We are delighted to present our new riding holiday in Egypt after many years of searching. The horses used on this ride are owned and kept to the highest western standards and are well-loved friends of their ex-pat owner. The farm is based right in the middle of the Pyramids and we undertake daily exploratory rides of both the Nile banks and vast desert scattered with pyramids and sarcophagi. The riding is at all paces and there are plenty of horses to choose from, all forward going, smooth and sensible.
Accommodation is in the Pyramids area in 5 star hotels or 5 star deluxe if wished for a supplement. As well as a visit the the great Pyramids we offer some interesting additional tours: Coptic Cairo, Kahn el Khalili markets, a felucca cruise on the Nile river at sunset, a visit to the Brooke Animal Hospital project in old Cairo or a visit to the state Egyptian Arab stud.
Day 1 Arrive in Egypt
Transfer to hotel near the Pyramids, dinner and relax.
Day 2
Early buffet breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the farm (45 min). Introduction to all the horses, goats, donkeys, rescued dogs and even a water buffalo. Allocation of horses (ride in the arena if wanted). Then we set off on the Sakkara Pyramids ride. We head straight into the desert - within metres of leaving the shade of the palm trees we are in the Sahara. We head out and circle to arrive at the main Step Pyramid – the funeral complex of King Zoser (aka Djoser). we stop to explore on foot before remounting and heading back to the farm via another route - again through the desert. The terrain gives us plenty of scope to ride at all paces. Late lunch at the farm before heading back to the hotel for a welcome shower. Dinner & overnight at the hotel. 2.5hrs riding
Day 3 This morning after our breakfast we head out on our next desert ride with the usual combination of walk, trot, canter and some gallops to a little visited pyramid located in splendid isolation: the Abu Sir Pyramid. It is the necropolis of the Vth dynasty from about 2494BC – 2345BC. After admiring the pyramid and taking pictures we head back via the wadis to the greenery of the Nile banks and back through the cooler villages. About 2.5hrs riding.
The afternoon is free to relax and swim or enjoy one of the optional visits as the group wishes. Some suggestions include:
Khan el Khalili market to bargain for that must have souvenir
Special Tour I to the Brooke Animal Hospital in old Cairo and a behind the scenens tour of the work they do for the horses and donkeys of Cairo.
Special Tour II of Egyptian Agricultural Organization – the government stud farm for breeding Arabian horses.
Day 4
After the usual buffet breakfast the day is dedicated to sightseeing: We can visit the Egyptian Agricultural Organisation or Gayer Anderson & Ibn Toulan Moaque, then we visit the Egyptian Museum housing over 100,000 relics including the magnificent treasures of King Tutankhamun and end our tour at the open air Khan El Khalili old market. From here we head back to the hotel for dinner and overnight. No riding today.
Day 5 Today we head south to the village of Dashur on the longest ride of the week. En route we explore the entire row of southern pyramids. In the desert we encounter amongst others: the Bent Pyramid; the beautifully symmetrical and imposing Red Pyramid and the Black Pyramid. Riding along the desert we can view the occasional sarcophagus just lying abandoned in the desert. The views are incredible with pyramids wherever you look. In the middle of the day we find a complete surprise – Dashur Lake, a winter wetland retreat for migrating waterfowl. Riding around the lake to observe the varied wildlife it attracts, we enter the welcome shade and cool and enjoy a lunch stop in beautiful shady gardens. Here both horses and riders can cool down and relax. The return journey is undertaken in the relative cool of the farming areas parallel to the Nile River, again with opportunities for long canters and trots.
Return in time for dinner & overnight at the hotel. 6hrs riding.
Day 6 After breakfast we start your excursion to visit the famous Giza Plateau, visiting the Great Pyramids, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world including the Great Pyramid of Cheops, middle Pyramids of Chephren and the little one of Mykerinos and The Mysterious Sphinx. Lunch today is not included and you are free to choose one of the many restaurants available. There is an optional visit to old Coptic Cairo before heading back to the hotel and getting ready for our sunset ride.
In the late afternoon we head to the farm to ride through the countryside as the sun sets and the farmers move their buffaloes and donkeys home at the end of the day. As the sun goes down over the desert, the canals change from blue to quicksilver and the birds that have been foraging in the fields come home to roost in the trees. The sounds of farmers working their fields fade as they reach their village homes where the family will sit around a low table to enjoy their evening meal. With nightfall come the bats, owls, Senegal Thick knee, and other night birds. On moonlit nights the shadows of the riders can be clearly seen on the desert sand. On return from this special ride we enjoy a BBQ & beer at the farm. 2.5hrs riding
Day 7
This morning we head off on our last ride into the desert - heading to the sarcophagus with the occasional gallop if wished. At sunset we set off on a 2 hr Nile River cruise in a traditional sailing vessel - a felucca. We'll have the boat to ourselves and watch the sun set and night lights of Cairo come on while enjoying dinner on board. Return to the hotel & overnight. 2.5hrs riding
Day 8 Final Day - leave Egypt
After breakfast the day at leisure until your flight departure. On time transfer to Cairo International Airport for flight home.
All itineraries are for guidance only and are subject to change by the local team depending on local conditions.
NOTES - PALMS AND PYRAMIDS
The programme can be confirmed for only one person for a supplement.
The weight limit for this ride is 15 st/209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Transfer from airport and daily transfer from hotel, accommodation, meals except lunch on day 3 and day 7, bottled water on ride and with included lunches, riding and guide, use of driver and car on non-riding days.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Flights, entry visa for Egypt, entrance to the "mummies room" at the Egyptian museum (about US$25 in 2009), lunch on day 3 and 7, drinks at hotels, gratuities (none compulsory), items of a personal nature.
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What you see on our web site is exactly how much your invoice will come to and this will not change once booked. Unlike some other companies the prices on our web site are fully inclusive of often hidden extras such as: VAT, Sales Tax, state taxes, city taxes, service charges, non-optional tips, fuel surcharges which can add 20% or more to the advertised cost. Prices are available in £ sterling, Euros and US$. Once invoiced, prices are guaranteed against adverse currency fluctuations. Contact us for package prices which include flights from the UK and see each ride for exact details of all items in individual itineraries.
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