Day 1: Arrival in Cairo Today we arrive in Cairo. Transfer to our hotel. Overnight in Cairo-Giza. Dinner if required.
Day 2 : Cairo: Museum of Egyptian Antiquities & Coptic Cairo This morning we depart from our hotel through the busy streets of Cairo. We will arrive at the bustling Midan Tahrir where the famous Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is housed. We will spend the morning here, where we can see some of Egypt's most beloved treasures. Among the 100,000 pieces housed on the museum's two floors is the famous exhibit of Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922. The tomb and treasures of this young Pharaoh, modest by Pharaonic Egyptian standards, is perhaps the best preserved of the discovered tombs. In addition, we will see archaeological relics from the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom and Greco-Roman periods.
Our tour today is fully guided by our English-speaking guide. We also allow some time for you to explore the treasures on your own. This afternoon we drive through the neat, tree-lined streets of the Garden City area to Coptic Cairo, the centre of Christianity in Cairo. Along the quaint, modest alleyways are small, modest homes. We will walk the cobblestone streets and stop at a few of the churches here. One church is that of Saint Sergius where the church's crypt is presumed to have been the spot where the Holy Family lived during their flight into Egypt. The present building dates from the 11th century. As we stroll along, we will come to the recently restored Synagogue of Ben Ezra, the oldest Jewish synagogue in Egypt. Despite the 45 Jewish families that remain in Cairo, the synagogue is no longer operational. Tonight you may choose to visit the Sound and Light show at the Pyramids (optional). Overnight in Cairo-Giza. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 3 Cairo: the Pyramids and the Sphinx - Overnight train This morning we travel to Memphis and Saqqara, chronologically the two most important sites in all of Egypt. Memphis was the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom (ca 2700-2180 BC), and Saqqara was used as a burial place for residents of Memphis including kings, princes and nobles. Our drive this morning takes us past some small, colourful villages and plantations in the fertile Nile valley. At the ancient city of Memphis, we will see several statues in a garden-like setting including the colossal statue of Rameses the Great. You will have ample opportunity to photograph the statue from the gallery's mezzanine. From Memphis, we travel a short distance to Saqqara, the ancient burial site. On the site, which is considered by many archaeologists to be one of the world's most important excavations, is the Step Pyramid, which was constructed by Imhotep in the 27th century BC.
The pyramid is part of the tomb complex of Zoser, who was the first Pharaoh of the Old Kingdom. The pyramid began as a simple mastaba, or long, flat tomb building. Over the course of time, Imhotep added to this mastaba five times--the pyramid eventually measured 62 metres (203 Feet) in height! After lunch we pay a visit to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. These Pharaonic monuments have come to symbolize Egypt's glory and mystery. Impressive in their grandeur, the pyramids are estimated to have been constructed over a period of 20 years using more than 100,000 labourers each year. The Great Pyramid of Cheops, constructed from over two million stone blocks, is 135 metres (443 feet) high!
The stone for the Pyramid complex--Pyramid of Cheops, Pyramid of Chefren and Pyramid of Mykerinos--was quarried from nearby hills south of Cairo. You may enter one of the pyramids through a long, narrow passageway and explore the deep inner chambers. We also see the Sphinx, where legends and superstitions abound. This feline-human was named by the Greeks because it resembled the mythical winged monster with a woman's head and lion's body. Legend has it that this "Sphinx" proposed a riddle to the Thebans and killed all who could not guess the correct answer! The Sphinx was carved from one solid piece of limestone, and measures 50 m (164 feet) in length and 22 m (72 feet) in height. From the Pyramids we drive to the Giza train station where we board our overnight wagons-lits sleeper train to Aswan, in Upper Egypt. Our overnight journey is comfortable. Each couchette has two bunk beds. Attentive stewards serve dinner and breakfast in your cabin (single compartments NOT available on overnight train). Overnight train. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 4 : Arrive in Aswan Late this morning we arrive in Aswan, the gem of Egypt. This is the country's most beautiful town where the river is at its most scenic. At Aswan the deserts close in on the river, confining its sparkling blue between smooth amber sand and rugged extrusions of granite bedrock. Lateen-sailed feluccas glide past the ancient ruins and gargantuan rocks of Elephantine Islands, palms and tropical shrubs softening the islands and embankments until intense blue skies fade into soft-focus dusks. The city's ambience is palpably African; its Nubian inhabitants have different tastes and customs. Overnight in Aswan. