Site Summary - Lower Egypt Cairo: Sakkara, Giza, Old Cairo, Ibn Tulun, Tentmakers, Bab Zuweila, al-Muayyad & Sabils,  Cairo Museum.   Alexandria: National Museum, Kom el Shuqafa, the Serapeum, Pompey's Pillar, Anfushi.  Site Summary - Upper Egypt Luxor: Luxor Museum, Western Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Kings, Nobles Rombs, Ramesseum, Karnak, Luxor Temple, Abydos, Dendera, Deir El Bahri, Deir el Medina Tombs, Medinet Habu, Colossi of Memnon.   Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples.   Aswan: Philae, the Nubia Museum,  Abu Simbel (Optional), Kubbet el Hawa.

Day 1 –Sun 26th Feb 2012 - To Cairo

We fly London to Cairo and take our private transfer to the Movenpick Hotel at Giza for four nights on a room and breakfast basis. Transfers from the airport will be arranged for all passengers on this expedition regardless of arrival date or time, as we recognise that some individuals will be flying in from different points of origin. 

Day 2 – Mon 27th Feb - Sakkara and Giza

We begin our exploration of Egypt at Sakkara. We start with an orientation at the new Imhotep Museum before exploring the Step Pyramid Enclosure. Here we find not only the oldest stone building in the world, the Pyramid of Djoser, but also, later Old Kingdom pyramids with Pyramid Texts and mastaba tombs of the highest standard. We take a leisurely lunch at the Sakkara Palm Club and then we head towards the last remaining wonder of the ancient world, the magnificent Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. We explore the plateau, the Mortuary Temple of Khafre and the causeway leading to the enigmatic Sphinx. (BL)

Day 3 – Tue 28th Mar - Old Cairo

This morning we head into Old Cairo. We start with what many architects consider to be one of the finest buildings in the world, the 9th century Ibn Tulun Mosque, next to one of Cairo’s most dramatic features the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Mohammed Ali. Lunch is at the Citadel Restaurant overlooking Al Azhar Park. This afternoon we continue our discovery of Old Cairo in the colourful Tentmakers’ Bazaar, the city gates of Bab Zuweila, the Mosque of Sultan al-Muayyad and the beautifully decorated ‘Sabils’. (BL)

Day 4 – Weds 29th Mar - Cairo Museum

A full morning at the Egyptian Museum. Our guide will take us on a chronological journey covering around 3,000 years. One of the highlights will of course be the Tutankhamun Treasures and there will be plenty of free time to linger in the dozen rooms given over to spectacular finds from the tomb. There will also be time for those that wish, to take an optional visit to the Mummy Room to view the royal mummies. The coach will return to the hotel at lunchtime but if you prefer you can remain at the museum and return later. This afternoon can we suggest an exploration of the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. (B)

Day 5 – Thu 1st Mar - City of Alexander

This morning we take the north western desert highway to Egypt’s lovely coastal city of Alexandria. Looking somewhat French Mediterranean, this vibrant town is a favourite for Egyptians as well as Westerners. We check-in to the Cecil Hotel, ‘the’ address in Alex, for two nights on a room and breakfast basis. Once refreshed, we leave for the National Museum of Alexandria with its fine exhibits. Later explore the cafes and restaurants of the corniche and dream of Forster and Cavafy. (B)

Day 6 – Fri 2nd March - Ancient Alexandria

We start our exploration of Pharaonic Alexandria at Kom el Shuqafa, Graeco-Roman catacombs which exhibit some extraordinary fusions of Pharaonic, Roman and Greek cultures. Next we visit the remains of the Serapaeum, centre of worship to Serapis, thought to have contained an Apis Bull burial. We take a look at the famous ‘Pompey’s Pillar’ before moving on to Anfushi where five beautiful Greek tombs boast interesting painted reliefs. Free time this afternoon to explore and maybe visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina or Qaitbay Fort on the waterfront. (B)

Day 7 – Sat 3rd Mar - To Ancient Thebes

After breakfast we board our coach for the return drive to Cairo Airport for our internal flight to Luxor. On arrival we check-in to our hotel, the superb Old Winter Palace, Garden Pavilion Wing, for five nights on room and breakfast basis. In the early evening we will walk to the Luxor Museum with its excellent pieces beautifully lit, including perhaps the finest piece of sculpture in history – the statue of Thutmose III. (B)

