The War in the Desert: Egypt
El Alamein to the Libyan border
The North African campaign raged for three years up and down the narrow strip bounded by the Mediterranean to the north and impenetrable desert to the south. For two years it was the only theatre where the Axis forces could be challenged on land and was of crucial importance in the fight against them. The struggle swung back and forth with first one side, then the other advancing hundreds of miles in searing temperatures before the issue was settled by Montgomery and the Eighth Army at El Alamein in October 1942. By November the enemy was in full retreat never to return. In the three years of fighting 35,000 British and Empire troops lost their lives.
This eight day El Alamein battlefield tour features all the main battle sites of the desert campaign in Egypt. Our El Alamein tour also finds time to venture in to the heart of the Western Desert and experience its fantastic geology and the remote oasis of Siwa, even spending one night in the desert under canvas in Siwa. And we even manage to fit in the best part of a day at the Pyramids. Our El Alamein tour is a relatively fast moving Western Desert battlefield tour covering in excess of 2000 kilometres and requiring frequent changes of hotel, thus requiring a reasonable level of stamina.
"I did not hope for such a complete victory; or rather I hoped for it, but I did not expect it".
Viscount Montgomery
Day 1.
Morning flight London to Cairo Egypt. Check in to our hotel, the Mena House Oberoi, General Alexander's headquarters during his time as C-in-C Middle East and with magnificent views towards the pyramids at Giza.
Day 2.
Spend most of the day exploring the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza before we drive to Borg el Arab on the Mediterranean coast and check in to our hotel for two nights.
"We will hit the enemy for six right out of North Africa".
Viscount Montgomery
Day 3.
Today we spend the whole day on the El Alamein battlefield as we drive the length of the battlefield through the desert to the edge of the Qattara Depression in 4x4 vehicles in order to gain an appreciation of the ever changing and wild topography. Amongst other sights we include Alam Halfa, south of El Alamein, and the Ruweisat Ridge.
Day 4.
Visit the El Alamein museum, station and cemetery and then a long drive in to the heart of the desert to the Oasis of Siwa, the home of the Long Range Desert Group and a place that changed hands frequently during the war. Here in Siwa we have pitched a comfortable tented camp amongst the desert sands. We will enjoy a magical evening BBQ amongst Siwa's dunes and below the myriad of stars before you bed down under canvas for the night.
Day 5.
We visit the Temple of the Oracle where Alexander the Great saw his future, marvel at the palm tree-lined great salt lake and fresh water springs. Those daring enough will have the opportunity to take a dip before we drive northwards to the coastal town of Mersa Matruh where we check in to our hotel for two nights.
Day 6.
Our El Alamein tour continues as we travel along the coast to the Libyan border to examine Operations Compass, Brevity and Battleaxe visiting Sidi Barrani, Buq Buq, Halfaya Pass and the Sollum War Cemetery.
Day 7.
Our El Alamein battlefield tour explores Mersa Matruh and visit Rommel's museum and headquarters. Continue along the coast road and check in to the Hotel Cecil, headquarters of the British intelligence service during the El Alamein desert campaign and where we can indulge in an 'Ice cold in Alex' to celebrate our own desert adventures.
Day 8.
This morning our El Alamein tour visits Fort Qait Bay with its naval museum and magnificent views over Alexandria and, depending upon demand, Chatby and Hadra Cemeteries. We then head for Cairo airport for our late afternoon flight back to London.
