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Across the Sahara - Cairo to Casablanca
Trip Valid:
01/01/2008 to 31/12/2008
Duration:
39 days (Cairo to Casablanca)
Highlights:
Discover chaotic Cairo and the Great Pyramids, Explore the ancient catacombs of Alexandria, Be moved by the El Alamein and Tobruk war memorials, Bargain for a souvenir in a busy Bhengazi souq, Hike in the Jebel Nafusa mountains, Take in the many monuments of Tripoli, Spend time in a Berber settlement, Journey to the 'Jewel of the Sahara' that is Ghadames, Take a Mediterranean beach break in Tunisia, Relive the illustrious past in Carthage, Admire the austere beauty of the Sahara, Stay the night in a troglodyte cave house in Matmata, Cross the desert on a camel, Learn the Tuareg way of life in Algeria, Celebrate your epic journey in cosmopolitan Casablanca, Travel across the desert on this amazing overland adventure, Experience the diverse cultures of Northern Africa
Trip Code:
ESP
Guarantee:
Departure is guaranteed, subject to 4 people travelling
Group Size:
Minimum 4, Maximum 12
Price:
USD $5325
*(plus local payment USD $400)
pricing for United States: change country
Extras:
view 2008 airport transfers and pre- & post-trip accommodation prices
Let Intrepid take you on the world's first ever trip of this kind, the epic journey from Cairo to Casablanca. This trans-North African expedition follows in the footsteps of great rulers and their mighty civilisations, crossing the Sahara and passing through Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Discover the rich cultures and dramatic histories of these five fascinating countries as we travel from modern Arab cities through the majestic Atlas and Hoggar mountain ranges, be awestruck by the beauty of the Sahara, enjoy visits to Berber and Tuareg settlements and explore ancient ruins - as we make our way from one coast of Africa to the other. So come capture the essence of this captivating continent on our African adventure!
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meals included: 32 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 9 Dinners
transport: Plane, train, public and private buses, 4WD desert safari, taxi, boat, camel, walking
accommodation: Guesthouses/hotels (28 nts), desert camping (7 nts), troglodyte 'cave' homes (2 nts), mountain refuge (1 nt)
budget: Allow USD $400 for meals not included.
departs: Tuesdays
we also recommend:
For another overland journey heading east instead, see our Cairo to Istanbul trip - Middle East Adventure (ESX)
Day 1 Cairo
A melting pot of ancient and modern Egyptian civilisations, Cairo is our base from which to admire the awe-inspiring Pyramids and mighty Sphinx.
Day 2 Alexandria
Immortalising Alexander the Great's name, this city flourished as a prominent cultural, intellectual, political and economic metropolis. Explore the eerie Catacombs of Kom Ash-Shuqqafa and the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
Day 3 Marsa Matruh
Chill out on a sandy beach or ride a colourful donkey cart across town.
Days 4-5 Apollonia
The first major Libyan city after crossing from Egypt, Tobruk was an important strategic sea port in World War II. Make a visit to the moving Knightsbridge Cemetery, built on the site of an actual battleground. Travel on to 'The City of Churches' via the stunning mountain landscapes of Ras al-Hillal and its Byzantine church ruins. Spend a day exploring Cyrene, the most important ancient Greek city in North Africa.
Day 6 Benghazi
Shop in Souq al-Jreed.
Days 7-8 Tripoli
We take an early morning flight to the capital of Tripoli, and embark on an afternoon walking tour of the city. Founded by the Phoenicians, but bearing marks left by Romans, Turks, Italians, Spanish and Arabs, Tripoli is a fascinating capital to explore. .
Day 9 Gharyan
After visiting the Roman sights of Villa Sileen and Leptis Magna, we head through the spectacular Berber region of the Jebel Nafusa Mountains and arrive in Gharyan, sprawled across a plateau. Explore the unique 'troglodyte' dwellings that dot the terrain and find out why this area is famous for its pottery.
Days 10-11 Ghadames
We'll stop at the Qasr al-Haj to see Libya's finest example of Berber architecture, the fortified Berber grain castle of Kabaw en route to Nalut then onto the oasis city of Ghadames beckons with an orientation walk to the old Atik Mosque and a traditional lunch. Enjoy a sand dune ride for an evocative sunset and maybe catch a Tuareg cultural show.
Days 12 Sabratha
Second only to Leptis Magna, the more initimate World Heritage site of Sabratha is a wonderful place to explore.
Days 13-14 Jerba
Departing Libya we cross the border into Tunisia and reach the Island of Jerba. Known as the "land of the lotus eaters" Jerba was the port Ulysses and his men were detained on their return from Troy. Visit the Ghriba synagogue and the nearby town of Guellela home to the famous cave of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.....or simply relax on one of the islands beautiful beaches.
Day 15 Desert Safari
Travel across towering dunes on an exciting desert safari.
Day 16 Matmata
Stay in a troglodyte cave house and explore the site where parts of Star Wars were shot.
Day 17 Mahdia
A delightful fishing village and a reminder of what Tunisian towns were like in years gone by.