Day 8 - Sun 4th Mar - To The West Bank

This morning we take our private launch across the Nile to the West Bank. For a feeling of what the Valley of the Kings was like in the 1920’s we begin with a walk into the quiet Western Valley and the fascinating tomb of Ay. Then into the Valley of the Kings where we will select three of the tombs open that day. Optional tickets for the tomb of Tutankhamun can be bought on entrance to the valley. We take time for a relaxing lunch at the local Africa restaurant. Then drive to the Nobles tombs, including the wonderful tomb of Ramose with its fine reliefs. We end the day’s visits with the short drive to the Ramesseum, the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses the Great, the inspiration for Shelley’s Ozymandias (BL)

DEPARTURE DATE Sunday 26th February 2012 TOUR CODE AWGT260212   Basic Tour Price: £2,795 Single Supplement: £368 Luxor Balloon: £85 Optional Abu Simbel: £215 Land Only Discount: £430    Book tour

Day 9 - Mon 5th Mar - Mighty Karnak

An early start to enter Karnak when almost deserted at opening time. We will catch the early morning light at the rear of the temple and at the Sacred Lake. Then, we examine all the major features of the temple of Amun, as well as some less well-known delights. You can return to the hotel with the coach or stay for the rest of the day at Karnak to explore further. The rest of the day is at leisure but this evening at sunset we will walk to Luxor Temple to view the reliefs as the floodlights come on. (B)

Day 10 – Tue 6th Mar - Mystical Abydos & Dendera

We head north to Abydos, first the magnificent temple built by Seti I – with the finest reliefs in Egypt carved into its walls including the famous King List. A look at the intriguing Osireion before we take a short walk across the desert sands to the smaller Temple of Ramesses II. Here wonderful coloured reliefs survive. Lunch boxes are provided today. En route back to Luxor we stop at the lovely Ptolemaic Temple of Dendera. The columns and ceilings here are still being cleaned revealing some astonishing colour and detail. (BL)

Day 11 - Wed 7th Mar - West Bank Revisited

The optional balloon flight today. After the flight you join the group on the West Bank to begin the day’s excursions at the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahri. See the famous ‘Punt Reliefs’ as well as the grand tiers and the beautiful Hathor Chapel. On to Deir el-Medina to see the village and beautifully decorated tombs of the artisans and workmen who constructed the tombs in the Kings Valley. Next the impressive Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu, most complete of all the mortuary temples and still highly coloured in parts. Our last stop before returning to the hotel will be at the Colossi of Memnon. (B)

Day 12 – Thu 8th Mar - Into Nubia

Today we head south into Nubia and the delightful city of Aswan. En route we stop at the small Ptolemaic Temple of Esna before continuing to Edfu. The Temple of Horus at Edfu is the best preserved cult temple in Egypt and has reliefs showing the everlasting battle between Horus and Seth. A lunch box will be provided today. On to the Temple of Sobek and Horus the Elder on the banks of the Nile at Kom Ombo. On arrival in Aswan we cross the river to the Island of Elephantine and the comforts of the Movenpick, our hotel for the next three nights. (BL)

Day 13 - Fri 9th Mar - Abu Simbel

A chance to take the optional air excursion to Abu Simbel to view the two temples of Ramesses II. Those not going to Abu Simbel have a morning at leisure – time to catch up on a little shopping or perhaps just to relax by the pool. The afternoon is spent together, on our felucca taking a leisurely ride around the islands of Aswan before our evening visit to the beautifully presented ‘Nubia Museum’. (B)

Day 14 - Sat 10th Mar - Aswan

Day 15 - Sun 11th Mar - Homeward Bound

This morning we begin our homeward journey after one of the most complete trips of Egypt possible. We take our private transfer to Cairo Airport for our connections to Cairo, London and beyond.  (B)

Expert: Dylan Bickerstaffe is a popular lecturer, the author of ‘Identifying the Royal Mummies’, numerous articles, and part of the official report on the Royal Cache tomb. He specialises mainly on the New Kingdom era, and has featured in a number of TV documentaries, including Channel 5’s recent ‘Secrets of Egypt’ series.