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 and 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, then float facing towards the sky in the glittering expanse of the Red Sea With its welcoming, story-loving people, it transform ‘guests’ into ‘students’ as they explore the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, where Tutankhamun’s Tomb was unearthed & see the glittering finds in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. 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.

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).

Arrive in Cairo, Egypt’s busy capital, can’t help but conjure up an image of the exotic & here, your Egyptian 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’.

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.

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 called as “Umm Ad Dunya” (the Mother of the World) & as Great Cairo by 19^th century Europeans. 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.

This mega-city's constant buzz & noise is a product of its 22 + million inhabitants simultaneously crushing Cairo's infrastructure under their collective weight & lifting its spirits up with their exceptional humour.

Perhaps the most interesting section is medieval (Islamic) Cairo, a warren of streets just bustling with life. There are mosques at every corner, Coptic churches, huge medieval gates & bazaars selling everything from motorbike parts to perfumes. The Ulema of its 1000 year old Al-Azhar Mosque (for centuries 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. Every strand of Egyptian society knits & unravels in this febrile megalopolis

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

Overnight.  

Morning, meet the Egyptologist Tour-guide at 08:00 am & proceed for a full day 8 hour excursion to visit the Pyramids.

Drive to Giza Plateau - best known as that part of Cairo closest to the world-famous Pyramids, situated high on the desert plateau immediately to the west of the urban district.

The three 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). Three pharaohs were buried here in turn - Khufu, Khafre & Menkaure - their astounding burials attracted a number of surrounding, associated, burials of their queens, family members & nobility.

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 with its lion body & the head of king Chephren, at the base of the Giza plateau - are the iconic image of Egypt & whose grandeur remains unsurpassed more than 4,000 years after they were erected.

Marvel at the famous Pyramids & get lots of photos as the Tour-guide explains how these monumental Tombs were built in around 2,500 BC for the three pharaohs.

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. 

Visit the Valley Temple. where the Priests mummified the dead body of King Chephren owner of the second pyramid at Giza Plateau.

Although most people associate Egypt with the Pyramids of Giza, there are known to be at least 118 ancient pyramids scattered around the country, with more being discovered every few years or so. The majority of these monuments are spread out along the desert between the Giza Plateau & the semi-oasis of Al-Fayoum (two belonging to kings & six to queens).

There are also a number of pyramids in and around Dashur that are important because they show the evolution, including the failures and the first success of the pyramid builders, as they tried to build the first true, smooth sided pyramid. Other later Pyramids are less spectacular, sometimes made of mudbrick and therefore not as well preserved today, but still important, because they are the first to be decorated with inscriptions and 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 & 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, and learn how its remnants were discovered & reassembled by archaeologists.


Continue to Memphis, Egypt’s ancient capital & administrative center until around 2,200 BC. 

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 the modern capital of 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.

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.

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 and (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.

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!) and modern Egyptian rural life. Also, the main ancient necropolis of the city, located nearby on the desert plateau at Saqqara, is worth a visit.

Explore the city’s last remaining vestiges around the villages of Dahshur & Sakkara, and visit the UNESCO-listed outdoor open-air museum that houses broken statues, carvings & columns found at the site. 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. See the Alabaster Sphinx which still remains.

A short distance away lies UNESCO listed Sakkara - a vast, ancient burial ground which served as the necropolis for the inhabitants of Memphis.

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.

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.

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 first Pyramid built in Egypt, though it is not a true, smooth sided one. 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 pyramid builders, as they tried to build the first true, smooth sided pyramid.

Other 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.

Finally, drive back to Cairo & reach the hotel by around 4.30 pm.

Around 7.00 pm, you will be met by The Journeys Driver / Rep & transferred to the Pier to board the Nile Maxim, one of the most elegant cruising restaurants sailing the world's longest waterway.

The Nile Maxim is built in the style of a flat Pharaonic barge, conjuring up images of ancient Egypt. Enjoy sumptuous dinner aboard as the Boat glides past Cairo's illuminated skyline, while being entertained by spectacular traditional belly dancing & folklore show featuring the unforgettable tannoura spin, in keeping with Egypt's whirling dervishes tradition. The house band also performs your all-time favorite Western & Oriental tunes with a twist! Don't forget bringing your camera to take memorable pictures.

