From Cairo to Alexandria, El Alamein, Siwa Oasis and the Great Sand Sea. Join SOE Expeditions in November 2027 as we commemorate the 85th anniversary of the formal establishment of the 1st Special Air Service Regiment and explore the extraordinary story of the SAS and its pioneering operations across North Africa.

Follow in the footsteps of British, Free French and Belgian SAS personnel as we travel across the landscapes and battlefields where these pioneering Special Forces conducted daring raids against German and Italian forces.

Originally established by David Stirling in July 1941 as L Detachment, SAS Brigade, the unit was formally granted regimental status on 28 September 1942, becoming 1st SAS Regiment.

The destruction of aircraft on the ground demonstrated the effectiveness of this new form of warfare. Raids on Axis airfields, including operations around Tamet and Sirte, helped establish the SAS as an innovative and formidable raiding force.

As the war developed, the story became increasingly international. The Free French and Belgian SAS formations made their own significant contributions to the Allied campaign, conducting operations across North Africa and beyond. From the airfields attacked by the SAS to the remote desert tracks used by the LRDG, we will explore the people, operations and landscapes that helped shape modern Special Forces.

Join SOE Expeditions this November and follow in the footsteps of legends. A journey through the history of the SAS, LRDG, Free French and Belgian Special Forces, set against the extraordinary backdrop of the Egyptian desert.