Beyond the Pyramids holiday
| country: | Egypt |
| location: | Sinai Desert, Nile Cruises, Pyramids, Luxor |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 29 Nov, 13 Dec, 19 Dec, 27 Dec 2010: 10 Jan, 24 Jan, 7 Feb |
| price: | From £624 (16 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 3 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
This active journey has as many diverse highlights as Egypt itself!
Beginning with two days aboard a traditional felucca, we have plenty of time to stop off at riverside temples and villages and relax into the pace of Nile life. Moving on to Luxor we take horse drawn carriages to Karnak Temple and make an early start to ride donkeys to the Valley of the Kings.
In the Sinai we rise early to climb Mt Sinai then take a trek with local Bedouin and their camels. We finish up with a couple of days by the warm waters of the Red Sea.
Beginning with two days aboard a traditional felucca, we have plenty of time to stop off at riverside temples and villages and relax into the pace of Nile life. Moving on to Luxor we take horse drawn carriages to Karnak Temple and make an early start to ride donkeys to the Valley of the Kings.
In the Sinai we rise early to climb Mt Sinai then take a trek with local Bedouin and their camels. We finish up with a couple of days by the warm waters of the Red Sea.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Cairo. Arrival day. Check in to your hotel. No meals. |
| Day 2: | Cairo. A guided visit to the great 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 at Abu Simbel. (B) |
| Day 5-6: | Felucca Cruise. Board traditional feluccas for a two day cruise to Kom Ombo. All meals are provided on board. (BLD) |
| Day 7: | Luxor.Disembark in Kom Ombo where we visit the riverside temple of Sobek & Haroeris. En route to Luxor, we visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu. In the afternoon we take horse drawn carriages to Karnak temple for a guided tour around this magnificent site. (B) |
| Day 8: | Luxor. 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. This afternoon is free for you to venture into Luxor’s streets and its bustling bazaars. (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 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) |
travellers' tales
An absolutely amazing adventure tour where you don't just see Egypt but actually experience Egypt... highlights included: The Giza Pyramids, riding Donkeys to the valley of the kings, sailing the Nile on Felucca boats and desert trekking. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
 The Sinai is an area of outstanding natural beauty and delicate eco-systems. Home to many Bedouin villages, traditionally there is very little employment apart from tourism but a great need for that tourism to be environmentally responsible. Travellers are briefed on the importance of not leaving behind litter, using long drop toilets, conserving water and dressing modestly and our tour leaders make a point of leading by example. We join up with local Bedouins and their camels for a moderate trek where we are dependent on their skills and stay in traditional Bedouin camps. On the Red Sea coast we work with environmentally certified Dive Schools (members of HEPCA) and have initiated a campaign to protect Red Sea coral with the construction and maintenance of awareness signs on the beach. We also spend two nights aboard a traditional felucca crewed by Nubian villagers from the West Bank of the Nile with whom we have a very long standing relationship. Plus by working directly with the 'donkey men' and carriage drivers our horse drawn carriage ride to Karnak and donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings involve no 'middle men' ensuring all revenue goes directly to the locals (who in both cases live in smaller villages outside Luxor). We have long term relationships with some of the best local Egyptologists whose services are included at every ancient site on all Egypt trips. This provides long term employment (even during lulls in tourism) and fair wages. Our own tour leaders are a mix of foreigners and locals - who all receive the SAME wages for the same job. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |