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Egypt

Traveling to the exotic land of Egypt is an amazing adventure. Feast your mind on a country rich with history while gazing at great Pyramids and the enigmatic Sphinx. Visit with locals of small towns and villages to see what everyday life is like.

Nile Felucca Sailtrek
10 days Cairo to Luxor $390-$440 land only.
This adventure includes a 4-day sail through Upper Egypt by traditional "felucca" sailboat. We explore the great temples of Karnak and Edfu, and enjoy a donkey trek to the Valley of the Kings.

Pyramids & Aswan: Beginning in Cairo, we visit the Great Pyramids at Giza and the enigmatic Sphinx. Then head by overnight train to the colorful town of Aswan, located on the first Nile cataract. From here you can take an optional excursion to the famous rock-cut temple of Abu Simbel, 3000 years old and dedicated to the pharaoh Ramses II.

4-day Felucca Sailtrek: Setting sail at a relaxed pace we continue by Nile felucca, an excellent way of getting to know the river and its people. As well as observing life in the many small villages and farms along the ray, we stop to visit the monumental temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu. The pace of our Sailtrek is dictated by wind and river conditions, so our night stops are flexible.

Luxor-Ancient Thebes: We drive to Luxor the site of ancient Thebes, to discover the richest concentration of archaeological wonders in the western world- and a place where the sky is always pure blue! We explore the Great Temple of Amun at Karnak and organize a donkey trek along an ancient route to the Valley of the Kings- the painted gallery of pharaohs' tombs.

Nile Cruise & Red Sea
15 days from Cairo $790-$890 land only.
This trip combines explorations of the Nile Valley by riverboat with visits to the great archaeological treasures of Luxor and Aswan. Plus, some time enjoying the Red Sea Coast where we explore the extraordinary coral reefs.

The Pyramids & Luxor: While in Cairo, we'll visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum- a unique collection of artifacts. We recommend a visit to the Khan al Kalili bazaar- a colorful maze of alleyways with street vendors and hawkers keen to sell their wares. We drive south to the fascinating town of Luxor. Here we'll ride donkeys to the Valley of the Kings and take a local calesh- a horse drawn carriage- to visit Karnak and the colossal Temple of Amun.

Nile Cruise to Aswan: Next we board our Nile riverboat and set off for the journey to Aswan, observing small river villages and the daily work of the felahin- rural farmers, whose leaves have changed little since the time of the pharaohs. We pause to admire sacred sites like the Temple of Horus at Edfu and Kom Ombo- dedicated to the crocodile god, Sobek. Our cruise ends in Aswan, an exciting place to explore with plenty to do and see. You can wander the bazaar or take trips into the desert, perhaps visiting the famous temple of Abu Sembel built to commemorate Ramses II.

Relaxing on the Red Sea: Leaving Luxor, we drive to the coast and just relax at the quiet and charming resort of Quseir on the coast. We plan to snorkel over the famous coral reef and leave plenty of time to swim or just unwind.

Temples of Middle Egypt
16 days from Cairo $790-$870 land only.
An in depth look at some of the most extraordinary examples of man's achievements over thousands of years. We include visits to Memphis and Saqqara (almost six thousand years old), as well as admire the great tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the exquisite bas-reliefs in Abydos and superb carvings at Edfu.

In the Land of the Pharaohs: Cairo is a fascinating mixture of narrow alleys with enticing souks, and a hectic modern city- the largest in Africa. We spend time in the excellent Egyptian museum and at the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, before heading south to Luxor in Upper Egypt. Here we visit the tombs of the Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings and also the amazing temple of Karnak. A train ride brings us to Aswan, where there's the chance to see the magnificent monumental sculptures of Ramses II at Abu Simbel.

Cruise from Aswan to Luxor: Next we board our riverboat to travel quietly down river back to Luxor. En route we'll stop at Kom Ombo temple, dedicated to the crocodile god, as well as Edfu, dedicated to the falcon headed god, Horus. Arriving back in Luxor, the time is left free to visit the Valley of the Queens, take a balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings, or ramble the colorful soukes.

Traveling along the Nile Valley: Heading north, we follow the green and fertile Nile Valley- the breadbasket of Egyptian civilization for thousands of years. Our journey affords a unique insight into rural Egyptian life today; plus we have the chance to see less well known sites from antiquity like Abydos, with its inspiring and brilliantly colored bas-reliefs. We pause at the rock tombs at Beni Hassan and also the pyramid at Maidum, before reaching the huge oasis at El Fayyum. En route to Cairo, we'll visit Memphis and wonder at Egypt's oldest known pyramids at Saqqara.

Nile & Siwa Oasis
16 days from Cairo $750-$780 land only.
Siwa Oasis, on the edge of Egypt's Great Sand Sea, exerts a magnetic pull. Alexander the Great marched here and was declared a god. Cleopatra bathed in the fresh springs, which supply the magical oasis; yet all around is wilderness. Experience the treasures of ancient Egypt before ending your journey at this wonderful site.

Great Treasures: After visiting the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza we'll head south to Luxor. Our sightseeing includes a donkey trek to the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple. From Aswan there's the chance to visit Abu Simbel or ride a camel to St Simeon's monastery.

Nile Cruise- Luxor to Aswan: Boarding our Nile riverboat, we make a leisurely 3-day cruise back to Luxor, stopping to admire sacred sites like the Temple of Horus at Edfu and Kom Ombo. We take the train along the banks of the Nile back to Cairo and then strike west to the desert.

Exploring Siwa Oasis: We explore cosmopolitan Alexandria and pause to visit the famous battlefields of El Alamein. Then drive inland through a barren wilderness heading for the fabled oasis of Siwa. The stark, empty landscape gives way to a huge oasis of one hundred thousand palms, watered by numerous springs. Like Alexander before us, we'll visit the Temple of the Oracle, and several other historical sites. We'll also enjoy a full day safari by 4-wheel drive vehicle into the Great Sand Sea on the edge of the encroaching Sahara desert.