Sahara desert tours, Cairo to Casablanca

country:	Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
location:	Sahara Desert
departures:	2008: 30 Sep, 4 Nov
price:	From £2580 (5 weeks) excluding flights, plus local payment US $400. We can arrange flights from the UK

Overland tours in Africa

Desert tours

the amazing things you'll be doing

Let us take you on the world's first ever trip of this kind, the epic journey from Cairo to Casablanca. This trans-North African expedition follows in the footsteps of great rulers and their mighty civilisations, crossing the Sahara and passing through Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Discover the rich cultures and dramatic histories of these five fascinating countries as we travel from modern Arab cities through the majestic Atlas and Hoggar mountain ranges, be awestruck by the beauty of the Sahara, enjoy visits to Berber and Tuareg settlements and explore ancient ruins - as we make our way from one coast of Africa to the other. So come capture the essence of this captivating continent on our African adventure!

Trip highlights: Discover chaotic Cairo and the Great Pyramids, explore the ancient catacombs of Alexandria, be moved by the El Alamein and Tobruk war memorials, bargain for a souvenir in a busy Bhengazi souq, hike in the Jebel Nafusa mountains, take in the many monuments of Tripoli, spend time in a Berber settlement, journey to the 'Jewel of the Sahara' that is Ghadames, take a Mediterranean beach break in Tunisia, relive the illustrious past in Carthage, admire the austere beauty of the Sahara, stay the night in a troglodyte cave house in Matmata, cross the desert on a camel, learn the Tuareg way of life in Algeria, celebrate your epic journey in cosmopolitan Casablanca, travel across the desert on this amazing overland adventure, experience the diverse cultures of Northern Africa

