Egypt is one of the world’s great centers of civilization, with human habitation going back millennia. Its capital Cairo and neighboring Giza evoke images of all-powerful pharaohs and feats of engineering that have stood the test of time to dazzle us even today.
This land has been nurtured by the powerful Nile, the longest river in Africa and possibly the world, providing precious water and nutrients that turned the Nile Valley into rich farmland and made it possible for Egyptian civilization to develop in the middle of a desert. The Nile also provided ancient Egyptians with a vital transportation route, and played a key role in the creation of monuments such as the Great Pyramid of Giza, with workers ferrying massive blocks of limestone on wooden boats along the river.
Coming face to face with the one and only Sphinx, we’ll also take in the sites of Sakkara and Memphis, marvelling at their monumental structures and artistic treasures, and learning more about the beliefs and lives of those who created them so many millennia ago.
Statistically speaking, "Oh my God, it's so HUGE !!" is most commonly heard by spiders, yet Abu Simbel statues are truly a gigantic masterpiece of an ancient engineering.
It is Nubia, a little know Eastern region of the Sahara, which is a home to many secrets of such remarkable size. When Ramesses II (1304-1237 BCE) led colonial wars from the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon to the 4th Cataract, he also ensured his majesty and power back home in Nubia; by ordering four enormous statues to be carved into the mountain, that still greet travelers entering Egypt from Africa to this day.
The Nubian Monuments were built so that the sun's rays perfectly align with the Abu Simbel temples twice a year on Ramses’s birthday, and the anniversary of his coronation.
The temples comprise two massive rock-carved edifices near the border of Sudan along the western bank of Lake Nasser, which runs downriver to Philae. Dating back to the 13th Century BC, the 19th dynasty reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II, the Nubian Monuments are icons of ancient Egyptian architecture, and in some circles considered more significant than the Pyramids at Giza.
Not far from Abu Simbel, on the northern end of the first cataract at the southern frontier of the Egyptian Empire, at the tip of the Nubian Kingdom, lies the city of Aswan – home to the raw materials used to build the Nubian Monuments.
The Aswan High Dam, a bellwether of early 1960s engineering, powers present-day Egypt and proudly rivals the engineering feats of the country’s Pharaonic ancestors, as the world's embankment dam in control of Nile flooding.
Running at 4km in length and 111m in height, the Aswan High Dam is 40m wide at the crest and 980m wide at the base. Containing 43million m3 of water, 11,000 m3 of water pass through the damn each second, and that’s just the beginning of the story of the Giants in the Desert!
On this trip, to tick all Egyptian bucket list boxes in one experience, we take you from Cairo, a bustling, pyramidal metropolis, all the way south to less known, Aswan where you ll witness many unheard stories and touch the Millenia old heritage.
Lets go!
DAY 0 // WED // DEPARTURE
Meeting at SHJ International at 9pm for a direct flight to Cairo.
DAY 1 // THU // CAIRO
Arrival, immigration clearance, overnight in 5 star hotel.
After breakfast we hit the road to Giza Pyramids. Move on for some riddles or selfies with Sphinx, drive to Sakkara and further to Memphis for more temples and even older pyramids. Overnight in 5 star hotel.
DAY 2 // FRI // CAIRO - ASWAN
Today we start at Grand Egyptian Museum, the largest museum in the world, then head to the Citadel.
In the evening transfer to airport for domestic flight to Aswan. Meet our Aswan team on arrival and head to hotel for overnight in Nubia House, overlooking Nile.
DAY 3 // SAT // ABU SIMBEL + NILE
Early wake up call and drive to Abu Simbel. Visit the temples and the surroundings, return to Aswan. In the afternoon, relaxed felucca sailing on Nile around Elephantine Island, Botanical Garden and the Agha Khan mausoleum.
DAY 4 // SUN // ASWAN
Head to the Great Dam on the Nile, which offers an amazing view of the first cataract on the Nile and Lake Nasser. Hop on the boat for a cruise to Agilkia island. There is a temple complex here, dedicated to the Goddess Isis (originally it was located on the island of Philae, which was flooded during the construction of the Aswan dam). Later on we sail down the Nile to Nubia village. We should have enough time for a short hike for a view above Nubian village, until we reach coffeeshop for some leisure and rest.
In the evening we head back to airport for domestic flight to Cairo and further, return to Sharjah.
Level of Difficulty: Easy, available to everyone.
Activities: Sightseeing, boating and lots of discoveries of ancient and modern world wonders!!
Rooms & Meals: 5 star hotel in Cairo, traditional Nubian guesthouse 4 star in Aswan - double sharing. Meals excluded.
Cost: AED 5550 all incl. 4 flights - international and domestic, until AUG 20th.
Specifically excluded:
visa,
meals,
tips,
optional entry fees, ie. inside pyramid.
Visas: Most of passports can obtain visa on arrival or online.
More info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Egypt
It is sole responsibility of participant to obtain entry to country of destination.
See yah in Egypt x
Trekkup Crew
Whatsapp 050 4848238
Find all trekkups at linktr.ee/trekkup
You may also like the following events from Trekkup Dubai:
- Happening on, 30th April, 08:00 pm, Giants in The Desert | Aswan + Cairo, Bucket List of Egypt in Dubai
- This month, 2nd May, 12:15 pm, Tiramisu on the Rocks | Mangystau Region, Kazakhstan in Dubai
- This month, 2nd May, 05:30 pm, Pink Rock City Weekend | Petra & Dead Sea, Jordan in Dubai
Also check out other
Meetups in Sharjah,
Arts events in Sharjah.
