Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Africa. the continent where human beings first came into existence, Customs, traditions & ancient rites tie Africans to generations & ancestors past and to the collective memory of myriad people. There are time-honored ceremonies, music that dates back to the days of Africa's golden empires & masks that tell stories of spirit worlds never lost. In many rural areas, it can feel as though the modern world might never have happened and there is nowhere like it on the planet for wildlife, wild lands & rich traditions that endure. Welcome to Old Africa & prepare to fall in love.

And Middle East is a grand epic, a cradle of civilisations & a beautiful, complicated land that is home to some of the planet's most hospitable people. History Writ Large – it is a story written on the stones that litter the region, from the flagstones of old Roman roads to the building blocks of ancient Egypt & the delicately carved Tombs & Temples from Petra to Persepolis. This is where humankind first built cities & learned to write and it was from here that Judaism, Christianity & Islam all arose. Wherever you find yourself, the past is always the ‘present’ because here, perhaps more than anywhere else on earth, history is the heart & soul of the land.

Welcome to   mystical   Egypt - with its mighty Nile & magnificent monuments, the beguiling desert & lush delta, with its long past & welcoming, story-loving people. With sand-covered Tombs, austere Pyramids & towering Pharaonic Temples, Egypt brings out the ‘student’ in all guests as they explore the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, where Tutankhamun’s Tomb was unearthed & see the glittering finds in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. And you never know - your donkey might stumble across yet another find, for that is the way many previous discoveries were made.

Arrive in the ‘eternal’ city of Cairo set on the Nile River. Romantically known as the City of a Thousand Minarets, the Egyptian capital is a place of extremes, filled with ancient landmarks, snarling traffic, ornate mosques, & glittering modern skyscrapers.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Cairo International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative (holding a placard with your Name), who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in and provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next few days.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the day free to relax or for optional activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make the arrangements).

Monumental History| Artistic Treasures| Living Life

Cairo has been the largest city in Africa & the Middle East ever since the Mongols wasted imperial Baghdad in 1258.

Filled with sights, sounds & smells, many visitors find Cairo's frenetic energy overwhelming; but for those with a sense of humor & a certain amount of patience, it harbors a treasure trove of experiences that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Cairo’s treasures abound, from ancient wonders such as the world’s oldest Pyramid to the earliest Coptic Christian monuments in the Old Town, to bustling Islamic Cairo.

From above, the distorted roar of the Muezzins' call echoes out from duelling minarets. Below, car horns bellow tuneless symphonies amid avenues of faded 19^th century grandeur while donkey carts rattle down dusty lanes lined with colossal Fatimid & Mamluk monuments.

As Egypt has been a prize for conquerors from Alexander the Great to Rommel, so Cairo has been a fulcrum of power in the Arab world from the Crusades unto the present day. Although a relatively modern capital (by Egyptian standards, at least), the city's history is linked to that of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt's Old Kingdom, dating back more than 2,000 years.

Cairo itself was founded in 969 AD to serve as the new capital of the Fatimid dynasty, eventually incorporating the older capitals of Fustat, al-Askar, & al-Qatta'i. During the 12^th century, the Fatimid dynasty fell to Saladin, the first Sultan of Egypt.

Over the following centuries, Cairo's rulership passed from the Sultans to the Mamluks, followed by the Ottomans, the French & the British. Following a period of massive expansion in the first half of the 19^th century, Cairo's residents revolted against the British in 1952 & successfully regained the city's independence.

Cairo is a vast city whose boundaries are difficult to define. More than 22 million people call the chaotic, exotic, smelly, dusty & also beautiful city, home. Many of its neighborhoods (including satellite Nasr City with its shiny shopping malls & embassy enclave Maadi) are technically outside the city limits.

The main tourist neighborhoods include Downtown, Islamic Cairo & Coptic Cairo, while affluent Heliopolis & the island of Zamalek are both known for their restaurants, nightlife & upmarket hotels.

At the heart of the chaotic Downtown designed in the mid-19^th century by a team of European architects, is the modern political landmark like Tahrir Square & the vast Egyptian Museum, a trove of antiquities including royal Mummies & gilded King Tutankhamun artifacts. Nearby, Giza is the site of the iconic Pyramids & Great Sphinx, dating to the 26^th century BC. In Gezira Island’s leafy Zamalek district, 187 metre Cairo Tower affords panoramic city views.

Dating back to the 6^th century BC, the oldest neighborhood is Coptic Cairo, the site of the Roman settlement of Babylon, famous for its historic Christian monuments. Coptic Churches, huge medieval Gates & Bazaars selling everything from motorbike parts to perfumes.

Perhaps the most interesting section is medieval (Islamic) Cairo, a warren of streets just bustling with life. Islamic Cairo represents the part of the city built by its Fatimid founders. It is a labyrinthine maze of Mosques, Souks & breathtakingly beautiful Islamic monuments, all of which echo to the sound of countless Muezzins calling the faithful to prayer. The Ulema of its 1000year old Al-Azhar Mosque (for centuries the foremost centre of Islamic intellectual life) remains the ultimate religious authority for millions of Sunni Muslims, from Jakarta to Birmingham.

Wherever Arabic is spoken, Cairo's cultural magnetism is felt. Your nerves will jangle, your snot will run black from the smog & touts will hound you at every turn. Every strand of Egyptian society knits & unravels in this febrile megalopolis, acknowledged as Umm Dunya or "Mother of the World" by medieval Arabs, & as Great Cairo by 19^th century Europeans.

Overnight.   

Morning, meet the Egyptologist Tour-guide at 08:00 am & proceed for a full day 8 hour excursion to visit the Pyramids.

Drive to Giza Plateau - best known as that part of Cairo closest to the world-famous Pyramids, situated high on the desert plateau immediately to the west of the urban district.

