Egypt

The tour starts at 6.00pm on Wednesday 5 February, in the lobby of the Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah.

The tour ends after breakfast on Saturday 22 February, at the Le Meridien Hotel Cairo Airport.

The tour commences at the hotel in Cairo at 6.00pm. Meet your tour leader and fellow travellers in the lobby of the hotel for an introductory talk and drinks followed by dinner in the hotel. Overnight Cairo (D)

Depart by coach this morning for Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid of 3rd dynasty pharaoh, Djoser, which effectively stands at the dawn of history. We are able to go inside the pyramid of the great king Unas to see the earliest known Pyramid Texts, and into the New Kingdom tombs of Maya and Horemheb, Tutankhamun’s chief treasurer and chief general respectively. After lunch, we visit the mastaba tomb of Mereruka, the tomb of Ptahhatp, the earliest known philosopher, and the Apis bull burials in the Serapeum that have re-opened. Tonight, we enjoy a welcome dinner in the hotel. Overnight Cairo (B, L, D)

Today we explore the Giza plateau’s iconic monuments of the 4th dynasty – the Sphinx, and Great Pyramid of Khufu, son of Sneferu. After lunch in Giza, we visit the Red and Bent Pyramids at Dahshur. Both built by the pharaoh Sneferu, it is possible to go inside. There will be a talk in the hotel this evening. Overnight Cairo (B, L)

This morning we visit the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East. The Egyptian Museum, housing some of the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world. After lunch, we visit the Royal Mummies Hall at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Later, we gather for a talk in the hotel. Overnight Cairo (B, L)

We depart Cairo by coach for Alexandria. Upon arrival, we visit the archaeological site of Kom el-Dikka, a well-off residential area in Graeco-Roman times, with lovely villas including the Villa of the Birds, bathhouses and a theatre. We stop at the National Museum of Alexandria before enjoying dinner in the hotel. Overnight Alexandria (B, D)

This morning we depart by coach for the Serapeum. We explore this Greco-Roman Period site that was once an ancient Greek temple built by Ptolemy III Euergetes, including so-called Pompey’s Pillar. We continue to the Catacombs of Kom el-Shugafa looking deep into this fascinating subterranean archaeological site. After lunch, our final stop is at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina with its Antiquities Museum. Overnight Alexandria (B, L)

Today we begin our tour visiting Wadi Natrun known for its Coptic monasteries where thousands of Christians escaped from Roman persecution in the 4th century. We then continue by coach to Cairo, where we check into the hotel in Giza. This afternoon, subject to opening, we explore the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), set to be the largest archaeological Museum in the world, followed by a talk in the hotel. Overnight Cairo (B)

This morning we depart Cairo for Middle Egypt, an area still off the radar for most travellers. After a picnic lunch, we explore the exquisitely painted tombs of the First Intermediate Period and Middle Kingdom provincial governors or nomarchs at Beni Hasan. The tombs are reached by a long flight of stone steps up the hill affording a bonus panoramic view of the Nile Valley. Bill will give a talk this evening followed by dinner in the hotel. Overnight Minya (B, PL, D)

Today we visit the city of Akhetaten at Amarna, established by the heretic pharaoh Akhenaten under his vision for a society dedicated to the cult of one god. Although the city had only a brief existence it has been carefully excavated and provides an unusually accurate picture, because Akhenaten chose a completely new site to construct his city. Our full day visit allows us to explore the city and its suburbs, including the Temple of Aten, the ‘Palace of Nefertiti’, and tombs decorated in the ‘Amarna-style’ of art. This evening we gather for dinner in the hotel. Overnight Minya (B, PL, D)

We depart for Abydos, stopping at Tuna el-Gebel, a necropolis with tombs dating mostly to the Greco-Roman Period. Here we visit Akhenaten’s rock cut boundary stela, the catacombs which stored sacred mummies of baboons, ibises and falcons, the tomb of tragic Isidora and the unique temple-tomb of Petosiris, a high priest. After lunch at the rest house, we continue to Abydos. Overnight Abydos (B, PL, D)

