Two Arabian horses in Egypt

Riding holidays and cultural trails in Egypt

Egypt: the land of the Pharoahs, a proud country with a long history and deep traditions. Explore this beautiful country on horseback, discover its outstanding scenery riding across sandy plains to lush oases, up to the Red Sea. From Luxor and the grandeur of its monuments to Makadi Bay and the Nile Valley, Cario and its rich history, let your beautiful Arab horses take you on a trip back through history...
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From the horse’s mouth

  • Palms, Pyramids and Pharaohs
    November 2023 Elizabeth aged 63
    This was an excellent trip with so many different experiences it as hard to count! I had the chance to ride 5 different horses in different areas (and camels too!). We had WONDERFUL guides. The guides & staff took incredible care of the horses which we were all impressed by. Egyptian history, the Temples and museums... Read all
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  • Palms, Pyramids and Pharaohs
    March 2023 Rochelle aged 55
    A great way to see some of the real Egypt. If you like a busy itinerary and some fast riding teamed with some great history and people then book this. Mostly the horses were in okay condition, just not up to European standards. The ones in Luxor were really well cared for and my ride Luna was a real sweet soul... Read all
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  • Palms, Pyramids and Pharaohs
    October 2022 Lucy Alleen aged 47
    I absolutely loved this trip, it was incredible and would have no hesitation in recommending - however for more sensitive travellers the first 24 hours were quite full-on - the aspects of African travel like the horrendous traffic/rubbish/chaos in Cairo was unnerving until we'd done our first ride. Thank you Iris for... Read all
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  • Palms, Pyramids and Pharaohs
    May 2019 Lisa aged 70
    This trip was a dream come true! The horses, mounted guides and tour guides were wonderful. The museums and temples were spectacular. Food was great. I wish I could bring Sultan (my horse in Luxor) home with me! Thanks for a great time. First mare in Cairo was too much horse for me. (Ex "dancing horse"?) Second mare... Read all
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  • Rider galloping in the Egypt desert
    A fantastic trail riding holiday in Egypt
  • Riders and horses swimming in Egypt
    Swimming with the horses is a fun addition to the programme!
  • Rider cantering alongside pyraminds in Egypt
    Enjoy breathtaking views of the pyramids on horseback!
  • Hot air ballons ascending in the sky in Egypt
    A holiday filled with adventure!
  • White Arabian horse
    On this riding holiday, you will ride beautiful Arabian horses
  • Rider swimming with her horse in Egypt
    Enjoy a good swimming session with your horse
  • Two riders galloping along a desert in Egypt
    Enjoy thrilling canters in the desert
  • Two people exploring a landmark in Egypt
    Explore beautiful landmarks full of history
  • Riders approaching the pyramids in Egypt
    Riding to the Great Pyramids in Cairo

Visa & Health

Formalities

British passport holders travelling to Egypt normally require a visa.

For visits of up to 30 days, you can get a visa on arrival by cash payment. The visa fee is US$25 at approved bank kiosks within airport arrival halls, before reaching immigration counters. There’s no need to buy a visa from an agent. In many cases agents will charge more than US$25 for a visa. If you’re harassed by an agent, report the incident to the tourist police in the airport terminal.

Alternatively you can get a visa from an Egyptian Consulate outside Egypt before you travel.

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Egypt.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt

Addresses of consulates

  • Ambassade d’Egypte
    56, avenue d'Iéna
    75116 Paris
    Tél. : 01.53.67.88.30
    Fax :
    paris_emb@mfa.gov.eg
  • Ambassade en Egypte
    29 Sharia al-Giza (Gizeh)
    BP 1777 Le Caire
    Tél. : +20(2)570 39 16
    Fax : +20 (2) 571 02 76
  • Ambassade d'Egypte
    Avenue de l'Uruguay 19
    1000 BRUXELLES
    Tél. : +32 (0) 2 663 58 00
    Fax : +32 (0) 2 675 58 88
    eg.sec.be@hotmail.com
  • Ambassade d'Egypte
    Elfenauweg 61
    3006 Bern
    Tél. : +41 31 352 80 12/13
    Fax : +41 31 352 06 25

Health

Contact your GP around 8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre, and useful information about healthcare abroad, including a country-by-country guide of reciprocal health care agreements with the UK, is available from NHS Choices.