The 3 main Pyramids at Giza - Cheops, Chephren & Mykerinos. are the focal point of the Giza necropolis, or cemetery, that served the elite of the Old Kingdom capital of Egypt at nearby Memphis during the mid to late 4^th Dynasty (around 3^rd millennium BCE). 3 Pharaohs were buried here in turn - Khufu, Khafre & Menkaure - their astounding burials attracted a number of surrounding, associated, burials of their queens, family members & nobility.

One of the premier attractions of Egypt, if not the world, the Pyramids of Giza represent the archetypal pyramid structures of ancient Egyptian civilisation, some of the most famous manmade objects in the world, & together with the Great Sphinx - the legendary guardian that stands by the huge funeral complex with its lion body & the head of King Chephren, at the base of the Giza plateau - are the iconic image of Egypt & whose grandeur remains unsurpassed more than 4,000 years after they were erected.

Marvel at the famous Pyramids & get lots of photos as the Tour-guide explains how these monumental Tombs were built in around 2,500 BC for the 3 Pharaohs.

You have some free time to explore inside one of the Pyramids independently (optional - additional cost & the Tour-guide is not permitted inside). You can also enjoy a camel ride here (optional - additional cost) & absorb the sweeping views over central Cairo. 

Visit the Valley Temple where the Priests mummified the body of King Chephren owner of the 2^nd Pyramid at Giza Plateau.

Although most people associate Egypt with the Pyramids of Giza, there are known to be at least 118 ancient Pyramids scattered around the country, with more being discovered every few years or so. The majority of these monuments are spread out along the desert between the Giza Plateau & the semi-oasis of Al-Fayoum (2 belonging to Kings & 6 to Queens).

There are also a number of pyramids in & around Dashur that are important because they show the evolution, including the failures & the first success of the pyramid builders, as they tried to build the first true, smooth sided pyramid. Other later Pyramids are less spectacular, sometimes made of mudbrick & therefore not as well preserved today, but still important, because they are the first to be decorated with inscriptions & various scenes. For example, the ruined Pyramids of Unas at Sakkara was the first one that we know of to be inscribed with the 128 magical spells of the Pyramid text.

In between, break for lunch & if you want, briefly visit a papyrus institute to see the ancient craft of papyrus painting in action. Watch the artisans at work & perhaps, buy some of the delicate artworks & contribute to local well-being.

If time (& Tour-guide) permits, you might want to take the opportunity for an Optional (direct payment) visit to the Solar Boat Museum, home to the reconstructed funeral barge of Khufu, the pharaoh for whom the largest Giza pyramid was built. Gaze in awe at the wooden boat, and learn how its remnants were discovered & reassembled by archaeologists.


Continue to Memphis, Egypt’s ancient capital & administrative center until around 2,200 BC. 

Memphis is the English name for the present-day site of one of the great ancient capital cities of Egypt, located in & around several villages near the modern capital of Cairo & first established towards the end of the 4^th millennium BCE by the Pharaoh Narmer, at the time of his Unification of Upper Egypt & Lower Egypt.

Memphis was the chief cult city of the Egyptian god of wisdom & craftsmanship, Ptah. Although little remains of their achievements today, having been ravaged by the depredations of time, the flood plain environment & the cannibalising of its stone for the building of medieval Cairo, the Pharaohs & priests of Ptah once endowed the city with vast Temple complexes & built their cemeteries on the desert hills adjoining it to the east and (especially!) to the west. A center of power for over 3,000 years, this aeons-old city is believed to have been purpose-built & was characterized by majestic Temples & Palaces.

It remained the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom period, at the time when the great Pyramids were being built. Central power returned to the city when the New Kingdom Pharaohs made it once again Egypt's northern & main administrative capital, alongside the religious & ceremonial capital at Luxor in the south.

Although very little remains to be seen on the surface, Memphis features a great Sculpture Museum & allows an evocative insight into both ancient greatness (its transitory nature!) and modern Egyptian rural life. Also, the main ancient necropolis of the city, located nearby on the desert plateau at Saqqara, is worth a visit.

Explore the city’s last remaining vestiges around the villages of Dahshur & Sakkara, and visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed outdoor open-air Museum that houses broken statues, carvings & columns found at the site. Sakkara was also a vast, ancient burial ground which served as the necropolis for the inhabitants of Memphis.

Get fascinating insights into ancient Egypt from your knowledgeable Tour-guide & learn about its heyday in the 3^rd & 2^nd centuries BC, as you immerse yourself in ancient Egypt at this fascinating yet crowd-free site (Memphis attracts fewer visitors than those in Giza, so you can admire in quiet surroundings).

Marvel at the prize exhibit – a spectacularly huge, fallen statue of Ramses II that once stood in the city. See the Alabaster Sphinx which still remains.

Sakkara features numerous Pyramids, including the world-famous Step Pyramid of Djoser - the world's oldest free standing stone structure, sometimes referred to as the Step Tomb due to its rectangular base, as well as a number of mastabas (Arabic word meaning 'bench'), built for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser by his vizier, Imhotep. Constructed in around 2,650 BC, it is considered an important part in the process of the Pyramid evolution.

Admire the incredible, Step Pyramid of Djoser as you learn about the main features of this flat-topped, 4,600 year old Pyramid & how it was built. For example, it is an extremely important as the first Pyramid built in Egypt, though it is not a true, smooth sided one. There are also a number of other Pyramids in & around Dashur that are important because they show the evolution, including the failures & the first success of the Pyramid builders, as they tried to build the first true, smooth sided Pyramid.

