15 Days
Grade: 3 (moderate)
Route:
Cairo - Dakhla - Abu Ballas - Easter Gilf al Kebir - Wady Bakht - Wady Wassa - Eight Bells - Prince Kamal el Din Monument - Wady Soura - Wady Qubba - Silica Glass Field - Great Sea of Sand - Siwa Oasis - Cairo
Detailed Program
Day 1: Cairo - Dakhla
Meet in Hotel and drive from Cairo to Dakhla Oasis
Day 2: Abu Ballas
Early rise, breakfast in Hotel, load the vehicles, pick up military officer and head to Abu Ballas. At mid day we pause for lunch and then drive to Abu Ballas. Dinner and Camp.
Day 3: Mud Lions – Gilf al Kebir
We depart to the Mud Lions, a mysterious circle of stones, and then continue to the Saviem Ballies, Camp east to the cliffs of the massif Gilf al Kebir.
Day 4: Gilf Al Kebir
Head toward the easter wadies of Gilf al Kebir; explore the wadis: Diq, and Wadi Maftouh.
Day 5: Wadi Bakht
We trek through the impressive and beautiful wadi of Bakht and explore the pre historic lake and Neolithic settlements.
Day 6: Wadi Wassa
We venture into Wadi Wassa and the Eight Bells and reach the monument of Prince Kamal El Din , at the southernmost tip of the Massif Plateau.
Day 7: Wadi Soura
Head toward the renowned Wadi Soura that hosts the Cave of the Swimmers, the Site discovered by Almasy in the early 1930s and became famous through the movie “The English Patient”. We set out a rather large and stationary camp.
Day 8: Swimmer Camp
Wake up at leisure to visit the sites around the Swimmer Cave , and the New Cave discovered in 2002. Here we will have the chance to explore the area on foot in search for new undiscovered sites.
Day 9: Desert Discovery
Wake up at leisure to make further treks in search for new discoveries and give ourselves a chance to be absorbed by the desert atmosphere.
Day 10: Wadi Qubba
Today we drive to Wadi Qubba. Arrive at the southern most fringes of the Great Sea of Sand.
Day 11: Silica Glass Field
Resume our venture into the heart of the fearsome dunes of the Great Sea of Sand and pause at the Silica Glass Field discovered by Patrick Clayton during his impressive leadership of the Desert Survey of Egypt. Camp in the middle of the field surrounded by majestic dunes.
Day 12: Big Cairn
Depart to the Big Cairn, a major landmark set up by Partrick Clayton. Camp in the heart of the Sand Sea .
Day 13: Siwa
Drive to the Oasis of Siwa, an impressive and unique oasis amid the harsh and fearsome desert. Check into the Hotel - Siwa Resort.
Day 14: Swia Sights
Wake up at leisure, breakfast in the hotel and off we go to rent donkey carts and explore the oasis, visit the main highlights of the oasis like the Temple of Ammun , the old town Shali, the Mountain of the Dead, and finally Cleopatra Spring where we will swim as royals! Lunch is served during the sight seeing tour and dinner is amid the dunes when we will set a barbeque Siwan Style.
Day 15: Cairo
Wake up at leisure, visit the market to pick up souvenirs and depart in a private hired bus to Cairo .