Horseback riding in EGYPT: VALLEYS & PYRAMIDS

HORSEBACK TRAIL RIDE IN EGYPT
PROGRAMME INDICATIF *

Day 1: Cairo. Pick-up is at Cairo International Airport. When you arrive at your hotel in Giza, take some time to get settled in, soak in the lively atmosphere, or relax with a drink. We’ll meet you for a rooftop dinner with phenomenal views of the pyramids. Watch the Sound & Light Show as you enjoy your meal. It’ll be a relaxed night so you’re well rested for the first day of riding!Day 1: You made it to the home of the pyramids! Pickup is at Cairo International Airport. When you arrive at your hotel in Giza, take some time to get settled in, soak in the lively atmosphere, or relax with a drink. We’ll meet you for a rooftop dinner with phenomenal views of the pyramids. Watch the Sound & Light Show as you enjoy your meal. It’ll be a relaxed night so you’re well rested for the first day of riding!

Day 2 - Pyramids at Dahshur & Abusir Ride.
This morning, you will travel south of Giza to Dahshur to visit the Red Pyramid and the nearby “Bent Pyramid”. If you are up for the adventure, both pyramids can be explored from the inside. These well-preserved pyramids are evidence of the architectural development that led to the later construction of the Pyramids of Giza. After lunch at a nearby restaurant, we head to the stable for our afternoon in the saddle. We ride to Abusir, the main burial site for the pharaohs and elites of the Old Kingdom 5th Dynasty. The royal necropolis contains numerous tombs and pyramids, but most are largely destroyed. In the surrounding desert, we ride at all paces and enjoy a beautiful sunset on horseback. After the ride, we return to Giza and have dinner at the hotel.. 

Day 3: Pyramids of Giza Ride & Saqqara.
Today begins with an exciting ride at the Pyramids of Giza! You’ll quickly fall in love with Egyptian horses as you traverse the desert around one of the ancient wonders of the world. The open space is perfect for galloping and an exhilarating race across the sand. The ride ends at the base of the Great Pyramid, where you will meet up with your tour guide to further explore the pyramids complex and the sphinx on foot. After lunch, you will continue your sightseeing by car with a trip to Saqqara. The largest archeological site in Egypt, this vast necropolis contains pyramids and tombs for the pharaohs and noblemen of the Old Kingdom. Most notably, Saqqara is home to the oldest pyramid in the world: the Step Pyramid of Djoser, built about 4,700 years ago. When you return to the hotel, watch a once-in-a-lifetime sunset at the Pyramids of Giza from the rooftop before dinner..

Day 4: Egyptian Museum and Flight to Luxor
This morning you’ll visit the Egyptian Museum, where you will get to explore the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. The Egyptian Museum is one of the most important museums of ancient history and the oldest archeological museum in the Middle East. You’ll get to see incredible works of pharaonic art, mummies, sarcophagi, papyrus, and loads of ancient treasures. A special highlight is the collection of objects recovered from King Tutankhamun’s tomb, including his iconic burial mask weighing about 10 kg of solid gold. After exploring the museum, you will stop for lunch at one of the most famous restaurants in Cairo to try Egypt’s national dish: koshary. You will then make your last visit in Cairo to the Salah Al Din Citadel, where you will visit the beautiful Mosque of Muhammed Ali. Located on the top of a hill overlooking Cairo, this Ottoman-style mosque showcases stunning Islamic architecture and offers one of the best views of the city. Then it’s time to head to the airport for your next destination: Luxor! Just a short one-hour flight away, Luxor feels like a world apart from busy Cairo. Unwind and have dinner at your accommodation in the peaceful village of Ramlah.

Day 5: Ancient Temples Ride & Sunset on the Nile.
After breakfast, you’ll come to the stable to meet the horses and saddle up for your first ride in Luxor. Today you will visit two ancient temples on horseback! Along the way, we ride through the lush farmland and quaint villages of Luxor’s agricultural west bank, showing you what daily life is like in rural Egypt. You’ll be transported back in time as we ride past farmers working their fields with traditional tools and animals such as donkeys and water buffalo. As we get closer to the Theban Mountain, we approach our first destination: Ramesseum, a memorial temple for the great warrior Pharaoh Ramesses II. You’ll get to explore the temple on a guided tour while the horses rest nearby. We then have another short ride to our next stop: Medinet Habu Temple. You’ll learn about this impressive temple built by Ramesses III on another guided tour. Lunch is at a nearby restaurant before we meet up with the horses again and ride back to the stable. After freshening up at the hotel, you will enjoy a late afternoon boat trip on the Nile River. Relax and reflect on the day’s adventures while sipping some Egyptian tea and watching the sunset on the water. Dinner is at a restaurant on the banks of the Nile.

