Nile Valley & Western Desert

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 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-Aswan

Cairo is the ‘Mother’ of all cities, a massive, sprawling metropolis of some 16 million people. Our first stop today is the celebrated Egyptian Museum, where our local guide explains the history and mysteries of Ancient Egypt. We see the golden mask of King Tutankhamun, and numerous other treasures and later we drive 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 evening we are transferred to the station for the night train to Aswan. Our air-conditioned carriage has large, comfortable seats (similar to business class seats on a ‘plane) that recline to about 45°, and a simple dinner and breakfast are served on board. There is a toilet located at the end of the carriage.

Day 3: Aswan

On arrival in Aswan we head to our hotel where we can relax for a while before heading out to explore the Nubian bazaar - a long and colourful street that snakes through the centre of town. Another option is a visit to the stunning Temple of Isis at Philae Island. After a break for lunch we might decide to 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!

Day 4: Abu Simbel-Nile 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 Nile Cruise boat. After lunch the rest of the day is free to sleep, relax on the sundeck or head back to the Nubian bazaar.

Day 5-6: Nile Cruise

Cruising along the Nile is a magical experience, sitting on the sundeck, watching timeless scenes as we glide over the dark waters. We stop at Komombo to visit the Temple of Sobek, a Greco-Roman temple that overlooks the river, and at Edfu we explore the well-preserved Temple of Horus, considered one of the finest examples of temple construction. All meals are served in the comfortable dining room, and on one evening we enjoy an impromptu fancy-dress party, which is always great fun. Arriving in Luxor we take horse-drawn carriages to the massive complex at Karnak, built over a period of some 2000 years, and one of the greatest temples ever constructed.

Day 7: Luxor-Baris

We rise early to cross the Nile, where our donkeys are waiting to take us into the Valley of the Kings. After matching up the donkeys to our riders we head off, just as the sun begins to rise in the eastern skies. It’s a great experience and one of the highlights of our visit to Egypt. We return to the east bank, where we meet our Bedouin crew, and after loading our gear we set off in 4WD vehicles to Baris. We spend our first night camping under the stars.

Day 8: Baris-Al Kharga-Dakhla

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 Dakhla, where 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 normally head off to 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 Ethnological Museum, a locally-sponsored project which we support through our visits. There's also a hot spring nearby 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-Farafra-White Desert

North of Dakhla is Farafra Oasis where we have time to visit the Museum and enjoy a swim in another of the many natural sulphur springs. A little further on we enter the White Desert, a spectacular region of wind-eroded limestone formations. The continual erosion has left a layer of fine white dust on the desert sands, hence the name ‘white desert’. We enjoy a sunset walk in this surreal landscape and spend the night camping under the stars. 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.

Day 11: White Desert-Bahariya-Cairo

Bahariya is the most northerly of the Western Desert oasis towns and we stop here for a break on our way back to Cairo, which we expect to reach in the late afternoon. On arrival we farewell our Bedouin friends and after time to freshen up we can enjoy a final night out together.

Day 12: 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.

Tour Grade: Culture

Whether you’re taking in man’s greatest works at places like Petra or Angkor Wat, experiencing grand set-pieces like the Trans-Mongolian Railway or trying your hand at regional specialities like tango in Buenos Aires, getting to grips with local cultures is what travel’s all about. A few tips from a local guide and a sense of adventure are pretty much all you need. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get the lowdown on high Tibet among Lhasa’s magisterial temples; follow up Delhi’s eye-popping bustle with a fix of its fiery food; and mix manic markets and Incan masterpieces in Peru.