Military History Tours Australia The Western Desert Tour
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TOUR
CANCELLED
As security Issues still are not resolved, the 2012 tour is now also cancelled. Military History Tours is continuing to monitor the situation and we do intend to resume conducting our Western Desert Tour should the situation be resolved and the area safe to visit. CLICK HERE to read about the Australians in the Western Desert. 13 days/12 nights. Based on share twin or share double $(AU)4,995.00 per person. Single Supplement additional cost $(AU)1,300.00. Conditions apply, costs subject to change. Included in tour price will be:
Not included in tour price will be:
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Military History Tours offers you a tour of the Western Desert
battlefields where Australians fought in World War 2, coinciding with ANZAC Day at Tobruk in 2012 included are visits to historic and culturally significant sites in Egypt and
Libya. This will be the first ANZAC Day Dawn Service in Tobruk.
The unforeseen and tumultuous events occurring in Libya had made it impossible for us to conduct our planned and eagerly anticipated tour of the Western Desert in April 2011.
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Introductory briefing prior to departure.. |
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Escorted by Military Historian and English Speaking Egyptologist.. |
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Personalised attention to detail. |
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Battlefield presentations. |
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All ages catered for. |
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Experience important moments in Australia's history, the modern day culture and ancient history of the region. |
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Tour starts and ends in Cairo.. |
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DAY 1 (Thursday 19th April 2012)
Arrival to Cairo international airport, met & assisted at airport with our representative who shall expedite your arrival formalities. At the airport you will purchase your entry visa for $US15.00 prior to passport control.
Free time until dinner when a full briefing will be given by our Australian Military Historian. o/n Cairo. D
DAY 2 (Friday 20th April 2012)
Following breakfast in our hotel we transfer to our air-conditioned coach for our trip north to your hotel in Alexandria (distance is approx. 225 km to hotel proposed and duration is between 2 to 2.5 hrs depending on traffic). When we arrive, meet & greet with your local English speaking guide/Egyptologist (Same guide throughout the programme in Egypt).
Special check-in desk/hospitality desk prepared at the hotel lobby to greet and complete express check-in procedures for the group, a welcome drink of local juice will be served. Free time at leisure for clients to rest and refresh in rooms until dinner time. This is also an opportunity to stroll through the shopping precinct or along the promenade.
Dinner at your hotel's main restaurant is an international open buffet.
Overnight at your hotel in Alexandria. B/D
DAY 3 (Saturday 21st April 2012)
Buffet breakfast at your hotel.
Departure after breakfast with air-conditioned coach to your full day sightseeing in Alexandria visiting; Greco-Roman Museum, Amphitheatre, Pompey’s Pillar & the Serapeum, Catacombs of Kom el Shuqqafa, and Alexandria Library;
Greco-Roman Museum
The 21 rooms of the excellent museum contain about 40,000 valuable relics dating from as early as the 3rd century BC. The museum’s own guide book gives little indication of where to find anything other than the rooms and some numbered exhibits. The collection includes a splendid black granite sculpture of Apis (the sacred bull revered by Egyptians), many statues of Serapis (the fusion Apis and Osiris, the god of the underworld and lord of the dead), and busts and statues of various Greeks and Romans. There are also mummies, sarcophagi, pottery, tiny terra cotta figures, bas reliefs, jewellery, coins and tapestries.Roman Amphitheatre
The 13 white marble terraces of the only Roman theatre in Egypt were discovered only recently, when the foundations for a new apartment building were being dug. The terraces, arranged in a semicircle around the arena, are extremely well preserved. The site which is still being excavated has now been shifted to the north of the theatre, where a Polish team is still working.Pompey's Pillar
This massive yet unimpressive 25 metre high pink granite column, which the Crusaders mistakenly credited to Pompey, raises out of the disappointing remains of the far more splendid and acclaimed Serapeum. What was once an acropolis, topped by the Temple of Serapis and surrounded by subsidiary shrines and buildings, including Cleopatra’s library, now merely features excavated subterranean galleries, the ruins of the Temple of Isis, a few sphinxes, and Pompey’s Pillar. The pillar, which has a circumference of nine metres, was erected amidst the Serapeum complex around 297 AD for Diocletian, not Pompey. During the final assault on the so-called pagan intellectuals of Alexandria in about 391 AD, the Christians destroyed the Serapeum and library, leaving only the pillar.Catacomb of Kom el Shuqqafa
