Suggested itinerariesPyramids, Nile and BeachThis itinerary offers a great introduction to Egypt,going to all the major archaeological sites and thebustling capital, Cairo. At the end of the trip youhave the opportunity to relax beside the Red Sea.Day 1Fly from the UK to Cairo, where youspend three nights.Day 2Visit the pyramids of Giza, Dashurand Saqqara.Day 3Explore the packed galleries of theEgyptian Museum in central Cairo.Day 4Fly from Cairo to Aswan.Day 5Visit the Temple of Philae and theAswan High Dam.Day 6Travel from Aswan to Luxor,stopping to visit the temples of KomOmbo and Edfu on your way.Day 7Visit the sites of the west bank of theNile, such as the Valley of the Kingsand Hatchepsut's Temple.Day 8Explore the temples of Luxor andKarnak, before travelling to the RedSea coast.Days 9-10Spend your time snorkelling andrelaxing by the sea.Day 11Travel from your Red Sea hotel tothe airport, from where you fly toCairo. From Cairo fly back to the UK.Stay longerThe trip could be extended with extra nights inAswan and Luxor, so that you can include more of the Ancient Egyptian sites, or with extra nightsat the Red Sea if you wish to spend more timesnorkelling and diving on the coral reefs.Grand Tour of EgyptCombining a Nile cruise and a Lake Nasser cruisegives you plenty of scope to explore all theAncient Egyptian sites as well as time to relax. The days in Cairo and Alexandria will introduceyou to these great cities, with their interestingpasts and fascinating presents.Day 1Fly from the UK to Cairo, where you spend four nights.Day 2Explore the pyramid fields of Giza,Saqqara and Dashur.Day 3Visit the Egyptian Museum and Islamic Cairo.Day 4Explore Coptic Cairo with your tour guide.Day 5Travel to Alexandria, where youspend two nights.Day 6Spend the day visiting the sights of Alexandria.Day 7Return to Cairo and fly to Luxor,where you join your Nile cruise. Visit Karnak and Luxor Temples.Day 8Tour the West Bank, including theValley of the Kings.Day 9Visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu.Continue to Kom Ombo and visit the Temple of Sobek and Haroeris.Sail to Aswan.Day 10Visit the Temple of Philae and theAswan High Dam.Day 11Join your Lake Nasser cruise and visitKalabsha Temple.Day 12Full day of cruising to Wadi ElSeboua.Day 13Visit lakeside temples and cross theTropic of Cancer.Day 14Sail to Abu Simbel and visit thetemples there.Day 15Disembark the cruise and fly fromAbu Simbel to Aswan.Day 16A day to explore Aswan or relax atyour hotel.Day 17Fly from Aswan to Cairo and fromCairo to the UK.The Desert CircuitThis trip concentrates on some of Egypt's lesser-known sites, the oases of the Western Desert. The circuit offers a compelling insight into life inthis part of Egypt and provides a contrast to theAncient Egyptian sites along the Nile.Day 1Fly from the UK to Cairo, where you spend two nights.Day 2Visit the pyramid complexes of Giza,Saqqara and Dashur.Day 3Travel to Alexandria for a one night stay.Day 4Visit El Alamein on your way to Siwa,a long journey across the desert.Days 5-6Explore Siwa, Shali Fort, the salt lakesand hot springs around this oasis.Day 7Travel from Siwa to Bahariya, passingthrough the Western Desert.Day 8Spend time in Bahariya beforecontinuing to Farafra, passing throughthe area known as the White Desert.Day 9Continue to Dakhla, where you visitarchaeological sites in the area.Day 10From Dakhla continue to Kharga, thelast oasis in the desert circuit.Day 11Continue to Luxor, where you stayfor three nights.Day 12Visit Karnak and Luxor Temples.Day 13Explore the sites of the west bank ofthe Nile, including the Valley of theKings and Hatchepsut's Temple.Day 14Fly from Luxor to Cairo and fromCairo to the UK.Stay longerYou could continue your exploration of AncientEgypt by taking a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan,visiting more of the archaeological sites.www.audleytravel.com/egypt ?01993 838 410 ?Egypt29Feluccas on the Nile, near LuxorCairoLuxorEdfuKom OmboAswanHurghadaCairoLuxorEdfuKom OmboAswanAlexandriaAbu SimbelCairoLuxorAlexandriaEl AlameinSiwaBahariyaFarafraDakhlaKharga

their roles across a dramatic landscape of red sandstone canyons, desert expanses andsalt-laden waters. Each has left their markin churches bursting with mosaics,colonnaded streets and fortresses which stillseem impregnable today. More recently,great efforts by the Royal Society for theConservation of Nature (RSCN) havecreated beautiful reserves. These are home to rare fauna such as the Arabian oryx, and stunning scenery, which can be explored by following one of the manyhiking trails. In the Dead Sea, the Gulf ofAqaba and the natural hot springs of Ma'in,Jordan has three great destinations forunwinding at the end of a trip, whether you want to relax in a spa or to dive thereefs of the Red Sea. The rose city of Petra has drawn visitors to Jordan ever since its secretlocation was discovered. It is rightfullyconsidered to be one of the 'must-see' sites ofthe region, if not the world. The country is a microcosm of Middle Eastern history. The Nabateans, biblical characters, Greekand Roman city-builders, Arab invadersand Crusader armies have all played out30Jordan