Days 18 Kairouan
One of the seven holy cities of Islam, Kairouan's age-old mosques, mansions and medina make for interesting exploration.
Days 19-21 Tunis
Tour the sights of fascinating Tunis.
Day 22 Ain Draham
Leaving Tunis we travel westward to the coastal village of Tabarka before head through thick dense forests to the typically Tunisian resort spa village of Ain Draham.
Day 23 Le Kef
Moving on we reach Le Kef, our base for the night. Set high in the hills, Le Kef is one of Tunisia's hidden secrets. With its cobbled streets, narrow alleys and stunning views, it is a great place to relax with a glass of chai and watch the world go by. Wash off the day's travel by taking a bath in a 2nd century Roman hamman.
Days 24-25 Tozeur
With its extensive palm groves, traditional architecture and delightful old quarter, Tozeur is a great base to explore some of the beautiful and ancient Berber villages in the surrounding area.
Day 26 El-Oued
Check out the famed carpets of El-Oued.
Days 27-28 Ghardaia
In the river valley of the Oued (dry river bed) is Ghardaia, a town whose sand-coloured houses stand on a curious heap, with a single minaret sticking out on top like a birthday cake. The town is famous for its carpets and for its massive daily souq in the old town.
Day 29 Djanet
In the middle of nowhere, tranquil Djanet is home to shady palms trees and slow desert lifestyles.
Day 30 Tadent
Travel to the great sea of sand, Erg Admer and watch the dunes change and shape as the sunlight hits them and various times of day. A scenic, shallow river bed leads to the mountainous Oued Tadent and an opportunity to learn about the Tuareg way of life at one of their settlements.
Day 31 Tin Agoula
Through a landscape of low rocky mountains, piles of rock and small rolling sand dunes we head for the mountain range of Tin Agoula. With a bit of luck we'll run into some camels, gazelles or one of the very rare leopards that live here.
Day 32 Youfihakit
Huge rock formations and mushroom shaped boulders are surrounded by softly rolling sand dunes. It is a great area to explore with lots of beautiful photo opportunities. Set up camp surrounded by ancient rock engravings.
Day 33 Tamekrest
Crossing a vast plain and a lunar landscape with piles of dark rock, we arrive at the miraculous guelta (natural spring) of Tamekrest. We'll camp by this small waterfall which runs down polished pink and purple granite. Mingle with the Tuareg from the surrounding camps as they bring their goats and camels to drink.
Day 34 Hoggar Mts
Take in the views over the volcanic landscape of the Hoggar mountain region. All around is a chaotic scene of black and forbidding rocks, basalt peaks and cliffs. Stop by the Father Foucault Hermitage, built in 1911.
Day 35 Tamanrasset
Our desert safari comes to an end in the red mud-brick city of Tamanrasset. The biggest of all Tuareg cities it is regularly visited by camel caravans and those 'blue men of the desert'.
Days 36-37 Algiers
Explore the winding alleys of the kasbah, Turkish Palaces, medieval houses and cool courtyards.
Days 38-39 Casablanca
Celebrate the journey in cosmopolitan Casablanca.
| start date | finish date | places available | bookings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 30 Sep 08 | Fri 07 Nov 08 | bookings closed | |
| Tue 04 Nov 08 | Fri 12 Dec 08 | 1 | book now |
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This is where you will find everything you need to know... from what's included to suggestions about what to take. This is also where you will find the most up-to-date itinerary and any late changes.
The Trip Notes provide you with a detailed outline of your trip itinerary, and important information like where to meet your group, what to pack, what's included, estimates of spending money requirements and much more. They make great reading.
- Country Information - Egypt
- Country Information - Libya
- Country Information - Tunisia
- Country Information - Morocco
These documents have been prepared by Intrepid staff to give you a brief introduction to the places you are visiting. We think it's important to understand the culture you are visiting, and the expectations of their society.
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On 07 June the Australian Government issued an updated travel warning for East Timor strongly advising against travel to East Timor because of the extremely dangerous security situation. Australians in the country are advised to leave. The Travel Warning remains at Category 5 - Do Not Travel.
On Tuesday 07 June we have taken the decision to cancel the remainder of our East Timor trips scheduled to depart in 2006. All travellers will be notified and given the opportunity to transfer to another trip or obtain a full refund (land content only). We very much regret having to take this action and our thoughts and sympathies are with the people of East Timor during this troubled time.
We are confident of being able to resume our normal schedule of trips to East Timor in 2007 and hope that those travellers who have had to cancel their plans this year will travel with us to East Timor in 2007.
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Every day, hundreds of happy people return from Intrepid trips, and their comments are here for you to read. We do not screen the feedback on this site, all comments are posted here as they were written (unless they used inappropriate language).
The guide must be able to speak fluent french or arabic as well as english. Not speaking french or arabic makes it TOO HARD,TOO TIME WASTINGand miss out on TOO MUCH EXPLANATIONS when local guide's english is poor.
Graham Pollard
An excellent trip through countries not often visited by other tourists. The Sahara is a vast area of ever changing desert. Intrepid do this itinerary well.
Neil Hosking
Sorry, only passengers from Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom are able to request flight quotes online at this stage.
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