These Catacombs, the largest known Roman burial site in Egypt, were discovered accidentally in 1900 when a donkey cart fell through a part of the roof. They consist of three tiers of tombs and chambers cut into the rock to a depth of about 35 metres. Constructed in 2nd century AD, probably as a family crypt, they were later expanded to hold more than 300 corpses. There is even a banquet hall where grieving relatives paid their last respects with a funeral feast. The eerie nature of the catacombs is accentuated by the weird blend of Egyptian and Roman features in the sculptures and reliefs.Bibliotheca Alexandrina
The new Library of Alexandria "Bibliotheca Alexandrina", inaugurated in October 16, 2003, is a magnificent piece of 21st-century architecture intended to hold eight million books. The Library complex includes the Main Library, Young people's Library, and Library for the Blind, Planetarium, Science Museum, Calligraphy Museum, Alexandrina Archaeological Museum, Conservation and Reformation Laboratory, Conference Centre of Alexandria, multi-purpose study rooms and exhibition areas. We also want it to be the window of the world onto our own Egyptian culture and civilisation --- the longest continuous civilisation on earth - with its Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Judean- Christian, Coptic and Arab-Islamic heritage, and its present day realities...
During sightseeing, lunch at local restaurant in Alexandria. Dinner at a seafood restaurant. B/L/D
DAY 4 (Sunday 22nd April 2012)
Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Alexandria and check-out. Departure after breakfast with air-conditioned coach to your full day excursion towards Al Alamein (approx. 105 km from Alexandria) visiting the Museum and Al Alamein (El Alamein) WWII cemeteries;
Alamein Museum
The Al Alamein War Museum is located 105 kilometres west of Alexandria and about five kilometres west of the Marina resort. It is placed within the military areas of El Alumni. The museum was opened in the year 1956 during the presidency of Gamal Abdel Nasser as a memorial of the The Battle of Al Alamein between the British and the Germans in 1942 and the battles that took place in South Africa during the Second World War. The Al Alemein War Museum was renewed and reopened in 1992 during the presidency of Mubarak. The museum is one of the best places to visit in order to achieve an understanding of Story of World War II in Egypt. The Al Alamein Museum is a complete illustration of the story of World War II in North Africa, containing records of all the events. Even before entering the Museum proper, in the garden are huge army tanks and various larger weapons. A visitor can view this heavy equipment from World War II, go inside a tank or an army car, or even jump up and sit atop a tank. The garden has about fifteen large pieces used by different forces in the Battle of Al Alemein. Inside the museum there are five halls. Each of them is dedicated to one of the four countries involved in the war, which include Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and Egypt. The museum also has a mixed hall that contains items from the war generally.
Lunch box (arranged from the hotel in Alexandria) will be served after visiting the Museum. OR Set menu lunch at Charm Life hotel in Al Alamein. After lunch continue sightseeing of Al Alamein WWII cemeteries.
Allied Forces Memorial
The British Memorial, called Al Alamein War Cemetery. It was designed by Sir Hubert Worthington, and is maintained by the British War Graves Commission in Cairo. There are 7,367 graves, men from Britain, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Greece, France, India and Malaysia. Entering one of the three archways, you come to a wide hall. At each end, broad flights of stairs lead to a rooftop with a breathtaking view of this memorial on one side and the Mediterranean on the other. The hall is lined with walls of white limestone, engraved with the names of almost 12,000 soldiers whose bodies were never found. A directory of the soldiers' names and a map of the cemetery make it easier for guests to find the names of loved ones among the rows upon rows of gravestones emerging from the desert sand. On the west side of the walkway leading to the entrance of the cemetery is the memorial t the gallant 9th Australian Division, who led the final charge in the Battle of El Alamein. About three kilometres west of al-Alamein on the south side of the road stands the small marker erected at the easternmost advance of the Axis army in North Africa. It reads, "Manco la Fortuna, Non Il Valor (Lacking Fortune, Not Valor}. If one stands beside it and peers south into the desert, one can barely see traces of the original Springbok Road, the main desert artery used by the Allies. Originally, the Italian and German dead; were buried by the British in a single cemetery in 1943. In 1949, the Italians sent Paolo Caccia-Dominoni to reclaim the Italian dead. He searched the battlefield for ten years.