Later Pyramids are less spectacular, sometimes made of mudbrick & therefore not as well preserved today, but still important, because they are the first to be decorated with inscriptions & various scenes. For example, the ruined Pyramids of Unas at Sakkara was the first one that we know of to be inscribed with the 128 magical spells of the Pyramid text.

Another 16 Egyptian Kings built Pyramids at Sakkara, which are now in various states of preservation or dilapidation. High officials added private funeral monuments to this necropolis during the entire Pharaonic period & it remained an important complex for non-royal burials & cult ceremonies for more than 3,000 years, well into Ptolemaic & Roman times.

Finally, drive back to the hotel in Cairo.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or for optional exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.  B L 

Early morning, depart for Baharya Oasis.

Bahariya, one of the more fetching of the desert circuit Oasis is situated in a depression covering some 2000 sq km divided between 4 villages, the largest of which is Bawiti.

Famous for its dates, wine & hot springs, much of the Oasis floor is covered by sprawling shady date palms & speckled with dozens of natural springs, which beg to be plunged into. It is a peaceful & picturesque setting amidst the surrounding landscape of rocky, sandy mesas - a grand introduction to the barren landscape & beauty Western Desert.

The conical hills that lie strewn around the valley floor may have once formed islands in the lake that covered the area during prehistoric times. During the Pharaonic era, the Oasis was a centre of agriculture, producing wine sold in the Nile Valley & as far away as Rome. Its strategic location on the Libya–Nile Valley caravan routes ensured it prospered throughout later ages.

Over time, the Bahariya Oasis has had a number of different names. It has been called the Northern Oasis, the Little Oasis, Zeszes, Oassis Parva & especially during the Christian era, the Oasis of al-Bahnasa, along with various other names.

At one time, the Oasis, as well as most of the rest of what is today referred to as the Western (or Libyan) Desert, was the floor of an immense ocean. Yet from about 3000 BC until the present, almost no rainfall graces this part of the world, so groundwater is its life blood.

In recent years, stunning archaeological finds, such as that of the Golden Mummies and easy access to the White & Black Deserts have made Bahariya a popular spot for guests. Remains of stone tools found in the Oasis, is evidence of the existence of settlements in the area as early as the Paleolithic Period. In fact, we are told that anyone with a trained eye, walking about the Oasis, can spot prehistoric stone knives & and axes simply lying upon the surface of the sand.

The people of the Oasis, or the Waḥati (meaning "of the oasis" in Arabic), are the descendants of the ancient Bedouin tribes from Libya & the north coast and other people from the Nile Valley who came to settle here. The majority of Waḥati are Muslims. There are some mosques in Bahariya & the nature of social settings in the Oasis is highly influenced by Islam.

Traditional music is very important to the Waḥatis. Flutes, drums & the simsimeyya (a harp-like instrument) are played at social gatherings, particularly at weddings. Traditional songs sung in rural style are passed down from generation to generation & new songs are invented as well. Music from Cairo, the greater Middle East & other parts of the world are now easily accessible to the people here.

On arrival after a roughly 4 hour drive, enjoy lunch at a local traditional restaurant.

Then, proceed to Check-in at a basic but comfortable hotel. 

Later in the afternoon at 02.00 pm, meet the Tour-guide & embark on a tour of the Oasis, which will include a visit to the English Mountain’ to view the hilltop remains of a British World War I outpost – a fort known as English House.

Explore the village of Bawiti - Bahriya’s capital, taking in the lush palm groves set against the immense dunes. Visit the Mummy Museum where numerous excavated well-preserved Greco-Roman mummies are displayed.

See the Black Mountain, the hot springs at Bir Al Matar & Bir El Ghaba and explore some Greek & Roman tombs including the remains of Tomb of Bannantiu - an elaborately painted tomb of an ancient merchant.

Come back to the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure (we would be happy to offer suggestions) Perhaps, you might want to avail the chance to taking a dip in one of the hot springs (optional - extra payment).

Overnight.   B L D 

Morning around 07.00 am, board 4x4 Jeeps with a local Bedouin driver at the wheel & embark on a 2 Day Safari which will take you out into the surrounding area to see the unique regions known at the Black & White Deserts - an exciting adventure experience.

Drive to the Black Desert, with its black-topped volcanic hills, enroute passing by the Salt Lake. View the natural hot spring in the Valley of El Haize. 

Stop at the huge golden Sand Dunes & the Crystal Mountain - a rocky outcrop consisting of glittering quartz crystals that lie strewn across the sand. At the foot of the hill a natural rock arch stands defying gravity.

After a lunch stop in a small Bedouin village, drive on into the White Desert.

Drive through the huge, rounded rocks of the Agabat Valley, and head into the White Desert National Park with its white mica ground cover and spectacular, brilliant white rocks formations curiously eroded by wind into spires, mushrooms, animals & other bizarre shapes.

Admire the ghostly shapes, and continue on to designated Campsite in the El Haize. And, along the way, collect wood for the campfire.

On arrival, help the Tour-guide to prepare the meal & pitch the tents.

And then you can relax, reflect on the stunning desert scenery you have seen today and appreciate the silence & bright starry night sky that can only be found in such a vast uninhabited place.

Enjoy a desert sunset & barbecue dinner under the stars before snuggling into your sleeping bag on mattresses in your tent.

Absorb the desert silence during breakfast.

Break camp & depart in the Jeeps for the Oasis of Farafra, where we take a short tour & enjoy a Bedouin lunch.

This is the smallest & most peaceful of the Western Desert oasis & many of the inhabitants are Bedouins who adhere to some of their ancient traditions. You will see small mud-brick houses in the old area of town, many painted with verses of the Koran & paintings depicting their journeys to Mecca.

