Day 1
- Wednesday 16th February 2022
We take our direct flight from London Heathrow to Cairo and on arrival take our private transfer to the 5-star Steigenberger Giza Hotel. We check in for three nights on room and breakfast basis.
Day 2
- Thursday 17th February - The Faiyum
This morning we take the desert highway to the Faiyum. We will visit the Hawara pyramid of Amenemhat III and remains of the ‘ Labyrinth’. Next, to el Lahun and the pyramid of Senusret II, opened just a few months ago after restoration, so a rare chance to enter the pyramid. We have a lunch organised at the Helnan Auberge Hotel on the shores of lake Moeris. (BL)
Day 3
- Friday 18th February - Saqqara
We have a full day to explore Saqqara where so much work in the last three years has unearthed many new tombs. We visit the Imhotep Museum, the Step Pyramid Enclosure with entry to the Step Pyramid of Djoser which is now open, the Unas Pyramid, the tomb of Tutankhamun’s wet nurse Maya, and much more. We also visit the Serapeum. We have lunch break at the Sakkara Palm Club. (BL)
Day 4
- Saturday 19th February - Old Cairo
Our day begins with a visit to The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization at the ancient city of Fustat, Old Cairo. This new museum displays a vast collection of artifacts ranging from Prehistoric times to the current day. A new gallery is now residence to the Royal Mummies recently moved from the Museum in Tahrir. We then head to Khan el Khalili where we can walk through some of Old Cairo’s historic streets and take lunch in the atmospheric Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant. Later we take an internal flight from Cairo to Aswan. On arrival we transfer to the Movenpick Hotel on Elephantine Island for five nights on room and breakfast basis. (BL)
Day 5
- Sunday 20th February - Obelisks and Temples
This morning we visit the quarry of the Unfinished Obelisk in the Open-Air Museum. Next we take a motor boat to the Island of Philae and the Temple of Isis. Plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful setting of this picturesque temple. Refreshments are available on the island but we will travel with a lunch box from our hotel today as our next destination is the rarely visited site of New Kalabsha. Saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser in the 1970s we can enter the Temples of Kalabsha and Beit al Wali. Time also to view the Kiosk of Qertassi and admire the stunning views over Lake Nasser. We return to our hotel late afternoon. (BL)
Day 6
- Monday 21st February - Abu Simbel
We drive to Abu Simbel to view the Temple of Ramesses II and the smaller Temple of Queen Nefertari close by. Saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser in the 1960’s this is a chance to view one of the grandest building schemes undertaken by Ramesses II. As this is a long day we travel with lunch boxes. We return to our hotel late afternoon. (BL)
Day 7
- Tuesday 22nd February - Aswan Delights
We begin our day exploring the Tombs of the Nobles at Kubbet el Hawa dating from the Old and Middle Kingdoms. Then we head to Sehel Island by motor launch. The rocks on the island are covered with inscriptions, the most famous being the ‘famine Stela’, and the views over the First Cataract from the hilltop are stunning. We return to the hotel for a lunch break and then in the afternoon we have a guided tour of the vast ruins of ancient Yebu on Elephantine Island itself. Ongoing work is still underway at the site and we have plenty of time to visit all the major features including the temples of Satet and Heqaib, the ancient town houses and the Nilometer. Later we visit the Nubia Museum to look at local finds and the general history of the region. (B)
Day 8
- Wednesday 23rd February - Silsila
Today a journey North to the Gebel Silsila Quarries. On both sides of the Nile these massive quarries provided the sandstone for some of the great monuments in Karnak and Luxor temples. On the West bank we visit some of the shrines, including that of Horemheb, and view many rock-cut stelae. However the highlight of the day will be our special permit to visit the East bank. Here we find spectacular quarries used during the New Kingdom and where Ramesses II took stone to construct the Ramesseum. We see many inscriptions including that of Amenhotep III and Seti I making this a visit not to be missed. We continue our journey with a stop at the Ptolemaic Temple of Kom Ombo before returning to our hotel. We travel with lunch boxes from the hotel today. (BL)
Day 9
- Thursday 24th February - Hierakonpolis
We check out of our hotel and head to Luxor and on our way we make an exciting stop at Hierakonpolis, Ancient Nekhen. We have a special permit to view this amazing and rarely visited site. Renee Friedman, Director of the Hierakonpolis Expedition has agreed to meet us on site and show us the latest conservation work on the vast Mudbrick Enclosure of King Khasekhemwy also known as the Fort. We travel with a lunch box and will picnic at the site dig house. Late afternoon we arrive in Luxor and check in to the Old Winter Palace, Garden Pavilion wing, for four nights on room and breakfast basis. (BL)
Day 10
- Friday 25th February - Mut at Karnak
Our morning begins at the Temple of Mut where we find many images of Mut in the form of Sekhmet. We can also see the unusual kidney shaped Sacred Lake and a small temple of Ramesses III. We also view the recently conserved Avenue of Sphinx leading from the Tenth Pylon of Karnak. On the Karnak Temple itself where we look at all the latest conservation work on our guided tour. Our coach will leave for the hotel at lunchtime for an afternoon at leisure but you are welcome to stay on at Karnak for the rest of the day. (B)
Day 11
- Saturday 26th February- The Temple of Khnum
An exciting visit today as we head to Esna Temple where conservation work has been underway for some years. The ceilings have been cleaned and the inner wall paintings now reveal features that had been lost for some time. The unusual varied column capitals are being restored to their former glory. Next, to Mo’alla, tomb of military leader and Governor Ankhtifi with its unusual style and inscriptions. Finally the temple of el Tod dedicated to the war god Montu. We travel with lunch boxes and return to the hotel late afternoon. (BL)
Day 12
- Sunday 27th April - Ancient Thebes
We begin our day at the Valley of the Kings where we have tickets for three tombs of those open on the day. Then we head to the Nobles Tombs for the tombs of Ramose and Sennofer. After lunch at a local restaurant we visit Deir el Medina, the Workers Village, to see the tombs and homes of the artisans who created the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Finally the Ramesseum, mortuary temple of Ramesses the Great. (BL)
Day 13
- Monday 28th February 2022
We take our private transfer to Luxor Airport for our direct flight to London Heathrow. (B)
Egyptologist, Chris Naunton has appeared in numerous television documentaries, most notably as the presenter of ‘ Flinders Petrie: The Man who Discovered Egypt’ (BBC4) and ‘Tutankhamun: The Mystery of the Burnt Mummy’ (Ch 4) and Egypt’s Lost Pyramid (Ch 4). He was CEO of the EES from 2012 -16 and President of the International Association of Egyptologists from 2015-19. He is now Director of the Robert Anderson Trust. His books; ‘Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt’, and ‘Egyptologists’ Notebooks’ are now on sale.
B = Breakfast BL = Breakfast and Lunch BD = Breakfast and Dinner BLD = Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
