Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Africa. the continent where human beings first came into existence, Customs, traditions & ancient rites tie Africans to generations & ancestors past and to the collective memory of myriad people. There are time-honored ceremonies, music that dates back to the days of Africa's golden Empires & Masks that tell stories of spirit worlds never lost. In many rural areas, it can feel as though the modern world might never have happened & there is nowhere like it on the planet for wildlife, wild lands & rich traditions that endure. Welcome to Old Africa & prepare to fall in love.

And Middle East is a grand epic, a cradle of civilisations & a beautiful, complicated land that is home to some of the planet's most hospitable people. History writ large – it is a story written on the stones that litter the region, from the flagstones of old Roman roads to the building blocks of ancient Egypt & the delicately carved Tombs & Temples from Petra to Persepolis. This is where humankind first built cities & learned to write and it was from here that Judaism, Christianity & Islam all arose. Wherever you find yourself, the past is always the ‘present’ because here, perhaps more than anywhere else on earth, history is the heart & soul of the land.

Ahlan wa sahlan!  Welcome to enchanting Egypt - the mighty Nile & awesome ancient wonders, magnificent Monuments, atmospheric local Souks entice many to the land of the Pharaohs, while the beguiling Desert with endless golden sands & lush Delta wow visitors. Adding in the country's long & lingering past & a culture full of stories, make Egypt the ultimate travel destination.

Egyptian history is infinite & is one of the greatest inheritances from human civilization but Egypt is much more than just its thousands of years old sand-covered Tombs, austere Pyramids & towering Pharaonic Temples, Only in Egypt can you sail into the sunset on a Felucca, cruise along the Nile, jump on the back of a Camel, ride into Luxor’s Valley of the Kings, where Tutankhamun’s Tomb was unearthed, then float facing towards the sky in the glittering expanse of the Red Sea with its welcoming, story-loving people, It transforms ‘guests’ into ‘students’ as they explore. See the glittering finds in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. And you never know - your donkey might stumble across yet another find, for that is the way many previous discoveries were made.

Take a moment as time stands still here. Surely a place that every human who can, should once in their lifetime come visit. Prepare to fall in love.

Arrive in the ‘eternal’ city of Cairo set on the Nile River. Romantically known as the City of a Thousand Minarets, the Egyptian Capital is a place of extremes, filled with ancient landmarks, snarling traffic, ornate Mosques, & glittering modern Skyscrapers. The busy Capital, can’t help but conjure up an image of the exotic & here, your adventure begins ! The Airport can appear to be a little chaotic to the uninitiated, this is normal!

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Cairo International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative (holding a placard with your Name) who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the Hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next day.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes after you exit in the Arrivals Hall, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel.

Reach the hotel & Check-in & relax.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the day free to relax or for optional exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Monumental History| Artistic Treasures| Living Life

You have got to see it to believe it in Egypt - the chaos of Cairo (seriously, this city never stops); the bustling Bazaars; the imposing glory of the Pyramids of Giza & the world’s most famous lion with a human head (the iconic Sphinx). The city might seem like a lot to handle but give it a try & you will find that it has a lot to offer.

Cairo is chaos at its most magnificent, infuriating & beautiful. From above, the distorted roar of the Muezzins' call to prayer echoes out from duelling Minarets. Below, car horns bellow tuneless symphonies amid avenues of faded 19^th century grandeur while donkey carts rattle down dusty lanes lined with colossal Fatimid & Mamluk monuments. It has been the largest city in Africa & the Middle East ever since the Mongols wasted Imperial Baghdad in 1258.

As Egypt has been a prize for conquerors from Alexander the Great to Rommel, so Cairo has been a fulcrum of power in the Arab world from the Crusades unto the present day.

Although a relatively modern UNESCO World Heritage listed Capital (by Egyptian standards, at least) on the eastern bank of the Nile River, the city's origin is linked to that of the Pharaonic city of Memphis, the ancient Capital of Egypt's Old Kingdom, dating back more than 2,000 years.

The city started to take its present form in 641 CE, when the Arab General Amr Ibn Al-Ase conquered Egypt for Islam & founded a new Capital called Misr Al-Fustat, "the City of the Tents" (the legend is that Al-Ase, on the day he was leaving to conquer Alexandria, found 2 doves nesting in his Tent. Not wanting to disturb them, he left the Tent as is & upon returning victorious, he instructed his soldiers to pitch their Tents around his & this became the site of the new city in what is now Old Cairo). The name may have been a pun - Misr / Masr is the Arabic word for city, but it is also the Arabic name of the entire country of Egypt.

The Tunisian Fatimid dynasty captured the city in 969 CE & founded a new city, Al-Qahira ("The Victorious") eventually incorporating the older Capitals of Al-Fustat, al-Askar & al-Qatta'i.

During the 12^th century, the Fatimid dynasty fell to Saladin, the first Sultan of Egypt.

Over the following centuries, Cairo's Rulership passed from the Sultans to the Mamluks, followed by the Ottomans, the French & the British. Following a period of massive expansion in the first half of the 19^th century, Cairo's residents revolted against the British in 1952 & successfully regained the city's independence.

The name Al-Qahira gradually evolved into its English version, Cairo, but the locals still call it Masr, which is also the Arabic name of the entire country of Egypt (similar to Mexico City in Mexico).

Filled with sights, sounds & smells, many visitors find Cairo's frenetic energy overwhelming; but for those with a sense of humor & a certain amount of patience, it harbors a treasure trove of experiences that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Your nerves will jangle, your snot will run black from the smog & touts will hound you at every turn, but it is a small price to pay to tap into the energy of the place dubbed “Umm Ad Dunya” (Mother of the World) by medieval Arabs & as Great Cairo by 19^th century Europeans.

Though firmly attached to the past, the heart of the chaotic Downtown is also home to a vibrant modern society. The City Centre influenced by French architecture, striving to be a "Paris on the Nile", was built in 19^th century under the rule of Khedive Ismail.

Cairo is a vast chaotic, exotic, smelly, dusty & also beautiful city, whose boundaries are difficult to define. Many of its neighborhoods are technically outside the city limits. Today, Greater Cairo’s constant buzz & noise is a product of its 22 million + inhabitants simultaneously crushing the city’s infrastructure under their collective weight & lifting its spirits up with their exceptional humour.  

Famous for its own history, Cairo’s treasures abound, preserved in the fabulous medieval bustling Islamic section & ancient wonders such as the world’s oldest Pyramid to the earliest Coptic Christian monuments in the Old Town.

The main tourist neighborhoods include the modern Downtown, the centre of commerce & popular life with Skyscrapers fast-food Restaurants nestling up to historical world heritage landmarks of Islamic Cairo & Coptic Cairo. Outside the core on the eastern bank of Nile, there are a number of more modern, affluent suburbs. Heliopolis is known for its Restaurants, Nightlife & upmarket Hotels. In the middle of the Nile is the Island of Gezira whose leafy Zamalek district boasts of panoramic city views atop the187 metre Cairo Tower & upmarket shopping & diplomatic enclave with many Embassies.

On the western bank, is a concrete jungle where 100s of manufacturing business units are located. And nearby are the great Giza Pyramids & further to the south, Memphis & Saqqara.

Dating back to the 6^th century BC, the oldest neighborhood is Coptic Cairo, the site of the Roman settlement of Babylon, famous for its historic Christian monuments. Coptic Churches, huge medieval Gates & Bazaars that sell everything from motorbike parts to perfumes.

The modern political landmark like Midan Tahrir (meaning "Liberation Square") in downtown Cairo, was the scene of the massive 2011 Protests that ousted President Mubarak & big (sometimes violent) Rallies & Protests still occur here. The vast Egyptian Museum in the city centre is a must see, with its countless ancient Egyptian artefacts & a trove of antiquities including royal Mummies & gilded King Tutankhamun artifacts.

Nearby, Giza is the site of the iconic Pyramids & Great Sphinx, dating to the 26^th century BC & the nearby Saqqara Pyramid Complex, where visitors will see Egypt's first Step Pyramid built by the architect Imhotep for the 3^rd dynasty Pharaoh Djoser.

Perhaps the most interesting section is medieval (Islamic) Cairo, a warren of streets just bustling with life. Islamic Cairo represents the part of the city built by its Fatimid founders. It is a labyrinthine maze of Mosques, Souks & breathtakingly beautiful Islamic monuments, all of which echo to the sound of countless Muezzins calling the faithful to prayer. The Ulema of its 1000 year old Al-Azhar Mosque (for centuries till today, the foremost centre of Islamic intellectual life) remains the ultimate religious authority for millions of Sunni Muslims, from Jakarta to Birmingham. Wherever Arabic is spoken, Cairo's cultural magnetism is felt.

A felucca ride along the Nile River is a good way to escape from the busy city & enjoy a night sail under the stars (available across from the Four Seasons Hotel in Garden City). Al-Azhar Park, a good vantage point of Islamic Cairo & the city skyline, has restaurants & entertainment to while away the evening. There are many Music & Cultural options available. Khan al-Khalili Bazaar is ideal for souvenirs  

Overnight.  