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 5 : Aswan: Free Day Today is free in Aswan. You may rest by our hotel's swimming pool or perhaps stroll down the Nile corniche with its many riverboats. You may also choose to take an optional early morning excursion to Abu Simbel--the imposing rock temples of Rameses II and his queen, Nefartari. The excursion includes a guided tour of this site, including the interior of the colossal temples. The Temple of Rameses II, with its immense statues of the Pharaoh seated on his throne, is one of the classic images of the power of the Pharaohs. Inside the temple you will see well-preserved wall decorations and several murals. There is a wonderful relief of Rameses presenting captives to various gods, including him! At the Temple of Hathor, which is colonnaded with six statues of Rameses and his wife Nefartari, we will see the temple hall and the sanctuary. Your Tour Leader can help organize this tour for you in advance (see your pre-departure info package for current pricing on this option). Overnight in Aswan. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 6 : Aswan: St Simeon Camel Trek We travel by boat across the River Nile to the west bank. From here, we travel by camel across the warm, sandy desert to the Christian Monastery of St Simeon. Riding a camel is one of the most invigorating, exciting ways to see Egypt. Before we begin this easy trek our Tour Leader and camel trainer will teach you the technique of riding a camel! For many of our clients, the ride to St Simeon's monastery by camel is one of their trip highlights. With a camel trainer holding and guiding each camel, this is a journey that can be undertaken by anyone at any age. We spend a total of 45 minutes on our camels. Dating from the 6th century, and in use until the 13th century, the Monastery of St Simeon is one of the best-preserved Christian sites in Egypt. A high wall surrounds the monastery, built on two plateaux. Inside we will see the chapel, living quarters, kitchen and dining areas, wine press, bake area and storerooms. On our tour we will also see the remains of some Coptic frescoes-- depictions of Christ and saints as well as many geometric patterns. From here we board our boat and ride among the islands dotting the Nile. The main island here is called Elephanta because many of the rocks look like elephants bathing in the Nile. We will arrive at the beautiful Kitchener's Island, where we will have time to stroll through the rich botanical gardens with trees, plants, and bushes. After this very relaxing stop, we continue on to our hotel. The evening is free to explore the relaxed town of Aswan. Overnight in Aswan. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 7 : Aswan - Felucca Departure This morning we board our felucca and travel towards Kom Ombo. The leisurely and informal nature of felucca sailing means that our agenda is free-form. Our night stops depend upon the elements. As we enjoy the stimulating sailing, we see the intensive cultivation of the Nile Valley (mainly sugar-cane and maize), and at points along the Nile we view small villages which depend upon the river for their livelihood. Our evening stops are carefully chosen. WHAT IS A FELUCCA? Feluccas are NOT luxury boats, but a unique way of experiencing the romantic atmosphere of the Nile. Used for centuries for carrying goods and passengers along the Nile, they are open-decked sailboats with no engines or modern conveniences, and generally a crew of two or three Egyptian sailors. All meals are cooked on board by the boatmen, but culinary experts in the group are welcome to help cook if they wish. A canvas canopy can be erected for shelter from the sun by day; at night the felucca will tie up along the river bank and you can sleep on the mattresses provided on the deck or on the shore. There are also plenty of cushions on deck, so although there is not a lot of space, the boat is comfortable. If this is not for you, you might consider our luxury cruise programme, code EG3. Overnight on the felucca. All meals.
Day 8 : Felucca Sail Trek Today we should reach Kom Ombo. In ancient times Kom Ombo was strategically important as a trading town on the caravan route from Nubia to Cairo. Kom Ombo is actually two temples in one; it is dedicated to Horus and Sobek, respectively the god of the sky and the crocodile-headed god. Here we are able to see the remains of the mummified crocodile. Crocodiles no longer exist in the Egyptian part of the River Nile but in Pharaonic times they lived here in great numbers and were worshipped as gods. Overnight on the felucca. All meals.
Day 9 : Felucca Sail Trek This is a full day of sailing on our comfortable, shaded felucca. Reading, chatting, watching the world glide by. Overnight on the felucca. All meals.
