Palms, Pyramids and Pharaohs

On arrival, you will be met at the airport by your driver and transported through the bustling streets of Cairo to your accommodation. Your hosts choose boutique hotels located on the back streets of Giza, just a few hundred meters from the great Pyramids. The rooftop terraces offer stunning views over the Pyramids and Sphinx, and you might even be able to glimpse these wonders from the comfort of your white cotton sheets. Enjoy your first dinner with your fellow adventurers around 8PM.

On your day in Cairo, you’ll have the opportunity to tick off some of Egypt’s bucket-list sights! You’ll meet for breakfast around 8AM to talk through the day’s itinerary.

After breakfast, you’ll head to the stables where you’ll meet the herd of beautiful Arabian horses. Before you begin there will be a safety briefing and your guides will explain the history of the horses and their role in the unique Egyptian culture. Then it’s time to mount up as you set off on your first ride to the world-famous Pyramids of Giza! Riding across the plains towards this unique skyline is a thrill that not many people get to experience!

Once you arrive at one of the 7 Wonders of the World, you will have the opportunity to dismount and explore the tombs and chambers on foot. Walk a short distance to the Sphinx with your Egyptologist guide who will tell you all about it’s fascinating history. Known in Arabic as Abu Al Hol (Father of Terror), this sculpture of a man with the haunches of a lion was dubbed the Sphinx by the ancient Greeks.

After an awe-inspiring morning, lunch will be served at one of the local restaurants in town. Then you’ll head out in the afternoon for a non-riding tour of Cairo Museum. The museum contains over 120,000 Egyptian artifacts and the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic antiques. 

Next, it’s time to head to Luxor! All guests will need to purchase an internal flight between Cairo and Luxor which will be specified upon booking. The late afternoon flights are inexpensive and less than an hour, giving you plenty of time to enjoy a relaxing dinner and well-earned rest. Luxor is quite peaceful after the hustle and bustle of the city. The hotels are close to the stables and the river Nile for a truly authentic stay!

This non-riding morning will be an excellent introduction to the Land of the Pharaohs. Stroll through the “Valley of the Kings”, also know as “The Valley of the Dead”, where some of the most important pharaohs in Egyptian history built their crypts. Your guide is an Egyptologist who will give you a tour of these incredible catacombs and explain the meaning of the intricate hieroglyphs.

After lunch, you will travel by tuk-tuk to the stables where you will meet the horses who will take you on your first ride in Luxor. The Bedouin-style yard, crafted by locals, is located on the West Bank of the Nile with a stunning, mountainous backdrop. The herd of Arabian horses will be grazing in the lush green plantation fields, accompanied by the farm’s resident camels and donkeys.

Enjoy a casual and relaxing ride through the colorful and often chaotic villages while getting to know the wonderful horses. Continue along under the gently swaying palm trees of the River Nile where you might see the powerful water buffalo grazing along the banks. This is a great spot for photos with the River Nile in the background! After the lovely late-afternoon ride, a local Egyptian feast will be served for dinner. Grab a plush cushion and a seat on the floor, and don’t be afraid to eat with your hands! A tradition when in Luxor!

Get a good breakfast in before a long day in the saddle and prepare to fall in love with both Arabian and Baladi (local breed) horses! These wonderful breeds are famous for their beauty, endurance, intelligence and kind-nature. 

Saddle up and venture far past the farmers working their fields just as their ancestors did, and deep into the desert. Horses are revered in Egypt so they always bring a smile to people’s faces as you ride pass through the Bedouin villages. The local children love the spectacle of the decorated horses prancing proudly through the streets. On horseback, you get the full experience of authentic Egypt, complete with all the colourful chaos of this beautiful country. It’s like stepping back in time. You’ll see a very different side of Africa, with city streets lined with colourful markets and lots of motorbikes, cars and trucks zipping along the roads. As you get to know your horse’s personality you will be amazed at how kind-hearted and generous they are despite their hot-blooded natures. Sensitive and inquisitive they are also incredibly brave and 100% bomb-proof!

You’ll stop for lunch at a Villa where the horses are untacked to have a doze in the shade. Guests can unwind by the swimming pool during the heat of the day, before an hour-long ride back to the stables.

You’ll have some time at the hotel to relax before meeting up at around 5PM for a sundowner cruise down the River Nile. To complete this epic day you will be joined by a professional belly dancer after dinner who will teach you all about her art as well as give you some moves to take home. This is often the highlight of the trip and a very fun experience!