The Cruise ends at 10.00 pm & you are transferred back to the hotel.

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 experience.

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 when the tomb was discovered. Don't miss the astonishing solid gold death mask & 6 gilded coffins.

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.

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

From the Royal Mummy Room to a number of glittering galleries showcasing finery extracted from various ancient tombs, there is a ton to see. The Mummy Room, contains 27 royal Mummies from pharaonic times, now displays 9 Mummies of the New Kingdom kings & queens. One of them is the newly discovered mummy of Queen Hatsheput.

If you wish, visit the Royal Mummies Room (optional - additional cost), another showpiece. Enter this climate-controlled room to view the mummies of Egyptian rulers such as Ramses II - builder of Luxor’s Karnak Temple.

The extensive Collection of over 165,000 items of ancient Egyptian antiquities, with a representative amount on display, the remainder in storerooms. Treasures include everyday objects, tombs, jewelry & mummies from the prehistoric Egyptian period through to the Roman era.

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’s anything you want to see more or less of, let your Tour-guide know).

View the star attraction - the Tutankhamun exhibits - admire his spectacular, solid gold death mask, coffins, chariots & other funerary riches.

See other pharaonic furnishings & items such as pharaonic sarcophagi & everyday objects, Roman-era funerary paintings & more, as your Tour-guide recounts their history.

If you wish, visit the Royal Mummies Room (optional - additional cost), another showpiece. Enter this climate-controlled room to view the mummies of Egyptian rulers such as Ramses II - builder of Luxor’s Karnak Temple.

After introducing you to the main attractions, your Tour-guide will give you free time to explore further on your own & leave.

Return to the hotel (on your own) or continue to explore.

You will meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at .3.00 pm & get acquainted with the unique flavours & ingredients of Egyptian cuisine on this 4 hour Culinary adventure.

Eating & drinking in Egypt can be an incredible experience, especially for adventurous travelers who look forward to trying many different dishes (many of which are already popular in Western countries), and sampling the local cuisine of different cultures. The cuisine of modern Egypt retains elements of the many different influences it has been subjected to throughout the centuries. After all, Egypt has been ruled by several different civilizations during its long & colorful history, and each of those civilizations has left their mark, not only in terms of culture & architecture, but also in terms of cuisine. There are many different influences present in the cuisine of Egypt, so this experience promises to be both informative & supremely tasty.

Many visitors are also surprised to find British & French cuisine readily available, and many marvel at the fact that certain French & British dining traditions continue on to this day. Today’s Egyptians cooks & many local dishes reflect the Greek, Syrian, Turkish, Lebanese & Palestinian traditions that arrived on the country’s shores over thousands of years.

The difference between northern Egyptian cuisine & southern Egyptian cuisine can be quite dramatic in fact. For example, fresh fish & fish based recipes feature prominently in the diets of people living in the northern reaches of the country, close to the coast. The further south you travel, the more you will find a strong North African influence, where most dishes are spicy.

Common foods eaten by most Egyptians on a daily basis include pita bread, falafel, tahini and hummus, along with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. The local tea brewing on the cooktop is a mixture of rosemary, sage, and mint. The herbs are usually grown in the local gardens and just brewed with hot water. Carob tea is also popular.

A main staple of the diet is beans prepared in a huge variety of ways. Soups & salads made with meat or fish with vegetables are typical as well. Yogurt is a very common commodity, as is a feta-like cheese called gibna beida. Many traditional foods can safely be enjoyed as an inexpensive meal from one of the many “snack bars” found in all major cities.

Accompanied by the Tour-guide / Host ‘mother’, you will first proceed to the nearby Market for some bargaining lessons in typical Egyptian fashion, amongst the colourful produce. Shop for fresh produce & spices at the market and take the time to learn a little about bargaining

From the market visit, proceed to the home of the experienced host & share a welcome drink before working assisting & learning how prepare a delicious, traditional Egyptian meal.

Don't forget to indulge in your new cooking prowess by sampling your culinary creations & picking up some Egyptian cooking tips. Relax over Egyptian coffee or tea as you enjoy dinner with the family. 

With a full stomach & a range of new cooking skills ready to use in your own kitchen back home, your Cairo food experience comes to a close. The experience will give you the low down on how to create Egyptian snacks & meals with a talented home cook who has skills & stories to share and will provide an opportunity to taste the distinct flavours of the Middle-eastern & African cuisine.

