Tours and Trips in Middle East and Africa

Discover the pyramids of Giza, the city of Memphis and Sakkara on a full-day private tour from Cairo or Giza. Take in the ancient structures with an Egyptologist guide: circle the massive Great Pyramid at Giza, visit the enigmatic sphinx and get a glimpse of life on the Nile Delta as you explore the open air museum at Memphis.  Learn the history and mythology that infuse the landscape as you walk through the Sakkara necropolis, where kings and courtiers were buried in elaborate stone tombs. 

Some of Egypt's most dramatic monuments are a short trip away from modern-day Cairo, but between city traffic and Cairo drivers, reaching the sites on your own can be a challenge. Travel to the Giza Pyramids, Saqqara (Sakkara), Memphis, and Dahshur in the comfort and security of a private vehicle to take the stress out of exploring, so you can focus on towering pyramids, mysterious pharaohs, and ancient history.

Witness sunrise from Mt Sinai and visit St Catherine's Monastery on this private trip from Sharm el Sheikh. Leaving in the evening and traveling with a private guide, head into the southern Sinai desert as your guide shares the biblical history of this sacred mountain, where it's believed Moses received the Ten Commandments. Climb to the summit to experience a spectacular sunrise and then descend for a guided tour of St Catherine's Monastery's church and treasures. Afterward, return to Sharm el Sheikh, with a stop for lunch along the way.

Explore ancient and modern Muscat and enjoy a dolphin-watching cruise on this private 8-hour Muscat sightseeing tour. Visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque with your private guide, and admire the beautiful fixtures and fittings you find. Hop aboard your boat in the marina and head out onto the waves. Watch the waters for playful dolphins and enjoy panoramic views over Oman's coastline. Back on dry land, delve into Old Muscat and discover top attractions including the Bait Al Zubair Museum, Al Alam Palace, Al-Jalali Fort and the bustling Muttrah Souk.

Experience Muscat's old Arabian mystique and see its highlights with a personal guide on this 4-hour private tour. Learn about the Omani capital's rich history and culture, and tour vast Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the Gulf's biggest. Stroll and shop at old-time souks, take photos of key landmarks, and explore Oman's past at the Bait Al Zubair Museum. Private transport, hotel pickup and drop-off, and entrance fees included.

Delve into Dubai's cultural, culinary and architectural secrets on this private 5.5-hour afternoon and evening walking tour. With an informative local guide, visit a beautiful, 19th-century pearl merchant's house and learn about early education in the emirate at the Al Ahmadia School museum. Then, explore the narrow lanes of the charming Al Bastakiya district, seeing its wind towers and courtyards. Be introduced to the basics of the Islamic religion at a mosque courtyard, and finish with a sumptuous Arabian dinner in the enchanting setting of a stylishly restored Bastakiya house.

Go deep into the Sinai for a desert Jeep safari, snorkel Abu Galum and learn to ride a camel on a full-day adventure tour from Sharm El Sheikh. Watch for desert wildlife as you navigate rugged terrain to the Colored Canyon, whose fantastic formations are shaped by desert winds; slip into the waters of the iconic Blue Hole and mount a camel for a trip into the sand. Relax over a Bedouin lunch, then browse for souvenirs in the seaside village of Dahab before returning to Sharm El Sheikh. 

The beautiful beaches and stunning natural landscapes of the Cape Peninsula stretch south of Cape Town all the way to Cape Point. On this private tour, travel in the comfort of a private vehicle and stop as often as you like to take photos. Ride the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, visit the Boulders Beach penguin colony, and follow the famous Chapman's Peak drive.

Visit Jerusalem's key biblical sites on a private 6-hour walking tour of the Old City. As you wander through the ancient lanes, hear about their pivotal role in Christianity as the backdrop to Jesus' life and death. Walk part of the poignant Via Dolorosa, the path he took to his crucifixion; and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Pool of Bethesda and other landmarks. Along the way, see the ancient Cardo, the sacred Jewish and Islamic sites of the Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock, and more.

Discover Morocco's kasbahs on a private, full-day tour from Marrakech into the peaks and valleys of the High Atlas Mountains. Climb the winding Tizi n'Tichka pass into a stark alpine landscape and take in the remote Glaoui kasbah. Travel through the Berber villages that cluster in high valleys, dine at a local restaurant and explore Ait-Ben-Haddou, a beautifully preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site that's the setting for some of Africa's most iconic films; slip past the fortified walls of the ksar into a dense, labyrinth of mud brick houses.

