Land of the Pharaohs - 10 days

Dr Sarcophagus – here we come! On a 10-day journey through the mysterious land of the Pharaohs, we’ll discover amazing pyramids and the treasures of the famed Egyptian museum; sail in style down the river Nile; ride high in a hot air balloon over Luxor’s deserted West Bank; search out ancient tombs in the Valleys of Kings and Queens; take a flight at day break to the colossal temple of King Ramses II at Abu Simbel; and soak up the atmosphere of buzzing downtown Cairo

But wait – there’s more. Accompanied by our very own Egyptologist throughout, we also drive to Port Said where Tintin first lands on Egyptian soil, and visit the nearby Suez Canal. We’ve included camel treks and horse riding by the Pyramids, felucca sailing in Aswan and stops at ancient temples along the banks of the Nile – it’s adventure aplenty – even enough to keep the evil mastermind Rastapopoulos at bay!

Day 1: Cairo
Cairo: If you look very hard through your aeroplane window, you might spot the great pyramids of Giza before landing in Cairo. And if not, you will soon after, at your hotel located right at the edge of the Pyramids. Overnight - Cairo
Day 2: Sphinx and Pyramids:
Sunrise at the Giza Plateau! Saddled on camels and with cameras at the ready, we hunt for the exact spot where Tintin himself discovered the pyramids. If you’re feeling brave, venture down into the burial chamber deep inside one of these giant ancient tombs. After lunch, with horses to suit all abilities, we take a gentle ride to the necropolis of Saqqara and explore the older Zhoser's step pyramid. Overnight - Cairo (B, L)
Copyright Herge / Moulinsart 2010
Day 3: Egyptian Museum and down town Cairo
On a guided tour of the famous Egyptian Museum, home to the treasures of King Tutankhamen, you’ll come face to face with some of the great rulers of ancient Egypt in the mummy room! It’s back to present day Egypt and the hustle and bustle of downtown Cairo this afternoon, exploring the famous Khan el Khalili markets, stoppng at historic Fishawi coffee house and the 19th century Citadel of Saladin. Overnight - Cairo (B)
Day 4: Port Said
This morning it’s a dry and dusty drive to Port Said, the city by the sea where Tintin first sets foot in Egypt. We also visit Suez, where enormous ships and tankers queue to enter the canal – this truly is watching the wheels of trade in motion. Back in Cairo, we board our overnight sleeper train headed for the world's greatest open air museum – 4,000 year old Luxor! Overnight - Sleeper Train (B, L, D)
Copyright Herge / Moulinsart 2010
Day 5: Luxor - Valleys of Kings & Queens
Time to go in search of the tomb of King Tutankhamen in the eerie rocky landscape of the Valleys of Kings and Queens – we might even stumble upon Hergé’s tomb of Pharaoh Kih-Oskh! After a visit to the Temple of Karnak, we board our Nile Cruiser and escape the dizzying afternoon sun. And at dusk, horse-drawn carriages take us to Luxor Temple, when it’s beautifully illuminated at night. Overnight - 5 star Nile Cruiser (B, L, D)
Day 6: Hot Air Ballooning
Up, up and away in a hot air balloon to see day break over Luxor. We then ‘up anchor’ and ease into a relaxing day sailing down the Nile. There’s fun and games on board tonight as we slip into disguise sporting traditional Egyptian galabeyas. Overnight - 5 Star Nile Cruising (B, L, D)
Day 7: Edfu & Kom Ombo
A bit more R&R on board, with leisurely stops at the riverside Temple of Horus at Edfu – the largest and most completely preserved pharaonic temple in Egypt – and the unusual temples of Haroeris and Sobek in Kom Ombo that date back to the Ptolemaic era. Overnight - 5 Star Nile Cruising (B, L, D)
Copyright Herge / Moulinsart 2010
Day 8: Aswan
Time warp! Swapping our modern Nile Cruise for a traditional felucca we sail to beautiful Elephantine Island. The mighty High Dam, a modern feat of engineering is our next stop, followed by a boat trip out to 4th century Philae Temple. Overnight - 5 Star Nile Cruiser (B, L, D)
Day 9: Abu Simbel
Saving possibly the best to last, we catch the sunrise flight to the sun temple of King Ramses II at Abu Simbel, arguably the most impressive of all Egypt’s monuments. Back in Cairo for our final dinner in the land of the Pharaoh’s, test your wits at decoding those baffling hieroglyphics. Overnight - Cairo (B, D)
Day 10: Cairo
Cairo: With the secrets of the Pharaohs revealed and the ominous symbol of Kih-Oskh well and truly demystified, it’s a transfer to the airport to catch our respective flights home. (B)

Extend your stay: The Western Oasis - 5 days
For a true desert experience Tintin style, head out west to the Bahayriyya Oasis and the striking White Desert where you’ll bed down under the stars, and visit the medieval covered city of Al Qas in the Dakhla Oasis. OR TRY THE RED SEA The perfect end to a cultural whirlwind through ancient Egypt is a few days to relax by the Rea Sea. Dahab, Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada and Taba all offer an excellent choice of hotels. Please enquire for availability and rates.