Return to the hotel

Balance of the evening is at leisure for independent exploration or to relax in the hotel (we would be happy to offer suggestions).

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

Welcome to Aswan!!!

On arrival at Aswan Daraw International Airport, you will be met by the Tour-guide & immediately proceed for a tour of the modern & ancient wonders here.

Aswan is Egypt’s most southern city & has always been this country's main gate to the rest of Africa. Located in the ancient Nubian lands, Aswan seems to close the doors on the Middle East & to open those on Africa.

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. The bustling souk adopts the colours & smells of Sudanese markets.

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 Nubian villages. 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 Lake Nasser around dramatic black-granite boulders & palm-studded islands.

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 and 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 First 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 hydroelectric power. Today the old dam generates hydroelectricity 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.

Later in in the afternoon around 12.00 pm, accompanied by the Tour-guide, proceed to the Pier to board a motorboat for a short ride to 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 thousands 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. 

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.

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.

Come back to hotel to get ready for another exciting ‘culinary’ adventure.

You will be met by The Journeys Driver / Rep at 05.00 pm & transferred to the Pier, where you will board a motor- boat for the short ride to a Nubian village on Elephantine Island at the other shore of the Nile.

A trip to the Nubian Village is a fun way to relax & soak up some of the region’s fascinating past.

Egypt, throughout its long & colorful history, has been home to many different civilizations. Of course it goes without saying that the Ancient Egyptians themselves were a fascinating civilization, but there were others present at the time that were equally as fascinating. Some of these ancient contemporaries still exist today, including the people you will meet at the Nubian village.

The Nubians were an ethnic group coming from southern Egypt & northern Sudan, who during the course of history started a number of settlements along the Nile River. They were famous for their horse riding skills & their impressive marksmanship with bows & arrows. They were generally held in high regard as a strong cavalry force. During the course of history, the Nubians typically blended & merged with the Egyptians during the Pharaonic age. In fact, a number of ancient pharaohs were of Nubian decent & their legacy has inevitably lived on.

These days, there are still several Nubian communities scattered around the country. Many of these small villages have become very popular with tourists nowadays.

On Elephantine Island, there are in fact 2 villages. The first Nubian village is Siou & the 2^nd is called Koti village, both of which run across the center of the Island. The 2 villages are connected by a footpath, & collectively, they are remains of 3 distinct settlements.

Many of the Nubians you will find living at either Nubian village were relocated here during the latter half of the 20^th century as construction of the High Dam in Aswan neared completion. The construction of the Dam essentially meant that the Nubian communities had no option but to move.

Today, the Nubians of Elephantine Island inhabit the central portion, which is found between the ruins at one end & a modern luxury hotel at the other.

Though some tourists find the stark contrast between the huts at the Nubian village & the luxury amenities a bit disconcerting, the friendly Nubians themselves encourage travelers to walk along their garden paths & to explore their villages.

One word of advice to those who do decide to visit the Nubian village - bring a camera! These are some of the most colorful places you may ever visit. Mounds of spices are sold from a vendor’s table, small colorful dolls are made by another & tiny cafes with boldly colored plates & cups sell traditional Egyptian coffee. The Nubians are known for their kind & gentle ways and for their welcoming attitude. The culture of the village is very serene & people are calm, laid back. Things are always magical in Nubia & Nubians are known as Black People with a White Heart.

Proceed to a Nubian house where you are welcomed by the Family & learn about Nubian traditions.

Enjoy a barbecue dinner as you interact with the ladies & men of the house. Try the famous coffee or tea prepared by Nubian ladies as you relax & enjoy some Nubian music.

Finally, it is time to go. You may want to purchase some truly lovely handicrafts from the people that inhabit the village.

Remember, these are the remnants of an ancient people and their music, language & traditions offer you a rare glimpse into another world.  Do keep in mind that men, & women in particular, are reminded to dress modestly.

Walk to the Pier to board the motor-boat for the ride back to Aswan.

Arrive at the hotel by 09.00 pm.

Early in the morning, you will board a coach & travel in a convoy to the grand Temples of Abu Simbel, a village in Nubia, southern frontier of pharaonic Egypt, near the border with Sudan.   

