Egyptologists' Tour with Amarna

"Amarna, Meidum, Abydos & more" previously called: "Egyptologists' Egypt" Tour Saturday, February 5 - Sunday, February 20, 2011 Includes: 5-star hotels in Cairo & Luxor, best hotel in Minya, 2 meals per day, flight from Luxor to Cairo, bottled water at all times, sightseeing with entrance fees as described below. Additional fees may be required for activities listed as Optional. Complete list of what is included.
Day 1 Saturday Feb 5, 2011	Arrivals in Cairo. You can arrive at any time today. We will arrange to have someone greet you at the airport and bring you to our hotel in Giza. No additional fee for this service. If you arrive early enough, you might enjoy the Sound & Light Show at the Giza Pyramids. Optional: Sound & Light Show at the Giza pyramids. Cost: $30. Overnight: 5-star hotel near the pyramids. Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel.
Day 2 Sunday Feb 6, 2011 Dashur Pyramids - Red, Bent & Black ----- Local Farmers ----- Memphis	We begin our tour with sites from Ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom (2,575-2,150 B.C.). Leaving Giza we drive southward through fertile farmlands to the pyramids at Dashur, dated even older than the pyramids at Giza! It is also a chance to begin savoring the riches of Egypt without huge crowds and souvenir sellers. More photos of Dashur. We spend time inside the Red Pyramid (nearly as large as Giza's Great Pyramid) and then have the opportunity for an unforgettable walk across the open desert to the Bent Pyramid. The desert is rich with inspiration and the vastness is exhilarating. The Bent pyramid was a key center of worship during the Middle Kingdom, and was much more important than Giza at that time. The Bent pyramid is the only pyramid to retain most of its original casing stones. The Black Pyramid (Middle Kingdom mud brick) can also be seen from here. Nearby are some friends of Ruth who have a guesthouse in the Black Land, the farming area. Hopefully they will be home and able to welcome us for lunch. It's also a chance to see some the nearby farmers and their animals up close. The farmers love getting the photos of themselves that Ruth brings to them each time. One well-known Egyptologist said, "If you want to learn about Ancient Egypt, study the traditions of the local farmers." They may well be the closest link we have to the ways of the ancients. See Blue Lotus of Saqqara Guesthouse. In the afternoon we see what remains of the ancient city of Memphis, the "City of the White Wall," capitol of Egypt during the Old Kingdom. Most notable here is the large statue of Ramesses and an alabaster sphinx. Shopping opportunities: -Carpet Shop -Gold Shop (jewelry) - one of Egypt's specialties. Get a cartouche with your name in hieroglyphs. Optional: Sound & Light Show at the Giza pyramids. Cost: $30. Overnight: 5-star hotel near the pyramids. Le Meridien Pyramids, BB, L.
Day 3 Monday Saqqara ----- Imhotep Museum	We again drive southward, this time to the Saqqara complex where we see the Step Pyramid, the early versions of the *Book of the Dead* (Teti Pyramid) and some tombs with scenes of the daily life in the Old Kingdom. There have also been some recent discoveries at Saqqara which our friend Ashraf Mohie el-Din (part of the excavation team) will be telling us about. Having the whole day will give us time to look at all that is going on here. Also here at Saqqara we have the pleasure of seeing the newly opened Imhotep Museum. A beautifully laid out modern museum, there are a number of wooden statues from the Old Kingdom that are particularly memorable. All the items on exhibit were found here at Saqqara and have not been on public display before. Lunch at a restaurant in the countryside with outdoor shaded seating. Shopping opportunity: Papyrus Institute and shop Overnight: 5-star hotel near the pyramids. Le Meridien Pyramids, BB, L.
Day 4 Tuesday Giza Pyramids ----- Camel rides ----- Solar Boat	Today we spend a full day on the Giza Plateau. We visit and go inside whichever pyramids are open. Of the three pyramids, two will be open and one closed for renovations - dates are not announced in advance. In the Solar Boat Museum we see a boat that is almost 5,000 years old and was found 50 years ago, here beside the pyramid. We will also see the Great Sphinx & Valley Temple. There are legends of the Sphinx speaking. Does the Sphinx have a message for you? The Valley Temple has huge granite blocks that fit tightly together, even today. How did they do it? Camel rides for the adventurous. Camel Videos We are applying for two special government issued permits that will grant us a private entrance to the Great Pyramid (for just our group and with all 3 chambers open to us) and a visit inside the Great Sphinx enclosure. We have every reason to believe that we will receive this permission, as we have on our previous tours. However, we cannot guarantee this because government policies can change unexpectedly. Overnight: 5-star hotel near the pyramids. Le Meridien Pyramids or Pyramids Park Hotel, BB, L.
Day 5 Wednesday Cairo Egyptian Museum ---- Citadel Mosque ----- Tent Makers Ave	Today we begin with an exciting visit to the Cairo Egyptian Museum.* Your guides point out the most famous pieces and then there is free time to look at whatever interests you the most. The treasures of King Tut, the Mummy Room, Middle Kingdom papyruses, statues from all time periods. Those who want to be there the minute the museum opens in the morning can leave early and meet the rest of the group when we arrive mid-morning.* Cairo is the biggest center of culture and learning in the Middle East, and one of the largest, most crowded cities in the entire world. In the late afternoon we enjoy a panoramic view of the whole city from the Citadel. Here we also visit one of the most beautiful mosques in the city, the famous Mohammed Ali Mosque, also called the "Alabaster Mosque". Our last stop while we are in downtown Cairo is for shopping at the in the old Islamic quarter at the un-touristy "Avenue of the Tent Makers." The narrow cobble stone alleys, the profusion of colorful goods, the medieval architecture, and the best scarf prices in Egypt! Meet the men who sew and design the beautiful applique items you will see in other shops at much higher prices than here where they make them. Shopping opportunity: -Kayyameya (Avenue of the Tent Makers) - appliqué crafts and scarves. Note for museum enthusiasts: If, after the guided tour, you would like to spend the rest of the day at the museum on your own (and skip the Citadel and Tent Makers), that will be easy to work out for you. The museum closes at 6:00pm. Overnight:* 5-star hotel near the pyramids. Le Meridien Pyramids, BB, L.
Day 6 Thursday Niuserre Sun Temple --- Abu Sir Pyramids	This morning we again drive south of Giza, this time to visit two sites that are not open to the general public - the Niuserre Sun Temple at Abu Gurab and the Sahure Sun Temple and pyramids at Abu Sir. Again, we will be applying for special permits that will allow us entrance to these sites. At the Niuserre Sun Temple the central alabaster altar represents the sun surrounded with "*hotep"* blessings in the four directions. Lunch, and a visit to a perfumery with one last good look at the Giza pyramids & Sphinx. Time to pack up for the trip through Middle Egypt tomorrow. We will do some shopping at a modern grocery store for snacks and travel food for our trip. No more stores like that in Middle or Upper Egypt. Shopping opportunities: -Perfumery - an Egyptian specialty. -Grocery Store - a chance to buy some snacks for the long bus ride. Overnight: 5-star hotel near the pyramids. Le Meridien Pyramids or Pyramids Park Hotel, BB, L.
Day 7 Friday Pyramid at Meidum --- Ashmunein ---- Tuna el-Gebel	We leave early this morning and travel south via our own private A/C coach to Middle Egypt. At this time only about 15 people a week visit the sites in Middle Egypt (not like the thousands that visit Giza each day), so this is quite an opportunity. Our first visit is the Pyramid at Meidum. As we get our first look at it from a distance, this pyramid is strangely beautiful, even though it is not in good condition. Inside, we can touch some of the wooden timbers used in its construction more than 4,000 years ago! This is also the area where the famous statues (on display in the Cairo museum) of Rahotep and his wife were found, as well as the famous "Geese of Meidum". In the afternoon we visit el-Ashmunein (Arabic), Hermopolis (Greek), Khmunu (Ancient Egyptian) or the "City of the Eight". It was the main cult center of Thoth (Djhueti, Tehuti), god of wisdom and writing, patron of scribes. We also visit Tuna el-Gebel which was the neocropolis of Khmunu. Here we see the catacombs, a Late Period temple and one of the boundary stelae of Tel el-Amarna. All in all, a very exciting day. We continue on through the rural areas of Egypt to the town of Minya where we find the best hotel in Middle Egypt, located directly on the Nile. We are now far from the big city of Cairo. Overnight in the town of Minya, overlooking the Nile. BB, D.
Day 8 Saturday Tel el-Amarna	This morning we visit the site of Tel el-Amarna, a city built by Akhenaten and Nefertiti during the New Kingdom. We visit some nobles tombs with wall reliefs unequalled anywhere else in Egypt. The pictures appear alive and even as though they are moving. We also visit the Northern Palace, one of the Boundary Stele (a marker of the city limits), the Southern Palace and the tomb built for Akhenaten. More photos of Tel el Amarna. Overnight in the town of Minya, overlooking the Nile. BB, D.
Day 9 Sunday Beni Hasan ---- Speos Artemidos	Today we begin with the tombs at Beni Hasan, a Middle Kingdom (2040 - 1640 BC) site. The nobles' tombs portray scenes from the daily life, and are well preserved, full of color and quite fascinating. Acrobatics, dancing, and military sports are emphasized. But there are also scenes of making flour, baking bread, weaving cloth, and even a husband and wife on their wedding night! There are many animals portrayed - both those that were domesticated and those that were hunted. There are also a few "mystic" beasts to speculate about, a unicorn... or what do you think? It is near Beni Hasan that we find another interesting site, the "Speos Artemidos," a rock cut temple for Pakhet, an aspect of the lioness goddess Sekhmet. It is here that the female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, made her declaration denouncing the Hyksos and telling of her mission to resuscitate the temples of Egypt. Overnight in the town of Minya, overlooking the Nile. BB, D.
Day 10 Monday Abydos ---- Ramesses II Temple	Today we leave Minya and travel still further south to visit Abydos, the place of pilgrimage in Ancient Egypt. We will arrive midday as the convoy of buses with tourists coming from Luxor is leaving. Temple of Seti I (with the renowned Osireion). The temple is all ours for the whole afternoon. Many feel that the reliefs of this temple are the highest art found in Ancient Egypt. It is truly unforgettable. We also may be able to explore the rarely visited Ramesses II Temple, located a short distance from the Seti I Temple. This is a fairly small temple with some vibrantly colored wall reliefs. Afterwards we continue to Luxor, passing through Nag Hammadi where the writings were found that are now called the Nag Hammadi Library. Discovered in 1945, these ancient codices (dating from 390 AD) contained the Gospels of Thomas, Mary and others. Our Luxor hotel is 5 star and located directly on the Nile. Overnight: Luxor 5-star Hotel - Sonesta St. George. BB, D.
Day 11 Tuesday Dendera ---- Nile Sunset	Today we visit to the Temple of Hathor at Dendera from a 1-day Nile Cruise. This temple was built during the Ptolemaic (Greek) era on a much older site that had been a place of worshiping the Goddess Hathor in earlier times. The ceilings and walls of the main hypostyle hall are full of astrological imagery. The famous circular zodiac was found in the ceiling of a chapel on the roof of the temple. The ceilings and walls of the main hypostyle hall are full of astrological imagery. We are privileged to see the newly renovated ceiling of the main hypostyle hall. The breath-takingly vibrant colors which had been colored in black soot for millennia have now been exposed again. Those who have visited this temple in the past will be amazed! Taking the Nile Cruise to Dendera gives us a chance to relax and watch the timeless life along the Nile pass by at a pace that brings us into the life of times past. Lunch and afternoon tea served on board. Overnight: Luxor 5-star Hotel - Sonesta St. George. BB, L.
Day 12 Wednesday Valley of the Queens ------- Ramesseum ---- Tombs of the Nobles ----- Villagers ---- Seti I Temple --- "Colossi of Memnon" ---- Felucca Ride	Today we visit the West Bank of Luxor, one of the most famous archeological sites in the world. We begin with the Valley of the Queens, where we see our first New Kingdom tombs. Next we see a wonderful temple which is rarely visited, the Ramesseum. There is a splendid hypostyle hall, an astrological ceiling and some excellent wall reliefs in good condition. This is also where we find the fallen statue that inspired a poem by Shelley. We also have the pleasure of seeing the rarely visited tombs in the Tombs of the Nobles. With their brightly colored daily-life scenes, we are given a view into the lives of the Ancient Egyptian nobility during the New Kingdom. We hope to visit some of the villagers on the West Bank today for lunch. A chance to see the local life and taste their typical dishes and breads. After lunch we see the rarely visited Seti I Temple which still contains some beautiful reliefs including some astrological imagery. They have recently done some planting of trees along the colonnade and planted grass on the sides. It is nice to see a temple with the impression of the rich gardens that would have surrounded it in antiquity. Before leaving the West Bank we see what are now called the "Colossi of Memnon." They are actually colossi of Amenhotep III. The Greeks, however, believed they were statues of Memnon, the son of Eros. For those who would like, the journey back to the East Bank can be by felucca sailboat. A lovely way to finish an exciting day and to see the sun set over the water. Optionals: -Felucca Sailboat ride in the late afternoon for those who choose it. Price: about $10 pp. -Sound & Light Show at Karnak in the evening. Cost: $30 pp. Shopping opportunities: -Alabaster shop on the West Bank Overnight: Luxor 5-star Hotel - Sofitel Karnak Resort or Sonesta St. George. BB, L.
Day 13 Thursday Valley of the Kings --- Hatshepsut's Temple --- Luxor Temple	We are again on the West Bank of Luxor today, this time visiting what is probably the most famous archeological site in the world, the Valley of the Kings, where King Tut's tomb was found. There are many tombs here, and excavations are still going on, as well as renovations to tombs that have been uncovered a long time. One never knows which tombs will be open that day, but there will be a variety to choose from. A recent highlight is the reopening of the Ramesses V & VI tomb. It has been restored with modern techniques pioneered during the restoration of the tomb of Nefertari (Nefertari is no longer open to the public), and is truly breathtaking. This tomb requires an extra ticket, but it has been included in your tour. We would not want you to miss this one! We also visit is one of the earliest New Kingdom temples. Called "The Most Splendid of All" by the ancient Egyptians, Queen Hatshepsut’s famous Deir El Bahari has inspired many, including the founders of modern architecture. One of the outstanding features is the picturesque Hathor columns in the Hathor Chapel on the second Level. We are also privileged to be admitted to the third level which was only recently opened to the public. More photos of Hatshepsut's Deir El Bahari Temple. We spend the later afternoon and early evening at the Luxor Temple (when the lighting is optimal for seeing the wall reliefs). When the sun sets, the temple is lit up giving the temple a special feeling. It also gives us an opportunity for some dramatic photos. Both gently beautiful and full of awesome grandness, this temple was the "Bride of Karnak" during the annual Apet festival. Optional tickets: -King Tutankhamen Tomb: 50 LE (about $9 USD) -Ramesses V & VI Tomb is included in your tour price. Overnight: Luxor 5-star Hotel - Sonesta St. George. BB, L.
