nile River cruise, and activities that are just plain fun.
Your Hosts for Our Journey
Your hosts for A Classical Journey will be Concordia University Chicago President, Dr. Russell Dawn and Assistant Professor of History, Dr. Joseph Holwell.
For 160 years, Concordia University Chicago has been preparing the next generation of leaders with the knowledge, faith, and values to make an impact in the world. The alumni and friends who embark on A Classical Journey as members of the CUC community are sure to deepen their appreciation for forming and shaping Concordia University Chicago students to be living examples of what it means to serve a cause greater than themselves.
Dr. Dawn once reflected on the awakening of his own intellectual curiosity in history stating, “I had never cared much about history when I was young, but I began to take interest after law school. Then, reading history and the writings of historical figures blew my mind.“ He recalls, “I began to understand myself and the world around me in new ways. Eventually I knew that I needed to share that experience with the next generation.“
This journey, undertaken with Dr. Dawn, promises to be mind-blowing. A Classical Journey will take place in the context of a contemporary Egyptian culture very different from our own. The focus of this journey on encounters with the ancient past of Egypt will stimulate consideration and conversation around what it means to Stand Tall in the truth of God’s creation and
revelation.
As a scholar of ancient history who works with material evidence such as inscriptions, reliefs, and votive objects, Dr. Joseph Holwell, endeavors to refine our understanding of formation and religious expression. Assistant Professor of History, Dr. Holwell, is interested more broadly in the complex interplay between imperial power and subject populations including contemporary understandings of empire.
As your journey hosts, Dr. Dawn and Dr. Holwell are committed to engaging alumni and friends as fellow travelers on A Classical Journey for the greater good of a mutual commitment to a transformative experience of CUC students grounded in faith, learning and vocation.
Since 2019, Dr. Russell Dawn serves as the twelfth president of Concordia University Chicago.
He holds a Ph.D. in Theology and Church History and an M.A. in Church History from Oxford
University. He teaches in CUC’s Honors Program and served on the faculty of Concordia
University Irvine in the Department of History and Political Thought from 2012-2019. He
previously worked as an attorney and investment banker.
Assistant Professor of History, Dr. Joseph Holwell, teaches courses in world history, European history, ancient Greek and Roman civilization and historiographical methodology. Dr. Holwell has a PhD and Master of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin, a Master of Arts degree from DePaul University—Chicago, Illinois. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at Illinois State University—Normal, Illinois.
Dr. Dawn and Dr. Holwell are looking forward to hosting Concordia University Chicago alumni and friends on A Classical Journey to Egypt.
Day 1 – Wheels up!
Saturday, June 5, 2027
We depart on our overnight group flight from O’Hare International Airport—Chicago, Illinois to Cairo, Egypt.
Day 2 - Ahlan Wa Sahlan! Welcome to Egypt
Sunday, June 6, 2027
We will arrive at Cairo International Airport where we will be met by an airport representative who will assist us with our visas and other arrival formalities. We will proceed to our beautiful, five-star hotel with time to relax before our celebratory welcome dinner. D
Day 3– Pyramids, Papyrus and Other Things Past
Monday, June 7, 2027
After a wonderful breakfast at our hotel, we will meet our expert Egyptologist from Egypt who will escort us in exploring the pyramids including the Great Pyramid of Cheops, Chephren, Mycerinus, and the Sphinx. Our spectacular day includes a visit to The Papyrus Institute where we will learn about paper making and writing in the ancient world. Our experience at the perfume factory and jewelry shop will feature advances made by ancient Egyptians. Our full day also includes the recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Our evening includes Sound and Light Laser Show at the pyramids. B, D
Day 4 –– Egyptian Museum, Salah El Din Citadel, Dinner Cruise
Tuesday, June 8, 2027
Today, our Egyptologist will guide us through the Egyptian Museum of Cairo followed by a visit to the seat of Egyptian government for 700 years, the Citadel of Salah El Din and the Mohamed Ali Mosque built by the recognized Father of Modern Egypt. Our leisurely evening will include a dinner cruise on the Nile that includes entertainment. B, D
Day 5 – Coptic Cairo and the Holy Family
Wednesday June 9, 2027
After breakfast, we will explore Old Coptic Cairo with our Egyptologist as we contemplate a time when Egypt had a Christian majority. Coptic Christian tradition and early church writings support the words of Matthew 2:13-15 that documents the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. We will explore areas where the Holy Family visited according to Coptic tradition. We will return to our beautiful hotel for some leisure time and dinner. B, D
Day 6 – All aboard!
