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.

Welcome to   mystical   Egypt - with its mighty Nile & magnificent monuments, the beguiling desert & lush delta, with its long past & welcoming, story-loving people. With sand-covered Tombs, austere Pyramids & towering Pharaonic Temples, Egypt brings out the ‘student’ in all guests 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. And you never know - your donkey might stumble across yet another find, for that is the way many previous discoveries were made.

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.

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 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.

*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 activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make the arrangements).

Monumental History| Artistic Treasures| Living Life

Cairo has been the largest city in Africa & the Middle East ever since the Mongols wasted imperial Baghdad in 1258.

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. Cairo’s treasures abound, from ancient wonders such as the world’s oldest Pyramid to the earliest Coptic Christian monuments in the Old Town, to bustling Islamic Cairo.

From above, the distorted roar of the Muezzins' call 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.

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 capital (by Egyptian standards, at least), the city's history is linked to that of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt's Old Kingdom, dating back more than 2,000 years.

Cairo itself was founded in 969 AD to serve as the new capital of the Fatimid dynasty, eventually incorporating the older capitals of 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.

Cairo is a vast city whose boundaries are difficult to define. More than 22 million people call the chaotic, exotic, smelly, dusty & also beautiful city, home. Many of its neighborhoods (including satellite Nasr City with its shiny shopping malls & embassy enclave Maadi) are technically outside the city limits.

The main tourist neighborhoods include Downtown, Islamic Cairo & Coptic Cairo, while affluent Heliopolis & the island of Zamalek are both known for their restaurants, nightlife & upmarket hotels.

At the heart of the chaotic Downtown designed in the mid-19^th century by a team of European architects, is the modern political landmark like Tahrir Square & the vast Egyptian Museum, 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. In Gezira Island’s leafy Zamalek district, 187 metre Cairo Tower affords panoramic city views.

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 selling everything from motorbike parts to perfumes.

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 1000year 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. Your nerves will jangle, your snot will run black from the smog & touts will hound you at every turn. Every strand of Egyptian society knits & unravels in this febrile megalopolis, acknowledged as Umm Dunya or "Mother of the World" by medieval Arabs, & as Great Cairo by 19^th century Europeans.

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 - 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 and 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.

After marvelling at the famous Pyramids & getting 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.

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.


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).

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.

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 Saqqara - a vast, ancient burial ground which served as the necropolis for the inhabitants of Memphis.

Saqqara 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 Saqqara, 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 the hotel in Cairo.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 08:30 am, 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 & six 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

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 & meet him / her at the predetermined time / place.

Return to the hotel & Check-out by 12:00 noon (we will request the hotel to allow you  to use the hotel facilities & leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

Later in the afternoon, meet the Tour-guide again at 02.00 pm & proceed for a 4 hour ‘walking’ tour of the city.

A ‘walking’ tour of Islamic Cairo takes you from one of the remaining gates of the city, Bab el-Futuh, to Khan el-Khalili Bazaar for a few hours of browsing and bargaining among its bustling stalls. The two monumental gateways, Bab el-Futuh (Gate of Conquests) and Bab el-Nasr (Gate of Victory), mark the northern edge of Fatimid Cairo. Between the two lie the remains of the fortified wall which once encircled the city and which still gives the impression of invulnerability. Beside the Gate of Victory stands the El-Hakim Mosque, built during the first years following 1,000 AD. A place of worship for a mainly Indian Shiite sect, it was extensively restored with concrete and marble in 1980 losing much of its restrained beauty in the process

Discover Cairo's Islamic heritage, as you visit to the medieval Citadel of Salah el-Din, containing within its walls the Ottoman-style alabaster mosque of Mohammed Ali. Cairo, “City of a thousand minarets”, is not considered by Muslims to be as holy a city as Mecca, Medina or Jerusalem. Its streets and alleyways do however conceal treasures of Islamic art, many of which, although crumbling, offer a dazzling sight to anyone who knows how and where to look.

The Khan - el - Khalili Bazaar is the domain of shopkeepers & tourists. Jewellery, items made from copper, marquetry boxes, imitations of pharaonic objects, semi-precious stones, rugs, blown-glass dishes & other souvenirs are bought & sold in the shops grouped by trades along the narrow streets. It is a place to meander, bargain & lose one’s way…but not miss out on a cup of tea or karkade at the bazaar’s famous Cafe Fishawy.

You would also visit the Hanging Church,   the most famous Coptic Christian church in Cairo, as well as possibly the first built in Basilican style.

The Hanging (The Suspended) Church derives its name from its location above a gatehouse of the Roman fortress in the Old or Coptic Cairo area with its nave suspended above the passage. It was probably built during the patriarchate of Isaac (690-92), though an earlier church building may have existed elsewhere dating as earlier as the 3^rd or 4^th century.  The church is approached by 29 steps; early travelers to Cairo dubbed it "the Staircase Church." The entrance from the street is through iron gates under a pointed stone arch. The 19^th century facade with twin bell towers is then seen beyond a narrow courtyard decorated with modern art biblical designs.

Maybe the oldest existing synagogue in Cairo, the Ben Ezra Synagogue or El-Geniza.