Day 6: Valley of the Kings & Desert Camping.
This morning, you will visit one of the most famous sites in Luxor: The Valley of the Kings! Explore some of the spectacular tombs hidden in this desert valley, which was the burial ground for the New Kingdom pharaohs. You’ll then visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, a stunning temple built into the foothills of the mountain for Egypt’s most powerful female pharaoh. After the sightseeing, you’ll have lunch and relax at the hotel before the afternoon ride to the desert. We ride out of the village and into the hills behind the Valley of the Kings on our sure-footed partners. As the sun starts to go down, we venture further into the desert where our campsite awaits for the night. When we arrive at camp, we watch the sunset and relax with a drink while our dinner is prepared for us. After a delicious meal, we relax around the campfire under the stars with a cup of Egyptian tea, the horses resting around us.

Day 7: Desert to Nile Ride & East Bank Sightseeing
Wake up in the desert to a beautiful view of the vast landscape and the horses nearby. If you get up for sunrise, you may even be able to see hot air balloons floating on the distant horizon. After a quiet morning enjoying nature and having breakfast with the horses, we leave camp to return to the stable. We traverse a range of landscapes, riding from the desert and mountain until we reach villages, farms, and the Nile River. Lunch is served at your accommodation upon your return. After lunch, you’ll freshen up and get ready for your sightseeing on Luxor’s east bank. You’ll cross the Nile by water taxi to the massive Karnak Temple complex, the largest religious site ever constructed and a must-see in Luxor. Next, you’ll visit the Avenue of Sphinxes and Luxor Temple, an important place of worship that has been in almost continuous use since ancient times. Back on the west bank, you’ll have a little downtime before heading out for dinner at a restaurant.

Day 8: Sunrise Hot Air Balloons & Sunset Desert Ride.
Today you’ll have an early start, but this morning’s ride is worth it! We ride to see the hot air balloons take off at sunrise, watching from the horses as they float above us and over the Valley of the Kings. As the sun continues to rise, we ride along the edge of the desert, with tomb-filled valleys on one side and ancient temples and ruins on the other. When we return, we enjoy a traditional Egyptian breakfast: falafel and ful medames. In the midday, you will have downtime to relax at the hotel after your early start to the day. In the late afternoon, you will saddle up for another ride. We begin through the villages and farms until we reach the outskirts of the desert, where we get to enjoy a long gallop across the sand. We ride up the desert hills for an incredible view of the mountain and the vast landscape beyond, and from here we watch as the sun sets on the horizon. When we return, we enjoy a homemade dinner at the stable alongside the horses.

Day 9: Dendara Temple.
Today you will venture outside of Luxor to visit Dendera Temple, a beautiful temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor about an hour away by car in the city of Qena. This temple sees fewer tourists because of its location, but it is one of the best-preserved temple complexes of ancient Egypt and well worth the visit. Lunch is at a restaurant along your way back from the temple. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax at the hotel. Dinner is served at the accommodation.

Day 10: Tombs of the Workers & Nobles.
This morning you’ll visit Deir el-Medina, an ancient village that was home to the artisans and craftsmen who built the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. In addition to the ruins of the village where the workmen lived, the site also contains their own tombs, which they carved into the slopes of the surrounding mountainside. Although smaller than the tombs of the kings, they are equally impressive, covered with vibrant paintings depicting scenes of daily life in ancient Egypt. Next, you’ll visit the Tombs of the Nobles, which see few tourists but boast some remarkable tombs for the governors, advisors, and officials from the Old and Middle Kingdoms. There are over 400 tombs in total, but you will only go inside a few of the most impressive. After the sightseeing, you’ll have lunch at the hotel before preparing for an afternoon ride. You will ride to a new campsite in the desert and enjoy a second night of camping with the horses.

Day 11: Morning in the Desert & Sunset Ride or Sailing.
In the morning you can take it slow and savor the peacefulness of the desert. Enjoy your coffee or tea alongside the horses and take a walk around the campsite to explore the hills and soak in the views. After breakfast, you will say goodbye to the desert and start your ride back to the stable. You will then have some downtime and a light lunch at the hotel. Later in the afternoon, you have the choice between a sunset ride in the countryside or sailing on the Nile in a traditional felucca boat – either option an excellent way to wrap up your adventures! For dinner, we will go to one of our favorite restaurants to enjoy one more delicious Egyptian meal together.

Day 12: Ma'salaam (Goodbye). If you have the time, tack up for a casual morning ride. Otherwise, relax at the stable with the horses, take a dip in the pool, or pick up some last-minute souvenirs to bring home. Our driver will take you to the Luxor Airport to catch your flight. Until next time!

* Indicative itinerary.