Day 14 Friday Balloon Ride --- Karnak ----- Open Air Museum ----- Luxor Museum	Optional early morning balloon ride over the West Bank of Luxor. See the temples from a very different perspective! You decide about this option while you are in Egypt, a few days before arriving in Luxor. Cost: about $140 USD. The splendors of the Karnak Temple Complex fill most of our day today. Luxor was the center of government during the New Kingdom and each Pharaoh wanted to leave something impressive at Karnak. The largest temple complex in Egypt, we see multiple temples, obelisks, great gates and the famous hypostyle hall - unequalled to this day. We also see the Sacred Lake, the Festival Hall and Botanical Garden of Tutmosis III (a precursor of Napoleon's later record of the fauna and flora found in Egypt). Also at Karnak, we visit the fascinating Open Air Museum where we view the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut and Tutmosis III (Karnak's original Holy of Holies) and Senwosret's White Chapel with its finely-carved Middle Kingdom hieroglyphs. These are in raised relief - some of the best to be found anywhere. There is something new each time we visit, as reconstruction of new pieces is ongoing. Bring extra film (or lots of memory) for Karnak. After a late lunch we will have an opportunity to do some shopping at the Luxor street Bazaar. Lots of small shops and a chance to test your bargaining skills. In the late afternoon we make a visit to the modern Luxor Museum. There is a special exhibit room for a cache of statues found in near-perfect condition. They were buried under a courtyard at the Luxor Temple and found only recently during renovations. There is also a new wing, just opened recently, with an excellent mummy exhibit and a number of splendid artifacts. Our friend, Rachid, has painstakingly put together a wall from Tel el-Amarna which is displayed here. Optionals: Sunrise Balloon Ride, cost: about $140 pp. Shopping opportunities: -Luxor street bazaar on the East Bank. Overnight: Luxor 5-star Hotel - Sofitel Karnak Resort or Sonesta St. George. BB, L.
Day 15 Sat, Feb 19, 2011 Valley of Workers ---- Medinet Habu Temple --- Flight to Cairo or begin an Extension	The last tombs that we visit are at Deir El Medina, the Valley of the Workmen. This was called the "Valley of Truth" in Ancient Egypt and is where the workers and artists who built and decorated the tombs in the Valley of the Kings lived. Their own tombs have colorful scenes from daily life in the New Kingdom. There is also a chapel here with the famous Judgment scene. The Medinet Habu Temple is the second largest temple complex (after Karnak) in Egypt. The last great temple built while Egypt was still ruling supreme, it is a fitting site for our last visit together. It includes the remains of the palace and temple built by Ramesses III, as well as the earlier temple built by Hatshepsut and Thutmosis III (newly restored), and a Late Period chapel for the Priestesses of Amun. Afterwards we have a farewell meeting here in the heart of the ancient Black Land. Time to reflect on our wonderful trip together before going our separate ways. Those following the tour schedule will fly to Cairo in the late afternoon. Egypt Air Flight MS 356 departs Luxor at 5:00 PM, arriving Cairo at 6:10 PM. Overnight: 5-star hotel near the Cairo airport. Iberotel Cairo Airport, 5 or Novotel Cairo Airport, 4. BB, L. Register for this tour --- Additional Options for after the tour (see below).
Day 16 Sunday, Feb 20, 2011 Tour is finished ------- Extensions after the tour Edfu Temple Kom Ombo Abu Simbel Temple	Return flights home. For those leaving for the USA, there is an increase of 7 hours for the time difference between Cairo and New York, 10 hours for California. For the UK, the time difference is 2 hours. There may be changes to this itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control.