Egyptian history is infinite & is one of the greatest inheritances from human civilization. Much more than just its 1,000s of years old Pyramids & monuments, Egypt is life itself, a place that every human who can, should visit.

Morning, meet the Egyptologist Tour-guide in the Lobby at 08.00 am & proceed for an 8 hour excursion to marvel at the Pyramids. Witness the wonders of the Western Sahara in the ancient Egyptian civilization's most renowned sites.

You will drive to Cairo's most popular attraction, Giza Plateau (also called the Giza Necropolis), site of the Pyramids & the Great Sphinx, whose grandeur remains unsurpassed more than 4,500 years after they were erected.

All were built during the 4^th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt, at the edges of the Western Desert, approximately 9 km west of the Nile River in the city of Giza, & about 13 km southwest of the city centre of Cairo.

The Pyramids of Giza, along with their associated Pyramid Complexes & the Great Sphinx, are some of the most famous manmade objects in the world, since ancient times, drawing thousands of visitors every year.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu & the Pyramid of Khafre are the largest in ancient Egypt & and have historically been referred as emblems of ancient Egypt in the Western imagination. They were popularised in Hellenistic times, when the Great Pyramid was listed by Antipater of Sidon as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. These Pyramids have stood the test of time, ‘some’ remaining intact for roughly 1,000s of years.

The 3 main Pyramids at Giza - Cheops, Chephren & Mykerinos are the focal point of the Giza Necropolis or Cemetery, that served the elite of the Old Kingdom Capital of Egypt at nearby Memphis during the mid to late 4^th dynasty (around 3^rd millennium BCE). The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops). Khafre, Khufu's son, lies entombed in the nearby Pyramid of Khafre. The 3^rd structure, the Pyramid of Menkaure, constructed by Khafre's successor to the throne, Menkaure, is the smallest of the Pyramids of Giza. Their astounding burials attracted a number of other burials of their Queens, family members & Nobility.

In fact, the Pyramid of Khufu is by far the oldest & the only "Wonder of the Ancient World" that still survives. Khufu's Complex consists of a valley Temple, now buried beneath the village of Nazlet el-Samman; diabase paving & nummulitic limestone walls have been found but the site has not been excavated. The Temple was connected to a causeway which was largely destroyed when the village was constructed.

Khafre's Pyramid Complex consists of the Sphinx Temple, a causeway, a Mortuary & the Pyramid. The valley Temple yielded several Statues of Khafre in a well in the floor of the Temple in 1860. Others were found during successive excavations in 1909 -10.

Menkaure's Complex also consists of a valley Temple, a causeway, a Mortuary which yielded a few statues of the Pharoah, & the Pyramid. The Temple also once contained several Statues of Menkaure. During the 5^th Dynasty, a smaller ante-Temple was added on to the valley Temple.

One of the premier attractions of Egypt, if not the world, the Pyramids of Giza represent the archetypal Pyramid structures of ancient Egyptian civilisation, some of the most famous manmade objects in the world, & together with the Great Sphinx - the legendary guardian that stands by the huge Funeral complex.

The oldest known monumental sculpture, commonly believed to have been built by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom during the reign of the Khafre (c. 2558 - 2532 BC), the Great Sphinx of Giza, commonly referred to as just the Sphinx, is a limestone statue of a reclining Sphinx, a mythical creature with the body of a lion & the head of a human.

The face is generally believed to represent the Pharaoh Khafre. It measures 73 metres long from paw to tail, 20 metres high from the base to the top of the head & 19 metres wide at its rear haunches. Facing directly from West to East, it stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile. Cut from the bedrock, the original shape of the Sphinx has been restored with layers of blocks.

The Pyramids are an iconic image of Egypt & whose grandeur remains unsurpassed, more than 4,000 years after they were erected. When first built, they were covered in white limestone much of which eroded over the years.

Although most people associate Egypt with the Pyramids of Giza, there are known to be at least 118 ancient Pyramids in Egypt, including at least 8 more at Giza (2 belonging to Kings & 6 to Queens), the majority of these spread out along the desert between the Giza Plateau & the semi-oasis of Al-Fayoum. More are being discovered every few years or so.

You have some free time to explore inside one of the Pyramids independently (optional - additional cost & the Tour-guide is not permitted inside). You can also enjoy a camel ride here (optional - additional cost) & absorb the sweeping views over central Cairo. And of course, make use of plenty of photo opportunities.

Visit the Valley Temple where the Priests mummified the dead body of King Chephren, owner of the 2^nd Pyramid at Giza Plateau.

Then, hop on the vehicle for the short drive to Memphis, the Capital of the ancient Kingdom. Much of Memphis' splendor has been destroyed, but the 18^th Dynasty Alabaster Sphinx still remains.

Memphis is the English name for the present-day site of one of the great ancient Capital cities of Egypt, located in & around several villages near Cairo & first established towards the end of the 4^th millennium BCE by the Pharaoh Narmer, at the time of his Unification of Upper Egypt & Lower Egypt.

Memphis was the chief cult city of the Egyptian God of Wisdom & Craftsmanship, Ptah. Although little remains of their achievements today, having been ravaged by the depredations of time, the flood plain environment & the cannibalising of its stone for the building of medieval Cairo, the Pharaohs & Priests of Ptah once endowed the city with vast Temple complexes & built their Cemeteries on the desert hills adjoining it to the east & (especially!) to the west. A center of power for over 3,000 years, this aeons-old city is believed to have been purpose-built & was characterized by majestic Temples & Palaces.

It remained the Capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom period, at the time when the great Pyramids were being built. Central power returned to the city when the New Kingdom Pharaohs made it once again Egypt's northern & main Administrative Capital, alongside the Religious & Ceremonial Capital at Luxor in the south.

Get fascinating insights into ancient Egypt from your knowledgeable Tour-guide & learn about its heyday in the 3^rd & 2^nd centuries BC, as you immerse yourself in ancient Egypt at this fascinating yet crowd-free site (Memphis attracts fewer visitors than those in Giza, so you can admire in quiet surroundings).

Marvel at the prize exhibit – a spectacularly huge, fallen statue of Ramses II that once stood in the city.

Although very little remains to be seen on the surface, Memphis features a great Sculpture Museum & allows an evocative insight into both ancient greatness (its transitory nature!) & modern Egyptian rural life. Also, the main ancient necropolis of the city, located nearby on the desert plateau at Saqqara, is worth a visit.

Covering a 7 km stretch of the Western Desert, Saqqara, the huge Cemetery of ancient Memphis, was an active burial ground for more than 3500 years & is Egypt’s largest archaeological site. The Necropolis is situated high above the Nile Valley’s cultivation area & is the final resting place for deceased Pharaohs & their Families, Administrators, Generals & sacred animals. The name Saqqara is most likely derived from Sokar, the Memphite, God of the Dead.

Sakkara features numerous Pyramids, including the world-famous Step Pyramid of Djoser - the world's oldest free standing stone structure, sometimes referred to as the Step Tomb due to its rectangular base, as well as a number of mastabas (Arabic word meaning 'bench'), built for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser by his Vizier, Imhotep. Constructed in around 2,650 BC, it is considered an important part in the process of the Pyramid evolution.

Old Kingdom Pharaohs were buried within Saqqara’s 11 major Pyramids, while their subjects were buried in the hundreds of smaller Tombs. Most of Saqqara was buried in sand until the mid-19^th century, when the renowned French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette uncovered the Serapeum. Since then, it has been a gradual process of rediscovery: the Step Pyramid’s massive funerary complex was not exposed until 1924 & it is in a constant state of restoration. There has been a string of new discoveries, including a whole slew of Mummies & even a new Pyramid.

Admire the incredible, Step Pyramid of Djoser as you learn about the main features of this flat-topped, 4,600 year old Pyramid & how it was built. For example, it is an extremely important as the 1^st Pyramid built in Egypt, though it is not a true, smooth sided one.

Another 16 Egyptian Kings built Pyramids at Sakkara, which are now in various states of preservation or dilapidation. High officials added private funeral monuments to this Necropolis during the entire Pharaonic period & it remained an important complex for non-royal burials & cult ceremonies for more than 3,000 years, well into Ptolemaic & Roman times.

May be, a quick visit to the Imhotep Museum, to get the lay of the land. Head for the Funerary Complex, entering through the Hypostyle Hall & gaze on the Step Pyramid of Djoser, 1^st Pyramid built in Egypt & the world's oldest free standing stone structure, considered an important part of the process of the Pyramid evolution. 

Drive to the Pyramid of Teti to see some of the famous Texts inside. Pop into the nearby Tomb of Kagemni before ending with the most wonderful Tomb of all, the Mastaba of Ti, with its fascinating reliefs of daily life.

There are also a number of other Pyramids in & around Dashur that are important because they show the evolution, including the failures & the first success of the Builders, as they tried to build the first true, smooth sided Pyramid.

