Day 1
- Monday 6th October 2025 - London To Luxor
We fly from London to Luxor and transfer to Luxor’s own iconic hotel, the Old Winter Palace, Garden Pavilion Wing. Here, on the Nile Corniche with a magical view of the timeless Theban hills, we spend five nights on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 2
- Tuesday 7th October - The Ancient West Bank
We cross the Nile by boat to the West Bank of Thebes, beginning our visits at Deir el Bahri, the palatial temple built for Hatshepsut and other founders of Akhenaten’s dynasty. Our second visit is to Asasif, for the tomb of Kheruef, who served Akhenaten’s mother, the celebrated Queen Tiy. Nearby we experience the massive tomb of Pabasa, and share stories about the grand history Thebes and the priests of its ancient god, Amun-Ra. After a refreshing lunch at our favourite local restaurant, we take the path up to the gloriously painted tomb of the mayor Sennefer, with its lively vineyard ceiling. The richly decorated tomb of the vizir Rekhmira, which illustrates in detail the life and responsibilities of a New Kingdom high official, is our final visit for the day. (BL)
Day 3
- Wednesday 8th October - The Valley of The Kings
Again, we take a boat across the Nile, to head to the secluded West Valley and the rarely opened tomb of Akhenaten’s father, Amenhotep III. Its fascinating paintings are works of the highest quality, and contrast markedly with what we are going to find at Amarna. This tomb has been closed for many years but our special permit opens its doors for a full exploration. We continue to the Valley of the Kings itself, where we have plenty of time to explore your choice of three tombs from those open on the day. There is also time for those who wish to buy extra tickets for the breathtaking tomb of Sety I and, of course, the iconic tomb of Akhenaten’s son, Tutankhamun. We return to the Winter Palace for a lunch break. In the afternoon we make leisurely visits to the Luxor Temple, planned and largely executed by Amenhotep III, and to the treasures of Luxor Museum, including some of the finest examples of art from the Amarna Period. (B)
Day 4
- Thursday 9th October - Karnak at Dawn
Visiting Karnak when the only other livings things in sight are doves and sparrows is a magical experience! We arrive at sunrise with plenty of time to explore before the crowds can build – and see the most interesting areas of the temple when they are best lit, including the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut and the war reliefs of Sety I, both of which relate surprisingly directly to the Amarna Period. We seek out other areas connected with Amarna in unexpected ways, before we return to the hotel for lunch. In the late afternoon, an idyllic treat – sailing on a felucca with cream tea served by staff from the Winter Palace. A stylish way to end the day! (B)
Day 5
- Friday 10th October - The Majesty of Amenhotep III
Our final visit to the West Bank, with another special permit to explore what remains of the vast mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. We start with the Colossi of Memnon, which for us now becomes the actual gateway to this lost wonder and all of its recent discoveries. Next, we visit an exceptionally interesting group of tombs, including the splendid columned hall of Ramose, which illustrates both the magnificence of the New Kingdom and also the shift in funerary art characteristic of the reign of Akhenaten. After a local lunch, we visit the cemetery of Dra Abu el-Naga, looking across the processional routes of Amun-Ra, to see the beautiful tombs of Roy and Shuroy, and a special treat – the newly opened tomb of Djehuty, the excavation of which was supported by AWT. We also make a visit to the house where Howard Carter lived when he discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb, now restored as a museum to the pioneering age of Egyptology. (BL)
Day 6
- Saturday 11th October - The Pilgrim’s Road to Abydos
This morning we leave Luxor and head north to Abydos. En route we visit the iconic temple of Hathor at Dendera, where highlights include celebrated scenes of the notorious Cleopatra – the last queen to rule Egypt, walking in the footsteps of Nefertiti herself. The columns and ceiling of the temple’s hypostyle hall have been beautifully cleaned and are absolutely stunning to experience. We continue to Abydos and our hotel, the House Of Life, full of character, where lunch awaits and we check in for two nights on full board basis. (BLD)
Day 7
- Sunday 12th October - An Exploration of Abydos