Farafra has become famous for the sand paintings, & sculptures of the world renowned local artist, Badr Abd El Moghny. whose Museum here is a combination between a house & a Museum to display his work. He is a staunch opponent of the Western oriented construction in Egypt & is single-handedly trying to ensure that his native village retains its authentic appearance. 

He built a small house which functions as a Gallery showcasing the sand paintings & ceramics of the desert & nature of life at Farafra Oasis, besides many other sculptures of smaller size. The Gallery also sells these sculptures, which make for authentic souvenirs.

The walls of the building are decorated with images of camels, palm trees & nomads. His distinctive style of painting & sculpture depicting traditional oasis life, in mud, stone & sand has won him lots of foreign admirers & he has exhibited to great acclaim in Europe in the early 1990s & later in Cairo. Great way to learn about how the oasis people live while enjoying some lovely works of art.

The Desert Safari concludes in Farafra.

You will transfer to an air-conditioned vehicle & continue on the highway to Dakhla Oasis, driving through unoccupied oasis & open areas of sand that in places extend over the road. Beyond, the sand dunes increase in size.  

As you come upon Dakhla, the primary colours explode. A million shades of pink in the cliffs meld with bright golden sand dunes, wide blue sky & the lushest fields in all the oasis.

Known as the pink oasis, Dakhla is a magical place that has managed to dodge the extreme urbanization of nearby Kharga. The people are among the friendliest & most sincere in all of Egypt. The guests are welcomed with warm hospitality as they openly share their traditional way of life that has remained much unchanged for centuries.

With the capital Mut, at the centre, there are some notable ancient sights. The old town of Al Qasr is incredibly picturesque, with a well-preserved mud-brick maze of narrow streets & houses, some of which are still occupied, surrounded by green cultivation & rolling dunes.

On arrival, immediately proceed for a short tour including stops at Mut, Deir al Haggar. & Al Qasr.

Deir El-Hagar is a small sandstone Temple built during Nero's reign (AD 54-68) to honour the triad of Thebian gods: Amun Ra', Mut & Khonsu. The site, surrounded by a wall intended to deflect drifting sand, is well preserved - due, ironically, to being enveloped by sand for much of its recent history.

Drive on to the fortified Islamic town of Al Qasr, built in the 12^th century probably on the remains of a Roman era settlement by the Ayyubid kings of Egypt, is Dakhla's fortified medieval capital. Wandering around the rambling labyrinth of this enchanting ancient town gives a taste of the timelessness of oasis life.

The narrow alleys of the old quarter, covered as protection from the sand & sun, contain constant reminders of the antiquity of the area. Ancient wooden lintels at doorways are decorated with carved inscriptions from the Koran & date back to AD 1519. There are still a few inhabited houses (residents will urge you inside for a glass of shai or tamarind), but newcomers are no longer permitted to settle in the old buildings.

A guard will greet you only if you enter via the main street, signed from the main highway (or to avoid being accompanied, enter via one of the smaller alleys found east or west of the centre) and expect to give a bit of baksheesh.

In return, he will allow you inside the house of Abu Nafri & direct you to the beautifully restored Ayyubid madrasa, which served as both a school of sharia'a (Islamic law) & a Courtroom. Look for the holding cells (separate for men & women) & more permanent jail inside, and the recesses for lamps & books. You can climb to the roof for a spectacular view but you have to be very careful.

If you want, you may also visit The Nasr El-Din mosque, marked by a 21m high 3 storey minaret that doubled as a lookout tower, rebuilt in the 19^th century. The serene Tomb of Sheikh Nasr El-Din is inside the old Mosque, decorated with verses from the Koran around the interior in deep red paint.

It is worth visiting the small but informative Ethnographic Museum here, founded by Alia Hussein, a premier anthropologist of the Oasis. Labelled photographs & crafts from all the oasis are on display. Also make sure that you see the ancient corn mill comprising of acacia wood & a huge palm truck, that would have been turned by an ox and the olive oil press where the scent of olives still lingers.

There is also an ancient steel mill still in use & a nearby pottery factory where you can witness a family making mud bricks & zirs (water-coolers) in the same manner they have for centuries.

The tour concludes & you are transferred to the hotel & Check-in.

Balance of the day at leisure to relax or for independent exploration.

Overnight.   B L D   

Early morning, leave for Kharga Oasis, visiting the ruins at Qasr al Labeka enroute.

The Kharga Oasis, located in the Western Desert, is the southernmost of Egypt's five western oasis. "El Kharga" is also the name of a major town located in the oasis, the capital of New Valley Governorate.

The Oasis, which was known as the 'Southern Oasis' to the ancient Egyptians, is the largest of the Oasis in the Libyan desert of Egypt. Lying in a 220 km x 40 km depression, Al-Kharga Oasis was at the crossroads of vital desert trade routes, including the famous Darb al-Arba’een & this influential location brought it great prosperity. With the arrival of the Romans, wells were dug, crops cultivated & fortresses built to protect caravan routes. Even as late as the 1890s, British forces were using lookout towers here to safeguard the ‘back door’ into Egypt.

As the closest of the Oasis to the Nile Valley, Al-Kharga used to have the unenviable role as a place of banishment for mischievous Nile Valley citizens. Its remote location, punishing summer heat & destructive winds, meant that the oasis was synonymous with misery & exile.

Although framed by the Oasis, there is no oasis feeling to it; unlike all other Oasis in this part of Egypt. It is the most modernized of the country’s western Oasis. The main town is highly functional with all modern facilities & virtually nothing is left of old architecture.

There is extensive thorn palm, acacia, buffalo thorn & jujube growth in the oasis surrounding the modern town of Kharga. Many remnant wildlife species inhabit this region.

Enroute, stop at Qasr El Labeka, an ancient Roman built fortress dating back to the 5^th century AD, one of the many ancient sites located in the Kharga Oasis.