Later Pyramids are less spectacular, sometimes made of mudbrick & therefore not as well preserved today, but still important, because they are the first to be decorated with inscriptions & various scenes. For example, the ruined Pyramids of Unas at Sakkara was the first one that we know of to be inscribed with the 128 magical spells of the Pyramid text.

In between, break for Lunch (not included – direct payment) & if you want, briefly visit a Papyrus Institute to see the ancient craft of papyrus painting in action. Watch the artisans at work & perhaps, buy some of the delicate Artworks & contribute to local well-being.

If time (& Tour-guide) permits, you might want to take the opportunity for an Optional (direct payment) visit to the Solar Boat Museum, home to the reconstructed Funeral Barge of Khufu, the Pharaoh for whom the largest Giza Pyramid was built. Gaze in awe at the wooden boat & learn how its remnants were discovered & reassembled by Archaeologists.


Finally, the tour ends & you are transferred back to the hotel by 05.00 pm.

Balance of the day free to relax or for Optional activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make the arrangements).

Overnight. B     

Morning, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 08:30 am to proceed to the internationally renowned Museum of Egyptian Antiquities which features artifacts from the Pharaonic period for a 3 hour ‘guided’ experience.

There are lots of Museums in Egypt & in Cairo & lots of Museums around the world with Egyptian artifacts, but no where, you would find such an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts as in this one. And perhaps more remarkably, nowhere else in the world can you get as close & intimate with Egyptian history as you can in this particular Museum.

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is the hub of research, storage & display of zillions of artifacts from Egypt’s ancient Kingdoms, some discovered long ago & others discovered quite recently.

Getting around to all 107 Halls in one trip is tough, so you will want to choose a few subjects or exhibits that are most important to you.  With thousands of artifacts on show, the Museum can be overwhelming without guidance. Knowing where to start can be daunting so step back in time as the Egyptologist Tour-guide helps you navigate & introduce you to the highlights of the Egyptian & Roman Collections (if there is anything specific you want to see, let your Tour-guide know).

Nearly all of Egypt is still an active archaeological site today & it is the only country in the world, with the exception of perhaps China, that spawn new discoveries every day, on this scale. People who live in Egypt have literally been known to cut holes in the floors of their homes & dig tunnels underneath them, in order to find artifacts to sell. Now this is highly illegal, but it is still done - the point being that there is still so much we don’t know yet & so much that is still being dug up.

So, all of the country is really a living Museum & an active archaeological site, but the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo is the repository & display room for most of Egypt’s history & the sheer amount that you can see & in some cases touch, is simply mind-blowing. There are quite a few surviving relics from the early dynastic period. Artifacts & treasures from the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, the New Kingdom, the 1^st Intermediate Period, the 2^nd Intermediate Period, the 3^rd Intermediate Period - not necessarily in that order - then the Greek Period, the Roman Period, the Ottoman Period… & all of that covers thousands of years before countries like the United States were even in the picture.

Back in the 1700s & early 1800s, the Ottomans still technically ruled the area, but governance was actually decentralized & the local Pasha (Governor) managed the country.

Invaders & foreign visitors have been coming into Egypt for literally 1,000s of years & carting off its antiquities. Greek, Roman, Persian, Arab, Ottoman invaders & Rulers have also been recycling materials from ancient monuments & treasures throughout that whole period too, breaking down other Rulers’ monuments, Temples, Palaces & Tombs to use the precious materials for their own purposes. Upto 18^th century, one could see all this neat ancient stuff, just lying around.

Local Egyptians would gladly sell you ancient artifacts they dug up, or if you stumbled across any yourself you could just stuff them in your suitcase & take it back to Europe with you. No one was there to stop you and both Egyptians & foreigners availed themselves liberally of this opportune situation.

In 1798, Napoleon & the French army marched into town & kind of just hung out for about 3 years. But, their occupation turned out to be a boon for Egypt, or at least for Egyptology. A French soldier named Pierre-François Bouchard just randomly stumbled upon a piece of rock that was recycled & used as building material within an old Ottoman Fort near a town called Rosetta. He noticed that this particular piece of stone came from somewhere else & has undecipherable ancient pictorial scribblings on it, today known as hieroglyphics.

Luckily for Egypt & for all of humanity, this French officer immediately recognized the significance of the piece of debris he had stumbled across at this old Fort. He could just as easily have broken it apart or used it as part of a wall or something else & cemented over the writing. But, Bouchard saved it & it turned out to be one of the most incredible & amazing archaeological finds in all of human history.

This stone, is today known as the iconic Rosetta Stone. So why is the Rosetta so groundbreakingly important & what is it got to do with the Egyptian Museum. Well, to answer the first question, it literally unlocked nearly all of ancient Egypt. All of those funny pictorial scribblings all over Temple walls & Tombs & monuments all over Egypt that people had been looking at for 1,000s of years, not knowing what any of it meant… could finally be translated & read.

It took scholars in England & France & a few other places about 25 years to actually decipher the hieroglyphic script from the multilingual Rosetta Stone carvings. It wasn’t an easy task by any means, but eventually Jean-François Champollion, a French linguist, cracked the mysterious ancient code & suddenly all of Egyptian history came back to life & the new field of Egyptology was born.

No one had known for 1,000s of years - since the fall of the Pharaohs - what was written on all these Walls & Stones & Papyrus manuscripts. Even though the Pyramids & other monuments were right there, the history of the civilization had been pretty much lost until this incredible moment. Scholars could now read everything & finally tell who all the Mummies were & who all the Tombs belonged to.

And the stories just started flooding out of these Walls - stories of Kings & their battles & the ancient Gods & their afterlife beliefs & mummification & so much more. We literally retrieved the history of one of the greatest Civilizations, that had virtually been lost in plain sight for almost 2,000 years.

And now, with this news spreading around the world & the newly formed field of Egyptology in full bloom, people were more interested in Egypt & its antiquities than ever before. And were still carting off its artifacts, left & right.

Consequently, in the late 1820s & early 1830s, Jean-François Champollion, started emphasizing on the need to begin cataloging & preserving Egypt’s treasures & to build a Museum. Unfortunately, Champollion passed on in 1832. But another French Egyptologist actually followed through & organized the 1^st Egyptian Antiquities Museum in 1863, which isn’t around anymore. The local Government finally stepped up & put out a request for Proposals for a new Museum.

A French architect Marcel Dourgnon was chosen from the 73 Proposals submitted. The newly constructed internationally renowned Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, located on the edge of Tahrir Square, Cairo’s most central & most famous public Plaza, was opened to the public on November 15^th, 1902 & initially housed about 50,000 Artifacts. Gradually, that number has now swelled to over 165,000 + items of ancient Egyptian antiquities, with a representative amount is on display, the remainder are in storage in varying states of preservation.

The Museum displays a rare collection of 5000 years of Art which is considered the largest most precious collection of Egyptian art in the world. Although the entire Museum is filled with Artifacts from as far back as the prehistoric period, the most renowned exhibit is, without a doubt, the collection of treasures once belonging to the reign of the boy Pharaoh - King Tutankhamun - gold & jewelry which was enclosed in his Tomb for over 3,500 years before it was discovered in the 1920s. Don't miss the astonishing solid gold Death Mask, 6 gilded Coffins, Chariots & other Funerary riches.

At the entrance near the outside Gate, you will pass through a light security screening. Walking to the main building entrance, there is a secondary round of security screening.

While everything inside is incredibly important from a historical & archaeological perspective, the negative is that most of the Exhibits have no labels or notations at all or just a basic heading with no descriptions. But, not relevant to you, as your knowledgeable Egyptologist Tour-guide will give you a brief about the ancient Egyptian history, how it started, where was the first Capital, who was the King who could unite between upper & lower Egypt. The Guide will explain to you in detail about the old Kingdom, when it started & ended & you will learn some of the Kings & Queens.

Listen to the explanation about the Golden Pharaoh Tutankhamen & know more about the secret of Mummification. It will also be interesting for you to know that the first paper in the world was made in Egypt.

Then, you will have free time to go around on your own & meet the Tour-guide when you finish at the advised time.

The foremost Collection showcases the treasures of King Tut’s Tomb. British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered a new & nearly undisturbed Tomb in 1922 that turned out to belong to the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamen, who ruled for about 10 years & died when he was only about 19 years old.

Because he died so young & his Tomb had to be rushed, it was partly built underneath another Tomb, which was not the normal practice. As a result, Archaeologists had largely overlooked the site for decades & grave robbers too, overlooked it for 1,000s of years before that. When Carter rediscovered it in 1922, all of Tut’s treasures & possessions from over 3300 years ago were still intact inside of the sealed Tomb. And thanks to the then emerging efforts of those French Archaeologists & the fledgling local Egyptian Government to start instituting preservation laws & Institutions, a lot of those treasures are now on public display in this Museum, which has the biggest & best pieces.

Majority of King Tut’s treasures are located on the 2^nd floor. The exhibits illustrate interesting lifestyle artifacts like some of the board games that King Tut owned that were put in his Tomb for his continued entertainment in the afterlife. You will also see the small statues representing attendants that would come to life in the afterlife & attend to his wants & needs just like in his earthly life. See the foot stools & beds made for his relaxation in the afterlife, as well as his wooden Throne inlaid with gold.

