8-Day Cairo & Siwa Oasis Tour: Pyramids, Desert & Salt Lakes 8 days

Day 1: Arrive in Cairo

Welcome to Egypt & start of your holiday! Upon arrival at Cairo airport Our representative will be waiting for you inside the terminal before visa & immigration office and will be holding a sign with our company name “(hidden) ”help you obtain your visa, go through passport control and help you to get your luggage and finally guides you to the outside (exit) of the terminal where will you be met by your driver who will transfer you to your hotel, overnight.

Day 2: (Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & Grand Egyptian Museum)

Today you will drive to Giza Plateau for a private guided tour of the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, the Great Sphinx and Khafre's Valley Temple by using shuttle bus, then Lunch will be served in one of the local restaurants, followed by a visit to the Grand Egyptian museum where most of the fabulous treasures of the Pharaohs especially the treasure of Tutankhamun Amon is kept as well as the solar boat, then transfer back to your hotel. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 3: (The Citadel, Khan El Khalili market & Coptic Cairo)

We'll pick you up from your hotel and drive to the Citadel for a private guided tour of Salah al-Din's 12th-century fort, built to defend the city against Crusader attacks and the seat of government for almost 700 years. Visit the mosque of Muhammad Ali, it dates back to 19th century and enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the Citadel's terrace, then the lunch will be served in one of the local restaurants, followed by a visit to the old Coptic area including the Hanging Church, the Church of Sergius & Bachus and Ben Ezra Synagogue, then will transfer you to explore Khan El Khalili, Cairo's old bazaar Which is located in the heart of Islamic Cairo, then transfer to your hotel. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 4: Transfer to Siwa

We'll pick you up from your Cairo hotel and drive to Siwa (9 hours approx.) for check-in and relaxation. Later, head to enjoy a beautiful sunset at Fatnas Island for one of Siwa's famous sunsets. Pull up a chair and buy a juice from one of the cafeterias, then watch as the sky catches light. This is a popular sunset destination! Then you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Day 5: Great Sand Sea ▪ Hot springs ▪ Cleopatra's Pool

Today we will prepare breakfast before driving to Cleopatra's Pool, a swimming pool fed by a natural hot spring. Then you will be transferred by driving in a 4x4 jeep to the Great Sand Sea, approx. 17 km, and then visit the hot & cold spring, then you will be driven to the campsite where you will have dinner, overnight in the camp! In the morning of the next day, you will have breakfast at the campsite! Return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 6: Mountain of the Dead ▪ Shali ▪ Fatnas Island, temple of oracle

We'll pick you up from your hotel and drive to the Mountain of the Dead (Gebel al-Mawta). This ‘mountain’ (in reality a large hill) has been in use for thousands of years, possibly as far back as the 26th Dynasty (644 - 525 BC) and is honeycombed with hundreds of tombs. Whilst nowhere near the splendor of their Luxor cousins, the tombs near the summit belonging to wealthier and more notable Siwans have the best decoration and three are well-worth visiting: the Tomb of Si Amun, has beautifully coloured reliefs depicting the deceased man making offerings and praying to Egyptian gods; the unfinished Tomb of Mesu-Isis, with vivid depictions of cobras in red and blue above the entrance and the Tomb of Niperpathot, with inscriptions and crude drawings in the same reddish ink you can see on modern Siwan pottery.

Drive to Shali for a labyrinth of buildings that gave shelter to Siwa's inhabitants from the 13th century to 1926, when 3 days of rain dissolved its primary construction material (kershef: a mix of salt, rock and clay), leaving a series of molten stumps and causing its abandonment. Happily, recent work using traditional materials and building methods have restored some its former glory; it's a great place to explore for those with a love of faded grandeur and has fantastic views of the oasis, after that drive to the 6th century BC temples of Amun (temple of oracle), home to a divine oracle whose fame became so widespread that the pharaohs of Egypt's 28th Dynasty traveled to the temple to be acknowledged as the son of Amun-Ra. Its most famous visitor was undoubtedly Alexander the Great, who, after defeating the Persian king Darius in 333 BC, visited the temple in 331 and asked for the same acknowledgement to be declared pharaoh - needless to say, the answer was positive! It's definitely seen better days, but you'll find hieroglyphs on its inner walls, and it remains an evocative site with great views of the date palm groves and Dakrur mountain, finally Drive to the Salt Lakes, a relatively recent addition to Siwa's attractions and a real photo album filler. This is a working salt mine, so expect to see trucks, machinery and workers around the larger pools, but the smaller, more secluded ponds are wonderful: salt crystal lined and with 95% salinity (the Dead Sea is a mere 34%!), your private turquoise pool will be a perfect place to relax and let your cares float off into the surrounding desert. You'll need a good bath after all that. Salt Lake is the place to do it. Return to your hotel.

Day 7: Return to Cairo

We'll pick you up from your hotel after breakfast and return to Cairo in an AC vehicle, arrive in Cairo and transfer to your hotel.

Day 8: Final Departure

Today it's time to check out from your hotel and transfer to Cairo airport to catch your flight back home!

What to bring:

Valid passport for 6 months

Comfortable shoes, suitable clothes according to the season

Sunglasses, sun cream, hats

Children Policy:

0 - 1.99: Free of Charge

2 - 5.99: pay 25% of the tour price

6 - 11.99: pay 50% of the tour price

12+: pay the tour price as an adult person

Optional (extra add-ons) during your day tour:

Camel or Horse Ride at the Giza Pyramids: Enjoy a 30-minute camel or horse ride around the Giza Pyramids within the day tour. The cost is 20 USD per person.

Quad bike: A quad bike around the Giza Pyramids offers an adventurous way to explore the desert. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of the pyramids from the open sands, away from the crowded areas, while experiencing the thrill of off-road driving. The cost is 20 USD per person.