20/01/2022
Cairo +Alexandria + Valley of the Whales + White Desert + Dahab + Saint Catharine 21 days/ 20 nights.
Day 1 - Arrival
Welcome to Egypt! Arrive to Cairo airport, where our representative will be waiting for you, with a sign showing your name. From the airport you will be transferred by a private car to your hotel. Over night in the hotel in Cairo.
Day2-PyramidsDayTrip
In the morning enjoy a visit to Sakkara. Here you have the chance to visit the Step Pyramid of Zoser, which is the first Pyramid built and it is the world's oldest stone structure. Later we drive to Memphis, the capital of the ancient kingdom and one of the most important cities throughout the history of ancient Egypt. Here we visit the mostly open-air Memphis Museum and see the fallen statue of Ramses II. In the afternoon we drive to Giza to visit the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren and Mycerinus, and see the enigmatic Sphinx: a pharaohs’ head with a lion’s body. Back to your hotel and over night in the hotel in Cairo.
Day 3 – Alexandria
In the morning transfer to Alexandria by private car. The name of the city dates back to its founder, the Macedonian leader Alexander the Great; who arrived to Egypt in 332 B.C. You will visit the following sights:
- Pompey's Pillar, one of the city's major landmarks, a 30 m high column and is a single cut from pink granite.
- Fort Qaitbay, a castle-like palace which was built in AD 1480 on the edge of the harbour and represents spectacular views.
- Catacombs, the largest roman cemetery in Egypt, consisting three layers tombs and chambers.
- Montazah Palace Garden, built on a large area, nicely decorated with lush palms and pines.
- The Bibliotheca of Alexandria, it was not only an important ancient library but also the centre of learning and scientific research for the ancient world and a destination for scholars from all over the Mediterranean and beyond. Late afternoon drive back to Cairo. Over night in the hotel.
Day 4 – DAY TOUR TO THE VALLEY OF THE WHALES & WADI RAYAN
Early morning pick up from your hotel. Drive to Wadi Rayan - a natural depression, located in the Western Desert, 42 meters below sea level. Visit the amazing waterfalls.
Continue to Wadi Hitan, also known as Valley of the Whales. On the way stop at Mudawara Mountain - a magnificent spot overlooking the beautiful landscape below where deep blue waters meet the golden yellow sand. Then explore the national park of Wadi Hitan – a fascinating area, which is placed on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. Considered as an open museum, it dates back to 40 million years and it is the most significant place in the world to demonstrate the evolution of whales. More than 400 types of whales and sea cow skeletons, other bones, shells and plant fossils have been identified here, some of them preserved in soft rocks. After the Jeep tour we break for an afternoon Bedouin lunch then transfer back to Cairo..Overnight in your Hotel in Cairo.
Day 5 – FULL DAY TOUR TO THE CAVE CHURCH OF ZABBALEEN+Civilization
Museum.
In the morning pick up from your hotel in Cairo and visit the Monastery of Saint Simon, also known as the Cave Church of Zabbaleen. It is located in the Mokattam Mountain, a short drive through the so called "Garbage City’ – a large population of garbage collectors or Zabbaleen that live there.
Several churches have been built into the caves found in Mokattam, First we visit, Saint Simon the Tanner Hall and St. Mark's Church. This huge cave was discovered in the year 1974. It was full of hundreds of tons of stones even up to the ceiling of the cave (which is 17 meters high from the ground), and was later prepared to contain two storeys:
1. The upper storey is the St. Simon the Tanner Hall, with seating capacity of 2000 people for spiritual meetings. The walls are decorated with many wonderful pictures engraved on the rocks representing scenarios from the Bible.
2. The lower storey is St. Mark's Church, which was named after St. Mark the first preacher in Egyptian heritage.
Then we continue and visit the Cathedral of Virgin Mary and St. Simon the Tanner. The church was constructed around in the form of quarter circle to accommodate a few thousands of people and it is the biggest church in the monastery. Then we will drive to the Civilization Museum . After the tour transfer back to your hotel.