One Sarcophagus (with many layers like in Russian dolls, proving the Egyptians evidently used the design first) is still inside of King Tut’s Tomb along with his actual mummified body down in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

Also displayed are some larger & more important Artifacts, like the alabaster jars that contained Tut’s organs, which were taken out during mummification & buried alongside the mummy. See the huge golden boxes, almost as big as small rooms, that could fit inside the tightly packed Tomb. More personal items are on display in glass cases along the walls, like his sandals & even an ancient condom.

There is a room that houses King Tut’s finest treasures, including some of his most precious jewelry, burial ornaments & several of the consecutive layers of sarcophagi. The larger outer shells of the enormously heavy beautifully decorated sarcophagi, are made of wood but covered in gold & inlaid with precious jewels.

Other highlights include the Amarna Room, devoted to Akhenaten; the Greco-Roman Mummies & the larger-than-life statue of Khafre, considered by many to be the Museum's masterpiece.

But the big daddy of them all was the slightly smaller inner Sarcophagus, which was made of pure solid gold. Inside of that one, was laid the mummified body of the famous boy King himself, over 3300 years ago when he unexpectedly died after a fall from his Chariot, as depicted in official accounts.

Pharaohs went through a lengthy mummification process during which the High Priest would perform various medical & religious functions to preserve the physical body, which worked astonishingly well as you will discover when you visit the Royal Mummy Room (optional - additional cost). Then, the body was wrapped in layers of linen & usually inlaid with amulets & other jewelry in between the layers.

After that, a solid gold funeral mask inlaid with precious stones & jewels was placed over the head & shoulders of the dead Pharaoh before the lid was placed on the solid gold inner sarcophagus which was put inside of another & another & so on. These were then placed inside of a thick stone outer casing & sealed for eternity.

The 2^nd most visited major attraction is the modern climate controlled, especially created Royal Mummy Room with ‘special’ sensers required to preserve these royal bodies now that they are not fully mummified or buried in their sealed arid desert Tombs anymore.

Here, you can see the actual bodies of some of Egypt’s greatest & most famous Pharaohs, some of whom you may have heard of & some not, but all of whom were really important in Egyptian history. In total, 27 royal Mummies from Pharaonic times but now displaying 9 Mummies of the New Kingdom Kings & Queens, including Ramses II - builder of Luxor’s Karnak Temple.

The only reason their mummies are still around is because in the age of grave robbers plundering Tombs all over the country, 2 smart-thinking, dedicated & loyal Priests named Pinudjem I & II took as many Pharaohs’ bodies as they could from their resting places in the Tombs & hid them in a secret location for safekeeping.

In 1881, this secret Mummy hiding place was discovered, during the beginning of the period when foreign Archaeologists & local Egyptian authorities were working hard to preserve finds like this for posterity. Some of the mummies could be identified relatively quickly because Scholars were finally starting to be able to read hieroglyphics & could discern the names on some of the objects wrapped up in the linens. But, still other mummies couldn’t be positively identified until recently through the use of DNA testing, carbon dating & other modern processes. Because of this twist of ancient & modern history, visitors can now see the actual mummies of Pharaohs like Ramses 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd.

Ramses 2^nd is the one denoted as Ramses the Great & he is the one depicted in some of Egypt’s greatest & most famous monuments like Abu Simbel. There is Ahmose I, who, like Tut, also came to the Throne really young. He was about 10 years old too & he was the Pharaoh who later went to battle with the Hyksos & expelled them from northern Egypt to liberate that area & reunite the Kingdom.

Thutmose III is in the Mummy Room too. He was famous for being Hapshetsut’s stepson whom she managed to brush aside & rule herself after the death of her husband & his father. The latest Mummy discovered & displayed here is of the great Queen Hatsheput herself. Remember, there was a lot of inbreeding in royal houses back in those days, just like in more modern times in Europe.

But these are just some of the mummies of the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. You can get up close & personal with them too. There is only a thin layer of glass separating you from the mummified faces of these great ancient Rulers. Their bodies are mostly covered because modern Egyptians believe in modesty of dress & consider it highly improper & disrespectful to show someone’s uncovered body, even if they have been dead for 4000 years. But even in just their faces, you can see how well preserved their skin is, although of course it is a bit dried out. You can also see their hair, fingernails & sometimes even their eyelashes & you will likely notice too the slightly deformed & elongated shape of some of their heads.

Moving on, there is an animal Mummy Room, too, if you are interested in seeing 4000 year old Cats, Baboons & Alligators that the Egyptians revered enough to mummify.

There are many more things to see (you can easily spend 2 full days here) but time constraints force us to conclude (4 hours will suffice to see the main Artifacts. However, if you want to stay longer in there, you can bid adieu to the Tour-guide & reach the Hotel on your own, in time for the next experience we have planned for you) & you are transferred back to the hotel.

The day is not over yet.

You will be transferred to the Pier for Dinner in an elegant restaurant aboard a fascinating Boat, sailing down the world's longest waterway, taking in the wonderful views & discovering the beauty of the ancient Egyptian city illuminated by the glaring city lights.

You can expect first-class service as you savor the Chef's menu along with a selection of delicious Egyptian favorites, made with the freshest ingredients. The Buffet dinner is accompanied by the rhythm of the traditional Egyptian songs - Arabic as well as Western & Sufi & Tanoura music, while watching a terrific oriental Belly Dancer gyrating to the music. The Folklore Show may include even Acrobatic performances.

The unforgettable evening of stargazing along the Nile banks on the 2 hour Cruise comes to an end & you are transferred back to the hotel by 10.00 pm.

Overnight.  B D

Early morning, you will be met by a Journeys Rep & transferred to Terminal ? - Cairo Airport for your short flight to Aswan.

Welcome to Aswan - an intriguing mixture of African & Middle Eastern cultures, part of the ancient region of Nubia.

On arrival at Terminal ? -  Aswan Daraw International Airport, you will be welcomed by The Journeys Rep / Tour-guide & immediately proceed for a Tour of the modern & ancient wonders here.

In the ancient Nubian lands on the northern end of the 1^st Cataract, marking ancient Egypt's southern frontier, Aswan has always been of great strategic & commercial importance. It seems to close the doors on the Middle East & to open those on Africa.

Aswan is mentioned in the Bible as the ancient city of Swenett, later known as Syene, which in antiquity was the frontier town of ancient Egypt, facing the south. It also contains significant archaeological sites like the Philae Temple complex, on Agilkia Island near the landmark Aswan Dam.

Downriver, Elephantine Island holds the Temple of Khnum, from the 3^rd Dynasty.

On the northern end of the 1^st Cataract, marking ancient Egypt's southern frontier, Aswan has always been of great strategic importance. In ancient times it was a garrison town for the military campaigns against Nubia; its quarries provided the granite used for so many Sculptures & Obelisks. The Greeks & Romans influenced the ancient Egyptian culture, religion & architecture & decided to merge it with their heritage when they rebuilt the ruined Temples. Ptolemaic period started in 332 BC by Alexander the Great when he invaded Egypt to liberate them from Persians & to establish his own great Empire.  

No ivory or precious woods can be found on its narrow streets today but the 3^rd largest city in Egypt is full of the scent of spices straight from the south. It has been southern Egypt’s strategic & commercial gateway since antiquity. The bustling Souk adopts the colours & smells of Sudanese markets.

Many Nubian people still live here & work on the river. The Nubian people, recognisable from their black skin, possess a dignity & easy grace which give the Sudanese a similar appeal. Sudanese are present in fairly large numbers in Aswan enjoying life at a slow pace. Sudanese women wear long, brightly coloured veils wrapped around their bodies.

In addition to rich history & stunning scenery, Aswan offers opportunities to experience true African culture in the surrounding colourful Nubian villages, with narrow alleyways & colourfully painted houses, friendly people, wandering animals, that run down to the water & stand out against the backdrop of the West Bank's desert escarpment. The river is wide, languorous & beautiful here, flowing gently down from artificial Lake Nasser around dramatic black-granite boulders & palm-studded Islands. Enjoy the splendid views as you sail through the Nile on a Felucca (traditional Sailboat).

Unparalleled in local cuisine & it’s rich cultural heritage is what makes Aswan a favourite amongst traveles. It’s myriad landscapes range from the most mesmerising Temples of Abu Simbel & Philae to peaceful boat rides to Elephantine, heart-warming sights of the Botanical Garden & the iconic Obelisk.

A treasure trove of Egyptian history awaits to be explored here. Experience life like a local in the Nubian villages. The best & some of the most picturesque views can be witnessed here, which makes Aswan one of the most sought after cities in Egypt. Lose yourself in the beauty of the tranquil waters flowing through amber desert & granite rocks. The section of water between Aswan & Luxor is clean & taking a dip is a real highlight. 

Visit the Aswan High Dam.

