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Cairo to Tunis
Local Payment: EUR 400
Tour Code: GECT
Tour Duration: 24 days
Countries Visited: Egypt, Libya, Tunisia
Our journey along the north coast of Africa starts as we travel from Cairo to Alexandria - a buzzing town with many attractions. We continue west and cross into Libya, visiting the WWII site Tobruk before exploring the stunning ruins of the ancient Greek city, Cyrene. Apollonia is equally impressive, and Leptis Magna is simply jaw-dropping! Tripoli is an amazing city, with a fusion of African, Arabic and European influences, and after a couple of nights here, we visit Sabratha, then cross into Tunisia.
The desert scenery around Matamata was where parts of the first Star Wars film was set, and is home to Berber people, famous for living in 'troglodyte' houses. We spend the night in such a house before heading into the Tunisian desert. The fascinating Islamic city Kairouan, makes for a great break on the journey north to Tunis - an eclectic, exotic and exciting city.
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 leader may make contact tonight; otherwise you will see him tomorrow morning at the tour briefing, which usually takes place after breakfast.
Day 2: Cairo to Luxor
With a population of around 16 million people, Cairo is one of the world’s biggest cities and there’s a lot to see and do. With our guide we visit the pyramids and the Sphinx and also see the wonderful Valley Temple of King Chephren. The afternoon is free to explore further and many will want to check out the Egyptian Museum (just a short taxi ride away on the other side of the river… depending on Cairo traffic!). In the evening we head to the train station for the overnight train to Luxor – always a fun experience. Our air-conditioned carriage has large, comfortable seats (similar to business class seats on a plane) that recline back at about 45 degrees and a simple dinner and breakfast are served on board. There is a toilet located at the end of the carriage.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
Luxor boasts the greatest quantity of ancient sites anywhere in the world, and there’s heaps to see and do while here. After checking our gear in to the hotel, just near the bazaar, we have time to explore our surroundings – or perhaps enjoy a swim in the rooftop pool. The bazaar is pretty big and will keep shopaholics busy for hours. Alternatively you can visit the excellent little Luxor Museum – or take a stroll around Luxor Temple, dominating the centre of town. Entrance fees for these two options are listed below. Another popular activity is to take a horse-carriage ride to Karnak Temple, dedicated to the great God Amon and considered one of the greatest of Ancient Egyptian monuments. Your tour leader can help organise the carriages. Don’t miss the sunset tonight over the west bank!
Meals included: 1 breakfast
We wake early and cross the Nile, where our donkeys are waiting to take us into the Valley of the Kings. After matching up the donkeys to riders, we head off just as the sun begins to rise in the eastern skies. It’s great fun and one of the highlights of our visit to Egypt. Around midday we return to the east bank, where we board our Nile riverboat and set sail towards Aswan. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax on the sundeck. During the next two days we sail upstream, gliding over the dark waters of the Nile River. We stop at Edfu to explore the well-preserved Temple of Horus, considered one of the finest examples of temple building, and at Komombo, where we visit the Temple of Sobek, a Greco-Roman temple that overlooks the river. All meals are served in the comfortable dining room and on one evening we enjoy an impromptu fancy-dress party, which is always fun.
Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
There are heaps of things to do in and around Aswan. It’s one of our favourite places and very popular with travellers. It has an easy-going charm and the locals are very friendly. We can visit the beautiful Temple of Isis at Philae, saved from the rising waters of the Nile, or just hang around in town, exploring the vibrant Nubian bazaar and checking out the excellent Nubian Museum.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Those who have booked the optional excursion to Abu Simbel will rise early and travel by road along the shores of Lake Nasser to the great Temple of Ramses II, one of the most impressive ever built. For the rest of us it's another lazy day in Aswan, checking out the shops and watching the locals. After a break for lunch we might head out on a felucca sailboat and then take a camel ride towards the Monastery of St. Simeon - a great way to spend the afternoon. In the late afternoon we are transferred to the station for the overnight recliner train back to Cairo.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
Arriving back in Cairo we are transferred to our hotel and the rest of the day is free to explore. In the older part of the city there is a lot to see, including some beautiful old mosques and, of course, the fantastic Khan El Khalili bazaar – an amazing mix of shops and stalls that have traded goods and gossip since the Middle Ages. There’s time for everything and our tour leader can help organise taxis to get to these place. Be prepared to bargain in the bazaar!
