Tombs, Dunes & Kingdoms

On arrival, your driver will meet you at the airport and transport you to your hotel. The hotel is located on the back streets of Giza, just a few hundred meters from the Great Pyramids. The roof terrace offers stunning views of the Sphinx and Pyramids and is perfect for your first night in Cairo. We recommend that you arrive in the afternoon to have dinner with your hosts and meet your fellow travellers.

After a traditional breakfast, head to the site to meet the horses and your guides, who will take you on an awe-inspiring ride to the 7th Wonder of the World – The Giza Pyramids. Your horses may be adorned with traditional protective necklaces to set the theme for your authentic Egyptian adventure.

The open desert allows fantastic riding at all paces, including exhilarating gallops! This bucket list trail ride will take you past Giza’s four most famous sights: the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure, and the Sphinx. The entire area has an indescribable feeling. The horses are tuned into the excitement, too, as they race across the golden sand surrounding these ancient monuments.

Upon arrival at the Sphinx, you will dismount and explore this incredible area on foot. Carved from one solid piece of stone, this mysterious statue is one of the oldest sculptures from the Old Kingdom. Lunch today will be served at a local restaurant, an array of flatbreads, dips, koftas and salads. After lunch, the drivers will take you on your hour-and-a-half transfer to Fayoum. You’ll aim to arrive just in time to hop into the saddle for a sunset ride. Enjoy a tasty dinner and a good night’s rest at this desert oasis accommodations.

A hearty breakfast is a must today in preparation for a full day of horse riding to explore the extraordinary hidden gem of the Fayoum Oasis. Considered by many as a time capsule harking back to Egypt’s past, this green oasis is a wonder not to be missed. Kept lush and green by Lake Qarun, Fayoum is a throwback to another era. Residents get around its small villages in donkey carts, tuk-tuks, or horseback.

You’ll drive for around half an hour into the centre of the National Park before saddling up. The vast open desert is perfect for fast gallops across the dunes! There will also be time to take in the awe-inspiring rock formations and unspoiled scenery only accessible on horseback. After a full day exploring the desert, indulge in a classic Egyptian dinner at your guesthouse.

You have time to relax this morning and reflect on the last few days of adventure. After lunch, saddle up for an afternoon of horse riding to the accurately named Magic Lake in Wadi El Hitan. This remote lake got its name thanks to its mesmerising waters, whose colours shift and change several times each day depending on how much sunlight it receives. It also houses many healing minerals, and we highly recommend a dip!

Take in the stunning Egyptian landscapes with a thrilling gallop through the vast desert or a more serene walk along the lake shores. Be sure to soak in the wonders of Fayoum’s renowned waterfall! Famous for its sunsets, you can watch the sun fall below the horizon from between your horse’s ears.

Today, you will get the opportunity to test out our second favourite mode of transportation: 4 x 4s! Play on the epic dunes and cruise to Whale Valley. This is one of the world’s most fascinating Zooarchaeolical sites. Here, you can find the ancient, fossilised remains of now-extinct whales. These fossils date back as far as 37 million years and outline one of the world’s significant stories of evolution.

After this fascinating tour, you’ll head to the Fayoum Pottery School. Founded in the 70s by Swiss artists, it has become a thriving school and helps to keep the local pottery-making traditions alive. With the help of village artisans, they built their kiln, studio, and house using traditional materials and methods. A guide will take you on a tour of the school and charming mudbrick compound.

After a day of cultural sightseeing, return to Cairo Airport for your flight to Luxor. Enjoy dinner at the hotel before turning in for the night.

Today, you have the opportunity to choose your adventure. We have created three experiences – those for returning guests who do not wish to sightsee again but would instead dedicate their time to being in the saddle and those who are new to Luxor and wish to combine both riding and sightseeing into their stay. Of course, there is also an option for a relaxing morning by the pool and an afternoon ride.

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 of typical Egyptian fare cooked by your wonderful hosts.