German Memorial
Three kilometres west of the Italian marker and 9.6 kilometres from the Greek Memorial is the German War Memorial, a single octagonal building erected in 1959. It sits on the north of the road atop the knoll of Gebel Alam Abd al-Gawad and overlooks the sea. Patterned after the Castle del Monte in Apulia, the memorial contains the bodies of 4,280 German soldiers. Opened in 1959, the austere structure symbolizing Germanys fierce pride looks more like a fortress from medieval times. Inside, each side of the octagon-shaped courtyard houses an alcove where stone caskets each representing a German province lie beneath plaques bearing the names of the dead soldiers from each region. These modern-day sarcophagi are only symbolic; the actual soldiers are buried in a common grave beneath the memorial. In the center of the inner courtyard is an 11.5-metre obelisk protected by four falcons. Khaled Abdel Raouf, the third-generation caretaker of the German memorial, says that this monument has a double meaning. In Pharaonic Egypt, an obelisk surrounded by falcons traditionally evoked Horus, believed to be the protector of the dead. The falcon is also a symbol of German heritage. Abdel Raouf says that the Germans found it reassuring to know their soldiers died in a country with a history for honouring the dead, and so adopted the obelisk for the war memorial.
Italian Memorial
The elegant white marble Italian Memorial, the largest structure at Al Alamein, stands five kilometres beyond the German Memorial. A villa on top of a hill overlooking both the sea and the memorial. Sobhi explains, "This villa belonged to Paolo Caccia Dominioni, a reserve colonel in the Italian army and the son of an Italian diplomat who served in Alexandria. After the [battle], he hid in that very spot for three days before he left for Italy. When he got there, he sold everything he owned and used all his wealth to come back to the desert and collect the remains of the Italian and German soldiers. He then designed and built this memorial and villa, and kept visiting this site until his death in 1992." Like the Commonwealth Cemetery, one must pass through the arched entrance to enter the grounds of the memorial. Instead of a sea of gravestones, however, you find yourself at the beginning of a long path leading gradually uphill to a tower with marble walls almost as white as the surrounding sand. It begins with an entry cloister containing a chapel, mosque, hall of remembrances and small museum. In the chapel is inscribed, "To 4,800 Italian soldiers, sailors and airmen. The desert and the sea did not give back 38,000 who are missing." The main memorial overlooks the sea at the top of an oleander-lined causeway. In the interior thousands of white marble plaques bearing the names of the Italian dead line the walls.
Dinner at Your Hotel. B/L/D
DAY 5 (Monday 23rd April 2012)
Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Alamein and check-out.
Departure after breakfast with air-conditioned coach towards Marsa Matruh (approx. 175 km from Al Alamein). Arrival Marsa Matruh and sightseeing of Rommel's Museum and cave.
Rommel Museum
The museum occupies a cave that was once used as headquarters by Rommel when he conducted the North African wars. This cave was originally cut in the Roman era and used to store grains due to its ideal position on the Paraetonium ancient seaport. The museum contains several possessions of the German commander like his compass, overcoat, photographs, maps and clothes trunk. Rommel's son dedicated many of the museum contents.
After sightseeing, transfer to your hotel in Marsa Matruh. Lunch and dinner at hotel and overnight in Matruh. B/L/D
DAY 6 (Tuesday 24th April 2012)
Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Marsa Matruh and check-out. Departure after breakfast with air-conditioned coach towards Sallum (approx. 200 km from Marsa Martuh). And on the way stop to visit Sidi Barrani city.
Sidi Barrani
Sidi Barrani is a village in Egypt, near the Mediterranean Sea, about 95 km east of the border with Libya, and around 240 km from Tobruk. Sidi Barrani is mainly a Bedouin community, with food and petrol available, but it has little if any tourist activity or organised historical curiosities. It has only one small hotel. Sidi Barrani is often used, in historical writing, to mark the extent of the initial Italian invasion into Egypt, from Libya. The Italian Tenth Army built a series of forts in the vicinity. American Field Service volunteers (providing ambulance services), serving with the 8th Army, were based in the area, in June 1942, 30 miles east of Sidi Barrani. Sidi Barrani was a destination point during the total solar eclipse on October 3, 2005, as expeditions traveled to the best observation point, Zawiet Mahtallah, 27 km east of Sidi Barrani. Continue by coach towards Sallum, and visit in Sallum the memorial of the WWII.