The Aswan Dam, or more specifically since the 1960s, the Aswan High Dam, is an embankment Dam built across the Nile in Aswan. Egypt's contemporary example of building on a monumental scale, the High Dam took 11 years to build & measures 12,562 feet across. The Dam led to the creation of Lake Nasser & it now generates electricity for most of Egypt. The project is commemorated by a lotus-shaped monument at the western end of the Dam.

Plans for the Aswan Dam began at the end of the 19^th century, when Egypt’s fast-growing population made it imperative to cultivate more agricultural land, only possible by regulating the flow of the Nile, which would also ensure the river did not burst its banks during the flood. British engineer Sir William Willcocks started construction in 1898 above the 1^st  Cataract, with the Dam structure made almost entirely of Aswan granite. It was raised twice to meet demand, not only to increase the area of cultivable land but also to provide hydro-electric power. Today, the old Dam generates hydro-electricity only for a nearby factory producing fertilisers.

Completed in 1902, the Dam was a feat of engineering for its time & the largest Dam in the world, measuring 2441 metres across, 50 metre high & 30 metre wide. Although not an attraction in itself, the road that runs across the top of the Dam (which you'll take if heading to the airport or Abu Simbel) has excellent Nile views.

After spending 2 hours, you will be transferred to the Hotel to Check-in & relax.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’. In case, rooms are not available before, the Tour-guide will amend the Program accordingly.

Later in in the afternoon, accompanied by the Tour-guide, proceed to the Pier to board a Motorboat for a short ride to the beautiful Philae Temple on the Island of Agilika.

Philae in Greek or Pilak in ancient Egyptian, means ‘the end,’ defining the southern-most limit of Egypt. It was begun by Ptolemy II & completed by the Roman Emperors. Dedicated to the Goddess Isis, it was one of the last strongholds of ancient Egyptian religion which attracted pilgrims for 1,000s of years & was one of the last pagan Temples to operate after the arrival of Christianity. This sacred site was venerated from the Pharaonic era up to the Greek, Roman & Byzantine periods with each Ruler adding their own stamp onto the stones here. Philae’s ruins include the columned Temple of Isis, dating to the 4^th century BC.

During the construction of the old Aswan Dam, the Temple was flooded for 6 months each year, allowing travellers to row boats among the partially submerged columns to peer down through the translucent green at the wondrous sanctuaries of the mighty Gods below.

After the completion of the High Dam, the Temple would have entirely disappeared had UNESCO not intervened & saved it from a watery grave. Between 1972 & 1980, the massive Temple complex was disassembled stone by stone from Philae Island & then reconstructed 20 metres higher on nearby Agilika Island, which was landscaped to resemble the original sacred Isle of Isis. Today, the Temples continue to work their charm on all who visit the complex of Geek-Roman Chapels.

Continue your explorations with a visit to the granite quarries, site of the famed Unfinished Obelisk. This massive stone column, abandoned when it began to crack, illustrates the extraordinary skill with which Egyptian masons worked the native granite.

As the sun sets, there is free time to shop in the colourful Souks & markets or simply relax & watch an amazing sunset in Egypt's southern-most town.

Balance of the evening is at leisure (prepare to leave very early in the morning).

Explore Aswan's various markets & walk along the Corniche on the banks of Nile. You may also ride a Camel (not included - direct payment) across the sands to St. Simeon's Monastery.

Come back to hotel.

Overnight (partially).  B 

Very early in the morning at 02.00 am, you will Check-out & meet the Journeys Rep / Driver.

Board a coach & travel in a convoy to the iconic Grand Temples in the Nubian Village of Abu Simbel on the southern frontier of Pharaonic Egypt, near the border with Sudan.  The location, deep in the heart of Nubia, adds to the enchantment, offering a glimpse into the lesser-known but equally captivating aspects of Egyptian heritage.

You will arrive at the iconic Temples in plenty of time for some historical explanations by your Egyptologist Tour-guide, before going inside the Temples decorated with magnificent colors & Murals that have miraculously survived for 1,000s of years.

To truly grasp the essence of the Sun Festival, it is vital first to understand the historical significance of the 2 massive Sun Temples at Abu Simbel. Possibly the most awe-inspiring Temples in all of ancient Egypt, the 2 massive Temples are carved out of a sandstone Cliff on the western bank of Lake Nasser.

Built by the King Ramses II, Egypt's longest-ruling Pharaoh (reigned 1279 - 13 BCE) to revere the mighty Pharaonic Ruler – himself, they are more than just stone structures; they are windows into Egypt’s past.

Ramses the Bold, Ramses the Great, Ramses the Narcissist, are perhaps all apt titles for one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful Rulers. Built to demonstrate his political clout & divine backing to the ancient Nubians, Abu Simbel is an incredible self-tribute. Dating over 3,000 years, the architectural marvel of these Temples lies not only in their immense size but in the intricate Carvings & Sculptures that adorn their facades, depicting the might & authority of Ramses II. The colossal Statues & the detailed Reliefs are a testament to the skill & artistry of the ancient Builders.

The Temple itself, dedicated to the sun gods Amon-Re & Re-Horakhte, consists of 3 consecutive Halls extending 185 feet into the cliff, decorated with more Osiride Statues of the King & with painted scenes of his purported victory at the Battle of Kadesh.

The 66 feet high seated figures of Ramses are set against the recessed face of the Cliff, 2 on either side of the entrance to the main Temple. Carved around their feet are small figures representing Ramses’ children, his beloved wife, Queen Nefertari & his mother, Muttuy (or Queen Ti). Graffiti inscribed on the southern pair by Greek mercenaries serving Egypt in the 6^th century BC have provided important evidence of the early history of the Greek alphabet.

The smaller of the 2 rock cut Temples at this site, dedicated to his beloved Queen Nefertari, is the Temple of Hathor. Nefertari was the wife of the Sun God so, in a symbolic way, the 2 Temples, Ramsses II & that of Nefertari, bring the Pharoah, Nefertari, Hathor, the Sun God, together as one. It is fronted by 4 massive Statues guarding the entrance to the Temple, hewn into the side of a Mountain. The colossal Statues, spectacular examples of ancient Egyptian art, are of Pharaoh Ramses II himself.

In a fit of precision & architectural egotism, Ramses II had the Great Temple carefully angled & oriented in order that the Sun’s rays would align twice a year on the date of his ascension to the Throne (21 February) & on his Birthday (21 October) to illuminate the inner sanctum of the Temple. These dates were not chosen randomly; they hold deep significance in the ancient Egyptian calendar.

Over the centuries, the desert sands imperceptibly shifted until the Temple was all but lost to humanity. Only one of the heads of the Pharaohs was showing & a small part of the rest of the Temple peeked above the desert sands. The Temples were unknown to the outside world till they emerged as a historical treasure only after the discovery in 1813 - 17 by the early Egyptologist Giovanni Battista Belzoni & subsequently, by the Swiss Researcher Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. But it wasn’t until the British Archeologists happened to stumble upon the Temple & started excavating earnestly, that the full glory of Abu Simbel was revealed to the modern world.

Moving on to modern times, in the mid 20^th century, when the Reservoir that was created by the construction of the nearby Aswan High Dam threatened to submerge Abu Simbel or erode the foundations of this monolithic Temple Complex. UNESCO & the Egyptian Government sponsored a Project to save the site.

By means of a complex engineering feat between 1963 - 1968, a workforce with an international team of Engineers & Scientists, supported by funds from more than 50 countries, dug away the top of the Cliff & completely disassembled both Temples, reconstructing them on high ground more than 200 feet above their previous site. In all, some 16,000 blocks were moved & the Temples were re-located further up from the shoreline of Lake Nasser, which had threatened to erode the foundations of this monolithic Temple complex.

For this ‘change in position, the Sun now strikes a day later than Ramses had originally planned (22 February & 22 October), though the event this morning itself is no less stunning. The timing is crucial, as it aligns with an awe-inspiring astronomical phenomenon. As the Sun rises on these special days, its rays penetrate the Temple’s inner Sanctum & illuminate 3 out of the 4 Statues of the Gods seated within, at the end of the Tunnel - Amun-Re, Re-Herakhte, Ptah - the God of Darkness, leaving only the Statue of Pharaoh Ramses II in shadow.

This incredible celestial bi-annual phenomenon, is a testament to the advance Scientific & Astronomical prowess of the Scholars of the time, when the alignment of the first rays of the morning Sun’s rays penetrating deep into the Temple’s inner Sanctum & illuminating the Shrine in its innermost sanctuary, symbolizes the connection between Pharaoh & the Gods, affirming his divine right to rule.

This was significant to the ancient Egyptians, signifying the King’s alignment with the divine as the Sun represented the divine & the source of life for the ancient Egyptians. It is a powerful display of the Pharaoh’s link to the Cosmos & his role as an intermediary between the Mortal & Divine realms, which has come to be referred to as the spectacular Sun Festival of King Ramses II.

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It can be very busy at Abu Simbel on this day so be prepared for a constant flow of a procession straight in & out to see the Statues.

Inside, wait for the first rays of Sunlight, which will signify the start of the Sun Festival of the mighty King Ramses II. Crowds assemble in the Temple before sunrise & watch the shafts of light slowly creep through the inner Hypostyle Hall & through to the Sanctuary. You will also enjoy the folkloric shows & Nubian group dancing at the festive Festival.