Day 6 - White Desert
In the morning pick up from your hotel and transfer by car to Bahariya Oasis. Once in Bahariya we have a small lunch before starting the jeep tour to the White Desert. On the way you will visit the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain, the Akabat (sand) Desert and a hot spring. In the evening you will camp out in the middle of White Desert and our Bedouin friends will prepare a traditional dinner for you by the camp fire. Enjoy the most magical sunset and discover the secrets of the desert at night. Overnight under the stars.
Day 7 - White Desert
After breakfast drive back to Bahariya Oasis. and transfer back to Cairo by car. Arrive to Cairo in the afternoon. Over night in the hotel.
Day 8 - Cairo City Tour + Train to Aswan
In the morning start the tour with Old Cairo and see the remains of Roman Towers, visit the Hanging Church then Abu Sirga Church and Synagoge.Then we drive to Islamic Cairo and visit Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque and Citadel of Salah El Din.
In the afternoon visit the Egyptian Museum, this features artefacts from the pharaonic period. 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. Over 250,000 genuine artefacts are presented, including an exhibit dedicated to Tutankhamen, a collection of treasure, gold and jewellery which was enclosed in his tomb for over 3,500 years before it was discovered in the 1920s when his tomb was excavated.
In the evening transfer to the train station to take the over night train to Aswan.Overnight in your hotel in Cairo.
Day 9 - Aswan
Very Early Morning we will pick you up from your hotel to catch your flight toAswan City. Arrive to Aswan and trasfer to the 5* Nile Cruise. After lunch start guided tour, visiting the fantastic Philae Temple and Aswan High Dam, an engineering miracle, built in 1960. Over night on board.
Day 10 – Optional - Abu Simbel tour and Kom Ombo
Free morning. Or take an optional to visit the glorious temples of Abu Simbel: early morning (3:30 a.m.) pick up from the cruise and transfer to Abu Simbel and visit Temple of Ramses II., and Temple of Hathor. Overlooking the Lake Nasser, these rock–cut temples are one of ancient Egypt’s most amazing creations. Transfer back to your cruise, at lunch time cruise starts sailing.
Late afternoon arrive to Kom Ombo and visit Temple of Sobek. Over night on board.
Day 11 - Edfu
In the morning arrive to Edfu and visit Temple of Horus. The rest of the day is free on board. Continue towards Luxor, over night on board.
Day12-LuxorEastBank
After breakfast check out form the cruise and transfer to the hotel.
In the afternoon visit Karnak Temple, the greatest example for worship in the history, dedicated to God Amoun, his wife Mut and their son Khonsu. Then visit Luxor Temple. Over night in the hotel.
Day 13 - Luxor West Bank + Flight to Dahab.
In the morning start guided tour to see Colossi of Menmon, Valley of the Kings and Medinat Habu. Then visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, she was the only pharaonic woman ruled ancient Egypt.
In the afternoon transfer to Luxor airport to catch a flight to Sharm El Sheikh airport ,there our representative will be waiting for you with a sign has your name on ,transfer you to Dahab ..overnight in a hotel in Dahab .
Day 14 – Dahab
9:00am, after Breakfast , pick up from the hotel by a jeep car to the Blue Hole you get to Blue Hole after half an hour driving, 2 hours Snorkeling in Blue Hole then - we support the Snorkeling gears - then you will have a fast boat for 20 minutes to get to Ras Abu Galum national Park, then a car to the Blue Lagoon - 15 minutes -where you will stay for 1.5 hour to check it out then the car drive back to Ras Abu Galum, there we will have a Lunch on open buffet on the beach and you do some snorkeling, later around 4:00pm you will take the fast boat back to the Blue Hole to give your snorkeling gears back, then the driver bring you back to the hotel around 5:30 pm..... Overnight in the hotel in Dahab.
Day15- Full day trip to The White and The Colored Canyons & Ain Khodra Oasis.
9:00 am After breakfast, Pick up by a 4 Wheels car heading to a full day trip with a Bedwin guide to explore some of Sinai Desert and to do the hiking trip to the White and the Colored Canyons and to visit Ain Khodra Oasis where you gonna have Lunch , then we will drive back to Dahab to be at your hotel by 4pm … Overnight in the hotel in Dahab.
