Egypt

The tour starts at 6.00pm on Wednesday 15 October, in the lobby of the Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah.

The tour ends after breakfast on Saturday 2 November, 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 is also the oldest monument we visit from the Old Kingdom. 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 temple-tombs of Maya, Tutankhamun’s treasurer, and his general, Horemheb. After lunch, we visit the Imhotep Museum, the mastaba tomb of Mereruka, and the Apis bull burials in the Serapeum that have re-opened after decades of being closed. 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 trace the evolution of royal burials from stepped to smooth sided pyramids with a visit to the Red and Bent Pyramids at Dahshur. Both built by the pharaoh Sneferu, the Bent Pyramid was the first, unsuccessful attempt at a smooth-sided pyramid. Determined to build an appropriate resting place, Sneferu succeeded in building his pride and glory with the Red Pyramid and it is possible to go inside. Lucia will give 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. Overnight Cairo (B, L)

We depart Cairo by coach for Alexandria. Upon arrival we visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina with its Antiquities Museum. We have lunch at a local restaurant and then spend the afternoon at the recently re-opened Graeco-Roman Museum. We enjoy dinner this evening in the hotel. Overnight Alexandria (B, L, D)

This morning we depart by coach for the Catacombs of Kom el-Shugafa discovering this historical archaeological site. We continue to the Serapeum and explore this Greco-Roman Period site that was once an ancient Greek temple built by Ptolemy III Euergetes, including so-called Pompey’s Pillar. After lunch we visit the archaeological site of Kom el-Dikka, a well off residential area in Roman times, with lovely villas including the Villa of the Birds, bathhouses and a theatre. 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 Cairo. This afternoon, we explore the new partially opened 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. Lucia 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. Lucia will give a talk this evening followed by 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, 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. Dedicated to Osiris, 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. 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 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 this morning, we marvel at the monumental ‘Colossi of Memnon’ and explore some of the 63 known tombs built for Pharaohs of the New Kingdom, including Tutankhamun’s tomb. Following lunch at Nur el-Qurna, we go on to visit the Tombs of the Nobles, nestled in the foothills opposite the Ramesseum, where we find more than 400 tombs belonging to nobles from the 6th dynasty to the Graeco-Roman period. We end the day at the Ramesseum, famous for the scattered remains of fallen statues that inspired the poem ‘Ozymandias’, before returning to the East Bank. Overnight Luxor (B, L)

Crossing by boat to the West Bank again today, our destination is the Valley of the Queens – home to at least 75 tombs that belonged to queens of the 19th and 20th dynasties. Our tour takes in Hatshepsut’s Deir el-Bahri, one of the most beautiful temples in Egypt, and Medinet Habu, an ancient mortuary temple built by Ramses III. Returning to the East Bank, there is a talk in our hotel this afternoon. Overnight Luxor (B, L)

We begin the day at Karnak temple, the cult temple of Amun- Ra, chief of the deities of the New Kingdom and the largest religious site in the ancient world. We go on to visit the delightful Luxor Museum, which houses a wonderful collection including a famous statue of Thutmose III. After lunch we visit Luxor Temple, unusual for its longevity, having been continuously used for a period of some 2000 years. Later, we board our cruise boat, our base for the next four days. Overnight Nile Cruise (B, L, D)

This morning we go ashore to visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu. The Temple is very dramatic and quite extensive, with many reliefs and hidden ambulatory. It is dedicated to Horus and was built in Greco-Roman times. Returning to our boat for lunch, we cast off from the banks and cruise down the Nile for the remainder of the day. Lucia will give a talk this evening. Overnight Nile Cruise (B, L, D)

Today 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 and Lucia will give a talk 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. After 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, 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. 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)