Thursday, June 10, 2027
After breakfast, we will take our flight to Aswan. We will board our luxurious cruise ship to begin our Nile River cruise. After lunch onboard, our Egyptologist will guide us to the remarkable Aswan High Dam and the well-preserved temple of Philae. We will have free time to explore the ship and relax before dinner onboard. B, L, D
Day 7 – Perspective of the Past
Friday, June 11, 2027
After breakfast on board our ship, we will visit the fascinating double temple of Kom Ombo on the East bank of the Nile and exceptionally well preserved Edfu temple on the West bank which was discovered around a century ago. We will return to our cruise ship for dinner. B, L, D
Day 8 – Luxor and the East Bank
Saturday, June 12, 2027
After breakfast, our ship will navigate to one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Luxor, where we will visit the famous Luxor and Karnak temples escorted by your Egyptologist. We will enjoy some leisure time before dinner onboard our cruise ship. B, L, D
Day 9– Valley of the Kings (Nile Cruise Ends)
Sunday, June 13, 2027
Our cruise concludes after breakfast today. Our Egyptologist will guide us as we explore the renowned Valley of the Kings which is the burial site of many pharaohs, including Tutankhamun also known as King Tut. We will visit other ancient sights that stand as a testament to the engineering skills of ancient Egyptian culture. We fly back to Cairo in the afternoon with time to check into our hotel and enjoy dinner. B, D
Day 10 - Our Relationship to the World
Monday, June 14, 2027
After an early breakfast, we will travel to Wadi El-Natrun which became one of the most important centers of early Coptic Christian monastic life. We will visit monasteries including Saint Bishoy, El-Suryan, and Baramus before returning to our hotel for our farewell dinner. B, D
Day 11 – The Formal End to our Purposeful Journey
Tuesday, June 15, 2027
We depart Egypt with memories that will last a lifetime. We trust your conversation with other members of the Concordia University Chicago community will be invigorated by this journey. Our journey concludes, formally, with the departure of our flight home.
Purpose
A Classical Journey promises to lead to a deeper understanding among fellow travelers of themselves as members of the CUC community through encounters with a contemporary culture very different from our own and in light of the distant past of Egypt. A Classical Journey will explore ancient Egyptian culture including biblical contexts and Egyptian contributions to architecture and engineering, writing and record keeping, science, technology, and medicine as well as other areas of human culture such as art, cosmetics, and timekeeping. Educators from classical traditions will recognize many of these sciences as key elements of the Quadrivium.
This travel experience has been created to reflect the spirit of robust intellectual inquiry and formation through the liberal arts that leads graduates of CUC to live lives that are examples of what it means to serve a cause greater than ourselves. We will balance our deep theological considerations and heady intellectual encounters with spectacular accommodations, excellent food as a window to Egyptian culture, a luxury Nile River cruise, and activities that are just plain fun.
Our Philosophy
We hope you will measure the quality of your journey, not by the quantity of sights you see, but by the invaluable experiences you absorb.
Balance of stimulating experience, serious reflection
… …and just plain fun.
One word describes our intention for your journey: balance. We believe each place we visit should relate to whole story, the arc of a narrative. We believe in creating journeys formed and shaped as narratives; journeys that are serious, purposeful, and fulfilling with time to reflect with fellow travelers or alone while providing opportunity for experiences that are just plain fun.
