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Egypt & Oman Itinerary

Day 1 Depart Australia

Day 2 Arrive in Cairo
Welcome to Egypt! On arrival we will met by our friendly Egyptian guide and transferred to our hotel. The afternoon is at leisure before tonight’s group welcome dinner where you will meet your fellow travellers. [D]

Day 3 Cairo
This is it! This morning you will be standing directly in front of the Great Pyramids of Giza! The Great Pyramids are the oldest structures in existence: work building them began around 4,500 years ago, and today they are the only remnants of the Seven Wonders of the World. Here we take the time to soak up the mystical power of these awe-inspiring structures before visiting the nearby Sphinx. The rest of your day is at leisure. [B]

Day 4 Cairo
Today we venture into the bustling heart of Cairo to visit the world-famous Egyptian Museum, home to Tutankhamen’s priceless treasures and many other historic artefacts. There will be time for an optional visit (entrance ticket not included) to the "Mummy Room", it has nine mummies on display including the newly discovered mummy of Queen Hatshepsut. This afternoon we visit the Citadel of Cairo and the Mohammed Ali Mosque before trying out our bargaining skills at the 625-year-old Khan El Khalili bazaar. [B]

Day 5 Cairo – Luxor
This morning we fly to Luxor. In the afternoon we visit the Karnak Temple which is the largest and most impressive of all temples, and the scene of the most important of ancient Egypt’s many religious festivals and ceremonies. We also visit Luxor Temple which was once linked to Karnak by a 3km avenue of sphinxes and contains evidence of early Christian occupation. [B]

Day 6 Nile Cruise* (see notes on Nile Cruise below)
This morning we board our Nile Cruise. We then explore the West Bank, the world’s largest open-air museum. We also visit the Valley of the Kings where we have the opportunity to go underground and experience the tombs first-hand. We then continue on to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut; it was built of limestone, not sandstone like most of the other funerary temples of the New Kingdom period, and is therefore one of the most distinctive temples in the whole of Egypt. We end our day at the Colossi of Memnon. [B,L,D]

Day 7 Nile Cruise
Our cruise ship today navigates towards Esna, crossing the lock before continuing to Edfu. Relax and watch the day to day happenings of rural Egyptian life on the riverbanks of the Nile as we sail past. [B,L,D]

Day 8 Nile Cruise
Our day starts with a horse-drawn carriage ride to Edfu’s Temple of Horus: this is Egypt’s second-largest temple complex and one of the best-preserved. We then sail on to Kom Ombo. The Temple of Kom Ombo is an unusual double temple, built between 145-180 BC. The building is unique because its 'double' design meant that there were courts, halls, sanctuaries and rooms duplicated for two sets of gods. We then continue to the beautiful town of Aswan. [B,L,D]

Day 9 Nile Cruise
Today we explore Aswan. Highlights include the High Dam, an engineering masterpiece built in the 1960s, the picturesque Temple of Isis on Philae Island, and the Unfinished Obelisk. This afternoon we enjoy a relaxing trip on the Nile by traditional felucca sail boat. [B,L,D]

Day 10 Aswan
We rise very early to cross the desert – our destination is the incredible temples of Abu Simbel. The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari. In the 1960s the complex was relocated in its entirety to an artificial hill, high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir. We then return to Aswan where the rest of the day is at leisure in our hotel. [B]

Day 11 Cairo
This morning we fly back to Cairo, where you can spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring the lively capital or relaxing at your hotel before this evening’s group dinner. [B,D]

Day 12 Cairo – Dubai
We rise early today to catch our flight from Cairo to the ultra megacity of Dubai. The rest of the day is at leisure. [B]

Day 13 Dubai – Khasab
We travel overland from Dubai to Oman, where our destination today is the charming fishing town of Khasab. Our tour here includes the restored 16th-century Portuguese fort and nearby Wadi Qadah. [B]

Day 14 Khasab
A wonderful day as we set off by traditional sailing dhow. We explore a 16km-long fjord surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery and remote white sand beaches. Be on the lookout for dolphins and enjoy a swim and snorkel as we lay anchor at various spots during the day. [B,L]

Day 15 Khasab – Muscat
Your transport today will be on the impressive high-speed ferry to Muscat, Oman’s capital city, where we are met and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. [B]

Day 16 Muscat
This morning we explore Muscat, including the Grand Mosque (dress restrictions apply), the lively markets of Muttrah and the Bait Al Zubair Museum. We drive past the Corniche and stop in front of the Sultan’s Palace which is flanked by the Portuguese Forts of Al Jalali and Mirani. The afternoon is at leisure. [B]

Day 17 Muscat – Ras al Hadd
Our journey to Ras al Hadd is by 4WD along the coastal route. On the way we’ll travel through stunning natural scenery, enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach, explore historic Sur and visit some dhowyards where we see how dhows are still made by hand. After dinner at our hotel we head for the beach to see the nesting habits of the green turtle. [B,L,D]

Day 18 Ras Al Hadd – Desert Camp
Another action-packed day as we visit the enchanting Wadi Bani Khalid. Here we discover pools of cool, deep water perfect for a long swim. Then later in Wahiba the golden sands are the perfect spot for the thrills of 'dune-bashing' (age restrictions apply). This evening we spend the night in the desert under a million stars at our Bedouin camp. [B,D]

Day 19 Desert Camp – Nizwa
We travel to the Western Al Hajar Mountains via the charming abandoned mercantile town of Al Mansfah. We explore the picturesque village of Misfat Al Abrein, dramatically located on the side of a large mountain, before continuing on to Nizwa. [B]

Day 20 Nizwa – Muscat
We rise early and travel to Bahla, one of the oldest recorded civilisations in Oman and renowned for its beautiful pottery. We move on to visit the famous fortress at Jabrin, with its maze of rooms, courtyards, dungeons and secret passages. [B]

Day 21 Depart Oman
This morning is at leisure before we begin our journey home. [B]

*Note on Nile Cruises: The Nile cruises featured on all tourist itineraries to Egypt operate between the cities of Luxor and Aswan. These cities lie only 240km apart which means this distance could easily be covered in only 1 or 2 days without stops. Due to logistical and scheduling reasons the cruises are offered only as 3, 4 and 7 night packages. This allows for extensive sightseeing along the way and, as such, much of the time is spent in port in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo or Aswan. Each cruise itinerary will, however, have an element of day-time cruising - allowing you to relax and see life along the river.

Note on Esna Lock and Itinerary Schedule: Please note that due to the high volume of river traffic all cruise itineraries are subject to change without notice. The order and timing of sightseeing may therefore change, however all inclusions will remain the same. Similarly, travel through the Esna Lock is subject to river traffic and local conditions which means you may pass through the lock during the night or have an extended wait prior to entering the lock.

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