	Optional Add-on Extensions
	Cairo -Add an extra night or two in Cairo to revisit the Cairo Egyptian Museum. Now that you have seen each of the sites where the artifacts came from, you will understand more about them than you did the first time. __ Petra & Jordan -Cairo to Amman, Jordan is just a 90 minute flight. Choose one of our Petra & Jordan add-on extensions. __ Luxor-Aswan, Feb 20-22, 2011. Includes Edfu, Kom Ombo & Philae (LA-R): Visit the Ptolemaic (Greek era) Temples south of Luxor by road. These are the temples visited by the Nile Cruise boats. Visiting them by road enables us to arrive at the times when the crowds on the cruise boats are not there. Sunday, Feb 20: Visit Edfu Temple of Horus and Kom Ombo Temple for Sobek & an aspect of Horus. Overnight in Aswan. Monday, Feb 21: Visit the Philae Isis Temple, the Nubian Museum and shop in the local street bazaar. Late flight back to Cairo. Overnight at a hotel near the Cairo Airport. Tuesday, Feb 22: Flights home. Price: $590 USD pp in double occupancy __ Luxor-Aswan-Abu Simbel, Feb 20-23, 2011. Includes Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae & Abu Simbel (AS&LA): Visit the Ptolemaic (Greek era) Temples south of Luxor by road. These are the temples visited by the Nile Cruise boats. Visiting them by road enables us to arrive at the times when the crowds on the cruise boats are not there. Afterwards visit Abu Simbel, also without the crowds. Sunday, Feb 20: Visit Edfu Temple of Horus and Kom Ombo Temple for Sobek & an aspect of Horus. Overnight in Aswan, Basma Hotel. Monday, Feb 21: Visit the Philae Isis Temple, trip to Abu Simbel by road, visit the temples in the afternoon when the crowds are not there. See the Sound & Light Show in the evening. Overnight at a hotel near the temples, Seti First Hotel. Tuesday, Feb 22: Return to Aswan by road. Flight back to Cairo. Overnight at a hotel near the Cairo Airport, Concorde El Salam Heliopolis Hotel. Wed, Feb 23: Flights home. Price: $890 USD pp in double occupancy __ Combine Edfu, Kom Ombo & Philae with a Lake Nasser Cruise to Abu Simbel, Feb 20-26, 2011 (LA-N): Visit the Ptolemaic (Greek era) Temples south of Luxor by road. These are the temples visited by the Nile Cruise boats. Visiting them by road enables us to arrive at the times when the crowds on the cruise boats are not there. Sunday, Feb 20: Visit Edfu Temple of Horus and Kom Ombo Temple for Sobek & an aspect of Horus. Overnight in Aswan. Monday, Feb 21: Visit the Philae Isis Temple, and then begin your Lake Nasser Cruise. Visits to Kalabsha and Beit El Wali. Cruise overnight #1. Cruise boat options: MS Eugenie or MS Prince Abbas. Tues, Feb 22: Cruising Lake Nasser. Visits: Wadi El Seboua Temple, Temple of Dakka, Temple of Meharakka. Cruise overnight #2. Wed, Feb 23 & Thurs, Feb 24: Cruising Lake Nasser with visit to Amada, Derr and Abu Simbel Temples. Optional Sound & Light Show at Abu Simbel. Cruise overnight #3. Fri, Feb 25: Disembark the Lake Nasser Cruise. Fly back to Cairo. Overnight at a hotel near Cairo Airport or add more days in Cairo. Saturday, Feb 26: Flights home. Details and a More Complete Description __ Nile Cruise - Luxor-Aswan, Feb 20-23,2011. Includes Edfu, Kom Ombo & Philae (CZ-D3 or CZ-S3): Finish your trip with a Nile Cruise. Includes the Ptolemaic Temples of Edfu, Kom Ombo & Philae. Saturday, Feb 19: Begin your Nile Cruise with dinner on board after saying good-bye to your tour mates. Cruise night #1. Sunday, Feb 20: . Late morning sailing south to the lock at Esna. After passing through the lock, continue to the port at Edfu. Cruise night #2. Monday, Feb 21: Visit the temple of Edfu in the morning. Late afternoon visit at Kom Ombo Temple in the afternoon. Overnight in Aswan. Cruise night #3. Tues, Feb 22: Morning visit to Philae Isis Temple. Disembark the cruise boat. Fly back to Cairo. Overnight at a hotel near Cairo Airport or add more days in Cairo. Wed, Feb 23: Flights home. __ -Begin a tour of Petra & Jordan. See Petra suggestions. Contact Us for details and to clarify the options which would suit you the best. __ Sinai -Extend your stay in Egypt with a trip to Mount Sinai, a camel trek, scuba diving or snorkeling in the Red Sea. __ Top of the Page