Egypt

The tour starts at 6.00pm on Tuesday 6 January, in the lobby of the Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah.

The tour ends after breakfast on Saturday 24 January, at the Le Meridien Hotel Cairo Airport.

We meet in the lobby of the hotel this evening for introductions and drinks, followed by a talk by Lucia. This evening we enjoy dinner together in the hotel. Overnight Cairo (D)

This morning we make our way to Saqqara, the vast necropolis of ancient Memphis, which offers a unique window into the Old Kingdom. We begin with the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the earliest pyramid in Egypt designed by Imhotep. Nearby lies the Pyramid of Unas, the final resting place of the last king of the 5th Dynasty, where we are able to go inside to view the earliest known pyramid texts. After pausing for lunch together, our afternoon is then spent exploring one of Egypt’s most important necropolises, with a visit to the mastaba tomb of Mereruka, a high official under Pharaoh Teti, renowned for its remarkably preserved reliefs of daily life in the Old Kingdom. We conclude our day of touring at the recently renovated Imhotep Museum, which boasts artifacts from intricate stelae to the world’s oldest royal mummy. This evening we enjoy a welcome dinner in the hotel. Overnight Cairo (B, L, D)

Today we explore the Giza Plateau, home to the most iconic monuments of Egypt’s 4th Dynasty, including the enigmatic Sphinx – guardian of the plateau. Our visit includes entry into the awe-inspiring Great Pyramid of Khufu, the largest of the three pyramids, offering a rare opportunity to experience its ancient inner chambers firsthand. After lunch in Giza, enjoying stunning views back across the Plateau and Pyramids, we travel to Dahshur, the lesser-visited royal necropolis that marks a pivotal moment in pyramid architecture. Here we explore the striking Bent Pyramid, built by Sneferu, which reveals a fascinating transitional design from stepped to smooth sided pyramids. Nearby stands Sneferu’s Red Pyramid, the first successfully completed smooth-sided pyramid, and a direct precursor to the monumental structures at Giza. With its accessible interior chambers, we are able to step inside  Egypt’s earliest true pyramid and trace the evolution of royal tomb-building in stone. On return to our hotel, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Cairo (B, L)

Today begins in the heart of Tahrir Square, where we find the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East – the Egyptian Museum, which houses over 170,000 artefacts, including the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world. Lunch is then enjoyed at a resturant located inside Al-Azhar Park, the city’s largest green space, before continuing to the historic district of Fustat to visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC). A major highlight here is entry to the Royal Mummies Hall, where you can come face to face with the preserved remains of Egypt’s most legendary pharaohs, including Ramses II, Hatshepsut, and Seti I. We end our day with a talk back in the hotel. Overnight Cairo (B, L)

This morning we depart Cairo by coach for Alexandria, Egypt’s storied Mediterranean city founded by Alexander the Great. As we leave behind the desert landscapes of the capital, the journey north takes us through the fertile Nile Delta, offering glimpses of rural life along the way. Upon arrival, we visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a modern revival of the ancient Library of Alexandria. The building’s striking granite façade is inscribed with scripts from around the world, while inside, the library houses millions of volumes, reading rooms and several museums. Of special interest is the Antiquities Museum, which showcases a carefully curated collection of artifacts discovered on-site during the library’s construction. After enjoying lunch together, we then visit Kom el-Dikka, a remarkable archaeological site in the heart of Alexandria that offers a vivid glimpse into the city’s Roman past. Once a prosperous residential district, this area was home to elegant urban villas, including the beautifully-preserved ‘Villa of the Birds’, named for its intricate mosaic floor. The site also features the remains of a small Roman theatre and an extensive public bathhouse complex. Dinner this evening is in the hotel. Overnight Alexandria (B, L, D)

Today begins with a visit to the Serapeum, one of the most important temples of the Graeco-Roman era in Alexandria. Though only the ruins remain today, including the striking Pompey’s Pillar, our tour of the site will reconstruct the grandeur of this once-splendid sanctuary dedicated to the Hellenistic-Egyptian god Serapis. Next, we descend into the Catacombs of Kom el-Shugafa, a fascinating example of Alexandrian funerary architecture that blends Egyptian, Greek and Roman elements, before enjoying a leisurely lunch on the Mediterranean Corniche while taking in panoramic views of Alexandria’s harbour. Our afternoon is spent exploring the Graeco-Roman Museum, which recently reopened its doors after nearly two decades. Home to a rich collection of statuary, sarcophagi, mosaics and daily-use artifacts, the museum traces Alexandria’s history under Ptolemaic and Roman rule. On return to our hotel, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Alexandria (B, L)