The fortress was built on an escarpment, so it stands high above the old caravan road. Most of the walls are still standing, adding to the imposing air. A great deal of the fortress is still preserved & you will even get to see the ancient aqueduct system that was used to transport water from the river into the fortress. Very few of these aqueducts have survived the test of time. While this one is filled with silt, it is still preserved enough to give you a real glimpse into historic culture.

There are also 2 surviving Temples beside Qasr El Labeka but the history of these temples remains unknown. Visitors will also find a few Greco-Roman Tombs are on-site as well which are definitely worth exploring, if time permits.

Continue driving & reach Kharga by afternoon. Check-in at the hotel & relax for a bit.

Later in the afternoon, meet the Tour-guide & proceed for a tour around Kharga.

While Egypt's Eastern Desert is very famous for its several well-known Monasteries, including that of Saint Anthony & Saint Paul, Egypt's Western Oasis served both as a remote haven for early Christians & Kharga specifically, as a place where Christian church leaders were sometimes banished when their views were considered to be unacceptable. There were a number of important, early Christian leaders who were banished to the Kharga Oasis, especially during the 4^th & 5^th centuries, for a period of years. Saint Athanasius was sent to the Oasis, but it was probably Nestorius who made the largest impact within the local Christian community. However, though tradition links the local Christians to Nestorius, it is likely that it was more of an isolated enclave of Christians that included both Orthodox & many forms of heteordox Christians.

Today, we may find some of Egypt's earliest Christian monuments in the remote regions, and because of the dry climate, often in a decent state of preservation.

One of them is the Necropolis of Al-Bagawat - one of the earliest surviving & best-preserved Christian cemeteries in the world. It is built on the site of an earlier Egyptian necropolis, with most of the 263 mud-brick chapel-tombs appearing to date from the 4^th to 6^th centuries AD. Some have interiors decorated with vivid murals of biblical scenes & boast ornate facades.

The Chapel of Peace has figures of the Apostles on the squinches of the domes, just visible through Greek graffiti. The Chapel of the Exodus, one of the oldest Tombs, has the best-preserved paintings, including the Old Testament story of Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, which is visible through some 9^th century graffiti. Another large family Tomb (No 25) has a mural of Abraham sacrificing Isaac & the smaller Chapel of the Grapes (Anaeed al-Ainab) is named after the images of grapevines that cover the walls.

From here, you will move to the nearby Temple of Hibis

The town of Hebet (meaning ‘the Plough’, now corrupted into Hibis) was the capital of the Oasis in antiquity, but all that remains today is the well-preserved limestone Temple of Hibis, built as a dedication to the Theban triad, consisting of the gods Amon of Hibis (the local version of the god, who was sometimes given solar powers, becoming Amun-Ra), Mut & Khonso.

Once sitting on the edge of a sacred lake, the Temple dating from 522 BC, is the largest & best preserved ancient Egyptian temple in the Kharga Oasis, as well as the only structure in Egypt dating to the Saite-Persian period which has come down to modern times in relatively good condition. Decorations & a colonnade were added over the following 300 years. The temple has suffered structural problems in recent years, which have been blamed on fluctuations in the water table caused by farming and irrigation.

It was first excavated from the sands in 1910 by the Metropolitan Museum of New York, under the direction of Herbert Winlock. Look for reliefs in the hypostyle hall showing the god Seth battling with the evil serpent Apophis. There is also an avenue of Sphinxes, a Court & an inner Sanctuary.

Finally, visit the Kharga Museum to view Christian artifacts, displayed in 3 sections.  These include Coptic textiles on three panels dated from the 7^th to 9^th centuries & icons from the 18^th century in wood, all of which are on loan from the Coptic Museum in Cairo. There are also a section of Coptic Christian books.

Return to the hotel.

Balance of the day free to relax or to explore on your own.

Overnight.   B L D 

Early morning, depart for Luxor. 

Arrive by afternoon & Check-in at the hotel.

Luxor built on & around the ancient site of Thebes, is one of Egypt's great attractions. It is also commonly known as the world's largest open air museum, filled with awe inspiring monuments of ancient civilization as well as some of the best preserved.

Testaments to a desire for immortality, built for eternity in sandstone and granite, the Temples, Tombs & Palaces still stand, surrounded by souks and luxury hotels. On the east bank of the Nile, in the City of the Living, Luxor & Karnak Temples greet the sunrise. The sunset on the west bank throws shadows through the City of the Dead - the Tombs of the Nobles, the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut's Temple.

Visitors have been coming here since the Greco-Roman times. Today, you can walk through history: past statues with the heads of gods & animals, beneath carved lotus buds & papyrus.

A little later, meet the Tour-guide & proceed to explore the incredible Temple of Karnak, the construction & development of which spanned the Middle Kingdom to Ptolemaic times. The Temple grew from the contributions of nearly 30 pharaohs, making this magnificent structure the largest ancient religious site in the world, covering about 200 acres.

The Temple complex built over 2,000 years was dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, & Khonsu. This derelict place is still capable of overshadowing many wonders of the modern world and in its day must have been awe-inspiring.

For the largely uneducated ancient Egyptian population, this could only have been the place of the gods. The area of the sacred enclosure of Amun alone is 61 acres & could hold ten average European cathedrals. The great temple at the heart of Karnak is so big that St Peter’s, Milan & Notre Dame Cathedrals would fit within its walls.

The great Temple was once the religious centre of Thebes & Upper Egypt. It was linked to Luxor by an extensive avenue, lined with sphinxes & the whole complex was in turn linked to the Nile via a canal through which moved the sacred boats of the god Amun. Entering through a smaller sphinx-lined avenue, built by Ramesses II, you come to the immense pylon entrance.

