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Egypt - Luxor & Makadi Bay Adventure
Very Personal Adventure & Cultural Horse Riding Holiday

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from £1,880 or €2,140

Horse Riding Holidays Egypt – Luxor & Makadi Bay


PRICES & DATES top

Luxor and Makadi Bay Adventure: Prices 2023

GBP, £ EUR, € USD, $
Choose your currency
Rates are quoted per person sharing. All trips are fixed departure dates with some flexibility.

  • 7 nights$2,300
    • GBP: 1,880
    • EUR: 2,132
  • Single supplement – $428
    • GBP: 350
    • EUR: 397

Note: Rates are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations, please refer to our ‘Terms & Conditions’ for full details.

Luxor and Makadi Bay Adventure: Dates 2023

28 December 2022 – 4 January 2023 (Please note there is an additional cost 0f £150/175 Euros for dates over the festive period)
5-12 January
22-29 April
14-21 October

Included – All riding, English speaking guide, full board accommodation, transfers at set times, sight seeing (some minimal entrance fees payable), water on rides.

Excluded – Flights, Transfers outside set times, drinks, tips

Getting There
The simplest way to get there is to fly in and out of Hurghada which is a 3.5 hour transfer to Luxor. It is also possible to fly into Luxor and out of Hurghada if you want to avoid this initial transfer.

Transfer
Transfer to your hotel on the first night from Hurghada to Luxor is included as is transfer back to Hurghada airport on final day at set times. Private transfers for £90/€105 also available.

All our horse riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book one of our horse riding holidays and will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.

SUMMARY OF THE TRIP top

This ride is run by British woman Emma Jane Levin who has made Egypt her home and combines great riding on fabulous horses with fantastic cultural days. Like many of our trips you will get under the skin of Egypt and meet the real people as well as visit historic temples, and famous landmarks such as the Red Sea and the River Nile.

The adventure begins in Luxor, on the east bank of the River Nile in southern Egypt; home of the ancient Thebes, the pharaoh’s capital during the 16th – 11th centuries B.C. Alongside exciting and thrilling riding, take a trip along the Nile shore and Gezira village to witness true Arabian village life.

Experience Fort Arabesque, and Makadi Bay in Hurghada, nestled between the stunning desert landscape and picturesque mountain range, and located on the red sea. With long stretches of white sand beaches, the terrain is perfect for long free gallops, with the crystal blue waters whizzing past. The golden scenery, contrasting against the turquoise blue sea, makes it one of the most picturesque parts of the red sea.

Each day is unique and with long steady canter’s along sandy deserts, rides through local bedouin villages, faster stretches along the shoreline and adventures into the mountains and wilderness.

Rides along the river Nile can even include spotting grazing buffalo. Ride through banana and sugar cane fields, leading to famous temples – unusual views to be seen from a horse. Venture out for a week-long journey which will create unforgettable memories, and is the perfect way to see Egypt and its famous historical landmarks.

Highlights

  • The chance to swim with your horse in crystal clear waters at Makadi Bay
  • Ride through the Egyptian desert to historical locations such as the Valley of the Kings
  • Horse ride along the famous River Nile and see buffalos grazing nearby
  • Canter along the coastline of the Red Sea
  • Get the chance to swim with Dolphins at Makadi Bay’s Dolphin House
  • Stay in beautiful accommodation in Luxor with rooftop views of ancient temples

THE RIDING top

Luxor & Makadi Bay : Horses – Arab & Arab Crosses.

Luxor & Makadi Bay : Level of Riding & Pace – Intermediate to Advanced.

Tack – English style GP, endurance, treeless & Western saddles available.

Weight Restriction – 15 stones / 100 kg / 220 lbs.

Luxor & Makadi : Group Size – Maximum 10.

ACCOMMODATION top

In Luxor you will stay on the West Bank at Villa Nile House. Villa Nile House is a charming guesthouse which offers excellent service. The house has been built using traditional materials in an oriental style – it has two roof terraces with views of both Luxor and Hatsheput temple. The grounds offer great relaxation with a flower garden, ‘Bedouin corner’, swimming pool and jacuzzi. The rooms are appropriately named… ‘Nefertiti’ and ‘Cleopatra’ are just two examples. Rooms have air-conditions, LCD TVs and Wi-Fi. They have private bathrooms.

