Minya — The Scribes’ Lost Manuscript
Track down a vanished papyrus that exposes a scribes’ conspiracy in the necropolis of Tuna el‑Gebel.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the necropolis of Tuna el‑Gebel, near Minya, the tombs of ancient scribes once guarded the secrets of Pharaonic administration and sacred texts
Minya — The Scribes’ Lost Manuscript
You are a cryptographer for the Egyptian Department of Antiquities, dispatched to Minya in the present day to analyze a recently unearthed collection of papyri.
In the necropolis of Tuna el‑G
In the footsteps of the masters of sacred writing
« Man perishes, his works vanish into oblivion, but the scribe and his books cross all ages. »— Adapted from 'The Maxims of Ptahhotep', Old Kingdom
Minya, beating heart of Pharaonic scribes
The Minya region, often called the ancient 'breadbasket of Egypt,' was also a crucible of thought and writing. Located on the east bank of the Nile, it housed major necropolises such as Beni Hasan and Tuna el-Gebel, where artisans and scribes left treasures of inscriptions and frescoes. These sites bear witness to the crucial importance of scribes, not only as administrators but also as artists and theologians, capable of mastering the arcana of sacred hieroglyphs, cursive hieratic, and popular demotic.
The cult of Thoth, the ibis or baboon god of writing, wisdom, and knowledge, was particularly fervent in this region, notably at Hermopolis Magna (El-Ashmunein), near Tuna el-Gebel. Minya's scribes were renowned for their erudition and skill, transcribing religious texts, historical accounts, and administrative records that are today invaluable windows into Egyptian civilization. Their legacy, carved in stone and written on papyrus, endures through the millennia.
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
5-10 curated sites across the territory
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Written Treasures
Decipher ancient hieroglyphs and inscriptions to advance in your quest for lost knowledge.
Majestic Sites
Explore ancient necropolises, temples, and cities that were centers of Egyptian erudition.
Wisdom of Thoth
Delve into the crucial role of Thoth, god of writing and knowledge, and his connections with the scribes of Minya.
The knowledge of the scribes awaits revelation.
The fate of ancient words is in your hands.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Embark on an epic adventure through the timeless landscapes of Middle Egypt. Solve the riddles left by Thoth's scribes and unlock the secrets of a divine codex that has defied time.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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