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"Time
& Space in the Temples & Pyramids" |
Day-by-Day Itinerary
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"Time
& Space in the Temples & Pyramids" |
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| Departure
for
Egypt Sat, Oct 23 from USA or Australia OR Sat, Feb 26, 2011 Sat, Oct 15, 2011 |
For those departing from
USA or Australia: Departures on Saturday, October 23, will
arrive in Cairo on Sunday, October 24, 2010. |
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Day
1 Sunday, Oct 24, 2010 Arrivals Giza Pyramids from the air ---- Optional: 1-day Alexandria Excursion |
You will be
met inside the Cairo airport by a representative who will help with
obtaining your Egyptian visa and with customs formalities. Afterwards you
will be brought to our hotel in Giza. Our 5-star hotel is right near the pyramids. Welcome to Egypt! Overnight: 5-star hotel near the pyramids. The Mena House Oberoi. |
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Day
2
----
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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. Ruth has some friends in the Saqqara area 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.
Shopping opportunity: |
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Day 3  Saqqara ----  Imhotep Museum |
Today we visit 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 we hope our friend Ashraf Mohie el-Din (part of the excavation team) will have time to tell us about. Also here at Saqqara we have the pleasure of seeing the newly opened Imhotep Museum - a beautifully laid out modern museum with 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.
Shopping opportunities: Optional: Overnight: 5-star hotel near the pyramids. The Mena House Oberoi. |
| Day
4 Wednesday  
Giza Plateau ----  Solar Boat |
Camel rides for the adventurous (no additional fee). 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 is built with huge granite blocks that fit together snugly even today, almost 5,000 years later. Some think it is even older than that!
The special permits are for:
Shopping opportunity: Perfumery. Egypt is famous for its
perfume oils. |
| Day
5 Thursday FREE DAY with options  Citadel Mosque ---  Tent-Makers Shopping ----  Alexandria ---- or Relax! |
FREE DAY* with 4 Options: 1) Old Cairo - Coptic & Islamic. Day trip into Cairo to see the Coptic churches in the area known as "Old Cairo." See the Church of St. Mary, called El Moallaqah (the "Hanging Church"), which was built in the 4th C. AD on two towers of the Roman fortress of Babylon, and also the Church of St. Stergius. The newly opened Coptic Museum also has a number of interesting items. In the afternoon visit the Citadel and Mohammed Ali Mosque, one of the most beautiful mosques in the city (also known as the "Alabaster Mosque"). You also get a wonderful view of the whole city of Cairo from this vantage point. 2) Shopping with Ruth. Visit the Avenue of the Tent-makers in the old city where you can buy appliquéd items directly from the makers. Then visit Kerdasa where they make a wide variety of galebeya dresses worn by the local women (not the tourist variety), clothing from the Sinai and oases, as well as small souvenir items. Cost: $50 USD pp. 3)
Take a day-long to trip to Alexandria*. With the feel of a
European city, Alexandria is quite different than the rest of Egypt.
Your trip includes visits to the Catacombs of Kom el Shugafa, "Pompey's
Pillar," the Roman Amphitheater and the Greco-Roman
Museum (if it has reopened). Or you may prefer to spend the whole day at the newly
opened Alexandria Library. Return to Cairo by evening.
Cost: $120 USD pp. 4) Take the day off. Relax by the pool while gazing up at the pyramids, catch up on your postcards and/or have a massage. Or hire a taxi and have your own adventure. *Note: On this free day, only breakfast is included. All other days 2 meals a day are included in your tour price (and you get to order whatever you would like, we pick up the tab!). Evening Optional:
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| Day
6 Friday  Cairo Egyptian Museum --- Flight to Luxor |
Today we will be leaving Cairo to fly to Luxor. We check out of our hotel in the morning and drive into downtown Cairo where we will visit the famous Cairo Egyptian Museum. Your guide points 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 Royal Mummy Room, Middle Kingdom papyruses, statues from all time periods. Evening one-hour flight to Luxor.
