Egypt Traces of Lost Civilizations

Days 1-11:

Days 1

Cairo
Latitude 30°06’N | Longitude 31°23’E

Today you arrive in Cairo. On arrival and after clearing customs and immigration formalities, you will be met by an Abercrombie & Kent representative and transferred to your hotel. Spend the remainder of your day at leisure.

Four Seasons Hotel First Residence

Day 2

Cairo/El-Baharia Oasis
Latitude 28°33’N | Longitude 28°90’E

Depart Cairo early this morning for the el-Baharia Oasis, famous for palm trees, olives, apricots, rice and corn. Intertwined trees provide attractive scenery with contrast to massive sand dunes. The region is the site of a massive Greco-Roman burial ground and is rich in antiquities. After lunch at a local café, set off in 4x4 vehicles for the 25-mile drive to your camp in Abou Mouhkarik, where the dunes reach heights of more than 200 feet.

Mobile Camp B L D

Day 3

El-Baharia Oasis/Wadi Bateekh

Make an early start today, driving 34 miles from our camp to the Djarra Cave, discovered by pure chance in 1872 by geographer Gerhard Rohlfs. So remote is this location that the cave was not visited again for more than a century, by a party of German travellers painstakingly retracing Rohlfs’ route. Stop for lunch here, then explore the cave, noting its large stalagmites and stalactites, some of which are so large they actually touch.

Continue to your next campsite, taking a 37-mile drive through the Watermelon Valley (Wadi Bateekh), a flat landscape dotted with naturally smoothed black stones. Reaching your campsite, enjoy the sunset before gathering with your team for dinner. This evening, sit by the campfire and take in the solitude of the desert at night.

Mobile Camp B L D

Day 4

Wadi Bateekh/White Desert
Latitude 28°61’N | Longitude 27°51’E

Your journey continues 37 miles toward the White Desert to observe its Dali-esque white chalk formations that rise out of the desert sand like huge mushrooms. These chalk formations are the remnants of an ancient seabed formed from the calcium carbonate of bones and shells. Sixty-five million years of erosion by wind and rain have created these striking formations — an extraordinary sight and a highlight of the expedition.

Arriving at camp in the White desert, there is time to watch the sun set and have dinner in the desert before turning in for the night.

Mobile Camp B L D

Day 5

White Desert/Bir El Dakar

After breakfast, drive 35 miles to the Aqabat area with its great chalk formations. At the Ain el Serw there is a natural spring that has been in constant use since the time of Roman rule in the region. Have lunch in the shade of palm trees, and then drive 40 miles toward the Bir El Dakar dunes, where you camp for the night.

Mobile Camping B L D

Day 6

Bir El Dakar/Dakhla Oasis
Latitude 25°52’N | Longitude 29°17’E

Set out this morning through fertile cultivated areas dotted between sand dunes toward the Dakhla Oasis, stopping for lunch along the 87-mile route. Spend the afternoon visiting the old Islamic Village of Al-Qasr, its narrow cobblestone streets and baked brick buildings still hearkening back to the days of the Mamluk Sultanate in the 14th century. Explore the ruins before setting off 60 miles into the Western Desert and your next campsite.

Mobile Camping B L D

Day 7

Dakhla Oasis/White Desert

With an early start today, travel 124 miles toward the Farafra Oasis, known as Ta-iht or the “Land of the Cow” in Pharaonic times. This isolated hillside village is surrounded by palm groves and provides a nice respite of cool shade and fresh water to the desert traveller. A short ride away are hot sulfur springs at Bir Setta and El-Mufid Lake, enjoy lunch and a chance to bathe in one of the hot natural springs. Later in the day, set off toward the White Desert and another scenic camping spot.

Mobile Camping B L D

Day 8

White Desert/El-Baharia Oasis/Umm El Lephah
Latitude 27°71’N | Longitude 28°86’E

Drive 62 miles to the el-Baharia Oasis to visit the Hall of the Mummies, a site containing more then 1,000 mummies that was discovered by pure chance in 1997. The site is closed to visitors, but your expedition has special permission to see the 10 mummies on display in the antiquities building. Your guide explains the distinct wrappings that identify these mummies as belonging to the Greco-Roman period.

You also have an opportunity to visit a tomb called Penantio, one of several discovered in 1946 that date from the Greco-Roman period (around 2,300 years ago). Inside the tomb, review the original colorful drawings depicting the afterlife as well as daily life during this period.

Your journey continues towards Umm El Lephah, where you enjoy your last evening camping under the stars.

Mobile Camping B L D

Day 9

Umm El Lephah/Cairo

After breakfast, drive along the main highway back to Cairo. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel where you have time to refresh and relax. Join your fellow travels for a farewell dinner this evening, a perfect opportunity to toast your journey and share memories.

Four Seasons Hotel First Residence B L D

Day 10

Cairo/Departure

Today you bid farewell to Egypt as you are transferred to the airport to board your international flight home.

B

Meals Served:

Don't miss our current specials: Special Savings on Abercrombie and Kent European Canal & River Cruises A journey aboard one of the small boats that cruises rivers and rural canals is one of the most relaxing ways possible to enjoy Europe. Visit some of Europe’s most wondrous sights on excursions; stop in quaint riverside villages; and sample the region's finest cuisine and wines along the way. 'River Cloud II' Cruise Savings Reserve a 2010  MV 'River Cloud II' cruise and save significantly.     * Save 10% when reserved by January 31, 2010     * Save 50% on the child cruise rate for July and August departures when booked in a separate cabin and children also receive free shore excursions when reserved by August 31, 2010     * Save 10% on a second consecutive cruise or 20% on a third consecutive cruise when reserved by October 27, 2010     * Receive $300 onboard credit per person when booking separate cabins for yourself and a guest by October 21, 2010 Terms & Conditions For all Special Offers noted above, all prices are per person, based on double occupancy, unless otherwise stated. All prices are quoted in U.S. Dollars. Prices listed for each offer may pertain to specific departure dates. Restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Special Offers are for new bookings only, are not combinable with any other offer, discount or promotion and are based on availability. Reserve Early and Save $1,000 on Select 2010 Europe Journeys Reserve Early and Save $1,000 on Select 2010 Europe Journeys Reserve select 2010 escorted small group journeys to Europe by December 31, 2009, and save $1,000 per person. Journeys include:     * Cultural Capitals: Berlin, Prague & St. Petersburg     * Ancient Capitals: Rome, Athens & Istanbul     * A Journey Through Italy     * Images of Provence & the Basque Country     * A Tale of Three Cities: Budapest, Vienna & Prague     * Turkey: A Journey Through History     * Adriatic Gems: Slovenia & Croatia     * An Italian Adventure     * Flavors & Flair of Spain     * A Storybook Adventure For all Special Offers noted above, all prices are per person, based on double occupancy, unless otherwise stated. All prices are quoted in U.S. Dollars. Prices listed for each offer may pertain to specific departure dates. Restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Special Offers are for new bookings only, are not combinable with any other offer, discount or promotion and are based on availability.
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
10/2/2010 - 10/11/2010	$5,975
12/2/2010 - 12/11/2010	$5,975
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Special Savings on Abercrombie and Kent European Canal & River Cruises

Reserve Early and Save $1,000 on Select 2010 Europe Journeys

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