Impressions of the Desert

An unforgettable day, with a guided tour of Cairo’s assorted pyramid complexes. In addition to the legendary site at Giza, there are less renowned but equally fascinating pyramids at Saqqara and Dashur, both less than 30 minutes’ drive from the city. You'll have time to visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum, also on the West bank of the Nile.

Another day in this most bustling of metropolises. Today your guide will take you to some of the sights in the centre of the city. Your guide will take you first to the bustling Khan al Khalili market, a maze of narrow alleys filled with craftsmen whose families have worked here for centuries. Then onto the nearby Mosque of Ibn Tulun, one of the city’s oldest and most atmospheric mosques. You finish with a stop at the excellent Museum of Islamic Art, before returning to your hotel.

You leave Cairo and head up to Alexandria today. You can either travel directly or include a detour to the Wadi Natroun monasteries, an unexpected highlight!

A day to enjoy and explore Alexandria. Perched on the Mediterranean coast, Alexandria feels quite different to Cairo, with a lighter, more European air. The city carries echoes of its grand past, from the legend of the Great Library to the imposing fort that guards its harbour, both of which you will visit today with your guide. Yet Alexandria today is as much about café culture, faded 19th-century architecture, and a relaxed seaside atmosphere as it is about ancient history.

An irrevocable fact is that the journey to Siwa will be long, with much of the day in the car. You head west along the Mediterraean coast, turning south once you reach Marsa Matrouh, pushing into the Western Desert. It’s around 7 hour's drive, so expect to arrive in late afternoon. A day of changing scenery and endless horizons, before you finally reach the palm groves of Siwa, a world apart from the cities you’ve left behind, as tinges of Berber culture start to appear.

A day to discover the charms of Siwa Oasis. You’ll explore the ancient mud-brick remains of the Shali Fortress at the heart of town, before wandering through shady palm groves and gardens fed by natural springs. Later you might head out into the desert to watch the sun set over the Great Sand Sea. Siwa moves at its own gentle pace, and today is as much about soaking up the atmosphere of this deep desert town, as its utterly unique history.

Another day to fall into the slower rhythms of Siwa. If you're still looking for things to do, you might begin with a visit to the Temple of the Oracle, once famous across the ancient world for its prophecies, and where Alexander the Great is said to have sought confirmation of his divine status. However you spend it, today is about deepening your connection with this remote and magical place.

Today you make the long journey back to Cairo, retracing your steps from the desert to the capital. The road carries you once more through expanses of sand and stone, leaving behind the shaded groves of Siwa and the sea breezes of Alexandria. It’s a day to watch the shifting landscapes roll past your window, and to reflect on the contrasts of your journey so far. By the time you return to Cairo, you’ll carry with you a deeper sense of Egypt’s variety and richness.

Breakfast and a relaxed morning before you are met for your journey back to the airport, and then home.