The first part of our day is spent in Cairo visiting the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza with our Egyptologist guide, and also the Egyptian Natural History Museum. In the afternoon we will drive towards the Red Sea Coast. You will have time relax on the beach for a couple of days or try your hand at various watersports such as snorkelling, windsurfing or scubadiving in the cool clear blue waters. We end our first week at the city of Luxor where the Valley of Kings and Queens and Karnak and Luxor Temples will keep us busy exploring for a few days more.
Days 7 to 13
Here in Luxor - where we visit the Valley of Kings and Queens, the remarkably well preserved tombs of the ancient rulers such as Ramses ll and Tutankhamun have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem fresh even after 3000 years. Karnak and Luxor Temples are both in easy walking distance from our camp - as is the local souq where you can pick up an array of souvenirs. A half day drive further south brings us to Aswan. Here you will notice the first of many cultural changes on this trip. The darker Nubian people in Aswan lead a more relaxed and less hectic pace of life than their Egyptian countrymen. We base ourselves here for the next 4 or 5 days to finalise our Sudanese visas and in which time you can join a 2 or 3 day felucca boat cruise to Edfu and Kom Ombo. The opportunity to visit Abu Simbel - the massive stone monuments built by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll, is always a highlight.
