'Breathing in the
Garden Star'
4 day Writing Retreat &
Tours in Siwa oasis, Egypt
Departing Cairo the
night of 7th October – Arriving back to Cairo the night
of 11th October
*Total price 3,350 LE
*The above price
includes:
Writing tuition fees for an 8 hr course, accommodation at Siwa Gardens Hotel, Siwa, in double rooms, all transfers using
a private a/c bus, tour guide fees, entry fees to all monuments and
museums, all meals (except in Cairo – Siwa transfer and in Almeen
beach resort), mineral water (2 big bottles 1.5 litter of water per
person each day), a desert safari tour using 4x4 cars.
This trip has limited places - Maximum 12 people only
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To register, in the first instance, please email the tutor and organiser Linda Cleary:
thewriterscentre@gmail.com
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I am so pleased to be
able to offer you all another wonderfully inspiring writing holiday
complete with daily writing classes, fabulous tours and accommodation
in the lovely, calm and well presented Siwa Gardens Hotel
http://www.siwagardens.com
We will leave Cairo by
private bus the night of Tuesday 7th and arrive at our
hotel Wednesday morning; the first day there will be a writing class
but we will have an otherwise leisurely introduction to our trip. In
total we will spend 3 nights/4 days in Siwa, where over the 4 days
you will have your 8 hour creative writing course delivered in 2 hour
workshops each day and also enjoy many wonderful excursions around
the Siwa area, oasis and desert.
The writing course is
designed to not only pass on and expand various writing techniques
and exercises but also will be themed on exploring the story of Siwa;
its landscape, characters, history and present. All participants,
whether just starting out in developing their writing or those who
are further on the writing path will benefit. And built into the
price is that all course assignment pieces sent by email after the
trip ends will receive individual tutor assessment and editing.
All bespoke
arrangements for the entire trip is arranged by and taken care of by
Truly Egypt tours:
www.trulyegypt.com
The full itinerary is
here:
Tuesday October 7th
10pm - Pick up and
transfer to Siwa via Matrouh overnight.
Cairo to Siwa is about
9 hours' drive.
Wednesday October 8th -Day 1
Arrive at Matrouh
around 4am
Rest in Matrouh for
about 1 hour.
Drive in the desert
road to Siwa, arrive in Siwa around 9am
Check in the hotel and
rest.
Lunch at Cleopatra
spring. About 10 minutes' drive from the hotel.
Writing workshop in the
cafe at Cleopatra spring . Private atmosphere.
Enjoy swimming in the
spring in the afternoon and free time.
Back to the hotel.
Dinner and night stay
in Siwa.
Day 2
Breakfast
Writing workshop in the
morning at the hotel.
Visit Siwa House
museum. (The tour duration is about 45 minutes)
Lunch at Abdou
Restaurant.
Visit Siwa historical
sightseeing such as The Mountain of the Dead and Alexander temple
(Oracle temple). (The tour duration is about 3 hours)
Late afternoon: Visit
Almaza camp on the shore of the salt lake and enjoy Rigwa fresh water
spring, during the sun set.
Back to the hotel and
dinner.
Night stay in Siwa.
Day 3
Breakfast
Writing workshop in the
morning at the hotel.
Lunch
2 pm start your desert
adventure in the western desert using 4x4 car.
Visit the Silica rocks,
the fossils, skiing on the sand dunes using sand boards, the cold
water lake, Bier 1 hot spring, then boarding on the sand dunes and
watch the sun set.
Back to Siwa.
Dinner and night stay
in the hotel at Siwa.
Day 4
Breakfast
Writing workshop in the
hotel.
12 pm: Travel from Siwa
to Cairo.
Picnic lunch
Stop at El Almeen Sidi
Abdelrhman old hotel. Has the most beautiful bay on Egypt's
Mediterranean. Drinks and orders are not included in the price.
Travel back to Cairo,
arrive around 10pm.
End of the service.
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Not including: Tipping
and any other thing not included in the previous section.
If you desire single accommodation then please consult
with us about the availability of single rooms as they may not be available.
Those participants
without an Egyptian ID must pay an extra for tour entry fees only –
please do inform us if you do not have an Egyptian ID so we can let
you know that slight increase on the total price.
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About the writing tutor:
Linda Cleary is a poet - writer – performer, originally from UK with a
theatre background and Diploma in LAMDA Speech and Drama. As well as her
own work as a writer, actor and performer www.lindaclearypoetry.blogspot.com – and working with musicians to create live performances http://www.soundcloud.com/lindacleary and with film makers on various poetry films - this one has been accepted into Berlin Poetry Film Festival: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0ZDQapSSAg&list=PLC1E8ACDD79A0BC9E
she has also created installations using text/audio and image exhibited
in several prominent galleries. Linda has been delivering workshops in
creative writing, theatre and related arts for many years; working in
Holland, Czech Republic, Australia, UK and Egypt and currently provides
courses at Diwan, Egypt and is Director of The Writers' Centre: www.writerscentre.blogspot.com and on FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/374437262578364/
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This writing retreat
has been made in collaboration with Truly Egypt Tours:
www.trulyegypt.com
Thank you :)
