nile valley to siwa oasis - 15 days

Tour Information
Starts in: Cairo
Ends in: Cairo
Departs: Saturdays year-round.
Prices and Departures: Click Here
Local Payment Required: No
Breakfast: Daily, Lunch: 4, Dinner: 4
Hotel rating: 3 - 5  (+ Siwan style hotel)
Egyptian Tour leader: Yes

Day 3: Aswan & Philae Temple
Aswan - breakfast box. Arrive and check into our hotel. A visit out of town takes us to the mighty High Dam – a modern feat of engineering - creating the world’s largest artificial lake, Lake Nasser! This afternoon's highlight is a leisurely boat trip to Agilika Island for Philae Temple for a guided tour of the romantic Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. As the sun sets, free time to shop in the colourful souqs and markets or simply relax and watch an amazing sunset in Egypt's southern most town straddling the River Nile. Overnight - Aswan.

Day 4: Felucca Sailing
Aswan - Nile felucca cruise - all meals. Optional early morning air excursion to famous Abu Simbel, the rock-cut temple of King Ramses II, the Great Builder. This afternoon, we board our Nile felucca for a 2 night voyage downstream on the River Nile. Overnight onboard felucca. All meals included.

Day 5: Relax on the Nile
Nile felucca cruise - all meals. Relax, go for a swim or just chill out in the sun on deck. Let your troubles melt away, as the felucca plies its route. A stop will be made at the Temple of Kom Ombo - dedicated to the crocodile headed god - Sobek. Overnight onboard felucca. All meals included.

Day 6: Kom Ombo Temple & Luxor
Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor - breakfast. Disembarking in Kom Ombo, we enjoy a guided tour of the Temple of Horus at Edfu, before driving north to Luxor. Home of the legendary Valley of the Kings and Temple of Karnak, 4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at it’s best. Enjoy some rest and relaxation. Tonight, an optional visit is available to the Temple of Luxor, spectacularly illuminated at night. We travel to the temple by traditional horse and carriage with restaurant dinner afterwards. The excursion is payable locally. Rest of evening free to enjoy the facilities of our hotel. Overnight - Luxor

Day 7: Valley of the Kings
Luxor - Cairo - breakfast. An early start allows us to avoid some of the fierce midday heat as we venture to the tomb strewn Valley of the Kings. Consider opting to join our hot air ballooning excursion over ancient Thebes - fabulous at sunrise! Highlights of the visit include the Colossi of Memnon, a massive pair of statues that stand silent against the backdrop of history, the Valleys of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the awesome ramped and colonnaded Temple of Queen Hatshepsut.

The Valley of the Kings is studded with often highly decorated tombs, constructed to once house the regal sarcophagi enclosed mummies of the mighty pharaohs awaiting passage into the after-life. This afternoon after lunch and time to relax we visit the colossal Temple of Karnak. Lose yourself in the stone-columned Hypostle Hall and go crazy with your camera. This is ancient Egypt. Tonight, we return by overnight train to Cairo, 1st class recliner seats. Overnight - train.

Day 8: Cairo & Egyptian Museum
Cairo - breakfast box. Arrival and hotel check-in. Later, we visit the famous Egyptian Museum, famed for the treasures of King Tutankhamen and his famous solid gold funerary mask. This afternoon is free - perhaps spend the remainder of the day exploring Cairo your way. Overnight - Cairo.

Day 9: Cairo
Sunday. Cairo – El Alamein – Siwa - breakfast. Starting early (7am) we drive North-west toward the Mediterranean coastline, to the World War II cemeteries of El Alamein. In 1942 the Allies under Britain’s field Marshal Montgomery halted the German- Italian advance towards the River Nile. Marked as a major victory for the Allies, though not without loss of life, with some 11,000 killed and 60,000 wounded. We visit the Commonwealth cemetery and recently erected memorials funded by the Australian and New Zealand governments. Through the arches and beyond the gardens, 7,000 white headstones commemorate the Australian, New Zealand and British soldiers who fought and died. Stopping for a light lunch in Marsa Matrouh we continue onward to Siwa . Evening walk and opportunity for dinner in a typical Siwan style restaurant. Light lunch and overnight - Siwa.

Day 10: Bike ride & Temple of the oracle
Siwa – breakfast. This morning we take a leisurely bicycle ride through the verdant date palm groves, visiting the local sights en-route. Our first stop is the Temple of the Oracle, dating back to near 570BC, whose most famous petitioner was Alexander the Great. Alexander visited the Siwa in the spring of 331BC, seeking confirmation from the Oracle that he was the son of Zeus (whom the Greek’s identified with Amun – the sun god and creator of all life in Pharaonic history). We cycle to Cleopatra Spring for a dip in the pool as the spring fed warm water bubbles to the surface. Afternoon at leisure or optional (book/pay locally) sunset dinner, swim and campfire at the ‘Great Saltwater Lake’. Overnight - Siwa.