After spending 2 hours watching this incredible event unfold & enjoying the ‘carnival’ atmosphere, prepare to return to Aswan.

You are not just witnessing an architectural wonder, you are participating in a Ritual that connects you with the spiritual beliefs of ancient Egypt. It is a moment where History, Architecture & Spirituality converge, creating an experience like no other. The Festival is not just about the stunning visuals but also about connecting with the ancient beliefs & wisdom of a Civilization that thrived millennia ago. Remember that these Temples are not just stones, they are the legacy of a remarkable ‘Past’. It is a celestial dance that has been occurring for thousands of years & continues to draw visitors from around the Globe.

While the Sun Festival is undoubtedly the centerpiece here, the wonders that await beyond, are equally captivating (though unfortunately, you do not have time to explore). As you explore the vicinity, you’ll discover a wealth of additional attractions near Abu Simbel that will enrich your travel experience.

Just a stone’s throw away from the Temples, lies Lake Nasser, one of the largest artificial Lakes in the world. Visitors can embark on a Boat trip across its tranquil waters, while witnessing stunning Landscapes & abundant Birdlife & perhaps, even glimpse ancient archaeological sites submerged beneath the water’s surface. The serenity of the Lake offers a stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere of the Carnival, providing a perfect opportunity for reflection & relaxation.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of Nubian culture & hospitality. The Nubian people, known for their warm welcome, invite Guests to experience their traditions, Music & Cuisine. A visit to a Village offers a chance to connect with locals, learn about their customs, and enjoy the flavors of their delicious Cuisine. Don’t forget to savor a cup of traditional Nubian Tea while engaging in lively conversations with the locals.

On arrival, back in Aswan by early afternoon, you will board a Cruise Ship, your Hotel for the next 3 nights.

Comfortable cabins with modern furnishings & our friendly service team will ensure that during your Nile cruise, you can sense how the Egyptian Pharaohs must have felt. Relax on the sun deck during the journey & thoroughly pamper yourself with a body massage in the Beauty Salons (not included - direct payment) on board. The Pool & a generously equipped fitness Gym are available for a little exercise. Savour the fresh & delicious fusion of oriental, modern local & international cuisines, served throughout the day, accompanied with local drinks.

Enjoy the unique panorama of the Nile either from the Sun Deck or from your own balcony, which is available as standard on the Main & Upper decks. You can also choose to be entertained in the comfort of your room through a large screen, a Minibar & free Wi-fi. Retire for the night in your cozy cabin, with a view of the Nile.

Overnight on board.  B L D

Early morning, sail to Kom Ombo.

The small agricultural town of Kom Ombo, famous for the Temple of Sobek & Haroeris (also known as Temple of Kom Ombo) is located in an irrigated basin on a promontory at a bend on the east Bank of the Nile, the largest area of agricultural land south of Gebel el-Silsila, between Aswan & Edfu. It mainly produces sugar cane & corn.

The word "Kom" in Arabic means the small hill & the word "Ombo", in the Hieroglyphic ancient Egyptian language, means "the gold". Therefore, the literal meaning of Kom Ombo is ‘Hill of Gold’.

Situated on a plateau cut by 2 long dry streams which isolated the site, it provides one of the most spectacular settings of any of Egypt's river Temples. Originally, the city was called Nubt, meaning City of Gold & it became a Greek settlement during the Greco-Roman period.

In later times, Kom Ombo was situated at the terminus of 2 Caravan routes, one running westward through the Kurkur Oasis to Tomas in Nubia, while the other ran from Daraw through the eastern Desert, regaining the Nile at Berber. Those routes were regularly used during early modern times, although how old they are, is uncertain.

On the opposite side of the Nile was a suburb of Ombos, also called Contra-Ombos (or Ombi). The city was a Bishopric before the Muslim conquest & under the original name Ombi, is included in the Catholic Church's list of titular ‘must see’ list. Karol Wojtyła (the future Pope John Paul II) was titular Bishop of Ombi from 1958 until 1963, when he was appointed Archbishop of Krakow.

Since this bend in the Nile was a favored spot for crocodiles to bask in the sun & threaten locals, it is natural that the Temple would be dedicated to Sobek, the Crocodile God, held in especial honor by the people of Ombos & in the adjacent Catacombs are occasionally found Mummies of the sacred animal. The Roman coins of the Ombite nome exhibit the effigy of the crocodile-headed god Sobek.

The Temple of Kom Ombo is an unusual double Temple & is one of the Valley's most beautifully sited.

This double dedication was deliberate. Everything is perfectly symmetrical along the main axis of the Temple & its unique 'double' design meant that there were there are twin Entrances, 2 sets of Courts, 2 linked hypostyle Halls with carvings of the 2 Gods on either side & twin Sanctuaries. Not only is it architecturally duplicated, the twin Temple is symbolic of the local & universalist themes that the 2 different deities represented. It is assumed that there were also 2 Priesthoods.

The southern half was dedicated to the crocodile-headed God Sobek, God of Fertility & ‘Creator of the World’ with Hathor & Khonsu. Meanwhile, the northern part of the Temple was dedicated to the falcon-headed God Haroeris, also known as Horus the Elder (also called Haroeris) along with Tasenetnofret (the Good Sister). This was why the Temple was called both "House of the Crocodile" & "Castle of the Falcon".

The Temple of Sobek & Haroeris was built of using local sandstone from Gebel el-Silsila, on a high dune overlooking the Nile. Apparently, troops stationed at Kom Ombo (it was a training ground for African elephants used by the army during the Ptolemaic Period) built much of the Temple. The use of elephants was actually a Ptolemaic innovation, as was the use of camels in Egypt.

There is evidence that it stood upon the site of an earlier Temple. ‘Reused’ blocks suggest a Temple from the Middle Kingdom period, but the main Temple was built during the reign of Ptolemy VI Philometor (186 - 147 BC) & most of its decoration was completed by Cleopatra VII’s father, Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos & it kept on evolving under successive Rulers. 

The Temple had a specific theology & the texts & reliefs found, refer to cultic liturgies which were similar to those from that time period. The characters invoked the gods of Ombos & their legend.

The spectacular riverside setting has resulted in the erosion of some of its partly Roman forecourt & outer sections, but much of the Complex has survived & is very similar in layout to the Ptolemaic Temples of Edfu & Dendara, albeit smaller.

Little remains of the New Kingdom Temple as most structures have been destroyed by the Nile, earthquakes & later builders who used its stones for other Projects. However, while much of Kom Ombo Temple has been destroyed over the millennia, it has been reconstructed in part & it is still home to a number of well-preserved, intricately carved Columns & Friezes divided between the 2 Gods. The fascinating relief sculpture is typical of the Ptolemaic & Roman periods, with very deeply carved sunken reliefs on the exterior walls & columns, & fine quality bas-relief on the interior walls. Much of the relief is covered with a very thin layer of plaster & the original color survives in many places. The decorations of the inner rooms depict Ptolemy VI & Cleopatra II, and Ptolemy VII with Cleopatra II & Cleopatra III.

Some of the reliefs inside were defaced by Copts who once used the Temple as a Church. All the buildings in the southern part of the plateau were cleared of debris & restored by French archeologist Jacques de Morgan in 1893.

Visitors enter through a Pylon on the west side into a Courtyard of partly-coloured Columns. From here pass into the Pronaos, the inner columned hall, intricately carved. The ceremonial Doorway on the north side (left) is for falcon-headed Haroeris, the Doorway south side (right) is for crocodile-headed Sobek.

Passing into the Temple’s forecourt, where reliefs are divided between the 2 Gods, there is a double Altar in the centre of the Court.

Beyond are the shared inner & outer hypostyle Halls, each with 10 Columns. Inside the outer Hall, to the left is a finely executed relief showing Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos being presented to Haroeris by Isis & the lion-headed goddess Raettawy, with Thoth looking on. The walls to the right show the crowning of Ptolemy XII by Nekhbet (the vulture-goddess worshipped at the Upper Egyptian town of Al Kab) & Wadjet (the snake-goddess based at Buto in Lower Egypt) with the dual crown of Upper & Lower Egypt, symbolising the unification of the country.

Reliefs in the inner hypostyle hall show Haroeris presenting Ptolemy VIII Euergetes with a curved weapon, representing the sword of victory. Behind Ptolemy is his sister-wife & co-ruler Cleopatra II.

From here, 3 antechambers, each with double entrances, lead to the Sanctuaries of Sobek & Haroeris. The now-ruined Chambers on either side would have been used to store Priests’ vestments & liturgical papyri. The walls of the Sanctuaries are now 1 or 2 courses high, allowing you to see the secret passage that enabled the Priests to give the Gods a ‘voice’ to answer the petitions of pilgrims.