Our focus this morning is the spectacular Temple of Seti I, one of the most complete and beautifully decorated temples in Egypt. A major feature is a long list of names of 76 kings of Egypt acknowledged by Seti as legitimate pharaohs. We visit the temple of Osiris and learn what they tell us about the origins of the pyramids here at perhaps the oldest pharaonic site in the country. Continuing to Dendera we visit the Temple of Hathor, who is seen as the patroness of love and fertility. The temple is visually stunning with a grand entrance, detailed carvings and hieroglyphs, famous for its scenes of Cleopatra and her son with Julius Caesar. Recent cleaning has revealed the vibrant and detailed astronomical painted reliefs on the ceiling. Arriving in Luxor, we check in and enjoy dinner in the hotel. Overnight Luxor (B, PL, D)

Crossing by boat to the West Bank and the Valley of the Kings, we marvel at the ‘Colossi of Memnon’ and explore some of the 63 known tombs built for the pharaohs and nobles of the New Kingdom including Tutankhamun’s tomb. We go on to visit Hatshepsut’s memorial temple at Deir el-Bahri. Returning to the East Bank by coach and boat. Later, there will be a talk in the hotel. Overnight Luxor (B, L)

This morning we visit the cult temple of Amun-Ra, the largest religious site in the ancient world. The temple is unusual for its longevity, having been continuously used for a period of more than 2000 years. We will spend some time at the recently restored historical Temple of Khonsu and later, we visit the delightful Luxor Museum, which houses a wonderful collection including a famous statue of Thutmose III. Just before lunch we board our cruise boat, our base for the next four days. In the afternoon we visit Luxor Temple, joined by a magnificent, sphinx-lined processional way to Karnak temple. Dinner this evening is on board our cruise boat. Overnight Nile Cruise (B, L, D)

Our touring in Luxor continues, we visit the New Kingdom tombs of queens and princes in the Valley of Queens including a visit to the King Seti I Tomb at the Kings Valley. We also visit Ramesses III’s memorial temple at Medinet Habu. Returning to our ship for lunch, we cast off from the banks and cruise down the Nile for the remainder of the day. Overnight Nile Cruise (B, L, D)

This morning we go ashore to visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu. The Temple is extremely well preserved, with many fine reliefs and a hidden ambulatory. It is dedicated to Horus and was built in Greco-Roman times. After lunch, we cruise to Kom Ombo to see the double temple of the crocodile-headed god, Sobek and falcon-headed god, Horus the Elder. We continue sailing to Aswan this evening. Overnight Nile Cruise (B, L, D)

Today we fly to Abu Simbel, south of Aswan. Pharaoh Ramses II had two temples carved out of solid rock here and built so precisely that twice every year the first rays of the morning sun shine down the entire length of the temple-cave to illuminate the back wall and three of the four gods seated there. The colossi of the king, wearing the characteristic ‘nemes’ head cloth and double crown (of Upper and Lower Egypt), are each 20 metres high, while the facade is more than 35 metres wide and 30 metres high. After lunch, we return to Aswan. Tonight is spent aboard the boat docked in Aswan. Overnight Nile Cruise (B, L, D)

Our excursion today takes us to the picturesque island of Philae where the exquisite temple of Isis rises out of the river. We also visit the Aswan High Dam. Built in the 1960’s it has radically affected the ancient monuments in this area, and life in Egypt more generally. After lunch, we fly on to Cairo for our farewell dinner this evening. Overnight Cairo (B, L, D)

The tour concludes after breakfast. (B)

Hotels on this tour are all 5-star with the exception of our accommodation in Minya & Abydos, where we have confirmed the best available properties.

• Cairo, Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah (5 nights, total)

• Alexandria, Helnan Palestine Hotel (2 nights)

• Minya, Nefertiti Hotel (2 nights)

• Abydos, House of Life (1 night)

• Luxor, Sofitel Winter Palace Garden Pavillion Hotel (2 nights)

• Nile Cruise, Embrace Dahabiya (4 nights)

• Cairo, Le Meridien Cairo Airport (1 night)