Fairytales of Fayoum

Welcome to Cairo! A driver will meet you in the airport and transfer you to your hotel, overlooking the Great Pyramids of Giza. Enjoy some time to settle in, relax, have a spa treatment, and enjoy the breathtaking views from the verandah. In the evening you’ll meet your guide and fellow travellers. Your host is Emma, originally from the UK but has been living in Egypt for over seven years. Her team will take you off the beaten path, away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist sights, and give you a unique, local perspective on life in Egypt. This is a truly authentic experience and the best way to experience this incredible country!

Start your holiday off with a relaxed morning. You will be picked up from your hotel and head to the great Giza Pyramids for your first ride of the trip; a bucket-list moment! Feel the rush as you gallop across the golden sands of the Sahara desert atop a stunning and powerful Arabian horse. This ride is exhilarating and offers once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities of you riding in front of the pyramids.  Ride time is approximately 2 hours. After your epic horse ride, you’ll have the opportunity to join an Egyptologist and explore the history, culture and magic of these wondrous monuments on foot.

After the tour, you will visit a local restaurant for an authentic Egyptian lunch before heading back to the hotel for a quick refresh. A driver will pick you up for the 1.5 hour transfer to Fayoum. Enjoy dinner at your Fayoumi-style villa accommodation overlooking the serene Qaroun Lake.

Today you have a free morning to take a walk to the pottery school, dip in the pool or just relax. After an easy morning and a lovely breakfast at your hotel, set out for a ride to Magic Lake. Located in the beautiful World Heritage site of Wadi El Hitan, this remote lake got its name from its mesmerizing waters. Watch closely, and you’ll notice the colors change several times each day depending on the sunlight it receives. Around the lake, you’ll have access to miles of gorgeous, open desert to ride. Magic Lake is also known to have a number of healing minerals, so we encourage you to take your horse for a swim!

After your time in the desert, return to your accommodations for a delicious Egyptian dinner and a good night’s rest.

Start your day with a hearty breakfast to prepare for a full day of riding. After breakfast, you will be picked up by a driver and head out to the heart of Wadi El Rayan, one of Egypt’s most famous and beautiful nature reserves. This area has gorgeous views, cascading waterfalls, and towering rock formations. It is also home to some of Egypt’s most exclusive wildlife, including white gazelle, foxes, and rare eagles. Upon arrival at the reserve, you will saddle up and ride out with your guide. Wadi El Rayan is one of the best places for a day of epic horse riding. Enjoy full gallops across the endless desert and long canter stretches through picturesque scenery.

Tonight you are in for a special treat. Dine under the vast desert skies, littered with stars. You can choose to sleep in tents right in the center of Wadi El Rayan or head back to your hotel. 

Today you have the opportunity to test out our second favourite mode of transpiration, the 4×4! Head far off the beaten path where you can play on the epic sand dunes. Cruise across the desert to Whale Valley, one of the world’s most fascinating and important archaeological sites. Here you can find the ancient, fossilized remains of now-extinct whales. These fossils date back as far as 37 million years and outline one of the world’s major stories of evolution.

After a tasty local lunch, a driver will pick you up and head back to Cairo for a lovely cocktail, dinner, and overnight at Mena House.

Enjoy an authentic Egyptian breakfast overlooking the Pyramids from your hotel. Before your flight to Luxor in the afternoon, choose between a good desert gallop, a guided tour of Cairo’s newest museum, or indulge in a morning by the hotel pool. If a desert gallop is your pick, you can take another epic spin around the pyramids. If history and culture are more your speed today, join a guided tour of Cairo’s new Grand Egyptian Museum, where you’ll get up close to royal mummies, ancient artefacts, and stunning architecture. For those wanting a bit of indulgence, this might be the perfect time for that spa treatment (at your own cost)

After the morning activities, you will catch a short flight to Luxor, then check into your hotel for the evening.

Today you have the opportunity to choose your adventure. We have created two experiences for returning guests who do not wish to sightsee again but would rather dedicate their time with us to being in the saddle and those new to Luxor and wish to combine both riding and sightseeing into their stay. Option one is a non-riding tour of The Valley of the Kings, an Egyptian-styled lunch, and an introductory Luxor ride. Option two is a full-day trail ride in The Valley of the Kings with an Egyptian-styled lunch.

The Valley of the Kings, located on the remote west banks of the Nile, is where some of the most important pharaohs in Egyptian history built their crypts. Some of those pharaohs include Tutankhamun, or “The Boy King”, and Hatshepsut, one of the most successful and well-known women pharaohs in Egyptian history. The valley contains hundreds of beautifully painted and carefully sculpted limestone tombs with chambers filled with treasures for pharaohs to take to the afterlife. Discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter, this incredible site has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Explore these sites with a private, local Egyptologist, or see them through the ears of your trusty steed. 

After a day of discovery or a thrilling desert ride, enjoy a delicious dinner and an evening belly dancing lesson on the Nile.  

Today you will have the option of non-riding tours plus a sunset ride or a full day of riding. On the non-riding tour option, you will have the opportunity to discover the Karnak Temple and the Luxor Museum followed by lunch, then a gorgeous sunset ride to the Colossi of Memnon and Mount Thebes. On the full-day riding tour option, experience the nobility and sure-footedness of the Arabian and Balady (a local breed) horses in a stunning desert ride, finished off with a sunset excursion.

The Karnak Temple is one of the largest and most important religious complexes in ancient Egyptian history. The temple has been ever-changing for hundreds of years as pharaohs added their own tombs and constructions. The various architectural, artistic, and cultural details make it an invaluable piece of Egyptian history and evolution.

The Luxor Museum houses a brilliant display of antiques, artistic masterpieces, and ancient artefacts mostly gathered from Theban temples. The museum’s collection includes pieces dating back to the Old Kingdom and all the way through the Mamluk period. 

As the sun begins to set, experience the mighty, towering statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, or the “colossi” from horseback. The 18m (60ft) sandstone statues once stood guardian to Amenhotep’s mortuary complex before it was claimed by Egypt’s floods and earthquakes. Continue on to the top of Mount Thebes as the sun settles and casts beautiful shadows over the sacred sands of the valley.

After a full day of activities, return to town for an authentic Egyptian dinner.

The sunrise balloon trail ride is one of Luxor’s most iconic experiences. Rise before the sun, saddle up, and head out into the quiet desert. Witness a breathtaking kaleidoscope of colours as the sun peaks over the horizon and catches the colourful balloons, gently rising above the dark sands like floating lanterns. (Note: this is weather dependent)

After a picturesque morning, you will return to the hotel for a delicious breakfast. Enjoy a few hours of relaxation at the hotel before checking out at 11.30. Late check-outs are available upon request, for an extra fee.