A lifelong dream to visit Egypt and the Valley of the Kings is now a reality for Carl Green and wife Judy who will embark on a Pharaohs and Pyramids adventure starting in Cairo in March 2026.
Their twelve-day round trip organised by Tamara Tavasci from Helloworld Travel Gympie, is everything they hoped for including a three-day extension in Cairo to see more of the city before they join their cruise.
They will join the state-of-the-art brand new Viking Thoth specifically built to cruise the Nile after exploring Egypt’s exhilarating capital on 28 March.
The boat designed in the clean, elegant Scandinavian aesthetic Viking is known for, offers the ultimate in comfort with only 82 guests, 48 crew, 236 feet in length and only built in 2025.
“I don’t know why we have never got there as it’s a place I’ve always wanted to see, especially the pyramids and pharaohs, the Sphinx, Giza and the Nile,” Carl said.
“I have wanted to do the Nile since I was a kid, and we felt the easiest way was to go on a cruise.”
“I am actually really excited because we are going to lunch at the same place Agatha Christie wrote Murder on the Nile.”
Their itinerary will give the Greens and another couple they are travelling with, the chance to witness the majestic pyramids from a camel, explore the Temple of Karnak’s 136 soaring pillars, visit Queen Nefertari’s tomb in the Valley of the Queens, skim the waters of the Nile by traditional felucca, enjoy the fragrances of Aswan’s spice market.
On board is Viking’s Egyptologists who offers guests their expert knowledge on the history of this fascinating country.
According to Viking, it has been said of Egypt’s exhilarating capital, “He who has not seen Cairo has not seen the world.”
The brochure says “Certainly, the heart of the nation beats with an unbridled passion in this city made prosperous over millennia as a stopover for Sahara caravans on trade routes to Byzantium. Amid the stimulating strum, the insistent beauty of everyday life reigns here, with the serene Nile sliding through like an entrancing serpent. Cairo’s very age mesmerizes; its monuments have stood here for more than 5,000 years.”
“Tamara recommended this trip as it basically did everything we wanted it to do,” Carl said
Tamara said she has booked a lot of Viking cruises for people before, and she was confident recommending this particular cruise and company to Carl and Judy.
She said the feedback from her clients has always been positive with most booking further trips with Viking. She believes it is the standard of ship and the destinations that bring travelers back for more.
Carl and Judy are no strangers to international travel taking many overseas trips since their marriage in 1989 but they have only been on one three-night cruise out of Brisbane before.
Carl said these days travel is so much more enjoyable as he has handed the reigns of their company over to son Jack.
Carl and Judy own Green RV with yards in Forest Glen on the Sunshine Coast, Gympie, Toowoomba. Brisbane, Newcastle (Heatherbrae).
They started the business in 1997 in Gympie because there was a gap In the market and now have about 125 staff.
“Now that Jack’s taken over, I can relax straight away instead of always trying to get Wi-Fi reception and taking phone calls,” Carl said.
His packing tips are simple too – “get the wife to do it”.
Carl and Judy’s Egyption adventure is called Pharaohs and Pyramids by Viking and is a twelve-day cruise starting at Cairo and stopping at Luxor, Qena, Esna, Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, back to Luxor and Cairo.
Find out more about this cruise and other destinations at www.viking.com or phone 138 747.