The outer passage, which runs around the Temple walls, is unusual. Here, on the left-hand (northern) corner of the back wall, is a puzzling scene, which is often described as a Collection of ‘Surgical Instruments’. There is a rare engraved image of what is thought to be the first representation of medical instruments for performing surgery, including Scalpels, Curettes, Forceps, Dilator, Scissors & prescription medicine bottles dating from the days of Roman Egypt & 2 Goddesses sitting on birthing chairs. It seems probable that these were some of the accoutrements used during the Temple’s daily rituals & the ancient Temple was certainly a place of healing, the nearest thing to a Hospital.

Archeologists found an image which they named Nilometer used to measure the level of the river waters & helped predict the coming harvest.

Near the Ptolemaic gateway on the southeast corner of the complex is a small Shrine to Hathor, while a small Mammisi (Birth House) stands in the southwest corner. Beyond this to the north, you will find the deep Well that supplied the water & close by is a small Pool in which Crocodiles, Sobek’s sacred animal, were raised. Until very recently, Nile was infested with Crocodiles of which the ancient Egyptians were naturally scared. However, there was an ancient belief that if they worshipped the animal, it wouldn't attack them.

One of the highlights of the visit to this Temple is the Crocodile Museum. Over 300 mummified Crocodiles were discovered in the vicinity but visitors have to be content with a beautiful Display, well lit & with intriguing explanations, of only a few Crocodiles & ancient carvings of the cult of Sobek.

There are also Tombs from the Old Kingdom in the vicinity of Kom-Ombo village which you can visit, time permitting, of course.

Come back to the Ship & enjoy Lunch as you admire the beautiful scenery along the Nile while sailing to Edfu.

The small city of Edfu, located in Upper Egypt on the west bank of the Nile between Esna & Aswan, was a flourishing Greek city in ancient times & was commonly known as Apollinopolis Magna, after the chief God Horus-Apollo. Today, the city rich with history, is a friendly & commercial town. Locals produce sugar from farm-grown sugar cane & decorative pottery.

It was the 'home' & Cult centre of the falcon God Horus of Behdet (ancient name for Edfu), the avenging son of Isis & Osiris. The Ptolemaic Temple of Horus (also known as the Temple of Edfu) where the falcon God is worshipped, as it exists today, was an ancient Settlement & Cemetery site from around 3000 BC onward.

Just outside town, there are some ancient Pyramids. It is believed by the Egyptians to be the site of a famous battle between Set - the God of Chaos & Horus.

200 years ago, the Temple dedicated to Horus was buried under almost 40 feet of desert sand, rubble, silt from the Nile in the village of Edfu, after the pagan Cult was banned.  But, the desert sand also preserved the building & with its roof intact & incredibly helped to conserve it to near-perfection. Today, it is one of the most atmospheric of ancient buildings, similar in style to the Temple of Hathor in Dendera. Excavation was begun by archeologist Auguste Mariette in the mid 19^th century.

What draws tourists to the city, is the Temple of Horus, consisting of elements of both Egyptian & Greek architecture, considered to be the one of the best-preserved Temples in Egypt. The origins of the Temple date back to the Ptolemaic times, between 237 & 57 BC, during which construction began & finished with further additions made later on. The Temple seen today, is the compilation of 180 years of construction, additions & inscriptions on its walls which give us insight into the Religion, Mythology, Language & way of life during the Hellenistic period in Egypt.

The 2^nd largest in Egypt after the Karnak Temple in Luxor, this Temple is considered the best-preserved cult Temple in Egypt, partly because it was built later than most: in the Ptolemaic era from 237 to 57 BC.  Yet despite its later date, it exactly reflects traditional Pharaonic architecture & provides an excellent idea of how all the Temples once looked.

Started by Ptolemy III in 237 BC, on the site of an earlier & smaller New Kingdom structure, the sandstone Temple was completed some 180 years later by Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos, Cleopatra VII’s father. In conception & design it follows the general plan, scale, ornamentation & traditions of Pharaonic architecture, right down to the Egyptian attire worn by Greek Pharaohs depicted in the Temple’s reliefs.

Although it is much newer than cult Temples at Luxor or Abydos, its excellent state of preservation helps to fill in many historical gaps; it is, in effect, a 2000 year old example of an architectural style that was already archaic during Ptolemaic times. With its roof intact, it is also one of the most atmospheric of ancient buildings. It measures 137 meters long by 79 meters wide and 36 meters high.

A tour through the Temple unveils an Entrance, a Court & a Chapel with scenic inscriptions on the walls depicting the birth of Horus the child & other Pharaonic deities who were concerned with this pregnancy & birth. The entrance contains a Pylon, the highest surviving in Egypt, which is 37 meters high & decorated with battle scenes. Just past the Pylon is an open Courtyard that served as an Offerings Court, where people would bring their offerings to the statue of Horus. Columns border the Court with floral engravings on only 3 sides. Beyond the Court of Offerings are the hypostyle Hall, the inner Hypostyle Hall & 2 consecutive Vestibules each of which are decorated with various scenes representing battles, deities, marriages, or offerings. Archeologists & Historians have come out with bountiful information on language, religion &way of life during this period in ancient Egypt.

Today, the Temple is entered via a long row of shops selling tourist memorabilia. You will board a horse drawn carriage passing through the Shops to the Visitor Centre at the entrance, where you will see a 15 minute film on the history of the Temple.

Beyond the Roman Mammisi (Birth House), with some colourful carvings, the massive 36 meters high Pylon (gateway) is guarded by 2 huge granite statues of Horus as a Falcon. The walls are decorated with colossal reliefs of Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos, who is holding his enemies by their hair before Horus & is about to smash their skulls; this is the classic propaganda pose of the almighty Pharaoh.

Beyond this Pylon, the Court of Offerings is surrounded on 3 sides by 32 Columns, each with different floral capitals. The walls are decorated with reliefs, including the ‘Feast of the Beautiful Meeting’ just inside the Entrance, which depicts the meeting of Horus of Edfu & Hathor of Dendara, who visited each other’s Temples each year & after 2 weeks of great fertility celebrations, were magically united.

A 2^nd set of Horus statues in black granite once flanked the entrance to the Temple’s first or outer hypostyle Hall, but today, only one remains. Inside the entrance of the outer hypostyle Hall, to the left & right, are 2 small Chambers: the one on the right was the Library where the ritual texts were stored; the Chamber on the left was the Hall of Consecrations, a vestry where freshly laundered robes & ritual vases were kept. The Hall itself has 12 Columns & the walls are decorated with reliefs of the Temple’s founding. The inner hypostyle Hall also has 12 Columns & in the top left part of the Hall is perhaps this Temple’s most interesting room: the Laboratory where all the necessary Perfumes & Incense recipes were carefully brewed & stored, their ingredients listed on the walls.

Exit the inner hypostyle Hall through the large central doorway to enter the Offering Chamber, or first ante-chamber, which has an Altar where daily offerings of fruit, flowers, wine, milk & other foods were left. On the west side, 242 steps lead up to the rooftop & its fantastic view of the Nile & the surrounding fields.

The 2^nd Antechamber gives access to the Sanctuary of Horus, which contains the polished-granite Shrine that once housed the gold cult statue of Horus.

Created during the reign of Nectanebo II (360 - 343 BC), this Shrine, was reused by the Ptolemies in their newer Temple. In front, stands a replica of the wooden Barque (boat) in which Horus’ statue would be taken out of the Temple in procession during festive occasions: the original is now in the Louvre, Paris, stolen by the French.

On the eastern enclosure wall, look for the remains of the Nilometer, which measured the level of the river & helped predict the coming Harvest. The Edfu Temple represents a lost art that showcases the true spirit of the ancient Civilization from the perspective of the Ptolemaic dynasty.

As the largest Temple dedicated to Horus, one of Egypt's most important historic deities, statues of the falcon-headed God are found throughout the Complex & its extensive wall carvings & exquisite reliefs have provided valuable information to historians about the Hellenistic period of Egyptian history.

Come back to the Ship & sail for Luxor.

Overnight on board.  B L D

Morning after breakfast, embark on a full day sightseeing tour of the West Bank.

Luxor, a city on the east bank of the Nile, is one of southern Egypt's great attractions. It is also commonly known as the world's largest open-air Museum, filled with awe inspiring monuments of ancient civilization as well as some of the best preserved. But, that comes nowhere near describing this extraordinary place & nothing in the world compares to the scale & grandeur of the monuments that have survived from ancient Thebes.

Luxor is built on & around the ancient site of Thebes, the Pharaohs’ Capital at the height of their power, during the 16^th - 11^th centuries B.C. Testaments to a desire for immortality, built for eternity in sandstone & granite, the Temples, Tombs & Palaces still stand, surrounded by souks & luxury Hotels. It is also the starting or ending point of the majority of River Cruises.

The setting is breathtakingly beautiful, the Nile flowing between the modern city & West Bank Necropolis, backed by the enigmatic Theban escarpment. Scattered across the landscape is an embarrassment of riches, from the graceful Temples of Karnak & Luxor in the east to the many Tombs & Temples on the West Bank.

The Wadi consists of 2 valleys, East Valley (where the majority of the royal Tombs are situated) & West Valley.

