Day 3, Mon:  Today we spend a full day on the Giza Plateau. We visit the Great Pyramid* (of course!) and the newly re-opened "3rd Pyramid" where we have long, full visits to fully absorb the gifts that await us there.  The 2nd Pyramid is presently closed for renovations, but if possible, we will visit this also.  We see the Solar Boat (almost 5,000 years old!), the Sphinx* and Valley Temple.  
There are legends of the Sphinx speaking.  Does the Sphinx have a message for you?  Camel rides for the adventurous. 

* Note:  We are pleased that beginning in 2005, the Egyptian government is again issuing special permits that have allowed us to enter the Great Pyramid with only our small groups.  These permits also allowed us to go inside the Sphinx enclosure - you can touch the Sphinx!  This privilege cannot be guaranteed, but we hope that we will continue to have this special opportunity.
Optional:  Sound & Light Show at the Giza pyramids this evening, in case you were too tired the first night.

Day 4, Tues:  This morning we head out into the desert again to visit the Nuiserre Sun Temple at Abu Gurab and the pyramids at Abu Sir. This is a rare opportunity, as these sites are rarely visited by tourists.  The central alabaster alter of the sun temple sends out "hotep" blessings in all 4 directions. 

Afterwards we visit to the Cairo Egyptian Museum – mummies, hundreds of statues and the King Tut collection.  We have a good, long visit - a guided tour, as well as free time.  This evening we take in the colorful Kahn al-Khalili bazaar.  Enjoy shopping and bargaining, linger over dinner at the famous historic Naguib Mafouz restaurant or try smoking some shisha (flavored tobacco) at an outdoor cafe.  
Late evening flight to Luxor.  Our 5-star hotel is right on the Nile.

Day 5, Wed: Here in Luxor, our New Kingdom (1550-1070 BC) experiences begin on the West Bank with a visit to Hatshepsut’s Temple, Deir El Bahari, called "The Most Splendid of All" by the ancient Egyptians.  Next we see the rarely visited Ramesseum, a favorite of many of our travelers.  There are some exciting excavations going on there presently, and we may be privileged to get a closer look. 

Perhaps the most colorful tombs presently available for viewing in Luxor, the Workman's Village, Deir El Medina, gives us a look at some of the tombs most often represented in books about Ancient Egypt.  Whereas on Monday we saw scenes of daily life during the Old Kingdom, today we see the daily life represented during the New Kingdom (about 1,000 years later).

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.  When we arrive on the East Bank we have a relaxing lunch before visiting the Luxor Temple in the late afternoon-early evening (when the lighting is optimal for seeing the wall reliefs).  The dramatic lighting also helps give the temple a special feeling in the evening.  Both gently beautiful and full of awesome grandness, this temple was the "Bride of Karnak" during the annual Apet festival. 

Day 6, Thurs: For those who would like, we have a second visit to the Luxor Temple, this time in the early morning.  It's a wonderful setting for an early morning meditation, or perhaps you would rather photograph, sketch or just wander around.  It is a pleasure to be there before the crowds of tourists arrive. 
After breakfast back at the hotel, the splendors of Karnak fill the rest of our day.  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.  Also at Karnak, we visit the fascinating Open Air Museum where we view the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut (Karnak's original Holy of Holies), Senwosret's White Chapel with its famous finely-carved hieroglyphs (Middle Kingdom) and other magnificent pieces.  

 Late afternoon/evening visit to the Luxor Museum with its special exhibit room of 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.
 Optional opportunity:  Sound & Light Show at Karnak in the evening.

Day 7, Fri: A full days trip in our own private A/C bus to the Temple of Seti I (with the renowned Osireion) at Abydos and the Temple of Hathor at Dendera.   Our bus passes the hills of Nag Hamadi, where the scrolls were found that contain some of the Gnostic gospels. 
Abydos was the place of pilgrimage during Ancient Egyptian times and still holds much of the mystery of the past.  

The Temple of Hathor 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 famous circular zodiac was found in the ceiling of a chapel on the roof of the temple.  The ceilings and walls of the main hypostyle hall are full of astrological imagery.


Day 8, Saturday, November 26: You may choose to visit Karnak temple again this morning, either to catch the stunning photos provided by the early morning light or to do a meditation with the fiery lioness, Sekhmet, in her chapel there. Or you may decide to sleep in and meet the others afterwards at breakfast.

Today we make a second visit to the West Bank of Luxor.  
The west represented the hereafter and is where the dead were buried.  We have already visited the tombs in the Valley of the Workmen, so today we visit the famous Valley of the Kings (where King Tut’s tomb was found).  

In the afternoon we finish our explorations of the New Kingdom with the last great temple to be built during that period, Medinet Habu.  Second only to Karnak in size, built by Ramesses III on a site that was seeded by a temple built by Hatshepsut at the very beginning of the New Kingdom, it is a fitting way to finish our tour together.  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?  

Return flight to Cairo this evening, so that you will be ready to take the Sunday morning flight back to New York, or another destination.  Or board a Nile Cruise boat to continue your Egypt tour with a Nile Cruise extension provided by our affiliate, American Express of Egypt.  Extensions are offered for a Nile Cruise, Aswan & Abu Simbel, and Alexandria & Old Cairo. 

There may be changes to this itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control.

Prices and What Is Included in this Nov 19-27 Tour