Ancient World tours

Site Summary - Cairo Giza Pyramids including the Queens Pyramids and the Sphinx.Cairo Museum. Site Summary - Middle Egypt Meidum, Tuna el Gebel, Beni Hassan, Amarna with Barry Kemp and Meir. Site Summary - Luxor Karnak and Open Air Museum, Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings (3 tombs), Mountain Walk, Colossi of Memnon, Deir el Medina, Hathor Temple, Ramose, Userhat, Khaemhet, Nefertari, Queens Valley, Dendera, Esna and Edfu.

Day 1- London/Cairo

Fly London to Cairo with EgyptAir and on arrival we check-in to the first-class Movenpick Hotel at Giza for two nights on room and breakfast basis.

Day 2- Giza

To the Giza plateau, the Great Pyramids, Queens Pyramids and time to see the  images of women on entry to some of the mastaba tombs which may include Meresankh, Iymery, Neferbauptah, Nefermaat and Debhen, then to the mighty Sphinx enclosure. In the afternoon we will take a grand tour of the Cairo Museum looking at some of the artefacts relating to our forthcoming tour. (B)

Day 3- To Middle Egypt

We head south for Minya and the fabled city of Amarna. En route we stop at the wonderful site of Meidum with its spectacular pyramid. The adventurous can enter the fascinating ‘Mastaba 17’. Our journey continues to the lovely Middle Kingdom tombs of Beni Hassan with their striking paintings and great views over the Nile. On arrival in Minya we check-in to the medium-class Nefertiti (formerly the ETAP) for two nights on a full board basis. (B/L/D)

Day 4 - Nefertiti at Amarna

We head off to meet Barry Kemp at Amarna at his excavations at the Southern Cemetery. We will then enter the Southern Tombs before travelling up the Royal Wadi to the Royal Tomb of Akhenaten. Here we find extraordinary scenes of both triumph and tragedy depicting Nefertiti and the royal princesses. We then head in to the city where we will explore the central city and the Sanctuary of Aten. Then we journey to the Northern Palace, residence of the royal women, and the Northern Tombs cut high into the surrounding cliffs. We return to Minya for our overnight. (B/L/D)

Day 5 - Meir

Our day starts at Tuna el Gebel, a largely Ptolemaic site, where we find not only the love Tomb Chapel of Petosiris but also one of the more unfortunate women of Ancient Egypt, Isadora. We will explore the Roman Well and the wonderful baboon and ibis galleries, which emphasise the importance of the god Thoth in this region. Driving further on, we come to the fabulous tombs at Meir. Everything about these tombs is special, from the style of art and the unusual scenes depicted to their spectacular location in the cliffs above the Nile Valley. Next, we board our private chartered flight from Asyut to Luxor. On arrival we check-in to the first-class Old Winter Palace Garden Pavilion Wing on a room and breakfast basis for six nights. (B/L)

Day 6 - Thebes

We begin our day before dawn and head straight to Karnak for sunrise. We normally have Karnak to ourselves for the first hour and its well worth it. This morning we take an in-depth tour of the majestic temple where we will explore the legacy of Hatshepsut and much else besides before entering the open-air museum to see the lovely White Chapel, the Alabaster Chapel and of course the reconstructed Red Chapel of Hatshepsut. We return to the hotel for a hearty breakfast before departing for the West Bank. Here we visit Deir el Medina, the workmen’s village, and their ‘jewel box’ tombs. We move onto the Valley of the Nobles where we look at the striking images of women in the tombs of Ramose, Userhat and Khaemhat. Our final visit today is the impressive mortuary temple of Ramesses III, Medinet Habu. (B)

Day 7 - The West Bank

An early start and we are in the Valley of the Kings. Here we enter three tombs including the tomb of Queen Tawosret and Sethnakht. We will also walk to the door of Hatshepsut’s tomb and talk about the tombs strange legacy. From here, we ascend the mountain path for the walk over the mountain of Meretsegar, ‘She who loves silence’. We have the most spectacular views from this vantage point of the whole of the west bank. We descend to Deir el Medina to pick up our transport to Hatshepsut’s magnificent temple at Deir el Bahri, which we will explore at length. Our final stop of the day is the Colossi of Memnon, taking special note of Tiye and Mutemwia. We return to the hotel for a well earned rest. (B)

(Image: Sethnakht Tomb - Copyright Theban Mapping Project - All Rights Reserved).

AWT is an agent of Bales Worldwide Ltd.

DEPARTURE DATE Saturday 31st October 2009 TOUR CODE AWDI311009   Update (26th July 2009) There are a few places left on this tour so we do advise you book as soon as possible.    Basic Tour Price: £2,055 Single Supplement: £180 Luxor Balloon: £100 Optional Edfu Trip: £60

Day 8 – Nefertari

Surely the stunning highlight of the trip a visit to The Queens Valley where we have a special permit to enter the Tomb of Nefertari perhaps the most famous of all Egyptian Queens. Principal wife of Ramesses II and often seen with the Pharaoh in artwork and sculpture. We will also enter the tombs of Queen Titi and young Princes. Later this morning we take the journey by coach to visit the Temple of Hathor at Dendera with its images of Cleopatra and her son Caesarion. (B)

Day 9 - Optional Edfu / Esna

Today could be your day to relax by the pool, soak up the sun and recharge the batteries before heading home. Of course, you could also join us on an optional excursion by road to Esna and Edfu, Egypt's most complete temple. We are delighted to have an invitation to visit the excavations at Tell Edfu which have revealed fascinating details of this temple's past. For those on the optional excursion, lunch is included. (B)

 

Day 10 - Luxor/London

Fly Luxor to London with EgyptAir arriving later the same day. (B)

Expert: Lucia Gahlin's charm and enthusiasm for Egypt is justifiably famous. Bringing sites to life with well chosen words and information, travelling with Lucia is always a pleasure. Her Daughters of Isis tour promises to be a highlight of 2009.