|
GILF KEBIR AND UWEINAT
This is perhaps the finest desert expedition yet to be undertaken in Egypt featuring Nabta, Uweinat, The Gilf, the Great Sand Sea, Siwa Oasis and the Valley of the Whales all in one great journey. |
|
 |
Day 1 – London/Luxor
Fly London to Luxor with EgyptAir and on arrival transfer for one night at the friendly medium-class Mercure Egotel.
Day 2 – El Kab/Aswan
South to the Eastern Desert to view ancient petroglyphs at El Kab and on to Aswan for one night at the medium-class Basma Hotel. This evening we pay a visit to the superb Nubian Museum. (B)
|
Day 3 – Nabta Playa
Today we head out into the desert and by kind permission we may visit the important predynastic site of Nabta Playa with its famous burials and standing stones. We take our fi rst night’s camp far beyond this important and unforgettable site. (BLD)
Day 4 – Uweinat
Crossing the amazing Selima Sand Sheet heading towards Uweinat we take many stops to look at the wonderful changing geology en route. AWT and our drivers know the terrain well. We will camp by some suitable dunes. (BLD) This is perhaps the finest desert expedition yet to be undertaken in Egypt featuring Nabta, Uweinat, The Gilf, the Great Sand Sea, Siwa Oasis and the Valley of the Whales all in one great journey.
Day 5 – Karkur Tahl
Today we camp near the great mountain Uweinat and explore the gorge of Karkur Tahl and surrounding wadis with our fi rst and truly exceptional cattle paintings. (BLD)
Day 6 – Wadi Sura
We head nor th along the foot of the Gilf Kebir and camp ready for the revelations of the coming day. (BLD)
Day 7 – Wadi Sura
Today we start at the remote legendary Cave of the Swimmers to look at the prehistoric rock art made famous by the fi lm ‘The English Patient’. Continue to the newly mapped and overwhelming Mestakawi Cave, arguably one of the fi nest single pieces of rock art in the world where we will see hundreds of painted fi gures, animals and the emotive hand marks of ancient artists. Return to camp. (BLD) Expert: Andie Byrnes is an archaeologist, scholar and lecturer who specialises in predynastic and prehistoric Egypt.
Day 8 – Wadi Abdel Malik
Early morning ascent to the Gilf Kebir plateau and drive to the lovely Wadi Abdel Malik area to camp. (BLD)
Day 9 – To The Great Sand Sea
We continue our journey north looking for evidence of prehistory and geology as we go. (BLD)
Day 10 – Great Sand Sea
On through the mighty expanse of the Great Sand Sea and take our camp as we go. We will make frequent stops and there will be camp fi re talks at night under the stars. (BLD)
Day 11– Great Sand Sea
Our unforgettable journey continues with dune fi elds all around and vistas of staggering beauty. (BLD)
|
|
Day 12 – Siwa
Today we arrive in the last Oasis, Siwa. Time for showers and beds! Time to refl ect on the incredible crossing of the Great Sand Sea. Two nights in a simple hotel. (BLD)
|
|
Day 13 – Full Day Siwa
Siwa will reveal her palm groves, gardens and natural springs alongside the Temple of the Oracle and the decorated tombs of Gebel Mawta. (BLD)
Day 14 – Siwa/Bahariya
We turn south on the old road to Bahariya and explore the tombs at Qasr Selim and the chapels of Ain Muftillah. Overnight Palm Village. (BLD)
Day 15 – Wadi Hitan/Cairo
We make our way to Cairo via the fabulous Valley of the Whales where we can see Zeuglodon fossils and sharks teeth and mangrove all in the sand! Our fi nal night is at the Sofi tel Maadi. (BL)
Day 16 - Cairo/London
Fly Cairo to London with EgyptAir arriving later that same day. (B)
Expert: Andie Byrnes is an archaeologist, scholar and lecturer who specialises in predynastic and prehistoric Egypt. |