Egypt Trek 2011 - Detailed Itinerary

8/8/2019 Egypt Trek 2011 - Detailed Itinerary

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EGYPT TREK 2011March 5-13 (+ optional extension)

DAY 1 (March 5)

The first day will start off with a relaxing night in Cairo to ensure a smooth

transition for everyone. After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we will

head to one of Cairos best restaurants for dinner. The restaurant is

located on Zamalek Island, one of the most cosmopolitan ofneighborhoods. After dinner, we will go out for a few drinks

DAY 2 (March 6)

Accompanied by an Egyptologist we will start by visiting the Necropolis of

Saqqara: This palm tree surrounded site has the largest concentration of

pyramids in the world. If you thought there were only 3 pyramids in Egypt,

you will be pleasantly surprised! We will see dozens of pyramids, and we

will have the chance to see the latest archeological discoveries. We will

also see the first attempt at a pyramid: the Bent Pyramid of Dahshur andwe'll get to enter the neighboring Red Pyramid.

Next stop: the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx! The Great Pyramid of

Kheops is the only wonder of the Ancient World still standing today.

Imagine standing in front of 2.6 million blocks of stone, each weighingapproximately 2 tons! After a good Egyptian lunch we will visit the Cairo

Museum, which is filled with some of the most remarkable collections of

Pharaonic artifacts, including the famous mask of Tut Ankh Amun. The

density of these treasures is unparalleled in any other museum in theworld.

Dinner will be at one of Cairos most trendy restaurants serving typical

delicious Egyptian meals. We will aim for a relatively early night since we

have a very early flight to catch the next morning.

DAY 3 (March 7)

Early in the morning, we will get to airport for a short flight to Abu Simbel

on Lake Nasser in Nubia. Abu Simbel is a UNESCO Heritage Site

constructed during the rule of Ramses II and relocated during theconstruction of the Aswan High Dam.


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After exploring the temples and enjoying the dramatic scenery surroundingthe site we will jump on a bus for Aswan, the Nubian Capital. In Aswan

well visit the Isis Temple on Philae Island and take a felucca ride to

discover the botanical gardens.

In the late afternoon, we will head to Luxor for dinner followed by a

traditional nubian and belly-dancing show.

DAY 4 (March 8)

In the morning we will take horse carriages to make it to the Temple of

Karnak, a site that many archeologists say should have been categorized

as a wonder of the ancient world. This gigantic temple is host to a plethora

of hieroglyphs, columns, obelisks, statues and even parts with the original

ceiling that are still standing!We will have lunch and relax at the hotelbefore starting our excursion on local donkeys (a traditional way of getting

around in this area) to make our way to the Temple of Ramses III. To get

to Medinat Habou, where the temple is located, well cross some beautiful

sugar cane plantations and hopefully some locals as they go about their

daily farming activities. Situated on the West bank, well have an

Egyptologist take us around as we visit this funerary temple, which is veryclose to the Valleys of the Kings and Queens.

This evening, we will walk around downtown Luxor where we will have the

possibility to explore the local market for some souvenirs. Although muchsmaller than Cairos Khan El Khalili, many hidden treasures can be found.

Night fall will give us the opportunity to get some rest and prepare fortomorrow's desert trek.

DAYS 5 (March 9)

Our 2-day expedition in the Western Desert begins on this day. The bus

will take us close to Kharga oasis where 4x4s will take us a few kilometers

deeper in the desert to meet with our camels and the rest of the Bedouincrew. We will have a delicious picnic in the "middle of nowhere" before we

start trekking our way towards the lost Oasis of Ain Om El Dabadib.

We will trek for about 4-5 hours today through some of the Western

Deserts most dramatic landscapes. Our camp will be set-up in advance so

well just need to relax and prepare for good Bedouin food and live music


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under the stars. We will reach the Ain Om El Dabadib Oasis in the eveningand should have enough time to discover the site with its unique Roman

ruins before sunset.

At night well get the chance to experience one of the Bedouins most

ancient rituals: a goat traditionally cooked under the sand. They will also

play music on traditional instruments and entertain us with their traditional

dances.