A morning of sightseeing awaits you today. After breakfast, you’ll cross the river to the East Bank in one of the local water taxis. Then make your way to the world-famous Karnak Temple.  Forget all you have come to expect in regard to scale and space and be astonished by the Temples of Amun-Ra. Your guides and Egyptologist will be on hand to show you through the labyrinth and explain the purpose, meaning and history of the amazing ruins of Karnak and the open-air museum.

From Karnak, stroll through the colourful village to get to the Mummification Museum, a small but well-curated museum dedicated to the art of mummification. It is a fascinating insight into the ancient Egyptian belief system as well as the process itself.

Finally, visit Luxor Temple, largely built by the New Kingdom pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramses II. This temple is a strikingly graceful monument in the heart of the modern town. Also known as the Southern Sanctuary, its main function was during the annual Opet celebrations when the statues of Amun, Mut and Khonsu were brought from Karnak, along the Avenue of Sphinxes, and reunited here during the inundation..

Sailing back across the Nile we will enjoy an alfresco lunch back at the hotel before setting off for a late afternoon ride into the desert. This horse ride will take you up the escarpment to mount Thebes. Pause to take in the breathtaking, panoramic views of Luxor from horseback. Then ride back to Luxor in the glorious colours of sunset shimmering over the desert sands. Dinner and overnight at Villa Nile House.

This morning you’ll get up before dawn, making your way to the stables in the dark. The sunrise trail ride to Valley of the Kings, just as the sun begins to peak out beyond the desert plains, has become one of the most famous rides in Luxor! Watch the sun lift over the valley, throwing gorgeous colors over the vast landscape whilst vibrant hot air balloons light up the horizon like lanterns. 

You will ride past Ramesseum Temple, the Cossal of Memnon and the giant statues of Tutankhamuns grandfather. A bucket-list desert breakfast will be served out with the horses overlooking Habu Temple. 

After the spectacular morning ride, you will be collected for a tour of the Temple of Hatshepsut, considered one of the most impressive mortuary temples in all of Egypt. It represents not only her devotion to her god, Horus but is also a reflection of her peaceful and prosperous reign. Set against the backdrop of a striking red cliff face it is a dramatic sight to behold. You will return to the hotel for lunch and prepare for the drive to the Red Sea and Hurghada. Aiming to arrive for sunset, you will have the opportunity to enjoy sundowners overlooking the beach; the perfect end to a fun-filled day!

Today you will have the morning off. Relax by the Red Sea, go for a swim in the hotel pool or simply enjoy a lazy morning at the resort!  But if you prefer to tag on something unique and memorable to your trip we can book an amazing professional photoshoot complete with hair, make-up and flowing dresses. Choose from a beach or a desert setting and strike a pose with your horse! Alternatively, for the restless adrenaline junkies, we can offer an exhilarating quad bike safari across the dunes (these activities are an extra cost)

After an early lunch, head out to explore the magnificent Eastern Desert by horseback. You will have 4 hours to romp and play in the open desert. Known as ‘yalla country’, the desert’s vast open plains allow you to really let the horses go and revel in their speed and endurance! Catch a famous Egyptian sunset, an impressive show of color as the last of the light dances across the desert sands and glistens on the gentle waves of the Red Sea.

After freshening up at the hotel, you will head down to Hurghada’s Marina. Once a typical fishing village, it has become famous for its extensive fish market. Your final evening will be spent sampling a feast from the sea, dining on fresh produce straight out of the morning’s catch. Overnight at hotel.

No trip would be complete without swimming with horses; the grand finale to an adventure holiday for the books! Enjoy an unforgettable morning with our horses on the shores of the Red Sea. This is also one of the many fantastic photo opportunities on this riding holiday. After final cuddles with your horses, it is time to thank them and say farewell.

Hotel check-out is at 11AM. For those wishing to stay for later departure, an extra charge is payable locally.

For those who aren’t quite ready for the adventure to end, there is an option to stay for an additional night and embark on our full-day boat trip to Dolphin House. Here, you will have the opportunity to snorkel in the Red Sea and swim with wild dolphins. This add-on is an extra £250 per person (includes all meals and an extra night with check out on day 9 at 11AM. Please inquire about airport transfers.)