Shopping opportunity: Papyrus Institute. |
| Day
7 Saturday Hatshepsut's Temple
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The first site that we visit is also one of the earliest New Kingdom temples. Called "The Most Splendid of All" by the ancient Egyptians, Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple, the 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. Next we see the rarely visited Ramesseum, a favorite of many of our travelers. 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. The west represented the hereafter and is where the dead were buried. We begin with 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 was the opening of the Ramesses I tomb, restored with modern techniques pioneered during the restoration of the tomb of Nefertari (Nefertari's tomb is no longer open to the public). An additional ticket is required for King Tut (optional: King Tut’s tomb, $12 USD). As we leave the West Bank of Luxor we see the "Colossi of Memnon," the two large statues of Amenhotep III that still stand, even though their temple is long ago destroyed. The Greeks believed they were statues of Memnon, the son of Eros. In the late afternoon and early evening we visit 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. There was an Avenue of Sphinxes that connected Luxor Temple with Karnak and many of them are still standing near the Luxor Temple. Shopping
opportunity:
Alabaster shop. |
| Day 8 Sunday  Abydos --- Luxor Bazaar |
Today we
leave Luxor for a day-long excursion to Abydos, the place of
pilgrimage during Ancient Egyptian times. We drive north, following the Nile to Qena and then to
Abydos. The Temple of Seti I (with
the renowned Osireion), is a place of legends, mystery and
power. Many feel that the reliefs of this temple are the highest
art found in Ancient Egypt. It is truly unforgettable. During our journey we pass 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. This evening we will stop at the Luxor Bazaar area for shopping, enjoying the local night life and bargaining at the many small shops that line the street. Scarves, galabeyas, souvenirs of all kinds, and a shisha bar where you can sit with Ehab and try the apple flavored tobacco in a water pipe. Overnight: Luxor 5-star Hotel -- Sofitel Karnak Resort, Sonesta St George or similar. |
| Day
9 Monday 
Luxor Temple, 2nd visit or  Balloon Ride ----  Karnak ---- Open Air Museum ----  Luxor Museum |
Morning options: 2) 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 Karnak fill our day today. Karnak 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). Seeing the life-size statue of the lioness goddess, Sekhmet, in a small chapel with dramatic natural lighting is a highlight for many people. If ever a statue seemed to be alive, it is this one.
Bring extra film (or memory cards) for Karnak. In the late afternoon (Karnak closes at 4 PM) 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: |
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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 -- Sofitel Karnak Resort, Sonesta St George or similar. |
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| Day
11 Wednesday Nov 3, 2010 Workers' Village ----  Medinet Habu --- Farewell Meeting --- Flight to Cairo |
The last great temple built while Egypt was still ruling supreme, Medinet Habu Temple is a fitting site for our last visit together. Built by Ramesses III on a site seeded by Hatshepsut at the very beginning of the New Kingdom, it is second only to Karnak in size. There is a wonderful hall of pillars with colored reliefs of the many gods & goddesses that you have come to know through your lectures with Ruth and Ehab. How many can you identify now? Time for one last farewell meal together before going our separate ways. Those following the tour schedule will return to Cairo by air this evening. Optional Felucca Sailboat ride in the late afternoon with sunset for those who choose it. See additional add-on options below. Overnight: Cairo hotel near Cairo airport -- Novotel Cairo Airport . |
| Day
12 Thursday, Nov 4, 2010 Tour is finished. -------  Edfu Temple  Kom Ombo  Abu Simbel Temple |
Return flights home. For those leaving for New York with Egypt Air, your flight leaves at 10 AM and arrives in New York at 3:15 PM - the same day but with an increase of 7 hours for the time difference between Cairo and New York. For those traveling to the UK the time difference is 2 hours. To Register for this tour. There
may be changes to this itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control. Optional Add-on Extensions: Luxor-Aswan, Nov 4-6,
2010. Includes Edfu, Kom
Ombo & Philae (LA-R): |
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Photo credits this page: all photos by Ruth Shilling.