| HIGHLIGHTS: Cairo - Alexandria - El Alamein - Marsa Matruh - Siwa Oasis - Darb Siwa - Bahariya - White Desert - Dakhla Oasis - Dakhla - Al Kharga - Baris - Luxor - Aswan - Abu Simbel - Edfu
Are you ready for an adventure? This diverse trip showcases a different side of Egypt, with extra time in the desert, and relaxing days spent sailing down the Nile on a traditional sailboat. From Cairo, we head for the cosmopolitan city of Alexandria, on Egypt's north coast. The battlefields at El Alamein, the site of a decisive Allied victory during WWII, make for a sobering stop before we reach the seaside town, Marsa Matruh.
Day 1 Cairo. Your trip starts today in Cairo. No activities are planned so you may arrive at any time. Rooms are generally available after 1.00 pm. If you have not pre-booked an arrival transfer you will find taxis available on arrival at Cairo Airport. Make sure you agree the price before you set off into town Your tour guide may make contact tonight, otherwise you will see him tomorrow morning at the tour briefing, which usually takes place after breakfast.
Day 2 Cairo. Cairo is the 'Mother' of all cities, a massive, sprawling metropolis of some 16 million people. We generally arrange a tour briefing this morning, after breakfast, and we then head out to the edge of the desert to explore the pyramids and the nearby sphinx. We also visit the beautiful Valley Temple of King Khafre (Chephren), a superb example of old kingdom engineering. In the afternoon there's time for further exploration and some may wish to visit the bustling Khan al - Khalili bazaar, a famous 'souk' in the older part of Cairo. Your tour guide will point you in the right direction.
Day 3 Alexandria. We drive north along the desert road to Alexandria. We stop halfway for a short break and a cup of tea and reach the coast around midday, where we check in to our hotel and have time for a light lunch. In the afternoon, accompanied by our local site guide, we make a visit to the splendid new Alexandria Museum. Later we explore the historic Roman Catacombs - a fascinating underground warren. As we pass though the city we see the Fort of Qaitbey, built close to the site of the Great Lighthouse of Pharos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In the evening why not enjoy a pre - dinner drink at the historic Cecil Hotel (built in 1930) - a perfect way to end the day.
Day 4 El Alamein - Marsa Matruh. We leave Alexandria and travel west, initially along the Mediterranean coast. In due course we turn south and arrive at El Alamein, site of one of the most famous battles of World War II. In October 1942, Allied troops under the command of General Montgomery defeated the Axis forces led by Rommel (The Desert Fox) in a battle that changed the course of the war in North Africa. It is incredible to imagine the harsh and hostile desert conditions that the troops endured. We visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery and the German and Italian War Memorial and pay a visit to the War Museum, with its collection of tanks and other memorabilia from the period. There is no cafeteria here, so at a suitable point we enjoy a picnic lunch supplied by our hotel in Alexandria. We then continue to the coastal town of Marsa Matruh, renowned for its white, sandy beaches and clear, blue waters.
Day 5 - 6 Siwa Oasis. We travel into the Western Desert and reach Siwa Oasis, a magnificent green tablecloth spread across the desert sands. After arriving and checking in, we head into the centre to explore this beautiful and very unusual oasis town. Unlike Bahariya, Siwa is a Berber town and the language, traditions and culture are more closely aligned with the peoples of the Maghreb than with the Egyptians. We visit the crumbling remains of Shali, the fabulous fortified mud - brick citadel that dominates the skyline, and explore Gebel al - Mawta (Mountain of the Dead), where tombs from the 26th Dynasty, Ptolemaic and Roman periods are cut into the hillside. We also enjoy a full free day to further explore this fascinating oasis and its surroundings.
Day 7 Darb Siwa - Bahariya - White Desert. We jump in jeeps and leave Siwa, travelling along the 'Darb Siwa' towards Bahariya. The Darb is an ancient caravan route of major significance. Joining the northern coast with the desert, it eliminated the need to travel via the Nile Valley and allowed easy access to the desert in the south. In Bahariya, we may meet up with other Gecko's travelers as we continue our journey south towards the White Desert, one of the most surreal landscapes you are likely to encounter. Vast wind - eroded chalk monoliths rise from the desert sands - some looking like pinnacles, some like mushrooms and others dome - shaped. Sunset and sunrise are the best times to view these formations, as their colours change through shades of pink and orange. Against the backdrop of the desert this is sure to be an outstanding experience. We sleep 'under the stars' tonight, watching countless shooting stars as our Bedouin friends cook us a great meal and share stories by the camp fire. Note it can be very cold in the winter months (Oct - Mar) so make sure you are well rugged up if you are travelling at this time. We recommend you have thermals and a fleece. A sleeping bag and sleep sheet are required.
Day 8 Dakhla Oasis. We continue our journey south, reaching the oasis town of Dakhla. Like Farafra, the cultivation of dates is a major source of income for the local people and we can see date palms everywhere. We visit the fabulous medieval mud - brick town of Al Qasr, exploring the timeless streets, seeing the old school, an ancient olive press and the granary. We also visit the excellent little Ethnographic Museum, a locally - sponsored project which we support through our visits. We spend the night at a rustic camp with reed huts, communal showers and basic facilities and after a traditional meal we enjoy a fun night of music and dancing around the campfire.
Day 9 Dakhla/Camel Safari. After a leisurely breakfast we head out in the jeeps to explore the nearby dunes. There's another hot spring in the area which makes a great rest stop either on the way out or when we return. The programme varies, depending on the season. We return for lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing while we wait for the heat of the day to pass. In the late afternoon we set off on camels, riding through a desolate windswept landscape to the base of a Great escarpment, where we spend the night under the stars. With our Bedouin friends we sleep in a communal tent - or outside on mats - and can perhaps appreciate something of what life might have been like in the days when camel trading was the principal source of income.
Day 10 Dakhla - Al Kharga - Baris. We reach Al Kharga, the largest of the oasis towns and a sizeable producer not only of dates but also cereals and vegetables. There is time to visit the Christian burial ground at Al Bagawat, dating to the end of the 7th century. We drive on, to Baris Oasis, for a final night of fun and friendship with our Bedouin companions.
Day 11 Baris - Luxor. Today, after a leisurely start, we drive from Baris to Luxor. The journey takes between 4 and 5 hours and we expect to reach Luxor around lunchtime. On arrival we can browse the extensive bazaar (great for shopaholics) or visit Karnak Temple - one of Egypt's greatest temple complexes.
Day 12 Luxor. In the morning we rise early to cross the Nile where our donkeys are waiting to take us into the Valley of the Kings. After matching up donkeys and riders we head off, just as the sun begins to rise in the eastern skies. This is a lot of fun and one of the highlights of our visit to Egypt. We explore the Valley of the Kings and enjoy superb aerial views of the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Later, we return to the east bank where the afternoon is free to explore the town further. You can head back to the bazaar, or alternatively you can kick back in a coffee shop and watch the world go by.
Day 13 Luxor - Aswan. An early start sees us on the road to Aswan, one of our favourite places. Despite the fact that it is Egypt's third - largest city, it has an easy - going, laid - back atmosphere that belies its size. Once we have checked in to our hotel the balance of the day is free to explore the Nubian bazaar that snakes through the back streets of town, take a sailboat ride around the islands - or just stroll along the riverfront watching the felucca sailboats drifting with the current.
Dsay 14 Abu Simbel - Felucca Cruise. Rising early we travel by road to Abu Simbel, one of the most impressive temples ever built and one of the highlights of our visit to Egypt. We follow the shores of Lake Nasser and generally arrive at the temple just after sunrise, a perfect time for photographs. We enjoy a tour of the site and later return to Aswan, arriving around midday, where we board our felucca/s and sail north, travelling with the current towards Komombo.
Day 15-16 Felucca Cruise. Sailing down the Nile is a magic experience, lying on thick mattresses, watching the dark waters glide past. We stop off at Komombo to visit the classic Greco - Roman Temple of Sobek, overlooking the river and the rest of our time is spent relaxing and enjoying timeless scenes of local life as we travel slowly down the Nile. Nights are spent sleeping on board and our crew provides simple, healthy meals. Feluccas are simple sailing boats, no more and no less. They have no engines and no toilets. There is a single deck on which you can stretch out during the day under a shade awning. It is an extremely relaxing way of travelling down the Nile, however many people find the pace very slow, especially when contrasted with a busy life back home. We strongly recommend you take books, magazines, card games, mp3 players and any other items which might help to while away your time on board. Meals are simple. They are prepared by your Nubian crew and include chicken, rice, local breads and vegetables. Each evening your crew pulls into the shore. They generally find a flat, sandy area for the night. Toilet facilities are very basic. Note that, during the winter months (Oct - Mar), it can be very cold on the river at night so you should bring thermals and a fleece.
Day 17 Edfu - Luxor - Cairo. Reaching Edfu we say farewell to our Nubian friends, then explore the Temple of Horus - one of Egypt's finest temples, before travelling by bus into Luxor. We have a couple of rooms set aside to store our gear and once sorted we can head into town for a final 'tour' of the bazaar. In the evening we take the night train back to Cairo, with dinner served on board. Our air - conditioned carriage has large, comfortable seats (similar to business class seats on a 'plane) that recline back at about 45 degrees. A toilet is located at the end of the carriage. A simple dinner and breakfast are served on board.
Day 18 Cairo. Arriving back in Cairo we have a final day to explore this historic city. There's heaps to see so we won't be short of things to do. Quite a few will probably want to go (or go back) to the Khan al - Khalili now that we've developed some bargaining skills Or we can venture into 'Islamic Cairo' to visit some of the more important mosques. This evening we can enjoy a final night out together.
Day 19 Cairo. Your trip ends today, after breakfast. Check - out time is usually around 12.00 noon and you are free to leave at any time. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Cairo.
Explore the many intriguing facets of Egypt 19 day tour departing Cairo. 2 nights accommodation camping. 10 nights accommodation in hotels. 3 nights accommodation onboard a felucca. 1 night accommodation onboard an overnight train. 2 nights accommodation in bungalows. 18 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners. Gecko's expert English-speaking local guide throughout the tour, and local site guides at some sites. Sightseeing including entrance fees where applicable. Tour of Abu Simbel. Camel safari. Donkey ride to explore the Valley of the Kings
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