Expert interaction and rich personal encounters
Rather than a trip led by a tour guide trained to disseminate information from a script, we endeavor to seek experts to lead you on a journey who are available as a resource for as much depth as you desire or to leave you to your own reflection.
Beautiful base locations
Too often, group travel can leave you feeling like you are part of a herd of a large group of strangers hustled from sight to sight, packing and unpacking everyday of your trip. With us you will stay in beautiful locations that serve as a base for our excursions. Changing hotels as few times as possible during a journey allows greater opportunity to experience people and culture.
Meticulously planned; yet flexible journey
How does a trip become a journey? Carefully selected excursions that form a narrative, staying in beautiful base locations, with time and flexibility for reflection, and activities that are just plain fun.
Cuisine as a delectable complement to culture and conversation
Cuisine, and the wonderful dining experiences we share in an eclectic array of venues, provide a delectable complement to your rich encounters with the culture and the delightful conversation you enjoy with fellow travelers.
Arrangements
Flight Information
Purposeful Journeys will arrange a group flight departing from Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Fellow travelers are NOT required to take the group flight. However, fellow travelers are advised to share their travel plans with Purposeful Journeys.
As a fellow traveler, you will have the flexibility to choose how you will join your cohort to formally begin your journey. Purposeful Journeys marks the formal beginning of your journey with a welcome dinner at our destination hotel. You will have three options to join your cohort. Below are the options for joining your cohort of Fellow Travelers with the primary advantage for each option:
- Join Your Cohort on Our Group Flight: Purposeful Journeys will arrange a group flight from Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The group flight will include a transfer from Cairo International Airport to the hotel, and at the end of the tour, a transfer back to the departure airport. While the specific price of the group flight cannot be determined until the flights are booked, based on current market conditions, flights will likely cost around $1400.
Advantage: This is often the most cost effective and certainly the most convenient option. - Meet Your Cohort at the Destination Airport: For a number of reasons, you may want to choose a flight other than the group flight. If you arrange to arrive at Cairo International Airport at around the time of the group flight, you may still meet your cohort in time to transfer with them to the hotel. Fellow travelers who choose this option may not incur an additional cost for this transfer from the Cairo International airport to the destination hotel, unless delays in travel prevent arrival in a timely fashion. Should delays occur, fellow travelers will likely need to make their own arrangements to transfer to the hotel. Please communicate your plans to Purposeful Journeys.
Advantage: Fellow travelers may find a balance between the convenience of choosing their own flight rather than the group flight while still taking advantage of the group transfer to the destination hotel. - Meet Your Cohort at the Destination Hotel: As a fellow traveler, you may want to choose to meet your cohort at the destination hotel in time for the formal beginning of your journey with the welcome dinner.
Advantage: This option offers fellow travelers the most flexibility. Fellow travelers will need to weigh the flexibility of this option with what will likely be additional costs for and convenience of their transfer from Cairo International Airport to the hotel.
Group flights will usually be announced between 90 and 120 days prior to departure of your purposeful journey. Fellow travelers will be kindly requested to choose the option for meeting their cohort to formally begin their journey soon after group flight arrangements are announced.
Hotel Accommodations
We will stay at the luxury Helnan Dreamland Hotel before and after our Nile River cruise on the Blue Shadow river cruise ship.
Ground Transportation
Ground transportation will be provided throughout the journey. Transfers to and from the arrival flight into and departing flight from Egypt will be provided as specified in the final itinerary.
Meals
Most meals you are likely to desire are included in this purposeful journey. We believe that dining experiences offer a window into the local culture. Breakfast and Dinner is included each day with only a couple of noted exceptions in the itinerary. Meals provide time for us to relax, take in the culture, and discuss all that we have seen and experienced as fellow travelers that day. See the current, tentative itinerary for details.
Sightseeing and Events
This purposeful journey includes several premium sightseeing opportunities and tours. As details emerge, specific information will be shared with fellow travelers.
A Classical Journey: Land and Cruise Only Cost—$5150
(You may save more than $700 if you apply early!)
