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Tours in EgyptExplore Egypt15 days DescriptionTravel to Egypt and experience the history and culture on a tour that explores Cairo, cruises along the Nile and visits Luxor, Alexandria and the Siwa Oasis. Be humbled by the grandeur of the pyramids, step back in time at magnificent pharaonic tombs, let cares melt away while cruising the Nile in a felucca and get back to nomadic life in a desert camp. Explore all that Egypt has to offer - both its major sights and its tucked-away treasures. Highlights
ItineraryDays 1-2 CairoWonderfully chaotic and always colourful, Cairo's dazzling array of museums, mosques and markets are a fascinating mixture of modern city and ancient wonders. Days 3-4 AswanSituated on the banks of the Nile, the Nubian city of Aswan has been Egypt's southern gateway to Africa and an important trading centre since ancient times. Day 5 Nile FeluccaOnce the lifeblood of an ancient civilisation, cruise the iconic Nile on a traditional felucca and spend a night sleeping on deck under the stars. Days 6-7 LuxorFrom the spectacular temple complex of Karnak to the extraordinary hieroglyphs of the Valley of the Kings, Luxor is full of wonderfully preserved reminders of the Pharaohs. Days 8-9 AlexandriaFounded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria is packed with architectural and cultural wonders, both ancient and modern. Days 10-11 Siwa OasisWith its extraordinarily lush vegetation and relaxed atmosphere, the desert oasis of Siwa seems a world away from the bustle of the cities. Day 12 BawitiThe largest settlement in the Bahariya Oasis, Bawati is famous for its palm groves, hot springs and historic monuments dating back to the New Kingdom. Day 13 White Desert CampThe windswept dunes and bizarre rock formations of the White Desert make this one of the most amazing and beautiful landscapes on the planet. Days 14-15 CairoWith such iconic sights as the Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx to explore, Cairo offers a visual masterclass of ancient Egyptian architecture. Egypt Adventure 17 days Trek the Sinai Desert and appreciate the wonders of EgyptWe combine a journey to capture the rich historical legacy of Egypt with a superb trek in the Sinai Desert. On the cultural stages of our itinerary we visit the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, embark on a trip to Luxor and the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, relax on the Red Sea coast and cruise down the Nile to enjoy the ancient wonders of Pharaonic Egypt. By contrast our trek takes us deep into the desert landscape. In the company of our Bedouin guides we wander the wadis and ascend rocky vantage points to gain panoramic views of the Sinai Peninsula. At night we share Bedouin tales before completing an ascent of Mt Sinai (2285m), climbing the 750 steps to where the Ten Commandments were delivered to Moses. Highlights
ItineraryDay 1 Join CairoToday is an arrival day. You will be met at the airport (if arriving on Day 1 only) and transferred to the group hotel for overnight accommodation. A group briefing will be held in the afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Day 2 In and around CairoBefore appreciating the best preserved pyramids at Giza, this morning we visit the Step Pyramid at Saqqara which shows the style of construction used to build them. The Step Pyramid was built by the Pharaoh’s chief architect, Imhotep, in 27BC and was at that time the largest stone construction ever built. Following our visit to Saqqara, we travel to the nearby old capital of Memphis. Little remains of the once grand and thriving metropolis, except a small museum and garden. We spend time visiting the gardens where statues of Ramses II can be viewed. The Great Pyramids of Egypt set on a plateau in the Arabian Desert, are one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the reason for which becomes evident as we first set our eyes on these awesome monuments. We spend the morning exploring the main sites. We will enter the Kings Chamber and marvel at the sophisticated construction of this ancient site. We include a visit to the Solar Barque Museum, where the remains of a wooden boat, perhaps used in the funeral procession for a Pharaoh, can be seen. Time is spent appreciating the majestic Sphinx and wondering at the mystery that surrounds this enormous structure. Day 3 CairoCairo is a city of more than 18 million people – a bustling, dusty and boisterous metropolis with an abundance of character and history. Our time here is limited although we have included the highlights and focused our itinerary on the archaeological importance of the city and its surrounds. This morning we have a city tour including visits to the Coptic Quarter, the Citadel and the Alabaster Mosque. A full afternoon is spent at the Egyptian Museum, providing you with an excellent insight into Egyptian history from the Old Kingdom right through to the Roman Empire. The highlight of the museum is the Tutankhamen exhibit which houses the treasure from the tomb discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter. Although he was an insignificant Pharaoh, Tutankhamen’s tomb contained a stunning array of gold, including pure gold sandals. It is astounding to imagine what treasures a significant Pharaoh may have taken into their next life, had their tombs not been ransacked. We return to the hotel in the late