Project Egypt: Western Desert & Siwa Oasis Eclipse

Day 1 (27th July 2027) - Arrival in Cairo

Arrive in Cairo and transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay. Cairo, Egypt’s sprawling capital, is set on the Nile River. It is an ancient city that also happens to be a modern metropolis and is one of the biggest cities in the Middle East.
 

Day 2 - Cairo sightseeing (Giza Pyramids and Sphinx)

Today visit the Giza necropolis, built during the 4th dynasty of the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt, between 2600 and 2500 BC. The necropolis comprises of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure, along with their associated pyramid complexes and the Great Sphinx of Giza. There will be a chance to return to the area again this evening for the optional Sound and Light show.
 

Day 3 - Grand Egyptian Museum Cairo and travel to Alexandria

This morning we visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (also known as the Giza Museum) which is the largest archaeological museum in the world and home to most of Egypt's main treasures. After lunch travel to the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria for an overnight stay. Alexandria was home to a lighthouse ranking among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as well as a storied library.
 

Day 4 - Day at leisure in Alexandria with optional excursions available

A day at leisure in Alexandria to enjoy the sights and sounds of this huge metropolis or perhaps join an optional excursion and see some of the sights of the city with a guide. Places to visit in Alexandria include The New Library, Pompeys Pillar, Qait Bey Fortress, Montaza Palace Gardens, the Catacombs of Kom al Shoqafa and various Museums.
 

Day 5 - Travel to Siwa via El Alamein War Cemeteries

Today travel to Siwa, stopping en route at El Alamein, a town on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. El Alamein is known for the decisive 1942 WWII battle, commemorated in El Alamein War Museum with uniforms and tanks. Just outside town, there are memorials for the soldiers from each of the countries who fought on this battlefield - British Commonwealth, Germany, Italy and Egypt. Afterwards continue to the desert oasis of Siwa, our base for the eclipse.
 

Day 6 - Day at leisure in Siwa with optional excursions available

The Siwa Oasis is an urban oasis in Egypt between the Qattara Depression and the Great Sand Sea in the Western Desert, 50 km east of the Libyan border. Enjoy exploring this mysterious and beautiful place alone or perhaps join an optional excursion and visit the highlights such as the Shali Fortress, the Mountain of the Dead and the crystal blue salt lakes nearby.
 

Day 7 - Eclipse Day

Today is a very special eclipse day - for some a once in a lifetime experience. Duration of totality at Siwa will be about 5 mins 25 secs here with the sun 75 degrees above the horizon. An alternative observing location will be away from everything out in the empty desert, with a duration of 6 mins 18 secs.
 

Day 8 - Travel from Siwa to El Bahariya

Today travel overland through fascinating and changeable desert scenery towards El Bahariya. Enjoy sunset at Gebel Ingliz (English Mountain) in the Black Desert named after the British Captain who was stationed here in WWI. The British monitored the movements of the Libyan Sanusi tribes from here and the ruins of their outpost are on top of the hill. Overnight in El Bahariya.
 

Day 9 - Sightseeing around El Bahariya

Spend an amazing day exploring the fascinating 'other earthly' areas around El Bahariya using 4x4 vehicles. Explore El Marsos Mountain, the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain, Agabat with its amazing limestone sculptures and enjoy sunset over the sand dunes before returning to El Bahariya for another overnight stay.
 

Day 10 - Bawiti Salt Lake and Valley of the Golden Mummies before returning to Cairo

Today enjoy a final day in the area and explore Ein Mady (El Bahariya Oasis), Bawiti Salt Lake and the Valley of the Golden Mummies. The astonishing discovery of the Valley of the Golden Mummies in the 1990s is considered the most spectacular Egyptian archaeological discovery since that of Tutankhamun's tomb - home to over 200 mummies from the Graeco-Roman period. Return overland to Cairo for an overnight stay.
 

Day 11 (6th August 2027) - Join your return flight or perhaps extend your stay

Join your return flight unless you have chosen to extend your stay to join the Red Sea tour (in which case an additional flight is required (own cost) from Cairo to Marsa Alam).

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN MY TOUR?

Tour Price £TBA / $TBA per person*

*Please note you can reserve a space on this tour by paying a 'Save a Space' deposit (£50/$65 per person) but all itineraries will be costed in early 2025 and prices advised

 

• The price is for the tour from hotel check-in on Day 1 to hotel check-out on Day 11.

• Bed and breakfast accommodation is provided in hotels throughout the tour and all transfers, transportation, flights, trains and local excursions as outlined in the itinerary (if applicable) are included. Other meals are not included and some excursions are offered on an optional basis closer to the tour departure date (the word 'optional' is used to describe these).

• Accommodation is provided in twin or double bed hotel rooms with a private bathroom. We are usually able to arrange shared accommodation with a person of the same gender - this is known as 'twin share' accommodation.

• A limited number of rooms for sole occupancy are available at a single room supplement of £TBA / $TBA.

• Flight packages from London and the US will be offered by our flight partner approximately 11 months in advance of the tour departure (when all fares and schedules are available) or you can arrange your own International flights if you prefer.

• Airport transfers and assistance are included on arrival and departure days if you take advantage of the International flight package offered by our flight partner. If you choose to arrange your own International flights then the meet point is the hotel on Day 1 and the tour ends at the hotel on the final day.

• You will find further details about what to expect on the Project TSE2027 FAQ page here.