| Pharaohs and Deserts Tour |
15 days |
Statues at the temple of Karnak in Luxor, Egypt
Once described as “the gift of the Nile”, Egypt is a land of awe-inspiring monuments, great natural beauty and a genuinely friendly people. From the vast collection of architectural wonders, which lie along the Nile Valley, the beauty of the desert lake and spring oasis of Wadi Rayan, and the stunning desert scenery in the Western Deserts, Egypt has something for everyone. This tour gives a comprehensive introduction to both the history and natural beauty of this ancient country.
Note - From July 09 the accommodation on this tour has been upgraded to include 4 and 5-star hotels in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor. A 3-star hotel is still used for the second & third stays in Cairo. The desert section of the tour on Days 9 & 10 has also been updated and improved.
We start in the bustling city of
Cairo where we tour the incredible Pyramids and Sphinx. We also allow time for exploring the city and delighting in the wealth of sites on offer like the twisting alleyways of the Khan al Khalili bazaar, the vast collection of artefacts in the Cairo museum and the sprawling citadel of Saladin.
Feluccas on the Nile, Egypt

From Cairo we head by train up the Nile to
Aswan, which is located on the most picturesque stretch in Egypt of this majestic river. We spend time visiting the tranquil island temple of
Philae and the mighty
Aswan High Dam, before boarding a traditional
felucca sailing boat for a 2-night cruise downriver. Staying on board the feluccas we slowly drift downstream as far as the temple at
Komombo before driving on to
Luxor with a stop at
Edfu temple en-route. An upgrade to a luxury Nile
cruise boat is available if preferred.
In Luxor we pause to appreciate the immense choice of ancient monuments on offer. On the east bank we see the towering pylons and columns that make up the impressive temples of Karnak and Luxor, while on the west bank of the Nile lie the burial tombs and temples of the pharaohs. Here the Valleys of the Kings, the colourful Medinat Habu temple, and Queen Hatchepsut’s Mortuary Temple reveal a fascinating insight into the beliefs of the ancient pharaohs and their subjects.
Bedouin making a dinner in middle of the desert in Egypt

Returning to Cairo we drive to the fertile Fayoum area, not far from Cairo. Here we visit the protected area of Wadi Rayan, with its freshwater desert lake and natural spring oasis - both a haven for wildlife. We also visit the World Heritage Site of the
Valley of the Whales where we see fossilised whale skeletons and mangrove roots resting on the ground This site is surrounded by stunning desert scenery., and we spend a night camping here in Bedouin tents After returning to Cairo for a night, we head out into the vast Egyptian Western Desert.
Following a tour of the
Bahariya Oasis, a delightful and tranquil island of green in a sea of barren sand, we take a jeep safari into the nearby White Desert.
The desert here provides a chance to experience the beauty and isolation of a place unspoiled by human hands and we spend time viewing the assortment of strange rock formations common to the White Desert before spending a night beneath the stars. Time in the Black Desert and a visit to the peaceful
Farafra Oasis follows, where we see signs of traditional desert oasis life. After a final night in Baharya and an optional dip in the local hot springs we head back to Cairo to finish the tour.