You will be met on arrival by the Tour-guide & immediately proceed for a visit to the Temples decorated with magnificent colors & murals that have miraculously survived for thousands of years.

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, 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 salvaged from the rising waters of the Nile.

For this reason, the sun now strikes a day later than Ramses had originally planned, though the event this morning itself is no less stunning.

Possibly the most awe-inspiring temples in all ancient Egypt, the 2 massive Sun Temples at Abu Simbel, carved out of a sandstone cliff on the western bank of Lake Nasser, were built by the Egyptian king Ramses II Egypt's longest-ruling Pharaoh (reigned 1279 - 13 BCE) to revere the mighty Pharaonic ruler himself. 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.

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 & by the Swiss researcher Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. But it wasn’t until the British happened upon the Temple & started excavating earnestly that the full glory of Abu Simbel was revealed to the modern world.

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 other rock cut Temple at Abu Simbel is the Temple of Hathor, which is fronted by 6 massive standing statues. Guarding the entrance to the Temple, hewn into the side of a mountain, are 4 colossal statues, spectacular examples of ancient Egyptian art, of the Pharaoh King Ramses II himself. The other 2 are of his beloved wife, Queen Nefertari.

The 66 foot seated figures of Ramses are set against the recessed face of the cliff, two on either side of the entrance to the main temple. Carved around their feet are small figures representing Ramses’ children, his 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.

Illustrating the knowledge of the sciences, exhibited by ancient civilizations and in a fit of precision & architectural egotism, Ramses II had the Great Temple carefully angled & oriented in a strategic geometric placement so 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.,

This incredible phenomenon when  the first rays of the morning sun penetrate the whole length of the temple & illuminate the shrine in its innermost sanctuary, provides for a most spectacular sight, which has come to be referred to as the Sun Festival of King Ramses II. Crowds assemble in to the temple before sunrise & watch the shafts of light slowly creep through the inner Hypostyle Hall & through to the Sanctuary. Significantly, the sun illuminates statues of Amun-Re, Re-Herakhte & Ramses the god, whilst the statue of Ptah - the god of darkness, remains in the shadows.

Spend 2 hours here before hopping on to the bus again for the drive back to Aswan.  

On arrival by early afternoon, you will board a wind-powered Nile Felucca for a 2 night voyage on the Nile downstream to Daraw.

Felucca’s are simple sailboats based on a unique design & have plied the mighty Nile since ancient times. The felucca rarely has any form of engine & relies entirely on the breeze which builds during the day, usually subsides at night with the Nile River’s current. Egypt is blessed with a predominant southerly wind that pushes sailboats upriver, while allowing them to return on its current downstream. The sails are seriously low tech affairs made of native cotton & other natural fibres. Feluccas carry between 5-12 passengers comfortably & the deck is strewn with soft colorful cushions & rugs and equipped with a canopy that offers shade and protection from the elements. Sailing during the day & prior to sun-down, the boat is moored at the riverside for the night. Nothing beats the experience of sleeping under a blanket of stars.

Owned & crewed by friendly local sailors, they have been adapted to comfortably carry our travellers who wish to enjoy an eternally peaceful journey, carried along by the gentle breeze & the currents of the river.

Your captain tucks his Galabeya (traditional Egyptian male dress) about his waist & steers with his feet, while busily drawing and letting the sail to and fro as the vessel tacks up and down the Nile.

A support boat accompanies your felucca providing toilets, washing facilities & a cosy dining area. Before boarding the felucca, it is important you prepare a day bag - taking care to pack things you feel you will need during the cruise, as your large bag will be placed below in the luggage storage.

Balance of the day is at leisure (as feluccas are wind-powered, the Itinerary cannot be rigidly defined). The Boat will make stops at some of the sites.  

Full day is at leisure (as feluccas are wind-powered, the Itinerary cannot be rigidly defined). The Boat will make stops at some of the sites & villages enroute.  

Morning after breakfast, you will be assisted with disembarkation.

Immediately, depart for Luxor, enroute stopping at Kom Ombo & Edfu.

Kom Ombo famous for the Temple of Sobek & Haroeris (also known as Temple of Kom Ombo) stands on a promontory at a bend in the Nile, at the north end of the largest area of agricultural land south of Gebel el-Silsila, between Aswan & Edfu. 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, called Contra-Ombos. The city was a bishopric before the Muslim conquest & under the name Ombi is included in the Catholic Church's list of titular sees. 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.