Some prescribed and over the counter medicines available in the UK are considered controlled substances in Egypt and can’t be brought into the country without prior permission from Egypt's Ministry of Health; if you arrive in Egypt without this permission and the required documentation, the medication will not be allowed into the country and you may be prosecuted under Egyptian law; if you're travelling with prescription medication you should carry a medical certificate from your GP confirming that the medication has been prescribed for a medical condition.

Medical facilities outside Cairo and other major cities and resorts can be basic and in case of emergency you are advised to seek treatment in Cairo or the nearest town/city. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

You can find a list of most commonly used hospitals in Egypt on the British embassy website

In an emergency dial 123 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your travel company and your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

There are reports of some hotel doctors overcharging for treatment and medicines. Examine your bill closely and challenge excessive charges. Pharmacies outside hotels will often supply medication at lower prices.

Access to specialised treatment for psychiatric illness is limited and may not be available outside major cities.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt/health

Insurance

It is a condition of your booking with Equus Journeys that you have travel insurance which covers you for the riding activities to be undertaken. Your travel insurance should cover you for medical expenses and repatriation. Your guides will require your travel insurance details before they allow you to ride and may refuse to let you ride if you cannot provide them. You should take your insurance documents with you.

Voltage

In Egypt the standard voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. In Egypt the power plugs and sockets are of type C and F (two prongs)

Budget and money

The Egyptian pound is the currency of Egypt. It is divided into 100 piastres, or ersh

Telephone and jetlag

Time zone: GMT+2
Phone code: +20

Country information

Socio-economical data

Capital and largest city: Cairo
Official languages: Arabic
National language: Egyptian Arabic
Religio: 90% Muslim, 9% Orthodox Christian, 1% Other Christian
Government: Unitary semi-presidential republic
President: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Prime Minister: Sherif Ismail

History

GDP: US$469,8 billion
GDP per capita: $US6000
Growth: 417%
Inflation: 9,4%
Main sectors of activity: oil and byproducts, gas, tourism, agriculture (cotton)
Main partners: USA, Italy, Germany, France

Geography

Despite ranking in the top 30 largest countries with its 1 million square kilometers of land, Egypt is a country that is notorious for its geographic ‘distribution.’ 99% of Egypt’s population utilizes only 5% of the total land area but nearly 100% of its aquatic resources as a result of the predominantly barren ecosystem. The lifeline of some 90 million human beings, the river Nile is the focal point of urban planning, an incredible 6,695 km gift of sustenance for Egypt and three other countries, making it the longest, and arguably most vital, river in the world.

The Nile enters Egypt a few kilometers north of a Sudanese town called Wadi Halfa through a narrow canyon that traverses sandstone and granite cliffs. The northward flowing direction of the river has thus earned Egypt’s southern border the name “Upper Egypt.” Within this stretch of the Nile is the world’s most intensive concentration of temples, tombs and palaces constructed over the span of 4,000 years. This includes the temples of Abydos, Dendara, Karnak, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and Abu Simbel, each conceived for their respective deities, further to the tombs in the Theban Necropolis within the Valley of the Kings across the river from Luxor. Absorbing the river-scape from the comfort of a felucca (small sail boat) is the epitome of pleasure, relished by locals and non-locals alike. This is easily arranged in Aswan, and larger Nile cruise boats can provide an even more luxurious experience. As this river continues to flow upwards past major cities and temples, it begins to branch out into a flower-shaped formation known as the Nile delta, covering 240 km of the Mediterranean coastline. Home to 39 million people, this is Egypt’s most agriculturally rich land with some of the most beautiful, soul-rejuvenating nature Egypt has to offer.

