Egypt — Egypt & Middle East — Explore Worldwide 2008/09 online holiday brochure

Optional tour extensions Western Desert Oases SEVERAL OF OUR TRIPS IN EGYPT ALSO OFFER THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXTENSION INTO THE SURREAL MOONSCAPES OF THE WHITE DESERT, ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING YET LEAST VISITED PLACES IN EGYPT. We strike out into the Western Desert, heading first to the capital, El Kharga. Here, we sense a completely different culture as we wander the maze of palm-covered alleyways of the city. Further west the dunes grow ever larger, then fall away abruptly as the desert escarpment drops down to a series of lush oases and mud-brick houses. We enjoy the pace of village life, visiting the oases of Dakhla and Farafra sharing tea with the locals beneath flowering almonds and date palms. Theres time to bathe in the spring waters and to wander the maze of ramshackle streets. Continuing deep into the sun-baked tableland, we explore the spectacular White Desert a geologists paradise. Here we enjoy the experience of sleeping under the stars among strange crystalline rock formations that seem like giant mushroom towers. Finally, we leave Bahariya, a fertile oasis with groves of sweet lemons, dates and peaches, and return to the capital. EGYPT & MIDDLE EAST Classic Sinai sunrise/Rachel Harfield EGYPT Tour combinations Nile & Beyond 22 DAYS HOTELS/FELUCCA/CAMPING IN-DEPTH EGYPT St. Catherines Monastery/Kate Scott Ref SFD Combine three distinct Egyptian elements into one tour. Explore the remote Sinai peninsula, board a felucca to sail down the Nile, and then head into the Western Desert and camp under open skies. Nile Cruise + Desert Oases 15 DAYS HOTELS/CRUISE/CAMPING GREEN RIBBON OF THE NILE & LIFE IN THE DESERT Ref EGD FACTFILE Itinerary Day 1 to 9 as per Ref. SN (p86). 10 Train to Aswan. 11 In Aswan; optional visit to Abu Simbel. 12 to 15 3-day felucca sailtrek to Edfu, last day drive Luxor. 16 In Luxor, free. 17 Drive El Kharga. 18 Drive Dakhla; optional camel trek. 19 Visit Al Qasr; drive Farafra. 20 In Farafra; 4WD safari into White Desert. 21 Drive via Bahariya to Cairo. 22 Fly London. Note: Certain departures may operate on an alternative itinerary. Note: The crossing to Hurghada is weather-dependant and it may be necessary to make the journey by road should the ferry be cancelled. Accommodation & Meals: 15nts hotel, 3nts felucca/camp, 3nts desert camp; 21 breakfasts, 8 lunches & 8 dinners included. See insert p2. A journey of stark contrasts from the fertile Valley of the Nile, to the barely habitable extremities of the White Desert. FACTFILE Itinerary Day 1 to 9 As per Nile Cruise itinerary. (p83). 10 Drive to El Kharga. 11 Visit El Bagawat, drive Dakhla; 4WD (or optional camel trek) to desert camp. 12 In Dakhla; visit Al Qasr; continue to Farafra. 13 In Farafra; 4WD safari into White Desert. 14 Drive Bahariya, continue to Cairo. 15 Fly London. Note: Certain cruises may operate on an alternative itinerary, with either 3 nights or 7 nights aboard the Nile riverboat. Accommodation & Meals: 8nts hotel, 4nts Nile riverboat in 2-berth cabin, 2nts camping; 14 breakfasts, 7 lunches & 8 dinners included. See insert p2. See Sinai Insight p86 and Nile Felucca Sailtrek on p84 & Desert Oases Extension (right) for more details. Geologists paradise Egyptian Experience Similar to Nile & Beyond but with a soup�on of luxury! Enjoy the comfort of cruising down the Nile from Aswan to Luxor aboard our riverboat. See Sinai Insight on p86, plus Nile Cruise p83 & Desert Oases Extension (right) for more details. Ref SCD 22 DAYS HOTELS/RIVERBOAT/CAMPING WONDERS OF ANTIQUITY & THE DESERTS For more information please refer to Nile Cruise, Ref. EG (p83). FACTFILE Itinerary Day 1 to 9 as per Ref. SN (p86). 10 In Luxor, board Nile riverboat. 11 In Luxor; optional balloon flight. 12 & 13 Cruising from Luxor to Aswan via Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples. Cruise to Aswan. 14 In Aswan optional visit to Abu Simbel 15 Optional camel trek to St Simeons Monastery. 16 Train Luxor; free in Luxor. 17 Drive to El Kharga. 18 Drive Dakhla; optional camel trek. 19 Visit Al Qasr; drive Farafra. 20 In Farafra;4WD safari into White Desert. 21 Drive via Bahariya to Cairo. 22 Fly London. Note: Certain cruises may operate on an alternative itinerary, with either 3 or 7 nights aboard the riverboat. The crossing to Hurghada is weather dependant and it may be necessary to make the journey by road should the ferry be cancelled. Accommodation & Meals: 4nts Nile riverboat in 2-berth cabins; 14nts hotel; 3nts desert camp; 21 breakfasts, 9 lunches & 9 dinners included. See insert p2. Nile Felucca Sailtrek + Desert Oases 15 DAYS HOTELS/SAILBOAT/CAMPING NILE VALLEY AND THE WONDERS OF THE DESERT Ref NFD Voyage back in time as you sail the Nile by felucca, explore Egypts great temples and wonder at remote desert landscapes. Hot air ballooning Ballooning over the Thebian remains of the West Bank. See p82 and tour dossier for details. FACTFILE Itinerary Day 1 to 9 As per Nile Felucca Sailtrek itinerary (p84). 10 Drive El Kharga. 11 Visit El Bagawat, drive Dakhla; optional camel trek to desert camp. 12 In Dakhla, visit Al Qasr; continue to Farafra. 13 In Farafra; 4WD safari into White Desert. 14 Drive Bahariya, continue to Cairo. 15 Fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 8nts hotel, 3nts felucca, 1nt overnight train, 2nts camping; 13 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners included. See insert p2. All aboard!/Ashley Toft Sinai & Nile Cruise Ref SNC Egyptian Experience Ref SCD Western Desert Oasis Ext Sinai & Nile Felucca Ref SNF Nile & Beyond Ref SFD N I L E D E LTA Museum I S R AE L JORDAN Suez For more information please refer to Nile Felucca Sailtrek, Ref. NF (p84). Unusual formations of the White Desert Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx CAIRO S I N A I Siwa Oasis LOWER EGYPT Saqqara G R Mt Sinai 2285m E A S E WHITE DESERT Bahariya Oasis Valley of the Golden Mummies St CATHERINES MONASTERY RAS MOHAMMED Snorkelling DAHAB T S A A 0 N D km T he HURGHADA FARAFRA OASIS W E S T E R N White Desert camp Ni le RE D DESERT Al Qasr Desert camp Bagawat Valley of the Kings Esna Lock Kom Ombo Temple of Sobek Karnak Calesh trip SE A LUXOR DAKHLA OASIS EL KHARGA Edfu Temple of Horus St Simeons Monastery High Dam UPPER EGYPT 250 ASWAN Philae Temple For information, inspiration and latest tour availability visit www.explore.co.uk 87

Egypt & Middle East contd… Egypt