What I liked about the destination:

I was based in Egypt for 3 years working as a tour leader. At no time did I ever tire of seeing this country’s amazing sights week after week. Seeing giant man made stone mountains and temples that far outstrip any other countries wonders for age and pure abundance (around 50% of the worlds known antiquities are in Egypt!). Plus each sight is never a simple 5 minute visit; covered in ancient script and drawings depicting stories and life 5000 years ago. Each sight has a story behind it, many of which you probably already know from movies and books, whether it’s Moses, Cleopatra or from a mummy movie, you will have a connection with the sights you see. Oh and it’s cheap to boot!

Egypt has so much to see and a lot of people go to see it! Millions of tourists travel North to South down the country via the Nile, which affords visitors the most well known and easily attainable sights. Then for those with an extra week they head East to the Red Sea to soak in the clear waters and swim amongst the beautiful reefs. Yet 99% of people miss the greatest part of Egypt, the Western Desert! Whilst others sit on a beach catching a tan the 1% head out into the Great Sand Sea and sun themselves whilst coasting through the swirling sands as they see mind blowing ancient sights and unique natural formations which are scattered amongst the dunes.

The Western Desert is made up of a scattering of oases which have been used for generation upon generation of tribes. The biggest and most noticeable is Siwa. Follow the route where Alexander the Great trekked his army into the desert to see the fabled Oracle and prove he was the son of a God. It is here in the Oracle temple where you stand in the exact spot Alexandra stood over 2000 years ago amongst the walls of the ancient temple. Once your moment of grandeur finishes, you can head to Shali the mud city which stands several stories high and still dominates the oasis. Standing for over 700 years it met it’s end as a habitable area of the town when rains swept parts of the originally eight story high structures away. You’re still able to walk amongst the ruins seeing the remains of the culture that lived there. Then it’s a simple walk over to the Mountain of the Dead, one of the possible resting places of Alexander the Great. Get to see mummies up close and personal as you enter the various tombs that honey comb this formation. Then it’s time to have a dip in a warm spring once graced by Cleopatra herself or maybe you head to one of the other hot springs, just don’t swim in the super saline giant salt lakes which in some areas head to the horizon acting as a mirror for the sky. Now it’s time to get in the 4x4’s and to do some sand bashing as you race up and over some the world’s largest dunes (some reaching 150 metres, it makes for a fantastic roller coaster!) and maybe stop for a swim in Ein Hudra the small lake in the dunes. With nothing but dunes for miles this pristine pool makes for a memory that will stay with you for life.

If the unlikely circumstance happens of you getting bored of these amazing sights then it’s time to head to the market and see the locals go about their daily business from a café with a sweet mint tea in one handle and a mouth watering date in the other. You have to try the local dates, their famous and you’ll certainly see your driver and guide with heavier bags when you leave town.

During your time in Siwa you would have been lucky to see another ten or so non natives, now be prepared to be the only travellers for miles! Exploring out into the desert in your 4X4 you stop by amazing tombs to see a plethora of mummies lying just where they were found. There is no other spot in Egypt where you can get so close and take pictures of so many mummies in their natural state with no glass blurring your shots. In fact since no one else is around and there’s no security it’s possible to pick them up and fling them around…..though obviously don’t do that!

Soon you’ll come to the major natural highlights of the trip, the White Desert. Giant two to three storey high white rock formations sculpted by the wind, they create a bizarre alien world as thousands of the forms stretch to the horizon. In my opinion, one of the most naturally beautiful spots in the world. Here you spend the night camped out under these spectacles and watch as they seemingly glow in the moon light.

The Explore tour takes you to the sights I’ve mentioned plus several more. Explore have one of the longest running histories in the Adventure Travel business and they always deliver amazing, memorable experiences for travellers. If you have the extra week to spare, you must do this tour!!

Includes: accommodation, tour leader, transportation, some meals, local payment.

CDN$, per person. Land only. Other dates available, prices may vary, please contact us for details. Booking code EPW.

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