Still the largest room of any religious building in the world, the remarkable Hypostyle Hall has 134 towering column, each carved with scenes of gods & pharaohs, and with hieroglyphic inscriptions adorning the walls, expertly aligned over an area of 50,000 square feet.

Inside the huge Courtyard are three chapels dedicated to the gods Amun, Mut & Khous In addition to the main sanctuary there are several smaller temples and a vast sacred lake (423 x 252 feet). The sacred barges of the Theban Triad once floated on the lake during the annual Opet festival. The lake was surrounded by storerooms and living quarters for the priests, along with an aviary for aquatic birds.

3 km to the south of Karnak in the centre of town, the Temple of Luxor was built by Amenophis III & later enlarged by Ramses II. The partially damaged statues inside all represent Ramses II, and it was he who built the colonnaded forecourt. The Colonnade and Court of Amenophis III are perhaps the most striking parts of the temple.

Then, move to the East Bank of the Nile to explore Luxor Temple - one of the best preserved of all of the ancient monuments with large amounts of the structure, statuary & relief carvings still intact.

The Temple is dedicated to Amon, king of the gods, his consort Mut & their son Khonsu and was once the focus of one of the most important religious festivals in ancient Egypt - the annual Opet Festival. During this festival the cult statues of Amun, Mut & Khonsu would travel from Karnak to Luxor & as a result, the Temple is not aligned to the river (as is more usual) but to the Temple complex at Karnak.

It is also said that the Temple was in fact dedicated to the royal Ka, which was symbolically joined to the living king during the Opet festival. Thus, the Luxor Temple was a shrine of the King's cult & not just for the Theban god Amon & his family. It may have been where many of the Kings of Egypt were crowned in reality or conceptually (as in the case of Alexander the Great who claimed he was crowned at Luxor).

Using sandstone blocks from Nubia, construction of the Temple was begun by the Pharaoh Amenhotep III (1390-52 BC) & gradually expanded by Tutankhamen (1336-27 BC) & Horemheb (1323-1295 BC) & Rameses II (1279-13 BC). The Temple complex is surrounded by mud-brick walls, symbolic of the separation between the world & the sacred realm of the gods.

The entrance to the Temple known as the first pylon, was built by Ramesses II & was decorated with scenes of his military expeditions, in particular his triumph at the battle of Kadesh.

Two red granite obelisks originally stood in front of the first pylon at the rear of the forecourt, but only one, more than 25 meters high, now remains. The other was removed to Paris where it now stands in the center of the Place de la Concorde. 6 colossal statues of Ramesses II, 2 of them seated, flanked the entrance, though today only the 2 seated ones have survived. The one to the east was known as “Ruler of the 2 Lands”.

To the rear of the Temple are chapels built by Amenhotep III of the 18^th Dynasty & Alexander. During the Roman era, the temple & its surroundings were a legionary fortress & the home of the Roman governor in the area. Inside the courtyard of Ramses lies the Mosque of Abu el-Haggag which was built over a portion of the temple in the 19^th century AD.

Return to the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure (Optional: on direct payment - ride in a horse-drawn caleche or sail in a felucca or take a sunset cruise or see the city from a hot-air balloon).

Overnight.   B

Get ready to meet the Tour-guide at 07.00 am to continue your 3 hour sightseeing.

Visit the West Bank to see the Valley of the Kings & Queens where you will see the Necropolis of Thebes, the burial grounds of the great pharaohs of the New Kingdom.

The magnificent monuments of ancient Thebes stand proudly near the banks of the Nile around the modern city of Luxor. Today, Thebes has some of the finest monuments & most precious relics of ancient Egypt, including the extraordinary collections of art & artefacts in the tombs of the kings & queens, notably that of the young pharaoh Tutankhamun.

They include the Temples of Luxor & Karnak within the city (which you saw yesterday), the Colossi of Memnon, the Temples of Deir al-Bahri & Medinat Habu and the concealed Tombs of the Valleys of the Kings & Queens on the west bank.

Marvel at one of the most characteristic of Egyptian temples, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt's first female pharaoh at El-Deir El Bahari situated in a dramatic setting with a limestone backdrop.

Continue on to see the Colossi of Memnon.

When it comes to the task of reflecting the magnificence of the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, Colossi of Memnon does just that. Known to the locals as es-Salamat or el-Colossat, the site holds 2 colossal stone figures of the Pharaoh seated on his throne with his hands on his knees & a straight gaze eastwards - 20 metres high with 2 metres long & 1 metre thick feet cut out of single blocks of quartzite sandstone from el Gabal el-Ahmar - erected in 1350 BC, to act as guards to a Theban necropolis along the Nile River, when he was considered as a living god on earth.

One of the figures aptly called the Northern statue has a smaller figure on the side resembling the Pharaoh’s mother Mutemwia. The Southern statue has smaller figures of Tiy, Pharaoh’s wife & one of his daughters. On the sides of the sculpture are depictions of Nile gods representing Upper & Lower Egypt.

Aside from the huge statues, the site also has remaining artifacts. There are 2 headless lion bodied sphinxes and a crocodile tailed sphinx. With the efforts to preserve the remaining artifacts, may the pieces be available to tourists of the future generations.

Return to the hotel & Check-out by 12:00 noon (we will request the hotel to allow you to use the hotel facilities & leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

Balance of the day free to relax or for optional exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Late evening, you will then be met by a Journeys Rep who will transfer you to the Luxor Station to board your Sleeper Train for Cairo.

Despite being a tourist class train, facilities aboard the overnight train, are basic. Accommodation is in two-berth cabins which convert to bunk beds. All bedding is provided on board & western-style toilets are located in each carriage. Your bags will be stored in your cabin, where airline-style dinner & breakfast will be served.