Day 10 : Edfu - Luxor Today we should reach Edfu. As the largest and most completely preserved Pharaonic temple, albeit Greek built, Edfu is dedicated to the god Horus. Construction of this temple began under Ptolemy III Euergetes I in 237 BC. We will allow time to explore this massive and impressive site, which is enclosed in walls and flanked by two large pylons. Here we will also see a nilometer--an ancient technique of measuring the Nile's water fluctuations and setting the level of taxes: Edfu is also famous for depicting the scene of the slaying of the evil Seth by Horus. We leave our felucca behind and travel by road to Luxor; transfer to our hotel. NOTE: due to variables such as winds and water levels, we may alter our itinerary in order to accomplish our sightseeing objectives. Such adjustments will be made at the discretion of your boatmen and Tour Leader. Overnight in Luxor. All meals.
Day 11 : Luxor: Valley of the Kings Early this morning we cross the River Nile to the west bank. On the other side we will meet our transport for our excursion into the Valley of the Kings. Our preferred method of travel today is by donkey (we can arrange taxis for those who do not wish to travel in this manner). After we "saddle-up", we begin our trek through the New Gourna Village and into the countryside. En route we will pass residences and farms where we will gain an insight into how rural Egyptians live and work. Our first stop today is at the Colossi of Memnon. These two huge statues sit side by side; they originally flanked the entry to the funerary temple of Amenophis III. The Colossi were named from a legend explaining the phenomenon of the dawn.
This is an excellent photo opportunity with you on your donkey and the Colossi in the background. We continue from here along the road leading into the hills. From where the road forks, we travel along the stony pathway toward the cliff ridge. Our donkey ride from here offers breathtaking views of the Nile valley below. At some points, we make brief stops for photographs and to give our donkeys a rest; there are also some parts of the trail that we have to walk as the burden to the donkey would be too much. Today, it is very important to prepare yourself for the sun's intense rays. Please remember to wear a hat; have adequate sunblock; and always cover your shoulders, arms and neck. When we arrive at a ridge overlooking the Valley of the Kings, we will dismount from our donkeys and walk the remainder of the way down into the valley. It is a short but steep walk; a good pair of running shoes or lightweight hiking boots will be required.
Once in the isolated valley dominated by large pyramid-shaped mountains, we will have a guided tour of three of the many tombs that are here. Note that some of the tombs have steep stairways and all are dark inside; it is a good idea to have a small flashlight with you today for a closer inspection of the interior of the tombs. We return to our resting donkeys. We then proceed to the ridge again, and turn toward the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut--the first woman to rule as pharaoh! We have a tour of this impressive complex which was discovered in the mid-19th century and is still under restoration.
The temple's 37 m- (121 foot-) wide causeway leads us to three huge terraced courts. After our tour we return by donkey through the countryside to the river. Today we may be invited into a village home for some tea before returning to our hotel. Tonight we will travel by horse-drawn carriage, known as "caleche", through the streets of Luxor to see the Sound and Light Show at one of the most fantastic archaeological sites in the world, Karnak Temple. At certain points in Egyptian history, this temple was the most important in all of Egypt. When we arrive at the temple, you will be awed by the grandeur of the tremendous pylon gateway and the Avenue of 1000 Sphinxes, which originally ran all the way to the Nile and Luxor Temple! Overnight in Luxor. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 12 : Luxor Today is free to enjoy Luxor. Our friend Hamada and his fellow coachmen can take you on a ride through the streets and alleys of Luxor and out into the countryside, where you see the fellahin farmers at work. The Luxor Museum is also well worth a visit, or you may want to return to the West Bank for a visit of the Valley of the Queens. Your Tour Leader can help you plan your day. Overnight in Luxor. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 13 : Luxor - Kharga Today we head west entering the Western Desert part of the Great Sahara--an often desolate void that seems the very negation of everything. As such, the islands of life as provided by the oases in this area have supported civilisation for a very long time. Our accommodation in the oases comes in the form of simple hotels or lodges. In all oases except Baharija the rooms are air-conditioned with shower/WC en suite. Our daily routine usually involves departure our overnight point immediately after breakfast. The routing is designed to show a change of scenery every day. We try to organize the tours so that you get a chance to visit springs or wells at least every second day. Some provide hot water, others are large enough to swim, so bring a swimsuit! Our guides are knowledgeable and make the tour an unforgettable experience. Our drivers have years of experience in desert trips and are familiar with every kind of terrain; they know the Egyptian deserts by heart and are accomplished mechanics. Lunch break is at a well-suited, beautiful spot, sometimes providing an opportunity to swim. After lunch the tour continues to the landscapes and points of interest of the day's program.