The location is perfect for those wishing to take an evening stroll, visit one of the charming Bedouin bars or restaurants along the Nile or visit one of the traditional shops offering keep sakes not found in standard tourist shops.

In Hurghada you stay at the Sweet Home Oasis Boutique Hotel right beside the beach where you can relax, feel the sand between your toes and watch some unforgettable sunsets. The hotel has 12 bedrooms offering modern accommodation and a warm & friendly atmosphere. Conveniently, the stables are only next door.

The unique Egyptian cuisine has been influenced throughout history, particularly by its neighbours from the Middle East. More recently, the foods of other Arabic people in the Middle East such as the Lebanese, Palestinians, Syrians, as well as some foods from Europe, have affected the Egyptian diet. However, Egyptian cuisine maintains its uniqueness. After thousands of years, rice and bread remain staple foods, and molokhiyya (a spinach-like vegetable) and fulmudammas (cooked, creamy fava beans), a national dish, are nearly as popular as long ago. Other popular dishes include Kebab and Kofta usually of lamb meat, chops and minced meat on skewers grilled on charcoal. Egyptians are famous for stuffing spicy rice in vegetables like green pepper, aubergines, courgettes and tomatoes to make Mahshi.

Horse Riding Holidays on the Luxor and Makadi Bay Adventure are part of the Zara’s Planet collection of Horse Riding holidays Australia.

Please Ask About

  • Other riding adventures and dates in Egypt
    • Palms, Pyramids & Pharoahs – Visit the Pyramids, Sphinx & temples on horses; a must for history and cultural lovers
  • Private groups
  • Add ons

SAMPLE ITINERARY top

Day 1 – Travel Day.

Day 2 – After breakfast you will travel by Tuk Tuk to the stables on the West Bank. Our first day is a fabulous introduction to Bedouin Life. Ride through the villages on horseback under the palm trees along to the River Nile. The Nile is incredibly peaceful and you can see the buffalo grazing along the banks. Lunch will be provided at our guest house.
No trip to Egypt would be complete without a camel safari. This is an amazing way to travel through the villages and along the Nile with super high views! Dinner will be around 8pm at a local Egyptian feast and party at our guesthouse. Eating with your hands whilst sitting on the floor on plush cushions is a must when in Luxor! The first day is a true impression of the “Egyptian way of life”. Approx 5 hours in the saddle.

Day 3 – Non-riding day. After an early breakfast at around 7am, we will start with a half-day tour of the Valley of the Kings, the last resting-place of the ancient Pharaohs. The Valley of the Kings Tutankhamen; Ramesses I; Tuthmosis III; Tawsert/Sethnakt; Siptah; Ramesses III; Ramesses VI, IX & IV – usually at least eight tombs are open!
Our West Bank tour continues to Hatshepsut, the most famous female in Egyptian history. Hatshepsut was a pharaoh of Egypt from roughly 1479 to 1458 BCE. She not only had the longest reign of any Egyptian female, but is also regarded as one of the most successful rulers in Egyptian history. Under Hatshepsut, Egypt explored, built, and grew. Our trip also will take us to Carters House, and The Valley of the Queens (Arabic: وادي الملكات Wādī al Malekāt) which is a place in Egypt where wives of Pharaohs were buried in ancient times. In ancient times, it was known as Ta-Set-Neferu, meaning “the place of beauty”.
After lunch we will cross cross to the East Bank and do a tour of Karnak Temple. We start our day by catching a ride on hantours (traditional horse-drawn buggies) and set out up the Corniche a kilometre or two to Karnak. Karnak! The largest religious complex on the planet. Forget all you have come to expect in regard to scale and space, and be astonished by the Temples of Amun-Ra and his divine wife, Mut and their son, Khonsu.
We will be on hand to show you through the labyrinth and explain the purpose, meaning and history of the amazing ruins of Karnak. Many visitors walk right past one of the treasures of Karnak – its Open Air Museum. We will introduce you to some of the architectural wonders which were re-used as fill by later generations of Egyptian architects but which have been re-erected in all their glory in this Museum. Enter the Great Hypostyle Hall built by Seti I, father of Ramesses the Great – over 6000 sqm, 134 columns – the 12 which flank the processional way are 23m tall – words, facts and figures can never do justice to the experience that is Karnak.
After Karnak we will visit Luxor Temple and Luxor Museum before finishing at the Mummification Museum.

