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Culture
Adventure
Fun
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"I will never forget sleeping out under the stars in the Saharan desert, what an amazing experience"Angela, UK |
Egypt
Choose between two trips:
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| Date & Duration: | 21st October - 3rd November 2008 - 14 days |
| Cost: | £1,500 / NZ$3,500 / US$2,900 - What's included? |
| Arrival & Departure points: | Cairo/Cairo |
| Group size: | min 5, max 12 |
| Accommodation: | hotels, overnight train, 1 night sleeping under the stars in the White Desert |
| Meals not included: | 3 lunches, 1 dinnner |
| Adventures: | Jeep safari into the white desert, snorkelling in the Red Sea |
Welcome to Africa’s biggest city, with over 20 million inhabitants! You will be met at Cairo airport and transferred to your hotel.
Free afternoon to relax and get used to the heat or take a stroll and visit some of the sights nearby. Dinner at hotel.
Meals - D
Cairo is an incredible city with so much to see and do, so we have a pretty full
day today: our first stop is Memphis and the cemetery of Saqqara, famous for
deceased Pharaohs, generals and sacred animals. We visit the Step Pyramid and
other interesting sights.
The afternoon takes us to the infamous Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, situated on the edge of the city. It is quite fantastic to actually be there in person and to try to imagine how these things were built. If you like, you can try out a camel ride here.
There will also be some time for some relaxing shopping nearby – exotic perfumes and papyrus are just some of the wonderful things you can buy.
Tonight we have dinner at an Arabesque restaurant to sample typical Egyptian food - after dinner a coffee reader will read your cup to see what your future will bring.
Meals - B,L,D
This morning we visit the Egyptian Museum, a treasure-trove of Egyptian antiquities.
Lunch will be taken at a local Egyptian club, which will give you a chance to
meet some locals and get to know more about their lives.
Next we go to the Citadel, a former home to Egypt’s rulers. At the Citadel we visit a mosque and take in the grand views of Cairo.
We then head to Khan el Khalili Bazaar, stopping for a coffee/karkade/tea.
We have dinner and a belly dancing lesson at the hotel.
Meals - B, L, D
We leave Cairo early, stopping for a short break on the 365km drive before continuing on to Bahariyya in the Sahara desert. We arrive in Bahariyya, a desert oasis, in time for a leisurely lunch.
In the afternoon we begin our jeep safari into the Western Sahara – the desert changes dramatically at every turn - we visit the “black” desert, some natural springs, an old oasis, crystal mountain and the spectacular, huge, white Aqqabat dunes.
Our guide cooks us a tasty meal over the camp fire as the sun sinks behind the white rock formations of this mysterious desert. We sleep for the night in the White Desert under a wonderfully, starry African sky.
Life does not get much more exotic than this!
Meals - all B, L, D
After breakfast we continue on a short jeep safari in the desert - then back to Bahariyya for lunch. There is time to relax for a couple of hours during the heat of the day at our hotel in Bahariyya, before heading off around 5pm to watch the sun set over the desert from a fantastic vantage point.
There will also be time to take a dip in the natural springs at the hotel.
Meals - B, L, D
This morning we visit some local tombs and the museum containing the famous Golden Mummies. We then have lunch and head back to Cairo in time to board the overnight train to Aswan.
We dine on board and are rocked gently to sleep by the motion of the train.
Meals - B, L, D
We arrive in Aswan and get taken to our hotel out on Isis Island in the middle of the Nile, and then take a leisurely lunch on the Corniche, overlooking the Nile.
The afternoon sun is very hot, so you have time out to swim or rest, until things cool off a little.
In the evening we go to the Nubian Museum to learn about how the temples of Abu Simbel were rescued from being forever hidden under the waters of Lake Nasser, behind the High Dam.
We have a sunset dinner from a vantage point overlooking the Nile.
Meals - B, L, D
This morning we take a boat to a Nubian village. In former times Nubia was the land that lay between Aswan and Khartoum – Nubians are distinctively different to Arabic Egyptians, being tall and black. If you would like to ride a camel, you can hop off the boat and ride across the sand along the banks of the Nile to the village.
After a look around this colourful village we have lunch in a Nubian home. You have the chance to get a temporary henna tattoo from a local Nubian lady. Once again you have a free afternoon to avoid the heat of the day – swim, relax, or whatever you like!
When in Aswan, a felucca trip is a must – and one of the best ways to enjoy the balmy Egyptian sunset is on a felucca, sailing on the Nile.
We get up in the early hours of the morning to catch the 3.30am convoy to visit the temples of Abu Simbel, and one of the most impressive sights on this tour.
Meals - B, L, D
We get back from Abu Simbel around midday. Today you have a free day to do as you please. It is fun to go into town and visit the souq (market) full of all sorts of exotic goodies like spices, scarves, jewellery and much more.
Even if you don’t want to buy anything, the atmosphere is great, and you will also meet lots of locals here. Stop off in someone’s shop and have a cup of tea and a chat! You can also take a horse and cart ride around town if you don’t want to walk.
Have a leisurely dinner at your choice of restaurants on the banks of the Nile.
Meals - B
After breakfast we head off to Luxor, visiting the infamous temples of Kom Ombo, temple of the Crocodile God Sobek, and the Temple of Horus in Edfu. Our local guide will give us a fascinating insight into the history of these places.
In the late afternoon we visit Luxor temple, with it’s fascinating mixed history. Another highlight of today is visiting the Mummification Museum, where you will see not only mummified humans, but also cats, crocodiles, monkeys and other animals, and learn about the fascinating mummification process.
We have dinner outside in a local restaurant.
Meals - B, L, D
Just when you might think you have seen enough temples and tombs to last you a lifetime, we visit the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor, and the infamous Valley of the Kings, where you will once again be amazed.
See where the Kings of Egypt were once mummified and laid to rest with all their treasures.
Free afternoon to shop, swim, write postcards, or relax!
Dinner at hotel.
If you like you can go to the evening Sound and Light show at Karnak Temple (optional, not included).
Meals - B, L, D
Time for some rest and relaxation! After all that "hard work" sight-seeing and learning about the complex but interesting history of Egypt, it is time for some time out.
We take a morning flight to Sharm El Sheikh, check into our hotel, and then you are free to do whatever you like – either relax on the beach, go for a snorkel, or stroll into town to visit the old market.
We meet for dinner together at the hotel.
Meals - B, L, D
Today we have another day at leisure. Depending on what you or the group wants
to do, there are a variety of optional trips available – maybe take a day trip
to visit St Catherine's Monastery, or take a full-day snorkeling trip to all
the snorkeling hotspots, take a diving lesson, or go to the chilled-out coastal
town of Dahab for some great shopping and beachside cafés.
We have dinner together in an outside café.
Meals - B, D
Our wonderful Egyptian adventure is over. We take a morning flight to Cairo. Book your return flight home for the late afternoon.
Meals - B
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