Visit the Temple of Sobek & Haroeris, built on a high dune overlooking the Nile, by Ptolemy VI Philometor in the early 2^nd century BC & it evolved under successive rulers. There are also Tombs from the Old Kingdom in the vicinity of Kom-Ombo village which you will visit, time permitting.

The Temple of Kom Ombo is an unusual double Temple. The building is unique because its 'double' design meant that there were courts, halls, sanctuaries & rooms duplicated for 2 sets of gods. The Temple is atypical because everything is perfectly symmetrical along the main axis.

The structure is built of local sandstone from Gebel el-Silsila. 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.

The southern half was dedicated to Sobek, god of fertility & creator of the world with Hathor & Khonsu. Meanwhile, the northern part of the Temple was dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris, also known as Horus the Elder, along with Tasenetnofret (the Good Sister). This was why the Temple was called both "House of the Crocodile" & "Castle of the Falcon".

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

Overall, the relief sculpture is typical of the Ptolemaic & Roman periods, with very deeply carved sunken reliefs on the exterior walls & columns, and 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.

The scene on the inner face of the rear wall of the Temple is of particular interest as 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 and two goddesses sitting on birthing chairs. Archeologists found an image which they named Nilometer used to measure the level of the river waters & helped predict the coming harvest.

Little remains of the New Kingdom Temple. Much of the Temple has been destroyed by the Nile, earthquakes & later builders who used its stones for other projects. 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,

A few of the almost 300 crocodile mummies discovered in the vicinity are displayed in The Crocodile Museum.

Continue on to Edfu.

The provincial town of Edfu was the 'home' & an ancient pagan 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 god is worshipped, as it exists today, is 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 was buried by sand, rubble & part of the village of Edfu, after the pagan cult was banned. But, the desert sand also preserved the building & with its roof intact, 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.

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.

Proceed on a horse drawn carriage to explore the most completely preserved pharaonic Temple, entered via a long row of shops selling tourist stuff & a new Visitor Centre with a room for showing a 15 minutes film on the history of the temple in English.

Drive on to Luxor.

On arrival by late afternoon, Check-in at the hotel. 

Luxor is one of 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. Testaments to a desire for immortality, built for eternity in sandstone & granite, the Temples, Tombs & Palaces still stand, surrounded by souks & luxury hotels.

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 Temples of Karnak & Luxor in the east to the many Tombs & Temples on the west bank.

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.

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.

Morning at 07.30 am, accompanied by the Tour-guide, visit to the east bank Temples decorated with magnificent colors & murals that have miraculously survived for thousands of 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 and to the greater glory of Egypt’s Middle & New Kingdom rulers.  

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).

Later, proceed to the Valley of the Kings (also known as the Valley of the Gates of the Kings) on the West Bank, studded with often highly decorated pharaoh's tombs, some of which you can enter.

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).

The wadi consists of 2 valleys, East Valley (where the majority of the royal tombs are situated) & West Valley. Once called the Great Necropolis of Millions of Years of Pharaoh, or the Place of Truth, the Valley of the Kings has 63 magnificent royal tombs & chambers (ranging in size a simple pit, to a complex tomb with over 120 chambers). It was the principal burial place of the major royal figures of the Egyptian New Kingdom, as well as a number of privileged nobles. The best known Tombs are those of Ramses II, Seti I, Amenhotep II and 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.

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.

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

Also see the 2 faceless Colossi of Memnon, originally representing Pharaoh Amenhotep III, rising majestically about 18 metres from the plain, are the first monuments tourists see when they visit the west bank. These magnificent Colossi, each cut from a single block of stone & weighing 1000 tonnes, sat at the eastern entrance to the funerary Temple of Amenophis III, the largest on the west bank.  Egyptologists are currently excavating the Temple & their discoveries can be seen behind the Colossi.

Come back to the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or for optional exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Early morning, depart eastwards to Hurghada, part of the beautiful Red Sea Riviera, which has numerous dive shops & schools in its modern Sigala district & is renowned for scuba diving & a convenient destination for combining a diving holiday with the Nile Valley sites.

Check-in on arrival.

