Nile & Sinai Odyssey

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-Luxor

Cairo is the Mother of all cities, a massive, sprawling metropolis of some 16 million people. After breakfast we 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. The rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own. Many will want to visit the celebrated Egyptian Museum (just a short taxi ride away on the other side of the river). In the evening we are transferred to the station for the night train to Luxor. Our air-conditioned carriage has large, comfortable seats (similar to business class seats on a plane) that recline to about 45 degrees, and a simple dinner and breakfast are served on board. There is a toilet located at the end of the carriage.

Day 3: Luxor

On arrival in Luxor we are transferred to our hotel. The day is then free to explore on our own. There’s loads to see and do, including the extensive bazaar (great for shopaholics), the excellent Luxor Museum and Luxor Temple - dominating the centre of the city. Others may wish to visit Karnak Temple, or alternatively check out the spectacular Sound & Light Show (also held at Karnak) that takes place each evening.

Day 4: 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 really good fun and one of the highlights of our visit to Egypt. We visit 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 5: Luxor-Aswan

An early start sees us on the road 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.

Day 6: 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 back around midday. We then head to the river where we board our felucca/s and start sailing north, towards Komombo.

Day 7-8: Felucca Cruise

Sailing down the Nile is a magic experience, lying on thick mattresses, watching the dark waters glide past. At Komombo we 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.Life on board the FeluccaFeluccas 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 be very cold on the river at night so you should bring thermals and a fleece.

Day 9: 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 10: Cairo

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 al-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: but be prepared to bargain!

Day 11: Cairo-Mt. Sinai

The Sinai is an untamed wilderness of immense beauty, with jagged pink granite mountains punching up into clear blue skies. We drive east from Cairo, and spend the night in a simple multi-bed hostel near Mt. Sinai. There’s a large, inviting pool to relax in after the long drive from Cairo.

Day 12: Mt. Sinai-Dahab

Those wishing to ascend Mt. Sinai to watch the sun rise over the peninsula will be woken up between 2.00am and 3.00am (depending on the season). It is a fairly steep climb (with stairs all the way) and most people take about two and a half to three hours to reach the summit. We take it easy, with plenty of rest stops, and our aim is to reach the top in time to watch the sun rise over the southern end of the peninsula - a magical experience! We then continue to Dahab, a laid-back travellers haunt on the Gulf of Aqaba, where we can relax for the rest of the day. Note that, during the winter months (Oct-Mar) it can be very cold on Mt Sinai, so you should bring thermals and a fleece.

Day 13-14: Dahab

Dahab is a great place to chill out. There’s good snorkelling, windsurfing and you can also arrange a day dive (providing you have your PADI certificate with you). For non-divers there numerous other activities which can be arranged while you are there, including a jeep safari into the desert or a camel ride along the beach. Prices generally depend on how many people are booking and of course you’ll need to haggle! Our tour leader will be on hand to help sort out the options.

Day 15: Dahab-Cairo

We make our way back to Cairo today, arriving at our hotel in the evening. We have time this evening for a final night out together.

Day 16: 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.