"Awakening Through the Sands of Time"
A Sacred Journey to Connect with Your Past and Birth Your Future
 
11-day Egypt Tour : Mon, 17th Oct - Thurs, 27th Oct 2011
Beginning in Cairo, Egypt (departing one day earlier if leaving from Singapore or North America)

For those departing from Singapore or North America:  Departures on Sunday, 16th Oct 2011 will arrive in Cairo on Mon, 17th Oct 2011.  

Flights from Asia, Australia and North America will arrive in Egypt the day after departure.  Cairo is 5 hours behind Singapore and 7 hours ahead of New York.

You can arrive anytime of the day on Monday, 17^th Oct 2011.  

You will be met inside the Cairo airport by a representative who will help with your luggage.  Afterwards you will be brought to our hotel in Giza.  Our 5-star hotel is right near the pyramids. Welcome to Egypt! 

Please check with the Egyptian Consulate in your home country for information about if you need to obtain a visa for Egypt in advance.  Citizens from Singapore, UK and USA can obtain their visas upon arrival in Cairo.  Cost is USD 15 cash (no credit cards accepted).

Evening: Welcome Meeting and opening meditation with Ann.

Overnight: Le Meridien Pyramids or other 5-star hotel near the pyramids.

Day 3
Wed
19 Oct 2011

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.  Saqqara is the site of the Ancient Egyptian Mystery Schools.  It was a sacred place throughout all of Ancient Egypt  

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.

Late afternoon flight south from Cairo to Aswan.  The flight is about 90 minutes.

5* Hotel: Elephantine Island or Iberotel Aswan. Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Lunch.

Early this morning we plan to have a special permit to visit the Philae Isis Temple.  Ann will channel Goddess Isis to shower her blessings upon the group and also initiate everyone into the High Order of Isis Priesthood.

Kom Ombo Temple is actually for two gods, instead of one - a form of the falcon god, Horus, and the crocodile god, Sobek.  This Ptolemaic (Greek era) Temple is particularly known for the wall reliefs that show the various medical instruments that were used.

Edfu Temple was also built during the Ptolemaic era and is dedicated to the god Horus, the falcon.  Here the original hero, Heru (Ancient Egyptian name) or Horus (Greek name), fights the evil Seth, represented as a crocodile, hippopotamus, etc.  The walls of this temple show this drama and it is easy to see how this story later evolved into St George vs. the dragon - a common theme in the Egyptian Coptic Christian Church.
 
We arrive in Luxor in the evening.  Our hotel is right on the Nile.
 
5* Hotel:  Sonesta St George, Steinberger Palace or other Luxor 5-star Hotel directly on the Nile. 
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Dinner.

Today we visit one of the 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.

We also visit 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 highlight is the opening of the Tomb of Ramesses V & VI -- recently restored and opened to the public.  The Ramesses V & VI is truly breathtaking.  We do not want you to miss this one, so the extra ticket has been included in your tour. 

An additional ticket is required for King Tut, 100 LE or about USD 18. 

We next 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. 

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.

Shopping opportunities:
- Alabaster shop (West Bank of Luxor)
- Gold Shop (jewelry).  Get a cartouche with your name in hieroglyphs.  

5* Hotel:  Sonesta St George, Steinberger Palace or other Luxor 5-star Hotel directly on the Nile. 
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Dinner

Morning option:
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.

We start a bit later today.  This will give you a chance to do the early visit to Luxor Temple, the balloon ride, or get some extra sleep in the comfort of our hotel.  You may even decide to take the whole day off and lounge by the pool.

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).

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.

It is here at Karnak that the Temple of Ptah & Sekhmet has a life-size statue of the Goddess Sekhmet.  This chapel is now closed for renovation, but we are hoping to receive special permission to visit her.

For those who would like a more time at the Luxor Temple, we again visit the in the early evening.  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.

Optional: 
- Sunrise Balloon Ride, cost: about USD 140 pp.  

Shopping opportunity:
- Papyrus Institute & Shop 

5* Hotel:  Sonesta St George, Steinberger Palace or other Luxor 5-star Hotel directly on the Nile.   
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Lunch.

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.  

We are fortunate to see the newly renovated ceiling of the main hypostyle hall.  The breath-takingly vibrant colors which had been covered in black soot for hundreds of years 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.

5* Hotel:  Sonesta St George, Steinberger Palace or other Luxor 5-star Hotel directly on the Nile.  Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Lunch.

Today we leave Luxor for an 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.  More than 270 pictures of Abydos!

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. 

We also make a 2nd visit to the Hathor Temple at Dendera, this time Ann will perform an initiation for the group to connect everyone with Hathor, the Goddess of Joy, Pleasure, Sensuality and Sexuality, and we can have more time to absorb the energies there without the crowds.

5* Hotel:  Sonesta St George, Steinberger Palace or other Luxor 5-star Hotel directly on the Nile.   Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 9
Tuesday
25 Oct 2010


Touching the Sphinx
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Sphinx Sunset

This morning we fly from Luxor back to Cairo and return to our hotel near the pyramids.  We have a very special treat planned for today – a sunset visit to the Great Sphinx.  Our 2-hour visit will begin in the late afternoon and continue through sunset.

There are legends of the Sphinx speaking.  Does the Sphinx have a message for you? 

We will also visit the Valley Temple which is beside the Sphinx.  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 Great Pyramid is both an amplifier and a place of tremendous transformation.  The New Moon energies will enhance your opportunity for a life-changing experience this morning. 

We begin in the early morning with our special permit for our private entrance to the Great Pyramid (for just our group and with all 3 chambers open to us). Ann will channel the Ascended Masters of the Great White Brotherhood and perform ritual to initiate the group to the High Order of Melchizedek.

Afterwards we spend the rest of the day on the Giza Plateau.  

We can visit one of the other pyramids (which ever one is open).  Of the three pyramids, two will be open and one closed for renovations - dates are not announced in advance. Tickets are included in your tour package.

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.  

There will also be Camel rides for the adventurous (no additional fee).  
VIDEOS by Ruth Shilling: Camel - Trombone Yawn & Camels with lots of Personality!

Overnight: Le Meridien Pyramids or other 5-star hotel near the pyramids. 
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Lunch.

Departures for home or add one more day to see the city of Cairo.

Complete list of what is included   --  To REGISTER for this tour: Email Ann Tay

Extensions before and after the tour are available: Petra & Jordan, Alexandria, Red Sea beaches & diving.
Contact Us to clarify the options which would suit you best.   
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Optional Extension : CAIRO CITY TOUR

Price: USD 200 per person in Double  --  Single Supplement: USD 75
Includes: 1 extra hotel night, buffet breakfast, lunch, sightseeing excursion
with Egyptologist guide, entrance fees & private A/C transport

We begin with a visit to 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.

Next we visit 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.

After lunch downtown we 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.  

Meals: Buffet Breakfast.
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For those including the Cairo City Tour extension:
Overnight: Le Meridien Pyramids or other 5-star hotel near the pyramids.  Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Lunch.

For those who added the Cairo City Tour optional extension, departures home today.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast.