Journey Through Egypt

(13 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Cairo, Alexandria, Western Desert Oases, Luxor

This tour is perfect for return visitors to Egypt—or for those who love a bit of adventure—and combines the urban attractions of Cairo, Luxor and Alexandria with a stay in Egypt's magical Western Desert Oases, exploring sand dunes, medieval villages and fortresses, ancient tombs and temples, local ethnographic and archaeological museums, hot springs, extraordinary rock formations, and diverse local cultures that give each oasis its own unique character.

Begin in Cairo. With your own private guide and driver, experience this fascinating city as an insider. Our Egypt specialists have left no stone unturned in their quest to uncover the city's most interesting cultural attractions, neighborhoods and markets—our tours offer the most in-depth, sophisticated Cairo touring available. In addition to visiting well-known attractions such as the Egyptian Museum, Hanging Church and Khan al-Khalili bazaar, also tour our favorite neighborhoods filled with beautiful Fatimid, Mameluke, Ottoman, Coptic and Art Deco architecture; well-preserved medieval residences formerly occupied by wealthy merchants; and fascinating markets and shopping streets.

En route to the Western Desert, spend a night in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great and today Egypt's second-largest city. Explore Alexandria's highlights, including the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina—a striking, state-of-the-art library built to replace the famed original, which was destroyed by fire.

Continue to the peaceful and mysterious Western Desert Oases, stopping en route to see the World War II memorials at El-Alamein. Start in Siwa Oasis, a lush oasis near the border of Libya blessed with plentiful date palms, olive trees and fresh-water springs. Remote and isolated, Siwa's inhabitants retain their own distinct culture and language. Visit the ruins of an ancient mudbrick town, Ptolemaic-era tombs, and the Temple of the Oracle, famous in ancient times and consulted by Alexander the Great. Next visit Bahiriyya Oasis, of the oases the least touched by the modern world. See the recently discovered "Golden Mummies," extremely well-preserved and lavishly decorated Greco-Roman mummies that were unearthed nearby. Drive through the spectacular White Desert, one of the natural wonders of Egypt, and explore its bizarre rock formations and eerily beautiful landscapes. Continue to Dakhla Oasis, considered the loveliest of the oases. Tour the spellbinding medieval village of Al-Qasr, with its Ottoman houses and 12th-century mosque, and other interesting villages and sites. Finally, visit Kharga Oasis, the largest and most developed of the oases. Explore various temples, a museum devoted to archaeological finds from the oases, and an early Christian necropolis housing hundreds of mudbrick tombs decorated with well-preserved Coptic murals.

Next, explore Luxor, a bustling town built on the site of the ancient capital city of Thebes. Discover Luxor's most fascinating and important archaeological sites—such as Luxor and Karnak Temples and the Valleys of the Kings and of the Queens—as well as interesting bazaars and souks, and excellent museums such as Luxor Museum or the Mummification Museum. The tour concludes with one night in Cairo. Upon request, arrangements can be made to tour monuments usually closed to the public or museums outside of opening hours.

This tour can be easily combined with a Nile cruise or any of our other Middle East tours.

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.
Call us at (800) 214-8144 for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.