We continue to the Egyptian-Libyan border, and proceed with all formalities to enter Libya including the Libyan Visa (Please note there are special Visa requirements to entyer Lybia - Military History Tours will look after these for you, but it is important you book early), and switching buses between Egyptian bus and Libyan one (duration 1 to 1.5 hours at the border). Lunch boxes arranged from your hotel in Martuh to be served to tour guests. Arrival Libyan side, meet & greet by your local English speaking Libyan tour leader throughout the Lybian part of the programme (your Military Historian will stay with the tour). Proceed with air-conditioned coach towards Tobruk and stop on the way at At Burdi city for the sightseeing of "John Brill's" house;
Brill House
In this house; a British soldier John Frederick Brill painted an extraordinary tableau in 1942 named Bardia Mural. He was a prisoner at the time, was captured and locked up by the Axis forces, the most right door where the big tree is the room where the mural drawn. John Brill died at the age of 22 and he is buried in the Al Alamein cemeteries in Egypt.
After the sightseeing, continue towards Tobruk. Arrival Tobruk, check-in at your hotel, dinner, and an early overnight in Tobruk to prepare for the big day tomorrow. B/L/D
DAY 7 (Wednesday 25th April 2012)
Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Tobruk.
Rising before dawn, we will be part of the ANZAC Day Dawn service Service at the Australian Monument to the Rats of Tobruk commemorating 70 years since the siege. We will return to our hotel for breakfast then depart in an air-conditioned coach for your full day sightseeing of Tobruk; this important city that lay at the hub of much conflict in WW2, visit the famous harbour and fascinating WW2 museum where the American B-24 Liberator the "Lady Be Good", recovered from deep in the Libyan Desert is on display visit to the Fig Tree Hospital, a cave where the Australians tended to their wounded during WW2, the underground headquarters and shelter used by Rommel and Montgomery during WW2, the operations room where military movements were planned, the Commonwealth and German cemeteries.
Tobruk is a city and port on the north eastern Libyan coast. Its industries include flour milling, liquor distilling, and soap manufacturing. One of the finest Mediterranean seaports on the coast and an important trade and transportation centre, Tobruk was captured by the Italians in 1911 and became part of their African colonial empire. During World War II it was captured by the Australians in January 1941 and was besieged and bombed by the Germans under Erwin Rommel, until relieved by the British in December. It fell to the Germans in June 1942, but was recaptured by the British in November in an offensive launched from Al Alamayn (El Alamein). The German cemetery with its massive stonewalls and round towers looks out over Tobruk like a medieval fortress. Built in 1945, this is an austere memorial to the folly of war. Inside is a great courtyard, at the centre of which is the basin for the eternal flame, held up by four kneeling angles. Arcades surround three sides of the courtyard. On the walls are inscribed the names of all those who fell at Tobruk. At the entrance of the commonwealth War cemetery is a long silent bell of HMS Liverpool. Long lines of simple white stones bear the heartfelt words of family members. Smaller than the others, the French War Cemetery is 6 km SE of Tobruk. Despite its small size, this is an important cemetery commemorating the stiff resistance put up by the Free French Forces at the battle of Bir Hakeim in May and June 1942, out in the desert 90 km south of Tobruk. The graves are marked with simple crosses inscribed with each soldier’s name and regiment.
B/L/D
DAY 8 (Thursday 26th April 2012)
Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Tobruk and check-out.
Departure after breakfast with air-conditioned coach towards Apollonia (approx. 335 km from Tobruk).
Lunch boxes arranged from your hotel in Tobruk.
On the way stop to visit Ras El Hilal (Church on the peninsula) and L'Atrun;
Ras al-Hillal occupies a delightful location, on a rocky peninsula. The
main attraction here is the Christian basilica, one of few remains of a past
when it was an important port of the region, together with Apollonia,
serving Cyrene and the rest of the region. Of the church there is little but
the base left, but some of the floor decorated. Unfortunately
for visitors out here, mosaics have been moved to the museum at
Apollonia. About 14 km from the peninsula, there is the Shallal Ras al-
Hillal, a tiny waterfall, which is quite impressive in one respect: It flows
all through the year! Remember where in the world you are!