Plucked from obscurity during the early days of the Red Sea’s tourism drive, the fishing village of Hurghada has long since morphed into today’s dense band of concrete that marches along the coastline for more than 20 km.

Hurghada is one of the Red Sea's most popular resorts and it is easy to see why. Hotels & expanded infrastructure along the stretch of sandy beach provide holidaymakers with excellent aquatic facilities for sail boarding, yachting, deep-sea fishing, SCUBA diving & snorkeling.

Hurghada’s central location provides a gateway to prime offshore reefs, some of which are of the finest in the world. While the coral reefs closest to the shore have been degraded by illegal landfill operations & irresponsible reef use, further offshore there is still superb diving aplenty; local NGOs are helping the town clean up its act & Sigala's sparklingly modern marina have brought back some of Hurghada's sheen. Just outside Hurghada is an ancient Roman quarry called Mons Porphyritis & Port Safarga - a famously windy place & a windsurfer's paradise.

Hurghada also has plenty of good nightlife to choose from. There are many restaurants, bars & nightclubs, while the old town, El Dahar, is home to traditional Egyptian coffee shops & souks. For retail therapy, the town has lots of shops selling knock-off bags & tees, snorkeling gear & suchlike.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or for optional exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Full day is at leisure to relax or for optional exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Spend a relaxing day at the sun and swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea.

Morning, you will be met by a Journeys Rep & transferred to Hurghada International Airport for the short flight to Cairo.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Cairo International Airport, 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 and provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next few days.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, 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.

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

Sure, you can go to ancient Temples & dive to the bottom of the Red Sea, but if you really want to get to know Egypt & Egyptians at its very foundation, may we recommend a trip to a Farm?

Late morning at around 10.00 am, meet the Egyptologist Tour-guide (& a professional Photographer) in the Lobby & embark on a visit excursion to visit a fully functional Agricultural Farm, just outside Cairo. There are many renowned organic Farms located in close proximity to the city.

Organically grown produce is now, once again, an important part of diets all around the world. The main crop & production on this Farm is olive oil along with a variety of seasonal veggies & crops including, endive, sugar cane, fruits, vegetables & onions, potatoes, carrots, garlic, wheat, corn.

In addition, you will see some free-range chickens (for eggs), turkeys, donkeys, goats, sheep & dogs. The natural animal feed is grown in-house & their droppings are used to prepare manure that is then used to fertilize the soil & make compost.

On arrival, enjoy a welcome drink as you are introduced to the Family which owns & manages the Farm. They will explain what a typical day of work, from dawn till evening, at the Farm entails.

As you stroll in the fields, you will have chance to watch how Egyptian farmers cultivate their lands, using the old traditional methods & the same old tools. Walk by their canals & learn about desert irrigation.

Go for a nature walk, feed the animals & even ride a donkey or a camel or drive a tractor to get better acquainted with the Egyptian farming culture.

Midway, there will be a table set up in the middle of the field with a view of the beautiful surrounding landscape, for you to enjoy a simple but sumptuous breakfast consisting of fresh juice, mint tea, coffee, jam, cheese & white cheese, beans, eggs, bread, fruit & nibbles. Most of the stuff grown & generated at the Farm itself. 

Then, you are free to explore on your own for an hour & enjoy the view of the luscious landscape & the beautiful nature around you.

After spending 3 hours at the Farm, hop o to the vehicle & drive back to the hotel in Cairo.

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

Overnight.  B   

Alas, like all good things, the wonderful experience comes to an end & it is time to say good-bye to the ‘land of the Pharaohs’.

Check-out of the hotel by 11:00 am (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the usage of the hotel facilities & leave the luggage at the Bell Desk, if you want to venture out). 

If your onward flight is later in the evening, you can go to the city & explore Cairo on your own (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements, if required).

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 Egyptians call Umm Ad Dunya - the Mother of the World. Blow your nose, crack a joke & look through the dirt to see the city's true colours. If you love Cairo, it will definitely love you back & welcome you back.

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“Travel is like knowledge. The more you see the more you know you have not seen” - Mark Hertsgaard

The iconic journey comes to an end and it is time to go home. In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & obtain your feedback about the arrangements for the tour & transfer you to Terminal? -  Cairo International Airport for the flight back home.  B

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