Visitors to Abydos understandably focus on the peerless relief decoration in the temple of Sety I, but at AWT we know there is so much more to see besides. So, we begin the day at Kom el-Sultan, the remains of the temple of Osiris – the most sacred archaeological site in Egypt, reaching back to the very dawn of history. Here, Petrie discovered a tiny ivory statue – the only representation we have of Khufu, the king who built the Great Pyramid! Almost next door, we experience the imposing Shunet el-Zebib – mortuary temple of king Khasekhemwy and the model for the Step Pyramid. Our morning ends at the temple of Ramesses II, to see the moving scenes of the bloody Battle of Qadesh, an event whose story can be traced back to the Amarna Period. Here we also explore the recent excavations. After lunch at our hotel, we have time to explore the temple of Sety I at leisure, and get to know arguably the most beautiful religious scenes found anywhere in Ancient Egypt – commissioned in the immediate aftermath of Akhenaten’s controversial reign. (BLD)
Day 8
- Monday 13th October - Athribis and Asyut
Leaving Abydos, this morning we head to the delightful Sohag Museum, a recently opened gem which tells the wider story of the area local to Amarna. Accordingly, our next stop is Athribis and a temple dedicated in the name of Caesarion, the son of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, but completed in the names of Augustus and other Roman emperors. There are impressive ruins to enjoy here, including a huge nunnery dating from the fourth century – and some truly vast pots! We end the day at Asyut, in the Hotel Cemex – a company venue on the edge of the desert, where we stay for two nights on a full board basis. (BLD)
Day 9
- Tuesday 14th October - Amarna, City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti
The very heart of our tour is a full day at Amarna – time to appreciate the vast ghostly landscape of the ancient city of the Sun. Our visit takes in dramatic scenes in the tombs of the nation’s highest officials in the northern and southern cemeteries, and, of course, the Royal Wadi with the desolate but charming tomb of Akhenaten and his family. We also explore the ruins of the city itself, including the Great Temple of the Sun, the Lesser Temple with its royal window of appearance, and the Northern Palace of his queens. This is truly one of the ancient world’s most remarkable sights – and truly an AWT favourite. We have a lunch box from our hotel to picnic at the Amarna Rest House, where we can buy hot and cold drinks and use the facilities. (BLD)
Day 10
- Wednesday 15th October - To Cairo
This morning we begin our journey to Cairo, stopping first at Tuna el Gebel to get a close look at one of Akhenaten’s stelae that marked out the boundaries of Amarna. While we are here, we can experience the eerie subterranean galleries for ibis mummies dedicated to Thoth, the god of knowledge. We also find two very different tombs: the exceptionally beautiful chapel of the Egyptian priest, Petosiris; and the Roman-era mausoleum of the unfortunate Isidora, with a poem from her heartbroken father. On arrival in Cairo we check into our hotel, the Crowne Plaza, West Giza – our home for the next three nights. (BL)
Day 11
- Thursday 16th October - The Grand Egyptian Museum
After so many false dawns, how wonderful to be able to explore what is undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest museums. Filled to the brim with priceless treasures from every era of ancient Egypt, beautifully displayed and labelled, it seems you need endless time here. For us it will be a full-day visit, with lunch at your own convenience in one of the many excellent cafes and restaurants beside the GEM’s Great Court. (B)
Day 12
- Friday 17th October - The Timeless Monuments of Saqqara
No visit to Egypt is complete without a visit to the monuments of Saqqara, but today we focus on the Amarna Period tombs here along with some better known highlights. Of course, there is time to go back to the very beginning of history and enter Djoser’s Step Pyramid, the pyramid of Unas with the extraordinary Pyramid Texts, and some wonderful early tombs with astounding decoration. We also visit the delightful Imhotep Museum, and the mind-boggling subterranean burial vaults for the Apis bulls. Add in a delicious lunch at the Sakkara Palm Club, and this will be both a memorable day and a fitting end to a wonderful tour. (BL)
Day 13
- Saturday 18th October 2025 - Homeward Bound
This morning we transfer to Cairo Airport and our return flight home, arriving in the early afternoon. (B)
Dr Bill Manley is a best-selling author and expert on Ancient Egyptian texts, currently working with the Wadi C2 Archaeological Project in Luxor. Bill’s books on hieroglyphs are known and used the world over; his book Egyptian Art (2017) is part of Thames & Hudson’s prestigious World of Art series; and his account of The Oldest Book in the World(2023) garnered a 5-star review from The Wall Street Journal. Bill’s next book, published by University College London in 2025, is about the old Coptic language.
B = Breakfast BL = Breakfast and Lunch BD = Breakfast and Dinner BLD = Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
