EXPEDITION TO THE GILF EL KEBIR & THROUGH THE GREAT SAND SEA TO SIWA
A cultural tour of Egypt

An expedition into one of the last white spots on the map – to the fossilized whales in Wadi Heitan, through the wonderland of the White Desert and into the valleys of Jebel Uwaynat. The Gilf el Kebir with its Neolithic rock drawings and a breathtaking journey through the Great Sand Sea, which brings us to Siwa oasis as a finale!

Day 01: Arrival
Arrival at Cairo Airport, assistance and transfer to ho-tel. Check in time starts from 1500 hrs.
Over-night: Grand Pyramids Resort (D)

Day 02: Kairo - Fayum - Wadi Rayan -Wadi Heitan
Departure by jeep to Fayum, an oasis that was cultivated during the reign of the pharaohs. Proceed to Wadi Rayan, where a branch of the Nile pours into the Qarun lake, and then to the National Park of Wadi Heitan. The fossilized bones of ancient sea mammals have given the area its name of “Valley of the Whales”.
Overnight: Tent (B, L, D)

Day 03: Wadi Heitan - Baharija – White Desert
After arrival in Baharija drive through the picturesque palm groves of the oasis and stroll through the town of Bawiti. Afterwards proceed to the White Desert.
Overnight: Tent (B, L, D)

Day 04: White desert – Farafra - Dakhla
In the morning two hours walk through the White Desert near Wadi Mushroom and its famous mushroom-shaped rocks, with enough opportunities to linger and take photos. Afterwards drive to Farafra, visit to the local museum. You will have the possibili-ties to bathe in the springs. After lunch drive to Dakh-la and visit to the old town of El Qasr with its covered walkways and carved doors.
Overnight: Einfacher Lodge, Dakhla (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 05: Dakhla – Gilf el Kebir
After breakfast the adventure begins – the jeeps leave Dakhla and go towards the Gilf el Kebir. After hours of adventurous driving the camp is set up at the eastern flank of the plateau.
Overnight: Tent (B, L, D)

Day 06: Jebel Uweinat – Karkur Talh
At first the route passes an ancient volcanic area, the Clayton craters which were formed by gas eruptions. Then we leave the Gilf area behind and go south. In the Karkur Talh or “Acacia Valley“ we enter the area of the Gebel Uwainat. Exploring the wadis with 4x4 approaching the most formidable mountain, the Uweinat is made of some of the oldest rock in Africa and straddles the borders of Egypt, Libya and Sudan. In Egypt the nearest water is a well 300 kms away!
Overnight: Tent (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 07: Karkur Talh
This day is dedicated to the exploration of the area and its rock drawings. In the 1930’s Winkler recorded the rock drawings here - the first prehistoric rock drawings ever found in this part of the Sahara. Situated roughly at the centre of the most arid area, its height is sufficient to capture a little precipitation from the summer monsoon clouds of the Sahel belt that occasionally reaches this far north. These rains are very infrequent, the last one was recorded in September 1998, and probably as much as 10-15 years may pass without rain. However even this little rain is sufficient to allow some vegetation and wildlife in the larger valleys. (B, L, D)

Day 08: Karkur Talh – Wadi Sura - Aqaba
Today we turn north again and pass the hills of Peter and Paul, ancient volcanoes that are a geologist’s heaven, and then to Wadi Sura in the western Gilf el Kebir. There we approach one of the highlights of the tour – a cave with Neolithic rock paintings depicting game, domestic animals and humans, among them the famous picture showing swimmers that was first discovered by Count Almassy. Afterwards the tour leads up by the pass of Aqaba on to the plateau.
Overnight: Tent (B, L, D)

Day 09: Aqaba - Wadi Abdel Malik
From the western escarpment one has a singularly beautiful view. A steep descend through El Monod pass leads to Wadi Abdel Malik, where Almassy wanted to locate the mythical oasis of Zarzoura. This valley also has some prehistoric rock drawings. Night camp in the 100 km long wadi.
Overnight: Tent (B, L, D)

Day 10 -12: Great Sand Sea
Three days of adventurous driving through the Great Sand Sea are one of the highlights of the tour. Single dunes combine to an endless Sea of Sand.
Overnight: Tent (B, L, D)

Day 13: Siwa Oasis
The last part of the tour through the sand sea and then entrance into Siwa oasis, the most remote oasis of the Western Desert.
Overnight: Siwa Paradise Hotel, 1 night (B, L, D)

Day 14: Siwa - Matruh
Sightseeing in Siwa: after a stop at the baths of Cleopatra we proceed to the old acropolis of Shali, then to the famous temple of Amun and the temple of pharaoh Amasis, and to Gebel Mawta with its rock tombs. Afterwards drive to Marsa Matruh on the Mediterranean coast.
Overnight: San Giovanni Hotel, 1 night (B, L, D)

Day 15: Matruh - Alamein – Alexandria - Cairo
Early morning departure on the coastal road, passing el Alamein. In Alexandria short city tour, then proceed to Cairo.
Overnight: Grand Pyramids Resort, 1 night (B, L, D)

Day 16: Departure
Transfer to Cairo airport and final departure. Check out time is by 1100 hrs. (B)

Departure Dates

2008 English Speaking Departures May 03 & 17, Sep 13 & 27, Oct 11 & 25, Nov 08 & 22, Dec 06 & 20 2009 English Speaking Departures Jan 03 & 17, Feb 07 & 21, Mar 07 & 21, Apr 04 & 18, May 02 & 16

Inclusions

Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Hotel Accommodation as mentioned or similar including hotel taxes Any Airfares Meal Plan as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Departure Taxes All sightseeing and transfers Travel Insurances & Visa Fees Services of local English speaking guide Beverages / Tips Entrance fees   Necessary permits

Tour Price

We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.

Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2008 - 2009 US $ 2980 • CA $ 2980 US $ 250 • CA $ 250

Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour

Canada - West Coast CA $ 1600 USA - West Coast US $ 1400 Canada - East Coast CA $ 1400 USA - East Coast US $ 1200

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 06 and a maximum of 12 participants.

Notes

Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.