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: Lodge, Dakhla (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 05: Dakhla – Sugar Loaf – Mud Lions - Gilf el Kebir
After breakfast the adventure begins – the jeeps leave Dakhla and go towards the Gilf el Kebir. We pass the rocks of Sugar Loaf with a memorial to Samir Lana. Afterwards proceed to Abu Ballas, a jar deposit dating back to Pharaonic times that served the caravans going from Dakhla to Kufra. After a few hours more we make camp near the Mud Lions, rocks shaped and formed by the wind from baked sand.
Overnight: Tent (B, L, D)

Day 06: Eight Bells – Kawal el Din Monument – Jebel Uweinat
In the morning we pass the WW II airstrip of Eight Bells. Empty kerosene cans mark the landing strip. Proceed along the Eastern flank of the Gilf el Kebir to the monument for Prince Kamal el Din, one of the first explorers of the area. 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 entert he 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! Tent overnight outside Karkur Talh.
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 – Foggini Cave
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. AAfterwards drive to the site of Foggini cave which is even more beautifully painted.
Overnight: Tent (B, L, D)

Day 09: Aqaba - Wadi Homra or Wadi Abdel Malik
We leave the caves and start the ascent to Aqaba pass. Afterwards we drive across the plateau of the Gilf; from high up one has a marvellous view of Wadi Homra before descending into the valley and driving north. Wadi Homra is aptly named the "Red Valley". Sand and rocks have a colouring unique in Egypt. Here one can find rock inscriptions as well. Sometimes the routing will lead through Wadi Abdelmalik instead, the long valley Almassy thought to be the lost oasis of Zarzoura.
Overnight: Tent (B, L, D)

Day 10 -12: Silica Fields - Great Sand Sea
Drive north to the Silica Glass Fields that were created by a meteor impact. The desert glass was a coveted material even in Pharaonic times and was used for jewellery like one of Tutankhamen's breastplates. From here we have to drive for three days through the Great Sand Sea - one of the most arid areas on earth. Single dunes combine to an endless Sea of Sand. Getting stuck is now and then is nearly unavoidable and part of the adventure! This is one of the most exciting parts of the tour. We camp on the outskirts of the Sand Sea near Siwa and take the opportunity to have a bath in the hot spring of Bir Wahid.
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. After arrival we start exploring the oasis: 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.
Overnight: Siwa Paradise Hotel, 1 night (B, L, D)

Day 14: Siwa - Matruh
After breakfast drive to Marsa Matruh on the Mediterranean - the remainder of the day is free to enjoy the beach
Overnight: Beach 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
2010 English Speaking Departures Jan 01, Feb 06, Mar 13, Apr 03, May 08, Sep 25, Oct 23, Nov 06 & Dec 18
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 2010 US $ 2980 US $ 250
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast N/A USA - West Coast US $ 1600 Canada - East Coast N/A USA - East Coast US $ 1400
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.