Discover the must-see sights of Sharjah, the neighboring emirate to Dubai, on this 4.5-hour private tour. With your own private guide beside you, leave Dubai by air-conditioned minivan, and delve into the intriguing city of Sharjah, with its quaint Old Town of souks, museums and heritage attractions. Admire the gleaming King Faisal Mosque; visit the restored, 17th-century Sharjah Fort and fascinating Sharjah Heritage Museum; and delve into the colorful stalls of Al Arsah Souk and Al Markazi Souk as your guide sheds light on Sharjah's history and rich cultural heritage.

see all Cairo's top attractions in two action-packed days on this private tour, with an Egyptologist guide. Experience the stunning Giza pyramids and Great Sphinx; and visit the ancient pyramid fields of Sakkara and open-air museum of Memphis. Gaze at Tutankhamun's golden treasures at the Egyptian Museum, and explore the highlights of Old Cairo, including the Mohammed Ali Pasha Mosque and Khan El Khalili bazaar.

Experience the wildlife and beauty of the desert by night on this 5-hour private experience from Dubai. As dusk falls, board a private vintage Land Rover for a wildlife-spotting drive around the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. With a private driver, roam the dunes and use the night-vision binoculars and headlights to spot nocturnal animals foraging in the darkness. Then, relax at a royal desert retreat with a delicious 2-course dinner and stargazing session with an astronomer guide. In summer, upgrade to enjoy your wildlife drive in a plush Range Rover.

See the illuminated landmarks of Muscat by night on this private 5-hour evening tour that includes dinner. A local driver serves as your personal guide, taking you by private car along the Corniche and past the serenely lit Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the extravagantly designed Al Alam Palace. Stroll through Mutrah Souq for market bargains before you savor a delicious 3-course meal of Omani cuisine at a local restaurant.

Watch the pyramids at Giza come to life with a 3-hour, sound and light show experience from Cairo. Meet your private guide at your hotel, then learn about the remarkable history of the pyramids during the short trip to Giza. Enjoy live narration and vivid colors as the show illustrates the culture and characters that shaped this ancient landscape. See the stars appear in the desert sky while you take in sweeping views of the sphinx and pyramids, then finish your evening with a return hotel transfer.

Discover the ancient jewel in Jordan's crown on this private day trip to Petra from Aqaba. Visit the UNESCO-listed city of Petra and explore deep canyons beneath soaring sandstone cliffs. Marvel at the intricately carved face of the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) as your guide shares details of its construction. Learn of the 6th-century Nabataean people who lived in the valleys, and admire top attractions such as the ancient theater and the royal tombs. Enjoy free time to explore Petra at your leisure before boarding your minivan back to Aqaba.

Discover the ancient jewels in Jordan's crown on this private Mount Nebo, Madaba and Dead Sea day trip from Amman. Explore Amman with your guide and discover top attractions such as the Citadel and the Roman theater. Visit St George's Church in Madaba and learn of the city's rich history. Enjoy panoramic views over the Jordan Valley from the top of Mount Nebo, and admire ancient relics and mosaics in a Franciscan monastery. Then, soak up the sunshine and enjoy free time to swim in the Dead Sea's salty waters.

Discover Tanzania wildlife on a full-day private tour from Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater that takes care of logistics and transport, so you can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site even if your time is limited. You'll have the chance to spot Africa's 'Big 5' game species in a vast caldera, also home to a community of semi-nomadic Maasai people, with convenient pickup and drop-off at Arusha hotels.

Ride a camel to  St. Simeon's Monastery on a private, 3.5-hour tour on Aswan's Elephantine Island. Glimpse faint traces of fresco paintings as you explore the 7th-century site, and take in stark views from the fortified walls. Learn the story of the monks that used Elephantine Island as a basecamp for missionary trips into Nubia, and find graffiti left by Islamic pilgrims during their long journeys to Mecca. 

Oman's hill forts more than justify a guided 4x4 tour: freeing you from driving across what can be rough terrain and letting you focus on the forts' beauty, history, and surrounding scenery. This private tour from Muscat delivers: whisking you to 17th-century Nakhal Fort, up to the Ain Towarah hot springs, and then to Rustaq Fort. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off, lunch, and entry fees are included.