Overnight on board. B D 

On arrival at Cairo Ramses Station in the morning, you will be welcomed by a Journeys Driver / Rep  who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel & & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next day.

Please stand right outside of the Carriage exit. If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Station & make your own way to the hotel.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’ (failing, we will request the hotel to allow you to use the hotel facilities & leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

Once you freshen up at the hotel, meet the Tour-guide at 08:30 am, & proceed to the internationally renowned Museum of Egyptian Antiquities which features artifacts from the Pharaonic period. for a 3 hour experience.

Although the entire museum is filled with artifacts from as far back as the prehistoric period, the most renowned exhibit is, without a doubt, the collection of treasures once belonging to the reign of the boy pharaoh - King Tutankhamun - gold & jewelry which was enclosed in his tomb for over 3,500 years before it was discovered in the 1920s when the tomb was discovered. Don't miss the astonishing solid gold death mask & six gilded coffins.

The museum displays a rare collection of 5000 years of art which is considered the largest most precious collection of Egyptian art in the world.

Other highlights include the Amarna Room, devoted to Akhenaten; the Greco-Roman mummies; and the larger-than-life statue of Khafre, considered by many to be the museum's masterpiece.

From the Royal Mummy Room to a number of glittering galleries showcasing finery extracted from various ancient tombs, there is a ton to see. The Mummy Room, contains 27 royal mummies from pharaonic times, now displays 9 Mummies of the New Kingdom kings & queens. One of them is the newly discovered mummy of Queen Hatsheput

The extensive collection of over 165,000 items of ancient Egyptian antiquities, with a representative amount on display, the remainder in storerooms. Treasures include everyday objects, tombs, jewelry & mummies from the prehistoric Egyptian period through to the Roman era

Getting around to all 107 halls in one trip is tough, so you will want to choose a few subjects or exhibits that are most important to you.  With thousands of artifacts on show, the Museum can be overwhelming without guidance.

Knowing where to start can be daunting so step back in time as the Egyptologist Tour-guide helps you navigate & introduce you to the highlights of the Egyptian & Roman collections (if there’s anything you want to see more or less of, let your Tour-guide know).

View the star attraction - the Tutankhamun exhibits - admire his spectacular, solid gold death mask, coffins, chariots & other funerary riches.

See other pharaonic furnishings & items such as pharaonic sarcophagi & everyday objects, Roman-era funerary paintings & more, as your Tour-guide recounts their history.

If you wish, visit the Royal Mummies Room (optional - additional cost), another showpiece. Enter this climate-controlled room to view the mummies of Egyptian rulers such as Ramses II - builder of Luxor’s Karnak Temple.

After introducing you to the main attractions, your Tour-guide will give you free time to explore further on your own & meet him / her at the predetermined time / place.

Return to the hotel & Check-in.

Later in the afternoon, meet the Tour-guide again at 02.00 pm & proceed for a 4 hour ‘walking’ tour of the city.

A ‘walking’ tour of Islamic Cairo takes you from one of the remaining gates of the city, Bab el-Futuh, to Khan el-Khalili Bazaar for a few hours of browsing and bargaining among its bustling stalls. The two monumental gateways, Bab el-Futuh (Gate of Conquests) and Bab el-Nasr (Gate of Victory), mark the northern edge of Fatimid Cairo. Between the two lie the remains of the fortified wall which once encircled the city and which still gives the impression of invulnerability. Beside the Gate of Victory stands the El-Hakim Mosque, built during the first years following 1,000 AD. A place of worship for a mainly Indian Shiite sect, it was extensively restored with concrete and marble in 1980 losing much of its restrained beauty in the process

Discover Cairo's Islamic heritage, as you visit to the medieval Citadel of Salah el-Din, containing within its walls the Ottoman-style alabaster mosque of Mohammed Ali. Cairo, “City of a thousand minarets”, is not considered by Muslims to be as holy a city as Mecca, Medina or Jerusalem. Its streets and alleyways do however conceal treasures of Islamic art, many of which, although crumbling, offer a dazzling sight to anyone who knows how and where to look.

The Khan - el - Khalili Bazaar is the domain of shopkeepers & tourists. Jewellery, items made from copper, marquetry boxes, imitations of pharaonic objects, semi-precious stones, rugs, blown-glass dishes & other souvenirs are bought & sold in the shops grouped by trades along the narrow streets. It is a place to meander, bargain & lose one’s way…but not miss out on a cup of tea or karkade at the bazaar’s famous Cafe Fishawy.

You would also visit the Hanging Church,   the most famous Coptic Christian church in Cairo, as well as possibly the first built in Basilican style.

The Hanging (The Suspended) Church derives its name from its location above a gatehouse of the Roman fortress in the Old or Coptic Cairo area with its nave suspended above the passage. It was probably built during the patriarchate of Isaac (690-92), though an earlier church building may have existed elsewhere dating as earlier as the 3^rd or 4^th century.  The church is approached by 29 steps; early travelers to Cairo dubbed it "the Staircase Church." The entrance from the street is through iron gates under a pointed stone arch. The 19^th century facade with twin bell towers is then seen beyond a narrow courtyard decorated with modern art biblical designs.

Maybe the oldest existing synagogue in Cairo, the Ben Ezra Synagogue or El-Geniza.

