Ancient World tours

Lower Egypt Giza Pyramids including the Queens Pyramids and the Sphinx.Cairo Museum. Middle Egypt Beni Hassan, Amarna, Tuna el Gebel, Ashmounien and Meir. Upper Egypt Akhmim, Abydos, Dendera, 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, Esna and Edfu.  SCA Permit We are very grateful to Dr Zahi Hawass and the SCA for permission to enter the tomb of Nefertari.

Day 1- Friday 24th Sept 2010 - London/Cairo

Today we fly London to Cairo with EgyptAir on MS778 which departs London Heathrow Terminal 3 at 1455 arriving in Cairo at 2040. We transfer to the first-class Movenpick Hotel at Giza and check-in for two nights on room and breakfast basis.

Day 2 – Saturday 25th Sept – Giza

We begin our tour at the Giza plateau, the King’s Pyramids, Queens’ Pyramids and we provide time to visit the solar boat museum and take photographs. Pending permission, we hope to enter the mastaba tomb of Queen Meresankh. Then to the mighty Sphinx, viewed from the Valley Temple. 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 – Sunday 26th Sept - 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 more adventurous can enter the pyramid or the fascinating ‘Mastaba 17’. Our journey continues to the lovely Middle Kingdom tombs of Beni Hassan with their striking paintings and wonderful views over the Nile Valley. On arrival in Minya we check-in to the medium-class Nefertiti Hotel or similar for two nights on a full board basis. (BLD)

Day 4 – Monday 27th Sept - Nefertiti at Amarna

We head off to the fabled site of Tell el Amarna and a full day exploring this amazing site in the company of Barry Kemp whose work at Amarna is legendary. During the day on site we will visit all the main features including the Southern Tombs, the Northern Tombs cut high into the cliffs and travel along the Royal Wadi to the Tomb of Akhenaten. Here we find extraordinary scenes of both triumph and tragedy, depicting Nefertiti and the royal princesses. We also explore the city where we will locate the house of Thutmose the sculptor and the Royal Archive as well as the Sanctuary of Aten. We return to Minya for our second night. (BLD)

Day 5 – Tuesday 28th Sept - Meir

Our day starts at Tuna el Gebel, a largely Ptolemaic site, where we find, not only the lovely 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. Next we will visit Ashmunein with its ruins of Hermopolis. The Open-Air Museum here is fronted by two giant sandstone baboons. 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. Meir is a five-star site and a true hidden jewel of Egypt. We continue our journey along the Nile Valley until we reach the bustling town of Sohag. On arrival we check-in to the new medium-class Nile Hotel on the banks of the Nile on a full board basis for one night. (BLD)

Day 6 – Wednesday 29th Sept - The Wonders of Abydos

We start our day with the short journey to Akhmim, ancient Ipu, and the magnificent statue of Meritamun which stands to a height of 35 feet. Then we head south towards Abydos to explore one of the glories of ancient Egypt, the Temple of Seti I. The raised relief decorations in this temple are among the best in Egypt and many vibrant colours remain. Here we find the famous ‘King List’. We study the mysterious Osireion, in the Egyptian mind a candidate for the birthplace of the world, and then we head out across the desert sands for a few minutes walk to view the Temple of Ramesses II. After our picnic lunch we leave Abydos behind and drive along the banks of the Nile before arriving at Dendera and the Ptolemaic Temple of Hathor. We see the newly cleaned and restored walls and ceilings. This lovely temple features great views from the roof as well as the only depiction of Cleopatra VII with her son Caesearion. We continue our journey to Luxor checking-in to the Old Winter Palace Garden Pavilion Wing, for five nights on a room and breakfast basis. (BL)

Day 7 – Thursday 30th Sept - West Bank I

At AWT we like to do things the traditional and romantic way whenever possible, so this morning we take our private launch across the river to join our vehicle and head to 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 tomb’s strange legacy. From here, we ascend the mountain path for the walk over the mountain of Meretsegar, ‘She who loves silence’, for spectacular views of the whole of the West Bank. We descend to Deir el Medina to pick up our transport to Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el Bahri, which we will explore at length. Our final stop of the day is at the Colossi of Memnon, taking special note of Tiye and Mutemwia. (B)

AWT is an agent of Bales Worldwide Ltd.

THIS TOUR IS NOW CLOSED. THOSE WISHING TO TRAVEL ON THE DAUGHTERS OF ISIS TOUR WILL NOW NEED TO BOOK ON THE 25TH FEBRUARY 2011 DEPARTURE.   AWT is making donations to the archaeological dig at Tell el Amarna through the Amarna Trust. It is a condition of joining the tour that you become a friend of the Amarna Trust.

Day 8 – Friday 1st Oct - West Bank II

Again we cross the river and on arrival we’re off to visit Deir el Medina, the Workmen’s’ Village, to learn about their homes, family life and enter their ‘jewel box’ tombs. We will also enter the Ptolemaic Temple of Hathor close to the village. 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 9 – Saturday 2nd Oct – Nefertari

We begin our day before dawn and head straight to Karnak for sunrise, when we usually find we have most of the site to ourselves for the first hour, and its well worth it. We take a tour of the temple where we will explore the legacy of Hatshepsut and much else besides, before entering the open-air museum to see the White Chapel, the Alabaster Chapel and the reconstructed Red Chapel of Hatshepsut. We return to the hotel for breakfast before departing for the West Bank. The stunning highlight of the trip is surely our 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 other open tombs in the Valley of both queens and princes. (B)

Day 10 – Sunday 3rd Oct - Optional Edfu / Esna

Today could be your day to relax by the pool, soak up the sun or wander through the souk for some shopping. Of course, you could join us on an optional excursion by road to the Ptolemaic Temple of Horus at Edfu, Egypt’s most complete temple. We will also take a look at the Temple of Khnum at Esna. For those on the optional excursion, a packed lunch is included. (B)

Day 11 – Monday 4th Oct

This morning we bid farewell to Luxor and return to London arrving in the early afternoon. (B)

Expert: Lucia Gahlin's charm and enthusiam for Egypt is justifiably famous. Bringing sites to life with well chosen words and information, travelling with Lucia is always a pleasure. Her Daughers of Isis tour promises to be a highlight of 2010.