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Today we travel to Alexandria, arriving around midday. After checking in to the hotel we make an afternoon visit to the new Alexandria Museum, which has a marvellous collection of artefacts dating back to around 350BC-100AD, as well as the the Roman catacombs. The rest of the day is then free to explore this waterfront city, which stretches for some 17 kilometres along the Mediterranean coast.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
We have the best part of two free days to check out Alexandria. Among the various things worth doing are visiting the Qaitbey Fortress, now a naval museum, where you can see what remains of the famous Pharos (lighthouse), one of the original seven ancient wonders of the world. You may also like to relax and enjoy a drink in the classic Cecil Hotel, built in 1930 and now one of the city’s great institutions, or explore the bazaar on Nokrashi Street. A popular past-time for locals is strolling along the lengthy corniche and watch people having fun on the extensive beachfront. You can also visit one of Alexandria’s famous cafes, such as ‘Pastroudi’s’ or ‘Trianon’, or splash out on a seafood dinner at one of the city’s many excellent restaurants.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
After breakfast we leave Alexandria by private bus and travel west along the Mediterranean coast. After 2-3 hours of driving we turn south and stop at El Alamein, the site of one of the most famous battles in World War II. In October 1942, Allied troops under the command of General Bernard Montgomery defeated the Axis forces led by one of most brilliant German commanders, General Erwin Rommel (The Desert Fox), in a battle that changed the course of the war in North Africa. It is incredible to imagine that war was conducted in such harsh and hostile desert conditions. We visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery and the German and Italian War Memorial. In our free time you can also make an optional visit to the War Museum, which has a collection of tanks and other artefacts from the battles. We then continue to the coastal town of Marsa Matruh, which is renowned for its white, sandy beaches and clear, blue waters.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
Today we farewell Egypt and drive to the border at Amsaad or Al-Burdi. Our Libyan tour leader will meet us at the border and help us complete the necessary formalities, before taking us to Tobruk. This is another famous site from World War II and a place where many Australian soldiers became heroes. Known as the Rats of Tobruk, 14,270 Australian soldiers (out of a total of approximately 24,000 troops) participated in a siege that lasted 240 days from May to December 1941 and ultimately inflicted the first major German defeat in the war. We visit the war cemetery and pay our respects to those who lost their lives. We spend our first night in Libya in the town of Tobruk and enjoy a local dinner.
PLEASE NOTE: The one and only 'tourist' hotel in Tobruk is being renovated throughout late 2007 and 2008 - this is a shame as it had a funky retro decor! We have found the next best alternative, although the hotel is a 'local' hotel rather than a 'tourist' hotel so please bear this in mind. The alternative was an itinerary change that involved a huge day's driving. Welcome to Libya!
Meals included: 1 breakfast
After breakfast we continue to Cyrene, one of the most significant ancient Greek archaeological sites in the world and a most notable highlight of any visit to Libya. As legend has it, Cyrene was founded in 631 BC by settlers who originally came from the Greek island of Thera (known today as Santorini). It soon expanded with more settlers coming from other parts of Greece, enticed by the promise of prime farming land. By the 4th Century BC, it had become a major cultural centre and a place of great wealth. Ensuing rulers ranging from Alexander the Great to the Ptolemies and the Romans held sway over the city, but it suffered from devastating earthquakes in 262 AD and 365 AD. By 643 AD it had lost all power and significance and was taken over by Islamic armies. We enjoy a guided tour of these fabulous ruins and imagine what life must have been like in its glory days. From the ancient gymnasium we make our way past the agora, which was the main public square. The highlight is a climb up to the Temple of Zeus, which is located on the top of a steep hill. We spend the night in the nearby town of Al-Bayda.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
We visit another nearby set of ancient ruins - the city of Apollonia, which was the port for Cyrene. Whilst it is not as extensive as Cyrene, it is still well worth a visit with an impressive Greek theatre located in the far eastern part of the site. Our next stop is the small town of Qasr Libya, which has a small but fascinating museum in the Eastern Church that houses a impressive collection of Byzantine mosaics dating back to the 6th Century. We continue to Libya's second largest city, Benghazi, where we have a chance to wander the narrow streets and explore the souk in evocative old part of town.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
We continue to make our way across the North African coast from one end of the Gulf of Sirt to the other. On the way we stop at the quaint modern city of Sirt, which is the birthplace of Colonel Gaddafi. There is virtually nothing left of the old city and the main sights of interests are the revolutionary murals, which include many portraits of the Libyan leader. We finish our day at the town of Zliten, which is our base for exploring Leptis Magna tomorrow.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
Today we visit outstanding Leptis Magna, one of the greatest ancient sites in the world. Dating back to the 7th Century BC, it was originally a Phoenician trading port and prospered for nearly 1000 years, before Vandal invasions and sand storms brought its downfall. In its heyday during the reign of Libyan Emperor Septimus Severus, it was second only to Rome and was home to over 100,000 people. This vast city remained buried for some 1300 years, and it wasn’t until the 1920s that a major excavation by Italian and Libyan archaeologists revealed the limestone and marble wonders that we explore today. We spend most of the day wandering around this amazing place and visit the excellent Leptis Museum and impressive amphitheatre, before continuing to the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
