Day-to-day schedule
Day 1: Cairo
Welcome to Egypt!
Your tour starts in Cairo, where you can use your hotel room from check in time (12.00 hrs at noon) on day 1. Most of your travel companions will arrive later this first day or in the early morning of day 2, the exact time will be depending on their flight schedule. You will meet your English speaking tour leader at 8.00 hrs A.M. on day 2 in the lobby of your hotel.
Day 2: Cairo
Enjoy the bustling metropolis of Cairo on foot or by coach if you wish. Visit the amazing pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx built some 4,500 years ago. Cheops' pyramid is 139 meters high, the equivalent of a 45-storey block of flats and 100,000 men must have worked for 20 years to pile up 2.3 million blocks of stone weighing 2.5 tonnes each to create it.
After visiting the pyramids, we will drive to the old citadel and see the large mosque of Mohammed Ali before visiting the ancient part of Cairo, including the beautiful "Coptic" hanging church. The immense Egyptian Museum, full of ancient sarcophagi, mummies and of course the treasures of that most famous pharaoh, Tutankhamun is also well worth a visit, as is the medieval market of Khan Al-Khalili with its herb bazaars and cosy teahouses. And in th evening enjoy a wonderful meal at one of the many restaurants along the Nile and have a go at smoking from a delicious shisha pipe.
Day 3: Cairo
Our final day in the enchanting city of Cairo
Day 4: Cairo - White Desert
After breakfast, we leave the bustle of Cairo behind and make our way into the desert.
After a few hours we will come across a vision of green on the horizon: the first oasis, Bahariyya, where date palms grow and labourers ride on their donkeys across richly covered fields. Visit the hot spring, have a relaxing lunch and the afternoon, we travel on to the Crystal Mountain, which is made entirely of shining quartz and an incredible spectacle.
Through the dark stones of the Black Desert we reach the surreal scenery of the White Desert where large limestone mushrooms rise up from the landscape. Dinner is prepared by the Bedouins while you relax and enjoy the stunning views. Spend the night on a mattress under the starry sky or under canvas.
Day 5: White Desert - Dakhla Oasis
Today we cross the White Desert to the oasis of Farafra and visit the museum of the extraordinary artist, Mr Badr. An internationally renowned painter and sculptor; his eccentric and native style make his art very special. He will often guide his visitors around the museum and the adjacent sculpture garden.
Afterwards we’ll visit the old Islamic town which is a labyrinth of narrow alleys before spending the night in Dakhla in a Bedouin camp. At the end of the day you can take an optional camel trip or Jeep safari in the desert.
Day 6: Dakhla Oasis - Kharga Oasis
After breakfast we will visit the last oasis on this tour, Kharga. Kharga means "outer" and this oasis is the southernmost of Egypts' western oases. Tonight we’ll will sleep on a mattress in the open air with the sand dunes providing a soft base. The Bedouins will prepare a delicious meal and will often try to teach you a game or show you a magic trick. The vast desert around you is ever-changing and both fascinating and mesmerising.
Day 7: Kharga Oasis - Aswan
Wake up to a simply stunning sunrise, after breakfast we travel in convoy via Luxor to Aswan and dine in one of the many restaurants along the Nile or have high tea in the stylish Old Cataract Hotel. This famous hotel offers a very special view of the Nile and Elephantine Island and radiates the atmosphere of colonial England.
Day 8: Aswan
Aswan is strategically located at the first cataract (rapids) of the Nile. Here, the valley is at its most beautiful with rocks and palm-covered islands in the river. There are numerous temples, tombs and obelisks, a colourful bazaar and a beautiful botanical garden and the immense Aswan Dam nearby.
A particularly interesting excursion you may like to consider is the temple of Philae dedicated to the goddess Isis, built on an island in the Nile. A walk through one of the Nubian villages on the other side of the river is also worthwhile, or you may choose to visit Abu Simbel (optional). With the financial support of Unesco, this immense temple was moved when the dam that created Lake Nasser was constructed. This magnificent temple can be reached by coach or plane.
Day 9: Aswan
Our last day in Aswan before turning toward the water.
Day 10: Felucca
In the morning we board a felucca, the traditional vessel in which the Egyptians have sailed the Nile since time immemorial. Float downstream at a very relaxed pace and enjoy the spectacle of life along the banks of the river. At night we will moor up at an island. Please be aware that the distance covered and therefore time spent sailing is always governed by the wind conditions.
Day 11: felucca - Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor
We set sail early morning and head towards the remarkable double temple of Kom Ombo, which is dedicated to two gods: crocodile god Sobek and falcon-headed Horus. When we step off the felucca there is a coach waiting to take us to Luxor and on the way there is an opportunity to stop at the temple of Edfu.
In the afternoon and the evening you are free to admire the many beautiful buildings and museums of Luxor.