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Cairo. A melting pot of ancient and modern Egyptian civilisations, Cairo is our base from which to admire the awe-inspiring Pyramids and mighty Sphinx.
Day 2:	Alexandria. Immortalising Alexander the Great's name, this city flourished as a prominent cultural, intellectual, political and economic metropolis. Explore the eerie Catacombs of Kom Ash-Shuqqafa and the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
Day 3:	Marsa Matruh. Chill out on a sandy beach or ride a colourful donkey cart across town.
Day 4-5:	Apollonia. The first major Libyan city after crossing from Egypt, Tobruk was an important strategic sea port in World War II. Make a visit to the moving Knightsbridge Cemetery, built on the site of an actual battleground. Travel on to 'The City of Churches' via the stunning mountain landscapes of Ras al-Hillal and its Byzantine church ruins. Spend a day exploring Cyrene, the most important ancient Greek city in North Africa.
Day 6:	Benghazi. Shop in Souq al-Jreed.
Day 7-8:	Tripoli. We take an early morning flight to the capital of Tripoli, and embark on an afternoon walking tour of the city. Founded by the Phoenicians, but bearing marks left by Romans, Turks, Italians, Spanish and Arabs, Tripoli is a fascinating capital to explore.
Day 9:	Gharyan. After visiting the Roman sights of Villa Sileen and Leptis Magna, we head through the spectacular Berber region of the Jebel Nafusa Mountains and arrive in Gharyan, sprawled across a plateau. Explore the unique 'troglodyte' dwellings that dot the terrain and find out why this area is famous for its pottery.
Day 10-11:	Ghadames. We'll stop at the Qasr al-Haj to see Libya's finest example of Berber architecture, the fortified Berber grain castle of Kabaw en route to Nalut then onto the oasis city of Ghadames beckons with an orientation walk to the old Atik Mosque and a traditional lunch. Enjoy a sand dune ride for an evocative sunset and maybe catch a Tuareg cultural show.
Day 12:	Sabratha. Founded by the Phoenicians, but bearing marks left by Romans, Turks, Italians, Spanish and Arabs, Tripoli is a fascinating capital to explore. Wander souqs in the medina and stroll the magnificent World Heritage site of Sabratha.
Day 13-14:	Jerba. Departing Libya we cross the border into Tunisia and reach the Island of Jerba. Known as the "land of the lotus eaters" Jerba was the port Ulysses and his men were detained on their return from Troy. Visit the Ghriba synagogue and the nearby town of Guellela home to the famous cave of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.....or simply relax on one of the islands beautiful beaches.
Day 15:	Desert Safari. Travel across towering dunes on an exciting desert safari.
Day 16:	Matmata. Stay in a troglodyte cave house and explore the site where parts of Star Wars were shot.
Day 17:	Mahdia. A delightful fishing village and a reminder of what Tunisian towns were like in years gone by.
Day 18:	Kairouan. One of the seven holy cities of Islam, Kairouan's age-old mosques, mansions and medina make for interesting exploration.
Day 19-21:	Tunis. Tour the sights of fascinating Tunis.
Day 22:	Ain Draham. Leaving Tunis we travel westward to the coastal village of Tabarka before head through thick dense forests to the typically Tunisian resort spa village of Ain Draham.
Day 23:	Le Kef. Leaving Tunis we travel westward to the coastal village of Tabarka before head through thick dense forests to the typically Tunisian resort spa village of Ain Draham. Moving on we reach Le Kef, our base for the night. Set high in the hills, Le Kef is one of Tunisia's hidden secrets. With its cobbled streets, narrow alleys and stunning views, it is a great place to relax with a glass of chai and watch the world go by. Wash off the day's travel by taking a bath in a 2nd century Roman hamman.
Day 24-25:	Tozeur. With its extensive palm groves, traditional architecture and delightful old quarter, Tozeur is a great base to explore some of the beautiful and ancient Berber villages in the surrounding area.
Day 26:	El-Oued. Check out the famed carpets of El-Oued.
Day 27-28:	Ghardaia. In the river valley of the Oued (dry river bed) is Ghardaia, a town whose sand-coloured houses stand on a curious heap, with a single minaret sticking out on top like a birthday cake. The town is famous for its carpets and for its massive daily souq in the old town.
Day 29:	Djanet. In the middle of nowhere, tranquil Djanet is home to shady palms trees and slow desert lifestyles.
Day 30:	Tadent. Travel to the great sea of sand, Erg Admer and watch the dunes change and shape as the sunlight hits them and various times of day. A scenic, shallow river bed leads to the mountainous Oued Tadent and an opportunity to learn about the Tuareg way of life at one of their settlements.
Day 31:	Tin Agoula. Through a landscape of low rocky mountains, piles of rock and small rolling sand dunes we head for the mountain range of Tin Agoula. With a bit of luck we'll run into some camels, gazelles or one of the very rare leopards that live here.
Day 32:	Youfihakit. Huge rock formations and mushroom shaped boulders are surrounded by softly rolling sand dunes. It is a great area to explore with lots of beautiful photo opportunities. Set up camp surrounded by ancient rock engravings.
Day 33:	Tamekrest. Crossing a vast plain and a lunar landscape with piles of dark rock, we arrive at the miraculous guelta (natural spring) of Tamekrest. We'll camp by this small waterfall which runs down polished pink and purple granite. Mingle with the Tuareg from the surrounding camps as they bring their goats and camels to drink.
Day 34:	Hoggar Mts. Take in the views over the volcanic landscape of the Hoggar mountain region. All around is a chaotic scene of black and forbidding rocks, basalt peaks and cliffs. Stop by the Father Foucault Hermitage, built in 1911.
Day 35:	Tamanrasset. Our desert safari comes to an end in the red mud-brick city of Tamanrasset. The biggest of all Tuareg cities it is regularly visited by camel caravans and those 'blue men of the desert'.
Day 36-37:	Algiers. Explore the winding alleys of the kasbah, Turkish Palaces, medieval houses and cool courtyards.
Day 38-39:	Casablanca. Celebrate the journey in cosmopolitan Casablanca.

small group adventure holiday

This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's 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 people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more)

how this holiday makes a difference

We believe strongly in low impact or rather positive impact tourism. Broadly speaking this means that we try to minimise the negative aspects of tourism on the local cultures and environments that we visit and highlight the positive aspects. During this trip we will use local transport where possible to help minimise our impacts.

We stay in small-scale locally owned accommodation and homestays, for example in Matmata we spend the night in a berber camp watching a desert sunset and feasting on local delicacies. Where possible we will visit local restaurants and markets during this trip for dining, retaining revenue in local communities.

During this trip we visit Gharyan, famous for its pottery, and we should be able to see some pottery-making and perhaps even some carpet-weaving demonstrations. We also visit the local market in Tamanrasset, where you can visit one of the many restaurants you can try local food, like roast meat and couscous with a vegetable sauce. In the centre of the town you will find many artists shops that sell all kinds of Tuareg artisan work. These activities help us to support the communities we visit.

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