We visit the Jamhariya Museum, which was built with the help of UNESCO and is one of the best museums in North Africa. It contains an impressive collection of Roman and Islamic artefacts, including fine mosaics mostly lifted from nearby Sabratha and Leptis Magna. We also explore the old whitewashed medina (old city), which is full of mosques and is the historic heart of Tripoli. Compared to the bazaars in Istanbul, Marrakech and Cairo, the old souk here is quiet and peaceful. No one seems to be in a hurry and we have time to explore at our leisure. We make a stop at the Gurgi Mosque and the Arch of Marcus Aurelius, which is the last structure remaining from 163 AD, when Tripoli was an ancient Roman city known as Oea.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Like Leptis Magna, Sabratha was a ancient Phoenician trading post that served as an outlet for products coming from the African hinterland. Part of the short-lived Numidian Kingdom of Massinissa before being taken over by the Romans, it was rebuilt in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. It is beautifully situated overlooking the shores of the Mediterranean and we spend the morning exploring its splendid theatre, baths, fountains and mosaics. After our visit we drive to the border at Ras al-Jedir. Today we say goodbye to our Libyan tour leader and meet our Tunisian tour leader. Our first night in Tunisia is a unique one, as we spend it in one of the troglodyte dwellings in Matmata. In the past, these underground houses not only protected their inhabitants from invasion, but also provided a more pleasant living environment by offering protection from the scorching hot summers and cold winters. However we may be more familiar with this place as a setting for the planet of Tatooine, Luke Skywalker's original home, in the 'Star Wars' movies. We can still see sets from the original movie in the Hotel Sidi Driss. This area is not to be confused with the southern Tunisia city of Tataouine, although the fictional name was derived from the actual name of this other town.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
We continue our drive into the desert and stop at the town of Douz, considered the gateway to the Sahara Desert. We pay a visit to the souk; however like most desert towns in the middle of the day, it is likely to be pretty quiet. We then all get a taste of the traditional local form of transport by enjoying a one hour camel ride in the Sahara Desert. This is sure to be a memorable experience, but make sure you protect yourself from the strong sun by wearing a hat and applying sunscreen. After getting off our camels we drive to Chott el-Jerid, where we make a photo stop at the largest salt lake in Tunisia. We arrive at the oasis town of Tozeur. Filled with over 400,000 palm trees this place is one of the real highlight of any visit to Tunisia. Tonight is also special as we enjoy dinner at the home of a local family - a fantastic opportunity to sample delicious home cooked local cuisine!
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
We take a walk around the ancient medina of Tozeur and soak up the atmosphere of this timeless place. In reality this place has been here for a long time, with the first settlement dating to the year 8000 BC! It is a fascinating maze of narrow alleyways and small squares, with some unique architectural styles that reflect a fascinating past. We also explore the 'palmeraie', where we are sure to be amazed by the enormous number of palm trees. Departing Tozeur we head northwards and stop at Sbeitla, which was once known as Sufetula and is home to an impressive collection of ancient, but well-preserved Roman temples. Our final destination today is Kairouan, one of the seven holy cities of Islam and home to the oldest mosque in North Africa.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Kairouan is the Islamic heart of Tunisia and dates back to the 7th Century AD, although it reached its most prominent epoch in the 9th to 10th Century AD, when it was capital of the Aghlabid Dynasty. The medina is really something special - the white wall of the buildings contrasts with pale blue and green arches. We visit the various Islamic monuments in the city including the Great Mosque, probably the most significant religious structure in the country. The original mosque dates from 670 AD, but it was destroyed and most of the present mosque dates from the Aghlabid period. We need to be appropriately dressed for our visit, however robes are available at the entrance. After our exploration of Kairouan we travel back towards the coast and on to the country's capital, Tunis.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
We have a free day to explore Tunis, a cosmopolitan city that blends Islamic aspects with modern European influences, especially French. The medina is a World Heritage-listed site and a virtual labyrinth of alleys and tunnels. There are several optional sites that you can visit in your free time, all of them located close to Tunis. The Bardo Museum is located 4km west of the city and is considered the best in the country. It covers the whole spectrum of Tunisian history, from prehistoric times to the Roman era and the Islamic age, and houses an impressive collection of mosaics. You can also visit the remnants of the ancient city of Carthage, one of the greatest cities of the ancient world and the ancestral home to the famous military hero, Hannibal. The whitewashed buildings of the village of Sidi Bou Said are stunning and many famous painters and writers over the years have made it their home. Your tour leader can advise you on getting to these places.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Our trip ends today after breakfast. Additional accommodation is available in Tunis on request.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Tour Grade: Moderate
A moderate level of fitness is required. These trips generally involve some physical activities and occasional long travelling days. Accommodation and travel conditions may be more basic.
Valid from 1 October 2008
| Start Date | End Date | Local_Payment | Price |
| 31 Oct 2008 | 23 Nov 2008 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 28 Nov 2008 | 21 Dec 2008 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 26 Dec 2008 | 18 Jan 2009 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 09 Jan 2009 | 01 Feb 2009 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 06 Feb 2009 | 01 Mar 2009 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 06 Mar 2009 | 29 Mar 2009 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 03 Apr 2009 | 26 Apr 2009 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 17 Apr 2009 | 10 May 2009 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 15 May 2009 | 07 Jun 2009 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 12 Jun 2009 | 05 Jul 2009 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 24 Jul 2009 | 16 Aug 2009 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 21 Aug 2009 | 13 Sep 2009 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 18 Sep 2009 | 11 Oct 2009 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
| 16 Oct 2009 | 08 Nov 2009 | EUR 400 | $3390 |
Local Payment: EUR 400
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