Proceed by mini-bus to L'Atrun sightseeing (approx. 10 km from Ras Al Hillal); this is a spot of great supply of water; the Byzantines built the town of Eythron here. There are two basilicas, the Western Church which is noted for its white columns. Look out for the fine mosaic paving. Over a hill, some 150 metres away, lay the Eastern Church, which is less attractive. Nearby there are numerous small caves, which may have been tombs or even summer homes.
Arrival Apollonia, and check-in at your hotel Al Manara, dinner and overnight at Apollonia. B/L/D
DAY 9 (Friday 27th April 2012)
Buffet breakfast at Al Manara hotel.
Departure by coach to your full day sightseeing excursion to Cyrene (Shahat), (approx. 20 km from Apollonia), visiting the old Greek city site, theatre and museum;
Cyrene - Stnning Greek Ruins
Old Roman cities are fairly well represented all over North Africa, but it proves difficult to find any better site of Greek ruins than Cyrene. Not only does it have a fantastic setting, at the beginning of the beautiful Jabal al-Akhdar, looking out in direction of the Mediterranean Sea, but the site is deliciously only partly excavated: Chances are more than theoretical that you can come over priceless items, like mosaics and statues, under the sand. The feeling of actually discovering something, so easily lost when walking around ancient sites complete with dustbins and multi linguist guides, survives all through your visit at Cyrene. Intended or not from Libyan authorities, one of the most perfect settings for an ancient site, is here, below the forests of eastern Libya. Much of the history of Cyrene has survived, and the legend on the formation of the place is a gem. Battus went to the oracle of Delphi to seek advice. The oracle told him that he should people with him, and settle in Libya. Battus so did. But he and his expedition landed on a small island. Dissatisfied with this island, Battus returned to the oracle, only to be told that he had not yet arrived in Libya. Once again Battus had to set out, and he did arrive in Libya. 6 years later the colonists moved to the site of Cyrene, and in the centuries that followed the place prospered.How much of this is actually true, we cannot know. But Cyrene was a colony, and one believes that the colonists came from the island today known as Santorini. The years that followed saw close relations between the Greeks and the Libyans, and some generations of intermarriage brought made the two peoples into one. However, new groups of Greeks continued to come, so it never really lost its Greek touch. The entire site is about 1,300 times 1,300 metres, but much of it has grown together with the village of Shahat, and agricultural fields around it. Of main interest the Temple of Apollo stands out. It was built as early as 7th century BC, but rebuilt 3 centuries later. About 50 metres from the temple, the Fountain of Apollo is situated, of which the water was considered curing. Inside it one can still see the seats where people sat while treated. Near the temple and the fountain, still inside what was the sanctuary of Apollo, the Great Baths are. Parts of these are in exceptional conditions, and inside the Grand Hall, the pipes leading water from the Fountain of Apollo, are still very much visible. At the extreme north-west, the theatre is located. This is Roman, though it is believed that that the foundations are Greek. The style is partly Greek. The setting right here is stunning, right behind the stage the hills fall, and offers a dramatic view over the landscape that stretches out to the sea. In the centre of Cyrene, on the Agora (the town square), the Tomb of Battus is located, giving some substance to the stories of the origin of Cyrene. There is slightly less to see here, though the Forum of Proculus is in good condition. Around Cyrene, the Necropolis has taken up an unbelievable size, an estimated 10 km². There are still hundreds of tombs cut into the hills, and many have the shape of mausoleums or temples.
Apollonia; Seaside Greek Ruins
The old Greek port of Apollonia, has both the ruins and the village of Susa, as attractions. While modernisation of Libya, has reduced the number of traditional settlement, Susa still holds a lot of the past. Much of Apollonia has disappeared, due to landslides. Apollonia served as the port of Cyrene, and the landscape between the two sites would alone defend the detour out here. Apollonia is a Greek settlement that is very much formed according to the topography, with a beach cut by rugged rocks, inland from it there are hills, all giving Apollonia a very nice setting. Apollonia has several churches, a small theatre carved into the rocks, public baths. Best preserved of Apollonia, are the walls. The museum of Apollonia is small and friendly, but there will be more exhibited here when excavations of Apollonia are more completed. Still the acropolis remains unexcavated. There are also underwater ruins, which can only be explored by getting a trip with a local boat.