Day 16 - Fun Dive
Get ready to dive!( Timing will be Confirmed the day before) This day you have the chance to experience scuba diving by doing 1 Fun Dive. It is designed for beginners, you will learn the basic concept of Scuba Dive and a trained instructor will help you discover and master the weightless exhilaration of breathing underwater. Then go on 12 meters (40 Feet) off shore, for one open water dive with the instructor. Free afternoon, over night in the hotel.
Day 17- Full day Trip to The 3 Pools Beach & Qunai Valley.
9 am After breakfast you will be picked up from the hotel for a half day trip to the 3-Pools Beach , It is one of the best Snorkeling and Scuba Diving spots on Aqaba gulf, Also you can enjoy 1 hour Quad-Bike ride in Qunai Valley , After we will drive you back to the hotel for Dinner and getting ready at 8pm, you will be picked up again to do a Bedwin Gathering in Twailat Valley in the Desert..Then we will drive back to your hotel to arrive there by 3pm.
Day 18- Hiking Mousses Mountain
Free Day for good rest . At 11 pm you will be picked up to start the tour to Mount Sinai , It will take less than 2 hours to get to saint Catharine City then our local tour guide will join you to start Hiking up Muses Mountain .
Day19-SaintCatherine'sMonastery.
Reach the top of the mountain by early morning and watch the sunrise from the summit. On the way down visit St Catherine's Monastery, built in honour of St Catherine, a Christian martyr who was sentenced to death by the Romans. Greek Orthodox monks take care of the Monastery, which was built in the 6th Century at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Arrive back to Dahab around 1 pm, free afternoon and evening. Over night in the hotel.
Day 20 - Dahab - Cairo
In the morning transfer to the bus station, and catch the bus back to Cairo. (Local bus, approximately 9 hours bus ride). Or 1 Hour flight from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo , transfer to the hotel. Over night in the hotel Cairo.
Day 21 - Departure
Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport.
Tour Includes:
- Pick ups and transfers as mentioned above
- English speaking guide for the sights in Cairo, Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu and Luxor
- 4 nights in 3* hotel in Cairo, including breakfast
- The Jeep for the tour in the desert, with local Bedouin guide
- Meals during the desert tour: one lunch, Bedouin dinner and breakfast
- 1 night camping in the desert
- Mattress and sleeping bag for the camping
- Train tickets (seater train) from Cairo to Aswan *
- 3 nights on 5* Nile Cruise, including all meals
- 1 night in 3* hotel in Luxor, including breakfast
- 4 nights in a seaside hotel in Dahab, including breakfast
- A full day trip to Blue Hole ,Ras Abu Galum and Blue Lagoon Including Lunch .
- Snorkelling equipment to the Blue Hole (fins and mask)
- A full day trip to the White and Colored Canyons with local guide including Lunch .
- Local Bedouin guide for the Mt Sinai climb
- All services charges and taxes
Tour Excludes:
- Entrance fees to the mentioned sights and entrance fee to the Blue Hole
- Optional Abu Simbel tour
- Beverages on the Nile Cruise
- Any extras not mentioned in the itinerary
Extras:
- Upgrade to sleeper train (Cairo - Aswan): 70 USD / person, based on 2 person sharing a Double Cabin, The sleeper train includes dinner and breakfast on the train.
- Optional tour to Abu Simbel: 47 USD / person, including transfers and local tour guide, excluding entrance fee.
- Optional Camel or Horse Ride at Giza: 35 USD / person
- Extra visit to Kahan-El-Khalili Bazaar: 40 USD / car (day 5, approximately 2 hours visit)
- Hot Air Balloon in Luxor (40 minutes ride): 115 USD / person.
- Sinai Traditional Bedouin Dinner in Dahab: 25 USD / person or 45 Euro for single
- Sunset Quad Bike trip in Dahab: 17 USD / person
- Fun Dive in Dahab: 50 USD / person.
- Upgrade for 4* or 5 * hotel available upon request
- Upgrade to a Flight from Dahab to Cairo instead of the bus Available upon request .
Tour Notes:
- In Cairo the tours will be with private car .
- In Aswan, Luxor and Dahab the sightseeing is organized in small groups.
- The desert tour may be private, may be shared, if shared it will be a small group .
- From October to April, warm clothing required for the mountain climb.
- Vest (life jacket) for the snorkelling - available for extra charge.
Total Cost 1400 USD \ Per Person