Day 12: Luxor - Cairo
Luxor, ancient Thebes, marks the cultural peak of this tour.
On the eastern bank of the Nile is the famous temple of Karnak which took 1,500 years to build and during the evening it hosts an impressive sound and light performance.
Across the Nile lies the city of the dead, Thebes, with the Valley of Kings and the Valley of Queens. Here you can visit several tombs, including Tutankhamun's which contain beautiful relief surfaces and wall paintings. One of the most splendid and best-kept tombs is the temple of Hatshepsut, the only female pharaoh. The Memnon giants once formed the entrance to the temple of Amenophis are another impressive sight.
In the evening you will take the night train to Cairo. Train travel is an unforgettable experience in Egypt. The train has airconditioning and reserved seats. The trip will take aproximately nine hours, and you will arrive early in the morning in Cairo.
Day 13: Cairo
Return to Cairo to further explore this wonderful city before travelling by coach to Dahab.
Day 14: Cairo - Dahab
You will arrive in Dahab after a 7 hour coach journey across the immense Sinai desert, partly parallel to the Red Sea. It is the perfect place to kick back and sunbathe on the beach or take to the water and enjoy swimming, diving and snorkelling.
Day 15: Dahab
Embrace another day by the beach in the resort of Dahab.
Day 16: Dahab - Sinai
After a short drive we will have reached the starting point of the camel safari. Here, Bedouins and camels are ready to take you on a 2-day adventure trip deep into the Sinai desert.
We travel through the region of the Wadi Hamam and the Wadi Hedouda. Each camel is shared by two travellers, so that everybody rides half of the time and walks the other half. You will travel some 5 to 7 km per day, so there is enough time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
On the way you will sleep on a mattress in the open air under the starry sky and the Bedouins will take care of the meals during the camel trip. You will need to take your sleeping bag, toothbrush and some clean clothes with you, preferably in a small backpack. The rest of your luggage will remain in your hotel in Dahab.
Day 17: Sinai
Continue your Sinai experience, admiring the views of the sand dunes, wadis and mountains.
Day 18: Sinai - Dahab
Today we return to Dahab by coach where you can dive and snorkel over the multi-coloured coral reef, lie on the beach, go sea-fishing or take a boat trip.
Day 19: Dahab
There are also many attractive restaurants and outdoor cafés. Dahab is famous for its covered sidewalk cafés, where you can sink back and smoke a shisha.
You may choose take an optional excursion to St. Catharina's Monastery or go on a pilgrimage to Mount Moses.
Day 20: Dahab
Your final chance to soak up the sun and pleasures of Dahab before we leave in the morning.
Day 21: Dahab - Cairo
We return to Cairo by coach arriving late afternoon. Your tour ends upon arrival at our hotel in Cairo, where you have use of a dayroom until departure (providing you will be departing before the end of the day, or else you will need to book an extra night). We wish you a comfortable journey home and are sure you will take with you some wonderful memories of Egypt.
Your personal ‘my.shoestring’ page on our website is the perfect way to make contact with other travellers before and after your trip. You can read and create journals from trips and upload your photos onto the photo gallery. Visit my shoestring today.
When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any post-tour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (day 21) is not included.
Difficulty Information
This tour is classified as Category B
The difficulty of our travels varies greatly. Added to this is the fact that travel difficulty is a very personal perception. To give an impression of the difficulty of a particular holiday we have developed a classification system.
Category A: Light travel for everyone to do. Short distances, good hotels, travel at a slow pace.
Category B: For everyone to do as well. Sometimes long distances. Good hotels and camping facilities, sometimes an adventurous overnight experience, travel at a normal pace.
Category C: Good to do for anyone who prepares themself well and is flexible. There are tougher parts of the journey, such as longer distances or walking tours. Several nights can be spent in basic accommodation.
Category D: A relatively difficult journey, travelling long distances, often primitive accommodation or tents, and challenging walking tours.
Egypt in 3 weeks is a Category B holiday. Any reasonably healthy individual can make it. In the summer, the trip is considerably more difficult than during the rest of the year. In the cities we stay in simple medium-priced hotels, however, remember that you are travelling in a developing country with much lower living standards than you are used to at home. Also, roads may be temporarily blocked because of the weather or their state of repair, in which case a detour is unavoidable. Some journeys are very long. A flexible and positive attitude is just as important as being in good physical condition.
Nature of the trip
This is an all-embracing trip to Egypt, the land of antiquity. You will visit all the extraordinary archaeological treasures combined with the “other” Egypt. You will meet colourful people living in remote oases, sleep among the “mushrooms” of the White Desert, sail on a traditional ship and take a camel safari through the magnificent mountains of Sinai. Of course, a holiday like this would not be complete without a wonderful stay on the Red Sea, where you can have a great time diving, swimming, sunbathing and partying!