Beyond the Pyramids Tour

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Maximum Group Size: 18
Trek Grade: A - Easy
Arrival Transfer: Airport transfer to hotel day 1
Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of Egyptologists at the Pyramids, Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings and Bedouin guides during Sinai trek
Transport: Private air-conditioned transport, felucca sailboat, overnight seater train, donkey, horse-drawn carriage, hydrofoil
Activities: Donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings, hike up Mt Sinai, 2 day Sinai trek, 3 night felucca cruise
Accommodation: 9 nights simple hotels, 3 nights on felucca, 1 night seater train, 2 nights desert camping
Meals: As per itinerary. B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
Entrance Fees: Not Included. Allow US$55 for sites listed as part of the itinerary
Local Payment: Must be paid in cash on day 1 of your tour

WINTER ITINERARY CHANGE: An amended itinerary will operate for days 12 - 14 during the winter season (Dec, Jan and Feb). Please refer to the trip dossier for further details.

HYDROFOIL: This tour uses the hydrofoil from Hurghada to the Sinai. If the hydrofoil is not working, we will have to drive instead. This will result in a change to the published itinerary.

TRAIN CHANGES: The Egyptian Government might impose changes to the trains tourists are allowed to travel on. Many of our adventurer tours in Egypt make use of overnight 'seater' trains between Cairo and Luxor / Aswan.
At the time of going to press these trains continue to be in operation and tourists are allowed to travel on them. However, there have been indications that this may change at some point in the future and that tourists will be required to use the more expensive 'sleeper' train. Whilst we are lobbying against this change, if legislation is introduced we will unfortunately be compelled to use the sleeper trains and to charge a US$40 surcharge per journey. Please ask our online consultant for further details at the time of booking.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Pyramids & Sphinx at Giza
• Picturesque Aswan
• Optional excursion to Abu Simbel
• 3 day felucca cruise
• Optional visit to the Temple of Kom Ombo
• Horse drawn carriage ride to Karnak Temple
• Optional visit to the Temple of Horus at Edfu
• Donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings
• Sunrise on Mt Sinai
• 2 day Sinai desert trek
• Snorkelling in the Red Sea

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 1, CAIRO: Arrival day. Check in to your hotel. No meals.

Day 2, CAIRO: A guided visit to the Pyramids & Sphinx. Overnight train to Aswan. (B)

Day 3, ASWAN: Arrive in Aswan and check in to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to get to know this exciting Nubian city. (B)

Day 4, ASWAN: A free day allows time for those who wish to make an excursion to the massive temple of Abu Simbel. (B)

Day 5, FELUCCA CRUISE: Board felucca sailboats and set off on our sailing journey to Edfu. All meals on board are prepared by our crew. (BLD)

Day 6-7, FELUCCA CRUISE: Two days sailing on the Nile. Time doesn't matter so pack away your watch and soak up the atmosphere. There's the chance to go ashore and visit the riverside temple of Kom Ombo. (BLD)

Day 8, EDFU - LUXOR: Disembark in Edfu. Visit the Temple of Horus before transferring to Luxor. In the afternoon we take horse-drawn carriages to Karnak Temple for a guided tour around this magnificent site. (B)

Day 9, LUXOR - HURGHADA: We get up before sunrise for a donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings. Our route back offers magnificent views of the Nile Valley and passes the Colossi of Memnon. Afternoon drive to Hurghada. (B)

Day 10, HURGHADA - DAHAB: We rise early this morning to take the hydrofoil to the Sinai. Transfer to Dahab on the Red Sea coast. (B)

Day 11, DAHAB: A day at leisure to relax on the beach or snorkel in the Red Sea. (B)

Day 12 , DAHAB - SINAI TREK: Today we meet our Bedouin crew and start our trek in the Sinai Desert. (BLD)

Day 13, SINAI TREK: Accompanied by local Bedouin and using camels to carry our baggage, we spend the day trekking through some of Egypt's most stunning scenery. There are strange rock formations, hidden canyons and spectacular views. (BLD)

Day 14, SINAI TREK - ST CATHERINE: We end our trek this morning and transfer to St Catherine where we spend the night near the foot of Mt Sinai. (BD)

Day 15, MT SINAI - CAIRO: Rise early and ascend Mt Sinai for sunrise. In the afternoon we drive back to Cairo. (B)

Day 16, CAIRO: Tour ends after breakfast. (B)

DEPARTURE DATES

TRAVEL STYLE

You love the sometimes tough but ultimately rewarding nature of adventure travel and you want to spend more time enjoying every experience rather than wasting time on travel arrangements.

Maximum Group Size - 18: You love the whole concept of travel. Getting there is as much fun as being there and you love using public transport, local restaurants and small family run hotels where you get the best chance to really get under the skin of a destination. You love the sometimes tough but ultimately rewarding nature of adventure travel and you love spending more time enjoying every experience rather than wasting time on travel arrangements.
Included: All accommodation (usually twin share but occasionally multi share), transportation
Not included: Most meals, entrance fees
Single Supplement: Not available. [Read more about Imaginative Traveller travel styles]