DAY 6 (March 10)

In the morning those who wish to be more physically active will be able to

try some sandboarding on the beautiful sand dunes located in the nearby

area. The Jeeps will take us back to the Kharga Oasis for a walk through

the 5th Century Roman Necropolis of Bagawat. The Necropolis also holdsone of the oldest churches in the world and several chapels with graffiti

dating from the 4th and 5th centuries. The site offers beautiful views over

the palm tree gardens of Kharga Oasis. Those who wish will also get to

take a hot bath in one of the local hot springs before we head off to lunch.

In the evening, we will check into our hotel in Luxor for a shower. The

evening will bring us to one of Luxor's best traditional restaurants for

dinner.

DAY 7 (March 11)

This morning brings us to the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of

Hatshepsut. Our Egyptologist guide will join us again as we will have the

opportunity to see the exposed mummified body of King Tut, recently

exposed in his tomb. Also, depending on which tombs the Antiquities has

deemed acceptable to open to the public, we will be able to walk inside 3

other ancient tombs of previous kings. These tombs are almost all

decorated with amazingly precise artwork that still boasts the original paint

and vibrant colors from the original day is was finished, thousands of yearsago. In the afternoon we will spend some time on a felucca for a sunset

ride as we make our way to Banana Island.

In the late evening we will check-out from our hotel and take the night train

to Cairo. For those who prefer to fly back to Cairo, that is also an option

(although ads to the cost of the trip). In that case, they will have dinner anda night out in Cairo.


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DAY 8 (March 12)

Today, our local guide will take us around the capital for an overview of

Islamic Cairo with its beautiful mosques and minarets. We will start with the

Citadel of Saladin and the Ottoman-styled Mohammed Ali Mosque, located

at the top of the tallest mountain in the heart of the city. We will also visit

the unique Sultan Hassan and Al Rifa mosques. Finally, the oldest

mosque in the city and one of the oldest in the world, the Persian-styled

Ibn Touloun Mosque is a perfect way to finish the tour. The Suspended

Church is found not too far, dating back to the Roman days, as well as the

old Virgin Mary Church. Right next to these, we will find the Ben Ezra

Synagogue, an authentic Jewish synagogue that was built before the Arab

invasions (just like the churches).

We will take the rest of the day to wonder around the streets of the Khan ElKhalili Market, the perfect place to practice the art of negotiation! This

ancient market, still very much alive today, is a real labyrinth of stores

where anything can be found.

For dinner we will make our way to a local restaurant where you ll be able

to try other traditional meals that your taste-buds still haven't experienced

thus far: Molokheya, Fatta and Moussaka.

DAY 9 (March 13)This day's schedule will depend on the flight time to return home. We will

organize a low-key activity in Cairo for those flying out that day.

Those of us who choose to stay in Egypt for the optional Red Sea

extension will be relaxing along the Red Sea's deserted beaches in some

charming little bungalows along the shore, where we can enjoy the

marvelous colors of the water world by snorkeling in the crystal clear sea

sitting in front of us. We can simply relax and sunbathe or play beach

volleyball or frisbee... but one thing is for sure, we'll all be able to enjoy the

great local seafood and vegetarian cuisine that our chefs will prepare forus.

DAYS 10, 11 & 12 (March 14, 15 & 16)

Our final 2 nights in the Sinai Peninsula will bring us to Sharm El Sheikh.

Known for hosting most of the Middle-East peace talks, Sharm is also an


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epicenter for many tourists coming to Egypt. During the day we will rent ayacht and go snorkeling (optional Scuba Diving). The main theme of these

few days is rest and relaxation. However, if you feel like being more

culturally active we can go see St Catherines Monastery, the oldest

working Christian monastery in the world and Mount Sinai (According to

Jewish and Christian tradition this is the mountain where Moses receivedthe Ten Commandments).

At night, we'll experience the other main attraction of Sharm El Sheikh - thevibrant night life.

ANY QUESTIONS?

Cherif Habib ([email protected])

Adel El Senoussi ([email protected])

Egypt Trek 2011 - Detailed Itinerary

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