afternoon for a rest before dinner. Day 4 Drive to SinaiFrom Cairo we travel west to the Suez Canal which marks the divide between Africa and the Sinai. We stop briefly at the town of Suez to view the large ships making use of this historic canal, before continuing on to the Sinai. Our journey will take most of the day and we expect to arrive at our hotel near St Catherine’s Monastery by mid afternoon. The rest of the day is at leisure for personal exploration. Our hotel is set at Wadi Raha (literally means "valley of the rest"). The Israelites camped here waiting for Moses whilst he received the Ten Commandments from God at the top of Mt Sinai. Day 5 Commence Trek (6-7 hours walking)The Sinai is a region of mystical contrasts. From small Bedouin shelters nestled in the barren mountains, to the Red Sea diving resorts dotted along the southern coastlines, this dry desert is also home to the biblical Mt Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments. It is a very beautiful landscape, and the best way to appreciate it is by trekking into its mountainous core. Whilst it is graded moderate overall the trek includes some steep sections with scrambling and some long days. For this part of the trip, we are guided along our route by local Bedouin tribesmen, and whilst the Bedouins are not professional guides, they are the most culturally appropriate people to escort us on our trek. We will also be accompanied by local security escorts as this is a compulsory requirement for adventures in the mountains. This morning we start the trek with a foray into the beautiful Talla Valley passing by Insela Mountain. We will have our picnic lunch in the Talla Valley before continuing our walk through the spectacular Itlah Canyon with some steep slopes and scrambling sections. After a great day trekking, we reach our campsite where our camels will be waiting with our luggage and our crew will prepare dinner. Day 6 Trekking (7-8 hours walking)We trek into the high ranges of Sinai in the St Catherine protectorate. Our first section today will be over Abu Gifa pass. Reaching the top of this pass we catch a view of the Bedouin village directly below. We continue into Wadi Zawateen with its many olive trees. All the gardens and orchards are owned by people native to the region who are closely affiliated with the Romanians of Europe. Our Bedouin escorts are among these native people, known as Gabalia. As locals of the St. Catherine region they are originally the defendants and servants of St. Catherine Monastery. We stop for a picnic lunch and afterwards there is an opportunity to trek to the ruins of Aabas Basha Palace which dates back to the beginning of last century. There is an awesome view from atop the Aabas Basha Mountain which is over 2000m in height. We descend to our camp near the village of St Catherine. Whilst dinner is prepared we have a good opportunity to reflect on our day's activities. Day 7 Trekking (9-10 hours walking)Today is a long day. We climb St. Catherine Mountain, the highest peak in Egypt at just over 2600m. From our camp we start early and follow trails via the El Arbaeen Valley. We continue through wadi, valleys and across dramatic terrain to the base of Mount St Catherine and start our ascent to the top of Egypt. Climbing to the top is optional, and for those not wanting to climb it is possible to relax at the base and await the return of the rest of the group. From the summit we retrace our steps to the base then follow another trail to our campsite and a well-earned dinner. Whilst today is the most challenging day, it is also one of the most rewarding. Day 8 Trekking (7 hours walking)Today is a shorter day where we scramble up the Moserdy Valley. Whilst not as long as yesterday, the trails are sometimes steep and demanding. From Moserdy, we descend to Motahar Valley for lunch before exploring via Wadi Shag and Wadi Toboog en route to our next camp at Farsh Eleya on Mt Sinai. Day 9 Dawn Ascent of Mt Sinai (3 hours walking), Drive to Sharm El ShaikhWe rise early to climb the magnificent peak of Mount Sinai (2285m). We ascend via part of the series of stone steps that have been carved from the mountain rocks forming the "Steps of Repentence". The final section can be busy with eager travellers and pilgrims on their way to the summit. We arrive at the summit after about 45mins, in time for a spectacular sunrise over the mountains. Weather permitting, we will witness the sun peeping over the Sinai hills. Our descent is either by the camel path or down the "Steps of Repentance". We have breakfast back at our camp before descending further down the mountain for another 1.5 hours to the village where our trek concludes. Here we will meet our camels and collect all our luggage. There is then time to visit the Monastery of St. Catherine. This 6th century monastery is situated at the foot of Mount Sinai and houses one of the most important iconic collections on earth. In addition to the biblical sites of the Burning Bush and Moses Well, it houses a stunning basilica. A visit here is not complete without seeing the charnel house, or the Ossuary, where relics of monks and hermits are on display. This afternoon we drive for about three hours to the coastal town of Sharm El Sheikh. We overnight at a hotel with a welcome shower. Day 10 Day trip to Ras Mohamed National Marine ParkRas Mohamed National Marine Park is Egypt's first national park, declared in 1988 to