Palms, Pyramids and Pharaohs

We will meet for breakfast at 8.15 to catch up on the plan for today! Departure from the hotel at approximately 9am. A short journey brings us to the horses who wait patiently, eager to take you on your first adventure, an exciting ride across the desert to the pyramids at Giza.

Before we start there is a safety briefing and we explain the history of horses in the area. These proud horses are in their element out in the sand dunes. Here you will witness first-hand the incredible energy, bravery and stamina of the Egyptian horse.

Lunch will be at a local restaurant in town followed by a visit to the Cairo Museum, home to the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world. A short, evening flight will take us down to Luxor, our base for the next four days.

Today we visit the legendary Valley of the Kings, home to 63 magnificent tombs, along with an Egyptologist whose knowledge will transport you back to the land of the Pharaohs. Here you will marvel at the tombs’ intricate hieroglyphs and the sheer size of these well-preserved catacombs.

The landscape is dramatic; great cavernous cliffs of limestone and sedimentary rock with the imposing Al-Qurn, the peak of the valley, resembling a pyramid, a nod to the Old Kingdom. This site has fascinated archaeologists since the 1900s yet the area is so vast a new tomb chamber was discovered as recently as 2005.

The afternoon sees the beginning of our first horse adventures together. You will travel by tuk-tuk to the stables where we will introduce you to our home and our horses. Our Bedouin-style yard, crafted by local Egyptians, is based on the West Bank of the Nile boasting several boxes as well as lush plantation fields where we grow our horses’ food. Here you will find our carefree Egyptian horses grazing happily in the glossy green fields, almost sparkling in the sunshine against the backdrop of the mountains. Our facility is home to horses, donkeys and camels and very much holds a ‘farm atmosphere’.

You will be given a tour of the stable and horses, we will show you how we grow our own food and use plants and herbs for medical problems. We will enjoy an introductory ride through the bustling streets and river tributaries that make up Luxor’s West Bank finishing up at the Nile. Watch as the feluccas sail calmly by in the late afternoon light. This is also a lovely spot for some photos with your new four-legged friend since the Nile provides such an iconic setting.

A full day in the saddle today and a great opportunity to really bond with your horse as you canter happily along long, dusty farm tracks surrounded by verdant farmland. See the farmers in the fields, working the earth as their ancestors did. Horses are revered in Egypt so they always bring a smile to people’s faces as we pass through the Bedouin villages and the local children love the spectacle of our bejewelled steeds prancing proudly through the streets.

As you get to know your horse’s personality you will be amazed at how kind-hearted and generous they are despite their hot-blooded natures. Sensitive and inquisitive they are also incredibly brave; nothing phases them in these bustling environments and this stems from their strong sense of self. We will stop for lunch at a villa while the horses dose in the shade. In the heat of the day we can enjoy the pool and unwind before heading home to the stables, a ride of approximately 1 hour bringing us back to our hotel for mid afternoon.

Around 5pm we will reconvene for sundowners cruising down the Nile watching the sun set on the calm waters. To complete this epic day we will be joined by a professional belly dancer after dinner who will teach us all about her art as well as give us some moves to take home with us!

A morning of sight-seeing awaits us today. We cross the river to the East Bank, along with our guide, first making our way to the world-famous Karnak Temple. Dedicated to the gods Amun, Mut and Khosu, Karnak is said to be the largest religious monument ever built and it took over 2000 years to complete. Our Egyptologist guide will talk us through key elements of its history and structure bringing it to life before our eyes.

From here we will walk to the Mummification Museum, a small but well-curated museum dedicated to the art of mummification, which aims to provide an understanding of the ancient Egyptian belief system as well as the process itself.

Finally we visit Luxor Temple, a breath-taking structure steeped in history, the entrance alone is over 200ft wide! Unlike many temples constructed to honour the gods, Luxor Temple was built in dedication to the rejuvenation of kingship. It is one of the many projects commissioned by Rameses II during his long, successful reign.

Sailing back across the Nile we will enjoy an alfresco lunch back at the hotel before setting off for a late afternoon ride into the desert. We will ride up the escarpment to mount Thebes, looking down over the city, to take in the glorious colours of sunset shimmering over the surrounding sands. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

A very special morning. We rise before dawn, making the short journey to the stables in darkness.

We mount our horses and ride out into the deserted streets with the sun a mere glow on the horizon. We make our way out into farmland, trotting along rural tracks, until there before us is the Valley of the Kings. Bathed in the light of the morning sun, scores of hot air balloons rise gracefully into the sky like lanterns. The overall sight is breath-taking, but it is truly unique when enjoyed from the back of a beautiful Egyptian horse. We stop for breakfast overlooking Habu Temple and have time for a fascinating tour of the site before the return ride.

From here we will be collected for a tour of the Temple of Hatshepsut, considered one of the most impressive mortuary temples in all of Egypt. It represents not only her devotion to her god, Horus, but is also a reflection of her peaceful and prosperous reign. Set against the backdrop of a striking red cliff face it is a dramatic sight to behold. After lunch and showering we will journey north-east to Hurghada on the Red Sea, endeavouring to arrive in time for a spectacular sunset. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

A variety of options are open to us this morning. A relaxing lie-in, late breakfast and some downtime by the pool is a popular one! But if you prefer to tag on something unique and memorable to your trip we offer amazing professional photoshoots complete with hair, make-up and flowing dresses; choose from a beach or a desert setting and strike a pose with your horse! Please enquire for prices.

Alternatively, for the restless adrenaline junkies, we offer an exhilarating quad bike safari across the dunes.

Lunch will be at the hotel before we don our riding clothes once again for an exciting ride across the Eastern desert. Known as ‘yalla country’, the desert’s vast open plains allow us to really let our horses go and revel in their speed and endurance, could there be anything more joyful? As the sun sets on another glorious day we ride home together, content, reflective and grateful as ever for the gift in life that is the horse.

After a freshen up we will head down to the marina at Hurghada. Once a typical fishing village it has become famous for its extensive fish market. Our final evening will be spent sampling a feast from the sea, dining on fresh produce straight out of the morning’s catch. Overnight at hotel.

A highlight of our riding holidays is swimming with the horses in the crystal-clear Red Sea. The horses love the cool, refreshing waters and glide effortlessly across the bay, their tails streaming out like banners behind them. This is also one of the many fantastic photo opportunities on this riding holiday. After final cuddles with your horses it is time to thank them and to say farewell.

Check out 11am. Optional extensions include an additional day swimming with dolphins, please enquire for more information.

Swimming with wild dolphins, 2 snorkelling spots and lunch. All snorkel equipment is included (plus your extra night on night 8)