Dinner at hotel and overnight in Apollonia at Al Manara hotel. B/L/D
DAY 10 (Saturday 28th April 2012)
Buffet breakfast at Al Manara hotel and check-out.
Departure by coach to your full day sightseeing excursion towards Benghazi (approx. 240 km from Apollonia). On the way, stop for sightseeing of Ptolemais (Tulmaytha) (approx. 130 km from Apollonia), and Qasr Libya Museum;
Tulmaytha; Ruins under the sand
As other ancient sites in Cyrenaica, Tulmaytha has a beautiful setting, making the most out of the plains meeting with the sea. This site has, however, most its potentials still underground. Tulmaytha was established by Ptolemais in 4th century BC, and its importance continued during the Roman period, but with the arrival of the Arabs in the first half of the 7th century AD, it fell into decline. There are enough things excavated here to make a visit to Tulmaytha worth while. The best thing here is the basilica from 5th century AD. Other structures excavated, include a Hellenistic palace, the forum, statues and plenty of fountains. A visit to the museum is nice, and it has a good collection of everyday articles. Look out for the depictions of lions and tigers, which once lived in this area. Discovering Tulmaytha involves quite a walk, and afterwards it will be tempting to jump into the sea, from one of the excellent and almost deserted beach just a couple of hundred metres to the west.
Lunch at local restaurant in Ptolemais. On the way, stop for sightseeing visiting Taucheira (Tukra) (approx. 75 km from Benghazi);
Tukra; "Little of this, little of that" – Ruins
While Tukra originally was founded by the Greeks around 510 BC, it is the Roman ruins, the Byzantine church, and the Turkish fort that makes Tukra worth the detour. In total, Tukra doesn't reach up to the same level as the other ancient sites around Jabal Akhdar. As it could be included on your itinerary, Tukra must be seen as an example of the more modest city, not built on wealth. Therefore Tukra is a better representative for understanding how the majority of ancient urban dwellers lived. Unfortunately, large parts are still unexcavated, and that is most likely to remain the situation for still long time. The old village centre is worth the visit, it is charming, and comes very much alive during market day.
We now proceed to Benghazi driving through Jabal Akhdar. Jabal Akhdar; the best kept secret of North Africa There are two natural conditions that have been most attractive to travellers to Libya, the vast desert and its oases, and the Jabal Akhdar, which is Arabic for "Green Mountains". The name is just, and this is one of the very few areas which have for Westerners a pleasant summer climate. In ancient times, the Jabal Akhdar became the corn bowl for ancient Greece, thus the many Greek colonies here. During the Italian colonisation, it was a farming region, and this period has left many Italian style houses all around the mountain area. Modern Libya has been developing the agricultural potentials, particularly through the tremendous Great Manmade River, which pours large portions of its water into the farms of Jabal Akhdar. Despite this, the region has a fair amount of annual rainfall, 300 mm, which is a lot for a country like Libya. The scenery of this region comes as a great surprise to most visitors, few knew of this pearl before coming here. The nature shifts between soft and smooth mountain landscape, occasionally cut by a gorge or some wild rocks. Traditional Libyan architecture is easier to come across here, and few travellers would have problems filling at least one week of round trips here. Of important places to visit here, Cyrene, Apollonia, Tulmaytha, Slonta, and Derna springs immediately to mind.
Arrival Benghazi and free time at leisure in Benghazi. Check-in at your hotel in Benghazi, accommodation is based on half board basis.
Evening at leisure in Benghazi, sightseeing tour by bus for highlights in Benghazi including;
Commonwealth War Cemetery
Benghazi Memorial
Dinner at your hotel and overnight in Benghazi. B/L/D
DAY 11 (Sunday 29th April 2012)
Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Benghazi and check-out. Transfer to Benghazi airport to board your morning domestic flight to return to Cairo, on board Libyan airlines, Benghazi-Cairo (1 hour flight). The rest of the day is free for you to explore Cairo and buy those last minute gifts if necessary. Dinner is own arrangements tonight. B
DAY 12 (Monday 30th April 2012)
Buffet Breakfast in our hotel.