Today sees us return to Cairo for a full day visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Now partially open, it offers a striking contrast to Cairo’s other major museums and is a bold reimagining of how Egypt’s antiquities are displayed for the 21st century. Situated in full view of the Giza pyramids, this vast, light-filled complex is set to become the world’s largest archaeological museum. Even in its partially opened state, the GEM provides a fresh and spacious encounter with iconic objects, some of which have never been exhibited before. Following our visit, we check-in to our hotel for the night, with a talk once settled. Overnight Cairo (B)

After an early breakfast, we depart Cairo for the city of Minya, located on the east bank of the Nile in Middle Egypt. We break the journey at Beni Hasan, a cliffside necropolis dating to the Middle Kingdom that features some of Egypt’s best-preserved rock-cut tombs. The Tomb of Khnumhotep II is famous for its vividly coloured scenes and rare depictions that provide insight into Egypt’s interactions with neighbouring peoples, while the Tomb of Amenemhat is known for its geometric ceiling and detailed hunting scenes. A picnic lunch is enjoyed onsite before we resume our journey south, arriving in Minya by late afternoon. This evening there is a talk in the hotel, followed by dinner. 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. On return to our hotel, there will be a talk, followed by dinner. Overnight Minya (B, PL, D)

Departing Minya today, we continue south along the Nile Valley toward Abydos. En route, we stop at one of Egypt’s most evocative archaeological sites – Tuna el-Gebel, the necropolis of ancient Hermopolis Magna, which flourished during the Greco-Roman Period. This vast desert site reflects a fusion of Egyptian and Hellenistic religious traditions and highlights of our visit include the Boundary Stela of Akhenaten, the Catacombs for Sacred Animals and the extraordinary Tomb of Petosiris. After a relaxed picnic lunch at the local rest house, we continue the drive south to Abydos, arriving in the late afternoon. This ancient city was once the centre of the Osiris cult and a major site of pilgrimage in pharaonic Egypt. Dinner this evening is in the hotel. Overnight Abydos (B, PL, D)

We begin the day with an in-depth visit to the spectacular Temple of Seti I, one of the most exquisitely preserved and richly decorated temples in all of Egypt. Dedicated to Osiris, god of the afterlife, a major feature is a long list of cartouches known as the Abydos Kings List. Carved into the temple wall, it contains the names of 76 kings of Egypt acknowledged by Seti as legitimate pharaohs. After pausing for a picnic lunch, we then depart Abydos and journey east across the Nile to Dendera, home of the Temple of Hathor. The temple is visually stunning with a grand entrance and a beautifully painted astronomical ceiling, including the (replica) Zodiac of Dendera. Continuing south to Luxor, known as ancient Thebes, we arrive and check-in to our hotel in the early evening. Dinner tonight is in the hotel. Overnight Luxor (B, PL, D)

This morning begins with a scenic boat crossing of the Nile to Luxor’s West Bank, the necropolis of ancient Thebes and final resting place of many of Egypt’s greatest pharaohs. Our first point of call is the imposing Colossi of Memnon, two massive seated statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that once guarded the entrance to his mortuary temple. Next we delve into the Valley of the Kings, where 63 tombs have been excavated so far, including the Tomb of Tutankhamun. After pausing for a lunch of freshly prepared Egyptian cuisine overlooking the desert cliffs, our next stop is the Tombs of the Nobles, a quieter and often overlooked area nestled in the foothills above the cultivated valley. These tombs, belonging to high officials, artisans and priests, provide a unique counterpoint to the grandeur of the royal tombs. Our final stop is the hauntingly beautiful Ramesseum, the mortuary temple of Ramses II. Though in ruins, the temple still impresses with its vast scale and scattered remains of colossi, including a toppled 1,000-ton statue of the pharaoh that famously inspired Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem ‘Ozymandias’. In the afternoon we cross the Nile back to the East Bank and return to our hotel for an evening at leisure. Overnight Luxor (B, L)