The first of the four major oases we visit is Kharga. It is about 200 km (125 miles) long by 20 km (12 miles) wide, and its main wealth comes from date palms. The old town is very picturesque, a maze of shady narrow streets and alleyways. Numerous wells and irrigation canals help keep the land fertile. Submerged by the sea aeons ago, leaving fossils on the high plateau, the Kharga depression is hemmed in by great cliffs and broken up by massifs, with belts of dunes advancing across the oasis. It is thought that there were no dunes in Kharga during Roman times; myth has it that they erected a brass cow on the escarpment, which swallowed up the sand. Historically, Kharga's importance owes to the desert trade routes that converged on the oasis, notably the Forty Days Road. Deserted Roman forts and entire villages that claim descent from Mamluke soldiers attest to centuries of firm control by Egypt's rulers, who have used Kharga as a place of exile since the fourth century. In modern times, Mustafa Amin, the founder of the popular daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, was banished here by Nasser after the Revolution. Overnight in El Kharga. Simple hotel. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 14 : El Kharga - Dakhla Oasis This morning we continue westward along a surfaced road towards Dakhla, bordered on one side by the impressive sandstone mountain of Jebel Abu Tartur. Dakhla and Kharga are the closest oases to the Nile Valley, and have always been the most accessible, hence their long history of civilisation. Verdant cultivated areas and a great wall of rose-hued rock across the northern horizon make a feast for the eyes in Dakhla Oasis. Partitioned by dunes into more or less irrigated, fertile enclaves, the oasis supports 75,000 people living in fourteen settlements strung out along the Farafra and Kharga roads. Although it's the outlying sites that hold most of the attractions, the majority of travellers base themselves in Mut (pronounced "moot"), Dakhla's "capital", which has better facilities. Buses and pickups between Mut and the villages enable you to see the Dakhlans have reclaimed land, planted new crops, and generally made the best of New Valley developments. Most villages have spread down from their original hilltop maze of medieval houses and covered streets, into breezeblock houses with schools and other public buildings near the roadside. Besides this exotic architecture, Dakhla has Pharaonic, Roman and Coptic antiquities, dunes, palm groves and hot springs to explore. Water is relatively abundant in the oasis, which has over 520 wells in its 410 kms (256 sq miles). Overnight Dakhla. Simple lodge. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 15 : Dakhla Oasis During our time here we visit the unusual mud-black Islamic village of Al Oasis. We wander the ramshackle streets and living museum of crumbling mosques, pottery workshops, basket weavers and blacksmiths. Later in the afternoon we plan to trek by camel through the desert, visiting hot springs for a swim. Overnight Dakhla. Simple lodge. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 16 Dakhla - Farafra Oasis Continuing north, we drive to Farafra Oasis. The scenery is very changeable from undulating hills and sand dunes to wide open plains and sparse vegetation. As we approach Farafra the terrain becomes a white limestone 'moonscape'. Farafra is the smallest of the four major oases, yet it is mentioned in the inscription of Rameses II at Ancient Thebes (Luxor). The desert scenery is at its best here--steep cliffs ring the oasis on one side and the wind forms dunes from the sand on the other. Overnight Farafra Oasis. Simple lodge. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 17 : Farafra Oasis - Bahariya Oasis - Cairo Following an exhilarating jeep safari through the White Desert, we continue by bus to Bahariya Oasis, past isolated springs and across a wind-eroded sandstone plain. Bahariya Oasis is the smallest of the four depressions, only 94 km (59 miles) 42 km (26 miles) wide; its desert floor and lower escarpments formed of Cretaceous sandstone, overlaid by limestone and basalt from the Eocene period, rich in fossils. Yet despite having the highest elevation above sea level of the four oases, its water table is nearer the surface, making agriculture easier here. It is known to have been under Pharaonic control by the Middle Kingdom, when Zezes (as the oasis was known) imported wine to the Nile Valley. During the Later Period Bahariya thrived as an artery between Egypt and Libya, while throughout Islamic times, Arab armies, merchants and pilgrims passed through. Today, it is tourists who come here to enjoy the hot springs and palm groves, and get a feel for the Western Desert. We continue to Cairo arriving late afternoon. Overnight in Cairo. All meals.
Day 18 : Departure Departure from Cairo. Breakfast if required.
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Today we arrive in Cairo. Transfer to our hotel. Overnight in 