On the east Bank of the Nile, in the City of the Living, Luxor & Karnak Temples greet the sunrise. The sunset on the West Bank throws shadows through the City of the Dead: the Tombs of the Nobles, the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut's Temple.

Visitors have been coming here since the Greco-Roman times. Thebes’ wealth & power, legendary in antiquity, began to lure Western travellers from the end of the 18^th century.

Today, you can walk through history: past Statues with the heads of gods & animals, beneath carved lotus buds & papyrus. Depending on the political situation, you might be alone at the sights, or be surrounded by coachloads of tourists from around the world.

From the Ship, proceed on a 10 minute boat ride across the river to the West Bank, home to some of Egypt’s most revered sites.  

The West Bank of Nile, opposite Thebes (modern Luxor), had been the site of royal burials since around 2100 BC, but it was the Pharaohs of the New Kingdom period (1550 - 1069 BC) who chose this isolated valley dominated by the Pyramid shaped mountain peak of Al Qurn (The Horn). For a period of nearly 500 years, rock cut Tombs were excavated for the Pharaohs & powerful Nobles of the New Kingdom (18 - 20^th Dynasties of Ancient Egypt).

Perhaps the most famous of these is the Valley of the Kings (also known as the Valley of the Gates of the Kings) an ancient burial ground of New Kingdom Pharaohs & Nobles built over a period of 500 years.

Proceed to the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank, studded with often highly decorated Pharaoh's Tombs, some of which you can enter.

Once called the Great Necropolis of Millions of Years of Pharaoh, or the Place of Truth, the Valley of the Kings was the principal burial place of the major Royals as well as a number of privileged Nobles. It has 63 magnificent royal Tombs & Chambers (ranging from a simple pit, to a complex Tomb with over 120 Chambers). The best known Tombs are those of Ramses II, Seti I, Amenhotep II & of course, the Tomb of King Tutankhamen.

The royal Tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology & give clues as to the beliefs & funerary rituals of the period. Some of the Tombs are so well preserved that the colours of the incredible pharaonic friezes are still as vibrant as when they were first painted. The 15 that are open to the public appear modest from the outside but their interiors are magnificent - intricately painted using vibrant natural pigments preserved with beeswax & egg white.

Almost all of the Tombs seem to have been opened & robbed in antiquity, but they still give an idea of the opulence & power of the Pharaohs.

This area has been a focus of archaeological & Egyptological exploration since the end of the 18^th century and its Tombs & burials continue to stimulate research & interest. In modern times, the Valley has become famous for the discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun (with its rumours of the Curse of the Pharaohs), & is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. In 1979, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the rest of the Theban Necropolis. Exploration, excavation & conservation continue in the Valley.

To curtail the damage caused by mass tourism: carbon dioxide, friction & humidity produced by the average 2.8 gram of sweat left by each visitor that has affected the reliefs & the stability of paintings that were made on plaster laid over limestone, the Department of Antiquities has installed Dehumidifiers & Glass Screens in the worst-affected Tombs. They have also introduced a rotation system: only a limited number of Tombs are open to the public at any one time.

Beyond the Valley of the Kings, situated in a dramatic setting with a limestone backdrop, is one of the most characteristic of Egyptian Temples, Deir al- Bahri, (Temple of Queen Hatshepsut), ancient Egypt's first female Pharaoh. Rising out of the desert plain, in a series of terraces, it is one of Egypt’s finest & most photographed monuments.

Spend 2 hours to explore the compound comprehensively as there are so many relics, but if time is limited (discretion of the Tour-guide), the 3 must-see are the Tombs of Ramses IV, Ramses III & King Tutankhamun - the only grave to escape unlooted.

A tuf-tuf (a little electrical train) ferries visitors between the Visitor Centre & the Tombs. Photography is forbidden in all Tombs.

West Bank also encompasses Valley of the Queens, where the Pharaohs’ wives & children of the 19^th & 20^th dynasties (1292 to 1075 BC) were buried. Of these Tombs, the most beautiful is that of Nefertari, the wife & Queen of Ramses II. Not far away Tower the Colossi of Memnon, 2 monumental statues of Amenhotep III (18^th dynasty), facing east over the Nile. Created as guardians of the Pharaoh’s mortuary complex, which stands behind them, the masterpieces are 18 meters high, weigh 720 tonnes each & were carved from single blocks of sandstone weighing 1000 tonnes.

The riches of the West Bank continue with the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, built to commemorate the achievements of the great Queen Hatshepsut (18^th Dynasty) & to serve as Hatshepsut’s funerary Chapel as well as a Sanctuary for the God Amun Ra. In the 7^th century AD, it was named after a Coptic Monastery in the area, known as the “Northern Monastery”. There is also Medinet Habu (or Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III), is a significant New Kingdom structure, known for its size, architectural & artistic importance.

Take time to wander around the relatively unvisited Tombs of the Nobles, which are made up of more than 400 Tombs belonging to Nobles from the 6^th Dynasty to the Graeco-Roman period, all decorated with detailed scenes of their daily lives. Also explore the nearby Ramesseum, the memorial Temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II.

The day ends & you are transferred back to the Ship.

Balance of the day free to relax or for optional exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). You may want to visit Luxor Temple which looks stunning at night when itis illuminated by hundreds of lights.

Overnight on board.  B L D 

The Cruise ends today after breakfast.  

You will be met by a Tour-guide who will assist in disembarkation. Immediately, proceed on another full day exploration of the East Bank Temples decorated with magnificent colors & murals that have miraculously survived for thousands of years.

The city of Luxor is located on the East Bank, which is where most of the Hotels are situated. There is a bustling Souk behind the Mosque, where you can buy herbs, spices, silver, scarfs, brass & copper artefacts. It is a fun market & less touristy than the one in Cairo.

Most people come to Luxor to explore the West Bank but there are several draws on this side of the Nile, too. The highlights are the Temples of Luxor & Karnak, which were once joined by a 2 km long avenue of Sphinxes, some of which still adorn the entrance today.

The ruins of Karnak Temple, the largest religious building ever constructed, are some of the oldest here, dating back more than 3,000 years.

You will explore the incredible Temple of Karnak, the construction & development of which spanned the Middle Kingdom to Ptolemaic times. The Temple grew from the contributions of nearly 30 Pharaohs, making this magnificent structure the largest ancient religious site in the world. More than a Temple, Karnak is a spectacular complex of Sanctuaries, Pylons, Chapels, Halls & Obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban Gods & to the greater glory of Egypt’s Middle & New Kingdom Rulers.

The site covers more than 2 sq km & contains about 10 Cathedrals. At its heart is the Temple of Amun-Ra, the earthly 'home' of the local God. Built, added to, dismantled, restored, enlarged & decorated over nearly 1500 years, Karnak was the most important place of worship in Egypt during the New Kingdom.

The Temple Complex is one of the world's largest - with its famous hypostyle Hall, a spectacular forest of giant papyrus-shaped Columns.

This main structure is surrounded by the houses of Amun's wife Mut, their son Khonsu & 2 other huge Temples. On its southern side, the Mut Temple Enclosure was once linked to the main Temple by an avenue of ram-headed Sphinxes. To the north is the Montu Temple Enclosure, which honoured the local Theban war God.

The 3 km paved avenue of human-headed Sphinxes that once linked the great Temple of Amun at Karnak with Luxor Temple is now again being cleared. Most of what you can see was built by the powerful Pharaohs of the 18^th - 20^th Dynasties (1570 - 1090 BC), who spent fortunes on making their mark in this most sacred of places, which was then called Ipet-Sut, meaning 'The Most Esteemed of Places'. Later Pharaohs extended & rebuilt the Complex, as did the Ptolemies & early Christians. The further into the Complex you venture, the older the structures.

The light is most beautiful in the early morning or later afternoon & the Temple is quieter then, as later in the morning tour buses bring day trippers from Hurghada. It pays to visit more than once, to make sense of the overwhelming jumble of ancient remains.

Walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall, its columns expertly aligned over an area of 50,000 square feet (Optional :  on direct payment - ride in a horse-drawn caleche or sail in a felucca or take a sunset cruise or see the city from a hot-air balloon).

After spending 2 hours here, proceed to Luxor Temple, dominated by the sculptures of Ramses II. Temple has survived floods, foreign invasion & exposure to the elements.

Temple is lit up at night, creating an eerie spectacle as shadow and light play off the reliefs and colonnades (possible to visit in the evening too for those who have the time to return). The Son et Lumiere Show here is one of the country’s best. 

Luxor Temple is less complex than Karnak, but here again you walk back in time the deeper you go into it.  Largely built by the New Kingdom Pharaohs Amenhotep III (1390–1352 BC) & Ramses II (1279 -1213 BC), this Temple is a strikingly graceful monument in the heart of the modern town. Also known as the Southern Sanctuary, its main function was during the annual Opet celebrations, when the statues of Amun, Mut & Khonsu were brought from Karnak, along the Avenue of Sphinxes (running 3 km, connecting Karnak to the north & now entirely excavated) in front of the Temple & reunited here during the inundation.