Day 4 – The ULTIMATE trail ride through the land of the Pharaohs. Our morning takes us into the countryside of Luxor. The lush green sugar cane fields are perfect for a good canter and the scenery is spectacular! Watch the farmers working in their fields just as their ancestors did using old traditions. Mid-morning you can prepare to be amazed as our sure footed horses will take you behind the Valley of the Kings and to the top of Mount Thebes so you can see panoramic views of Luxor.
Lunch is served in a local village before completing our trial dashing through the sugar cane fields and banana plantations. This is approx 6 hours end to end. In the evening we will have dinner on a sailing boat, the perfect way to relax after a long ride.

Day 5 – Travel Day to Hurghada. Morning departure arriving at the Red Sea for lunchtime. After lunch on the beach and a soak in the pool we will introduce you to our “desert Arabians”. The horses in Hurghaga are chosen for their forward going nature and their ability to gallop endlessly in the deserts. We will enjoy a sunset ride before retiring for dinner by the sea. Riding time 3 hours.

Day 6 – Today’s riding is split into 2 halves. Our morning trip will see us fly in the desert with our horses and after a lunch break we will visit the stunning Red Sea. Dinner is at our hotel. Riding time 6 hours.

Day 7 – Non riding. Today takes us away from the land and into the crystal blue waters of the Red Sea where we will spend the day lapping up the sunshine and relaxing. However, this isn’t any old boat trip!
Today you will have the opportunity to meet our underwater friends at Dolphin House where you will have the chance to swim with wild dolphins and stop off at 2 stunning snorkelling spots to see an array of underwater beauty around the reefs of Hurghada – a truly once in a lifetime experience.
Not only that, you will also be treated to an exquisite seafood lunch by the wonderful crew on board.

Day 8 – No trip would be complete without swimming with horses in the Red Sea! After breakfast we will pick you up from your hotel and bring you to our facilities. We will enjoy a morning canter along the sea before stripping the horses of their saddles and joining them for a swim. Enjoy a relaxed lunch on the beach and some down time before heading back to the hotel to prepare for your return flight in the evening. Riding time 3 hours.

DESTINATION MAP top

Zara’s Planet Horse Riding Holidays Guarantee:

All our horse riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book one of our horse riding holidays and will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.

We have travelled the world testing a huge variety of horse riding holidays to make sure we offer you, our client, the best horse riding holiday experience possible.

Our horse riding holidays are thoroughly researched – we consider all the elements that go towards making our horse riding holidays collection the best in the world. We check the quality of the horses, if they are fit for the job, well produced and looked after. We make sure the riding terrain is good going, the countryside is interesting and, for example, on Classic Dressage horse riding holidays, the arenas are in good condition. We make sure the accommodation, whether it’s a five star hotel, a farmhouse or camping, is clean and comfortable, and offers a great night’s sleep. The food is all important too – we take the time to make sure we tell you if it’s cordon bleu, home cooked, or regional and locally sourced – above all it has to be delicious, plentiful and nourishing. Last but not least, we choose the horse riding holidays that have the best hosts, who are friendly, warm and welcoming.

It’s only when all these elements come together that we add a horse riding holiday into our hand-picked collection of horse riding holidays.

If you are having trouble finding exactly the right horse riding holiday for you from our horse riding holidays collection, please contact us directly using the form below and tell us in your own words what you would like to do and we will use our extensive knowledge to make sure we find that perfect horse riding holiday.

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