Crossing by boat to the West Bank again today, our exploration begins at one of ancient Egypt’s architectural masterpieces, the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri. Nestled beneath dramatic cliffs, this multi-terraced mortuary temple was built by Queen Hatshepsut. Next, we travel into the Valley of the Queens, the serene counterpart to the Valley of the Kings. Used as a burial ground for queens, princesses and princes during the New Kingdom, the valley contains more than 75 tombs, many decorated with symbolic scenes of rebirth and protection. After lunch at a local restaurant, we then tour Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramses III featuring vivid reliefs depicting Ramses III’s military campaigns, especially his dramatic victory over the Sea Peoples. In the late afternoon we return to the East Bank and conclude our day with a talk in the hotel. Overnight Luxor (B, L)

Our day begins with visit to the awe-inspiring Karnak Temple, the religious heart of ancient Thebes and the largest temple complex in the ancient world. Spanning more than two square kilometres, Karnak was built and expanded over 1,500 years and served as the spiritual centre of the cult of Amun-Ra, king of the gods during the New Kingdom. Our tour here will take in the iconic Hypostyle Hall, with 134 massive papyrus-shaped columns towering up to 21 metres and the Obelisks of Hatshepsut and Thutmose I, standing as symbols of royal devotion. After Karnak we visit the Luxor Museum, a beautifully curated and modern space which houses a wonderful collection, including a famous statue of Thutmose III, and the neabry Luxor Temple, unusual for its longevity, having been continuously used for a period of some 2000 years. After lunch, we board the Embrace Dahabiya, a traditional Egyptian sailing vessel that will be our floating home for the next four nights, offering a relaxed, exclusive way to cruise the Nile without the crowds of larger ships. Dinner is onboard this evening. Overnight Nile Cruise (B, L, D)

This morning we disembark to explore one of Egypt’s most impressive temples – the Temple of Horus at Edfu, dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god of kingship and protection. The temple was constructed during the Ptolemaic period, blending classical architecture with traditional pharaonic symbolism. As we approach the temple’s massive façade, we’ll be struck by its commanding pylon gateway, one of the tallest in Egypt. Inside we view the hypostyle halls, with towering columns, and the inner sanctuary, which holds a replica ceremonial barque shrine that would have been used for carrying the statue of Horus during festivals. We return to our boat in time for lunch onboard as we drift southward along the timeless landscape of the Nile. We gather on deck this evening for a talk, followed by dinner together. Overnight Nile Cruise (B, L, D)

Standing on a promontory at a bend in the Nile, where in ancient times sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank, we find the Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual double temple and one of the Nile Valley’s most beautifully sited. After a leisurely morning onboard, where we go ashore at Kom Ombo to explore the temple, with its twin dedication reflected in its plan. The left (western) side of the temple was dedicated to the god Haroeris, and the right (eastern) half to the Crocodile God – Sobek. Back onboard for lunch, the boat casts off and begins its final stretch of the cruise toward Aswan as the golden cliffs and palm groves of Upper Egypt drift by. There will be a talk before dinner this evening. Overnight Nile Cruise (B, L, D)

We disembark early this morning for our flight 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. After a picnic lunch, we return to Aswan and visit the fascinating Nubian Museum to learn about the civilisation, history and culture of the Nubian people from Prehistoric times to the present. Tonight is spent aboard the boat docked in Aswan. Overnight Nile Cruise (B, PL, D)

After breakfast onboard, we disembark for the final time and make our way to the Temple of Philae, one of the most picturesque temple complexes in Egypt. Originally located on Philae Island, the temple was moved stone by stone to nearby Agilkia Island in the 1970s as part of a UNESCO project to save it from submersion following the construction of the Aswan High Dam. We then continue to the dam itself – an extraordinary feat of modern engineering built between 1960 and 1970 with Soviet collaboration. Designed to regulate the Nile’s annual flooding and expand Egypt’s agricultural potential, the dam has profoundly shaped the country’s modern development. From its summit, we enjoy sweeping views of Lake Nasser, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. After lunch, we fly on to Cairo, with time to freshen up before our farewell dinner this evening. Overnight Cairo. (B, L, D)

Our tour concludes after breakfast. Our hotel is linked to Cairo Airport for departing passengers. (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, Hotel Pavillon Winter (3 nights)

• Nile Cruise, Embrace Dahabiya (4 nights)

• Cairo, Le Meridien Cairo Airport (1 night)