Today is all about authentic Egypt. If you haven’t already, prepare to fall in love with both Arabian and Baladi (local breed) horses who are famed for their beauty and endurance. These longer trails allow you to experience the horses and country life here in more depth. From horseback, you will see the farmers working the fields just as their ancestors did. Mid-morning, prepare to be amazed as these sure-footed horses take you behind the Valley of the Kings and to the top of Mount Thebes so that you can see panoramic views of Luxor.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before your trail home takes you past the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III. This is a brilliant opportunity for photos with the horses!

After an inspiring day of riding, it’s time to freshen up at the hotel and then cross the Nile by boat to the Eastern Bank. Indulge in cocktails at the Winter Palace Hotel, made famous by Agatha Christie’s ‘Death on the Nile’. Built in the 1900s, this opulent hotel was designed to accommodate nobility. Famous guests include Howard Carter and his team, who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun. After drinks, there are 2 options for the group, depending on the weather and what the group wishes to do. Either you’ll sail your way back in time for an alfresco dinner in the courtyard of our hotel and a spot of belly dancing!  Or you can take in the delights of historic Karnak at night with its light and sound show, followed by dinner on the boat.

A trip to Luxor would not be complete without watching the hot air balloons take off at sunrise! Wake before dawn to the sound of the prayer call and saddle up to watch the sun and balloons rise, casting spectacular rainbow shadows over this exquisite piece of history. Booking a hot air balloon flight is also possible – let us know if this is on your bucket list.

Have breakfast outside the Temple of Habu before exploring this temple dedicated to Amun and Ra. Built by Rameses III, legends say it is the place where Amun first appeared. It is an imposing structure and boasts some beautifully preserved murals and hieroglyphs. Visiting early means you miss the crowds, and it feels like a well-kept secret!

Your final stop of the day is the Temple of Hatshepsut. It is thought to be a masterpiece of the Pharaonic era, it reflects her prosperous reign and represents her devotion to the god Horus. The Temple also acts as her mortuary temple and is an incredible example of the wealth and master craftmanship of these ancient times. The hieroglyphs are exquisite, and the scale of the monument is breathtaking – a spectacular finale to your journey through Egypt.

For those leaving today, you’ll have a farewell lunch and then head off to the airport.

For those doing the optional Aswan & Abu Simbel extension, you’ll hop into your transfer car to Aswan after lunch. Along the way, you’ll have time to visit the Horus Temple in Edfu and the Temple of Sobek Kim Ombo. These temples are dedicated to the Crocodile-headed god Sobek and the Falcon-headed god Horus the Elder. On reaching Aswan, take in the colourful Nubian architecture and views of the Nile flowing past.

Wake up to a beautiful day in Aswan, with the River Nile on your doorstep. This city is known for its exquisite scenery, archaeological sights, artistic architecture, and peaceful aura. With warm weather all year round, it’s the perfect winter retreat. Explore the colourful Nubian Villages, the Unfinished Obelisk, and the Nubian Museum. Then, board a felucca (Egyptian sailboat) for an idyllic sail along the Nile and visit the Temple of Philae and Elephantine Island, taking in the incredible views of the Nile Valley from the water. Enjoy cocktails at Hotel Sofitel Legend Old Cataract (where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile) before returning to your guesthouse for the evening.

It’s an early morning start on your last day as you head to the UNESCO Abu Simbel World Heritage Site. It’s about a 3-hour drive from Aswan but a bucket list experience for anyone interested in Egyptian and Nubian history.

Abu Simbel is a historic site comprising two massive temples carved directly into the mountainside. They are situated about 3 hours South of Aswan along Lake Nasser’s shore and are considered the most famous temples in Egypt after the Giza Pyramids. Built Ramesses II, these monolithic rock-cut temples marked the southern boundary between the Egyptian Empire and Nubia at the peak of its power. The four statues guarding the doorway of the larger temple are the biggest sculptures from the ancient Pharaonic era. Another rock-cut temple to the north, known as the Small Temple, is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Ramesses II’s Wife, Queen Nefertari. It might be hard to imagine, but the two temples were moved from their original location in 1968 after the Aswan High Dam was built.

After an awe-inspiring morning, you’ll have lunch at one of the local seafood restaurants along the river. Then, you’ll drive back to Aswan for your flight to Cairo and your onward journey home.