Today is a free day. There is an optional tour in Cairo, visiting the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx. and the Egyptian Museum, including the treasures of Tut Ankhamoun and the two Mummies Rooms is available for those who require it. Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx.
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Cairo Tour (Optional)
Lunch will be provided as part of the tour and following lunch we resume our tour and visit the Egyptian Museum, including the treasures of Tut Ankhamoun and the two Mummies Rooms.
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Dinner will be at Golden Pharaoh Nile Cruise; open buffet dinner including oriental show and belly dancer while sailing on the historical Nile (duration 2 hours). Overnight at your hotel in Cairo. B/D
DAY 13 Tuesday 1st May 2012)
Breakfast at our hotel before transferring to Cairo international airport to board your departure flight back home and we will have local assistance with our departure. B
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1. GENERAL This tour has been prepared by Military History Tours Australia Pty Ltd (MHT).
2. Military History Tours (MHT), urges you to read the booking terms and conditions and contact us or your travel agent if you need any clarification. At the time of publishing this on the internet, the arrangements outlined in it, the price and the inclusions were all confirmed. However, MHT reserves the right to make amendments to the program and the price, should conditions beyond the control of MHT change.
3. DEPOSITS A deposit of AUD $500.00 per person is required to secure a booking on the tour.
4. BOOKINGS Bookings can be made direct with MHT, or through your local travel agent. If your travel agent is not aware of this program, have them contact us and we will provide them with the details they require. The registration form must reach MHT, together with the deposit, to secure a reservation.
5. FINAL PAYMENT & CANCELLATIONS Final payment will be required by 30 November 2011. Any cancellations prior to this date will be entitled to a full refund. After 30 November 2011, cancellation will attract a 50% cancellation fee, and after 31 January, 2012, no refund will be applicable. You should consider insurance if you believe you may have to cancel arrangements close to these dates.
6. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS If you are travelling on an Australian passport, you will need visas to enter Egypt and Lybia. The Egyptian visa can be bought at Cairo airport for $15, obtaining a Lybian visa is a little more complex; MHT will take care of this for you once you have booked. We also recommend that your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity at the time of your departure from Australia. If you are travelling on other than an Australian passport you should check with your travel agent or MHT for the requirements.
7. ACCOMMODATION All hotels used in this both tours are 3 and 4 star standard. They are located as indicated in the itinerary.
8. CHILDREN & INFANTS No deposits are required for children under 12 years of age. However, they should be detailed on the registration form so that appropriate accommodation is provided. The cost for children and infants, under 3, will be provided on request.
9. SPECIAL REQUESTS Should you have special food requirements, a disability that will require special handling, or if you require a smoking or non smoking room, or any other need, please detail it on the registration form. Most accommodation in the area has a lot of smoking rooms, but we will allocate rooms with non smokers together when designated non smoking rooms are not available.
10. INSURANCE It is not acceptable for MHT to accept people on its tours who are not holding appropriate travel insurance. You should discuss the best for you with your travel agent or MHT prior to departure.
11. INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS A list of the inclusions and exclusions is detailed above. If you are not certain of anything, clarify with your travel agent or MHT.
12. TOUR CANCELLATION MHT reserves the right to cancel this tour at any time prior to commencement should booking numbers be insufficient to cover costs. Should the tour be cancelled subject to this clause, all payments made to MHT will be refunded.
13. SUMMARY MHT has run battlefield tours for nearly 20 years. If you join this tour, MHT guarantee that should you have a specific Australian grave site to visit for family or other reasons, providing it is registered with Australian war graves and near to the tour route, we will make sure you visit the site and have time to lay a wreath or poppy.
14. LAW OF CONTRACT The contract for the tour is governed in all aspects by the law in the state of NSW and any legal action arising under the contract shall be litigated only in the appropriate court having jurisdiction in that state.
15. TRAVELLING WITH MEDALS
For those who wish to display their own or a relative's medals when showing their respects, the airline security situation must be recognised. Due to the pin at the rear of all medal displays, it is no longer possible to carry them as hand luggage and they must be deposited in your main luggage (cargo hold bag). Valuable original medals in your cargo hold bag could be lost. Insurance can cover the cost to replace your clothing, not your grandfather's original World War 2 medals. It is recommended that you purchase a duplicate set, and put it in your cargo hold bag.
Leave your valuable original medals at home.