Current Incentives:
- Save $300 with a special Concordia Chicago discount code
- Save $150 if you apply to travel by March 1, 2026
- Save $150 if you choose to settle your balance prior to the due date of your first payment
- Save 3% (applied to airfare) if you choose to settle your balance by check instead of credit card
Your journey includes:
- All tips for guides, coach drivers, and group meals at restaurants
- Taxes and airline surcharges
- Deluxe coach transportation throughout your itinerary
- Double occupancy hotel room ($1,250 single supplement)
- Meals as specified in the final itinerary
- Admission fees as specified in the final itinerary
- Only goods, services, or activities as explicitly included in the General Terms and Conditions.
- An offer for Cancel-for-Any-Reason (CFAR) travel insurance at the cost of a Basic Travel Insurance policy
Your journey does not include:
- Round trip airfare (Please visit the Arrangements section for details)
- Tips and gratuities for any service or meal that you order or receive individually. (All gratuities for group meals, coach drivers, and guides are included)
- Alcoholic beverages, bottled water, after dinner drinks
- Any goods, services, or activities expressly excluded in the General Terms and Conditions.
- Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance
Remittance Schedule:
- A decision on travel insurance is required for approval of your application.
- Once your application is approved, you will receive an estimate, an invoice for the land/cruise portion of the journey that reflects your remittance choice for settling your balance, and an invoice that is our offer of travel insurance.
- If you choose to avail yourself of the Pay-in-Full discount, you must settle your balance in full before your first payment is due as reflected on your invoice.
- If you choose to make payments, your payments will be divided into monthly payments with a final payment due as specified on your invoice.
- Payments will become due as specified on your invoices.
- Final payment must be received no later than the date specified on your invoice and remittance schedule.
When approved as a fellow traveler…
…you will receive three documents sent by postal mail. You will receive an Estimate for the total cost of your journey, including an estimate for airfare. This estimate is for your records and is used to calculate your Cancel For Any Reason travel insurance. The cost of the land/cruise portions of your journey will be an actual cost reflected in your estimate. We estimate airfare to ensure the full cost of your journey will be covered in the unlikely event you need to submit a travel insurance claim.
Second, you will receive an invoice which is our offer for Cancel for Any Reason travel insurance unless you have declined to purchase travel insurance through Purposeful Journeys.
Finally, you will receive an invoice that reflects your chosen remittance schedule from Malone Clan Expeditions, LLC doing business as Purposeful Journeys. Your travel insurance payment and first payment for your journey will be due on the same date.
In addition to these three documents, you will receive a link to a password protected Fellow Travelers page on our website that will offer details and updates about your journey.
Malone Clan Expeditions, LLC doing business as Purposeful Journeys will administer your journey. You must accept the General Terms and Conditions at the time you submit your application. Please refer to the General Terms and Conditions for any applicable additional fees that may apply in certain situations and circumstances such as any deviation from the group flight itinerary or your requirement of a single room.
Apply Now
We cordially invite you to apply to join us as a fellow traveler
Our journey application process has changed. We now offer Cancel-For-Any-Reason (CFAR) travel insurance for the cost of Basic travel insurance. We no longer collect any deposit at the time you submit your application.
Your application now requires a decision on travel insurance. Your application will not be deemed complete until you have either declined to purchase NTA Travel Connect travel insurance or paid your travel insurance invoice. Once you complete your application form, you will receive a quote from Purposeful Journeys for CFAR travel insurance. Your quote will be about the cost of Basic Travel insurance, a large discount. You will also receive a more detailed explanation about NTA Travel Protect travel insurance. By using this process Purposeful Journeys can guarantee that fellow travelers purchase their CFAR travel insurance policy within the 14-day window allotted for purchasing CFAR travel insurance. You may also decline your purchase of travel insurance.
We are delighted you are taking the step of submitting your application to become a member of a journey with us. We look forward to notifying you of your acceptance as a fellow traveler.