The Synagogue is located right behind the Hanging Church & was originally a Christian church, which the Coptic Christians of Cairo had to sell to the Jews in 882 AD in order to pay the annual taxes imposed by the Muslim rulers of the time. The church was purchased by Abraham Ben Ezra, who came from Jerusalem during the reign of Ahmed Ibn Tulun, for 20,000 dinars. The Synagogue was a place of pilgrimage for North African Jews & the site of major festival celebrations.  Numerous restorations & renovations were made over the centuries, and the present building dates from 1892. It is a faithful reconstruction of the original, which had collapsed. During the reconstruction, a medieval Geniza (a hiding place for sacred books and worn-out Torah scrolls) was discovered, revealing thousands of original documents from the Middle Ages. Today, Ben Ezra Synagogue is a historical monument & the most-visited Jewish site in Cairo. Be prepared to pass through security in order to enter the synagogue.

The sightseeing concludes.

Return to the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or for optional exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.  B   

Early morning, depart Dahab.

Dahab is a small low-key, laid-back, low-rise town on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula, considered to be the 2^nd most famous city in Sinai, after the worldwide popular city of Sharm El Sheikh. Reeled in by its mellow ambience with Its vibrant, multicultural community made up of local Bedouins, Egyptians from the cities & expats, many independent travellers plan for a couple of nights here but instead end up staying for weeks. Locals reminisce fondly of the days when beach bums dossed in basic huts by the shore

Dahab means gold & the city was so named because of its golden sand beaches. In 1960s, it was briefly occupied by Israel. Formerly a Bedouin fishing village, after its startling transformation into a family-friendly town, it is now considered to be one of Egypt's most treasured diving destinations. The Dahab Bedouins of the Muzeina tribe, whose descendants arrived 800 years ago from the Saudi Peninsula, have a tradition of herding goats & fishing & growing / tending palm trees.

There are many reefs immediately adjacent to the waterfront hotels, so scuba diving & snorkeling are also very popular sports, especially considering the nearby Blue Hole. It is world-renowned for its windsurfing as reliable winds provide superb flat-water conditions inside Dahab's sand spit.

From vibrant corals & an abundance of sea life. the Red Sea’s best dive sites (also some of the deadliest) with near-perfect year-round water temperatures, favorable wind conditions & mild winters have thrived & are much safer & more organised now, thanks to better regulation of Operators. You can experience the world’s best diving for a fraction of the cost at other places.

The Dahab Lagoon, nicknamed ‘the blue lagoon,’ is the perfect place to learn to kiteboard or windsurf. Not only does the region boast of year-round warm water temperatures & an average of 280 days of wind over 4 Beaufort (the scale used for measuring wind speeds), there is an abundance of kiteboarding & windsurfing shops.

Bursting with activity, the year-round destination provides a stress-free seaside atmosphere where visitors can just sit back & enjoy the many shades of blue of its waters with a colorful boardwalk with its own very distinct vibe.

One of the main attractions of Dahab are the unique on-the-ground restaurants, a mixture of Hippie & Bedouin styles developed over several decades. Large cushions & low tables decorated with colorful cloths, are placed next to the sea. Most of these restaurants have fish stalls in front, where one can pick the fish of one's choice & have it prepared according to one's wishes.

On arrival in the city by afternoon, proceed to the more developed area of Dahab - Assalah with a distinctly bohemian feel, amidst a sprawling conglomeration of palm trees, shops, campgrounds, hotels, bars & restaurants that lie along the shore of Ghazala Bay.

Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or for optional exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.  B     

With its colourful corals & warm currents, Dahab has built a significant reputation as a diving & snorkelling destination. Assalah Bay in particular now has more dive centres. And it is scarcely possible to cross the street during the day without seeing a group of wetsuit clad frogmen.

Today, travel a short way out of Dahab, and go snorkelling at the famous Blue Hole - a diving location on east Sinai, on the coast of the Red Sea. Although an advanced site for scuba divers, the Blue Hole is suitable for snorkelers of all abilities & hosts some of the region’s most colourful underwater life. The Hole & the surrounding area have an abundance of coral & reef fish.

The Blue Hole is a submarine sinkhole, with a maximum depth within the hole of just over 100 metres. It is a hot spot for freediving because of the depth directly accessible from shore & the lack of current. The scuba divers & free divers that operate here are as interesting to watch as any of the fish, as they descend & then appear from the eerie depths. Being one of the most well-known sites in Sinai, the Blue hole is frequently crowded & so unsuitable for a quiet escape.

The blue hole has claimed the lives of a number of divers in recent years. Take the time visit their memorial plaques at the northern end of the beach.

Spend time relaxing & exploring the wonders of the Red Sea... The clear blue waters are home to myriad marine life including many varieties of colourful fish & corals. Food, drinks, souvenirs etc are available from anyone of the plethora of restaurants & shops that adorn the beach.

Return to the hotel by evening.

Balance of the day free for independent exploration.

Overnight.  B 

Full day at leisure to relax or for optional exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Full day at leisure to relax or for optional exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

Overnight.  B   

Very early in the morning, depart for Cairo.

Arrive by late afternoon & Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or for optional exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.  B   

Alas, like all good things, the wonderful experience comes to an end & it is time to say good-bye to the land of the Pharaohs.

Check-out of the hotel by 11:00 am (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the usage of the hotel facilities & leave the luggage at the Bell Desk, if you want to venture out). 

If your onward flight is later in the evening, you can go to the city & explore Cairo on your own (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements, if required).

Your nerves will jangle, your snot will run black from the smog & touts will hound you at every turn, but it is a small price to pay to tap into the energy of the place Egyptians call Umm Ad Dunya - the Mother of the World. Blow your nose, crack a joke & look through the dirt to see the city's true colours. If you love Cairo, it will definitely love you back & welcome you back.

.

“Travel is like knowledge. The more you see the more you know you have not seen” - Mark Hertsgaard

The iconic journey comes to an end and it is time to go home. In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & obtain your feedback about the arrangements for the tour & transfer you to Terminal? -  Cairo International Airport for the flight back home.  B

 .

  ***      End of Services      ***