help preserve the fragile coastal environment from development. The park covers an area of 829 square kilometres of land and sea at the most southern edge of the Sinai region. Only a small percentage of this is accessible to visitors for conservation reasons. We will enjoy a day trip to this section of the park where we can snorkel, swim or just relax before returning to Sharm el Sheik for overnight. Day 11 Fly Sharm el Sheik to LuxorThis morning (subject to flight schedules and availability) we will fly to Luxor. The city is located on the banks of the Nile, and is built on the site of Thebes, the former capital of Egypt which dates back 4000 years. In the centre of the town is the Luxor Temple and to the north Karnak and the Temple of Amun. This afternoon we visit these impressive temples which are well preserved and contain numerous columns, obelisks and in the temple of Karnak, an avenue of ram-headed sphinxes. The imprint of the various Pharaohs, including Tuthmosis III, Hatshepsut, Tutankhamun and Ramses II is evident. During our visit we will be in the company of a local site guide with specific knowledge of these temples. Tonight we stay in a well-appointed hotel in this fascinating city. Day 12 In LuxorToday we cross over to the west bank of the Nile visiting the Valley of the Kings, the necropolis for the ancient city of Thebes. The rock-hewn tombs are found in an arid valley and from the exterior it is hard to imagine the riches which once lay within. Ironically the most recent discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922 by Howard Carter, the contents of which are now in the Cairo Museum, is the least decorated. The tombs of Ramses I, III, IV, IX, Seti II and Tuthmosis III and IV are all richly decorated with paintings of goddesses and the stories from the Book of Day and Night. We will have the opportunity to visit a few of these tombs depending which ones are open to the public. The tombs are reached through a series of ornately painted underground corridors and anti chambers until these open out to the burial chamber where the sarcophagus is found. There will also be time to visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, the first woman to reign as a king. In paintings and reliefs she was depicted as a man. Our accommodation is on the Nile cruise boat which will be our base for the next 4 nights. (Please note: we will be accommodated in first class cabins. The boat is not exclusive for our group and is a public cruise vessel.) Days 13-14 Nile CruiseThe next two days are spent sailing on the Nile, allowing us to relax and take in the view while we witness first hand the rural existence alongside this life-giving river. Our relaxation time is interspersed with visits to the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo. The temple of Horus at Edfu, is one of the largest and best preserved in Egypt. Day 15 Arrive AswanThe morning is for relaxation, a time to dwell on the amazing sights we have visited so far and to catch up on your journal. In the early afternoon we arrive in the bustling town of Aswan. Set primarily on the East Bank of the Nile, it is the most southern city in Egypt and is said to be the gateway to Africa. Ancient trade routes once crossed over in this town and the Sharia as-Souq today retains all of the activity and colour of the great trading days. We visit the High Dam, which at the time it was completed (1902) was the largest of its kind in the world. This afternoon we will visit the unfinished Obelisk and the Botanical Gardens. We return to our boat in the evening for dinner and our last night on board the boat. Day 16 Optional trip: Abu Simbel Temple, overnight train to CairoThe Great Temple of Ramses II was carved from a mountain between 1290 and 1224 BC and was dedicated to the gods Ra-Harakhty, Amun and Ptah. Threatened by the rising waters of Lake Nasser, UNESCO organised a rescue of the temple in the 1960’s. The rescue involved carving the temple into more than 2000 blocks weighing up to 40 tonnes each and transferring them 210 metres away to a man made mountain, and reconstructing the temple façade which stands 30 metres high and 35 metres wide. From the outside it is hard to imagine that the temple is not original, and only by entering the mountain constructed in steel and concrete, is it possible to appreciate the enormous feat achieved by the archaeological teams. This morning you have the option to visit this magnificent temple, which involves a flight landing near the temple. Following a tour around the temple, we return to Aswan. (Optional trip to Abu Simbel must be pre-booked and is not included in trip cost.) Late in the afternoon we will board the train for the overnight journey back to Cairo. Please note that no meals are included on board so you may wish to purchase food before joining the train. *NB: for those not taking the Abu Simbel option, you will disembark the boat in the morning and have the rest of the day at leisure in Aswan before boarding the train. Day 17 Arrive in Cairo where trip concludesTrip concludes on arrival into Cairo. If you are departing today you will be transferred to the airport for your onward travel. If you would like additional nights in Cairo or an airport transfer on any other day, please ask your Reservations Consultant for details. Additional costs apply. Additional InformationInclusions
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