Much like the Nile, the Red Sea coast, a once microcosm of the world that hosted sailors from far away lands, has also become a pivotal part of the country. Turquoise waves break against rocky capes and windswept beaches in the foreground of an endless mountain range, a much needed escape for the people of Cairo. The real lure here, especially for the non-locals, are the fabulous island reefs near the resort of Hurghada and the smaller settlements of Port Safaga, El-Quseir and Marsa Alam to the south. This entire region saw a rapid transformation in the past two decades, catalyzed by surges of annual tourists, with the most notable development being the future construction of Egypt’s new capital city near this coastline. These destinations pack a powerful punch when it comes to travel-seeking vacationers. Shark-diving, snorkeling, and kite-surfing are complemented by the revitalizing effects of 18-hole golf courses, private beaches, open-air cinemas, and unrivaled night life scenes.

A tribute to its elusive splendor, the Egyptian landscape is quite remarkable, especially considering it’s a country composed mostly of sand and dust

Source: http://www.egypt.travel

People, culture and traditions

Despite ranking in the top 30 largest countries with its 1 million square kilometers of land, Egypt is a country that is notorious for its geographic ‘distribution.’ 99% of Egypt’s population utilizes only 5% of the total land area but nearly 100% of its aquatic resources as a result of the predominantly barren ecosystem. The lifeline of some 90 million human beings, the river Nile is the focal point of urban planning, an incredible 6,695 km gift of sustenance for Egypt and three other countries, making it the longest, and arguably most vital, river in the world.

The Nile enters Egypt a few kilometers north of a Sudanese town called Wadi Halfa through a narrow canyon that traverses sandstone and granite cliffs. The northward flowing direction of the river has thus earned Egypt’s southern border the name “Upper Egypt.” Within this stretch of the Nile is the world’s most intensive concentration of temples, tombs and palaces constructed over the span of 4,000 years. This includes the temples of Abydos, Dendara, Karnak, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and Abu Simbel, each conceived for their respective deities, further to the tombs in the Theban Necropolis within the Valley of the Kings across the river from Luxor. Absorbing the river-scape from the comfort of a felucca (small sail boat) is the epitome of pleasure, relished by locals and non-locals alike. This is easily arranged in Aswan, and larger Nile cruise boats can provide an even more luxurious experience. As this river continues to flow upwards past major cities and temples, it begins to branch out into a flower-shaped formation known as the Nile delta, covering 240 km of the Mediterranean coastline. Home to 39 million people, this is Egypt’s most agriculturally rich land with some of the most beautiful, soul-rejuvenating nature Egypt has to offer.

Much like the Nile, the Red Sea coast, a once microcosm of the world that hosted sailors from far away lands, has also become a pivotal part of the country. Turquoise waves break against rocky capes and windswept beaches in the foreground of an endless mountain range, a much needed escape for the people of Cairo. The real lure here, especially for the non-locals, are the fabulous island reefs near the resort of Hurghada and the smaller settlements of Port Safaga, El-Quseir and Marsa Alam to the south. This entire region saw a rapid transformation in the past two decades, catalyzed by surges of annual tourists, with the most notable development being the future construction of Egypt’s new capital city near this coastline. These destinations pack a powerful punch when it comes to travel-seeking vacationers. Shark-diving, snorkeling, and kite-surfing are complemented by the revitalizing effects of 18-hole golf courses, private beaches, open-air cinemas, and unrivaled night life scenes.

A tribute to its elusive splendor, the Egyptian landscape is quite remarkable, especially considering it’s a country composed mostly of sand and dust

Source: http://www.egypt.travel/country/

Choosing the right riding holiday

Choosing the right riding holiday

Egypt offers such variation and uniqueness, a country steeped in history and tradition. What better way would there be to explore the land of the Pharaohs than by horseback. Riding beautiful fit Arabs you will travel back in time in this most fascinating country. Trail ride from the banks of the River Nile to the Red Sea where you will get the chance to swim with your horse.

Ride through areas where the pharaohs have stepped before you, witnessing the power of the River Nile whilst seeing the spectacular temples, ancient cities and shrines. Excellent sightseeing opportunities await you, visit the Valley of the Kings and Karnak temple. Egypt offers riding holidays with a huge amount of history included.