The Synagogue is located right behind the Hanging Church & was originally a Christian church, which the Coptic Christians of Cairo had to sell to the Jews in 882 AD in order to pay the annual taxes imposed by the Muslim rulers of the time. The church was purchased by Abraham Ben Ezra, who came from Jerusalem during the reign of Ahmed Ibn Tulun, for 20,000 dinars. The Synagogue was a place of pilgrimage for North African Jews & the site of major festival celebrations.  Numerous restorations & renovations were made over the centuries, and the present building dates from 1892. It is a faithful reconstruction of the original, which had collapsed. During the reconstruction, a medieval Geniza (a hiding place for sacred books and worn-out Torah scrolls) was discovered, revealing thousands of original documents from the Middle Ages. Today, Ben Ezra Synagogue is a historical monument & the most-visited Jewish site in Cairo. Be prepared to pass through security in order to enter the synagogue.

The sightseeing concludes.

Return to the hotel.

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

Welcome to Luxor!!!

On arrival at Luxor International Airport, you will be met by a Journeys Rep who will ensure your comfort & discuss the Program & introduce you to the Tour-guide for a tour of Luxor & the Temple of Karnak.

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. 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.

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.

Immediately, proceed to 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. Walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall, its columns expertly aligned over an area of 50,000 square feet.

Visitors have been coming here since the Greco-Roman times. Today, you can walk through history: past statues with the heads of gods and animals, beneath carved lotus buds and papyrus. (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)

The 3 hour sightseeing concludes.

You will be transferred to the hotel.

Check-in & relax.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide again at 08.00 am & proceed for 3 hour tour of West Bank Temples.

Visit the West Bank to see the Valley of the Kings & Queens where you will see the Necropolis of Thebes, the burial grounds of the great Pharaohs of the New Kingdom.

The magnificent monuments of ancient Thebes stand proudly near the banks of the Nile around the modern city of Luxor. Today, Thebes has some of the finest monuments & most precious relics of ancient Egypt, including the extraordinary collections of art & artefacts in the tombs of the kings & queens, notably that of the young pharaoh Tutankhamun.

They include the Temples of Luxor & Karnak within the city (which you saw in the morning), the Colossi of Memnon, the Temples of Deir al-Bahri & Medinat Habu & the concealed Tombs of the Valleys of the Kings & Queens on the west bank.

Marvel at one of the most characteristic of Egyptian Temples, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt's first female Pharaoh at El-Deir El Bahari situated in a dramatic setting with a limestone backdrop.

Continue on to see the Colossi of Memnon.

When it comes to the task of reflecting the magnificence of the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, Colossi of Memnon does just that. Known to the locals as es-Salamat or el-Colossat, the site holds 2 colossal stone figures of the Pharaoh seated on his throne with his hands on his knees & a straight gaze eastwards - 20 metres high with 2 metres long & 1 metre thick feet cut out of single blocks of quartzite sandstone from el Gabal el-Ahmar - erected in 1350 BC, to act as guards to a Theban necropolis along the Nile River, when he was considered as a living god on earth.

One of the figures aptly called the Northern statue has a smaller figure on the side resembling the Pharaoh’s mother Mutemwia. The Southern statue has smaller figures of Tiy, Pharaoh’s wife & one of his daughters. On the sides of the sculpture are depictions of Nile gods representing Upper & Lower Egypt.

Aside from the huge statues, the site also has remaining artifacts. There are 2 headless lion bodied sphinxes and a crocodile tailed sphinx. With the efforts to preserve the remaining artifacts, may the pieces be available to tourists of the future generations

After the Tour, drive to Esna to board your Dahabiya (a twin sailed traditional yacht) which will be your floating hotel for the next 5 nights.

The city of Esna is located on the west bank of the Nile about 55km south of Luxor. It was an important region during the 18^th dynasty due to the developing relations with Sudan. Today, Esna is a somewhat sleepy yet busy merchant & farming town known for its weaving industry. The market of Esna is an ideal place to shop for fabric but an interesting experience is to see the animal market held every Saturday.

Reach Esna & Check-in at the Dahabiya.

In time, meet the Tour-guide & spend on hour, walking around & exploring the Temples of Esna.  

Temple of Khnum is the main attraction of Esna, located in the middle of modern Esna town at a level about nine meters below the current street level. Near the temple of Khnum lie the carved cartouches of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Another place to visit is the Temple of Chnum. Chnum was regarded as the God of life and fertility and looks like a man with the head of a ram.  This temple was not as old as the other monuments in the area but was a perfect example of Egyptian architecture.

Come back to the Boat.

Balance of the evening is at leisure.

Overnight on board. B L D 

Morning, sail for 23 km off the beaten track to El Kab. 

El Kab is an Upper Egyptian site at the mouth of the Wadi Hillal. It denotes two ancient cities of Nekheb El Kab on the east bank of the Nile & the older Nekhen, now known as Kom el Ahmar (the Red Mound) on the opposite bank. Both cities were religious centers that date from the pre Dynastic period. El Kab is perhaps most famous for its many splendid Tombs, but there are also a number of Temple ruins in the area. It was called Nekheb in the Egyptian language, a name that refers to Nekhbet, the goddess depicted as a white vulture

El Kab consists of prehistoric & ancient Egyptian settlements, rock-cut tombs of the early 18^th Dynasty (1550–1295 BC), remains of Temples dating from the Early Dynastic period (3100 -2686 BC) to the Ptolemaic Kingdom (332–30 BC), as well as part of the walls of a Coptic Monastery.

With the way the river meandered and eroded the rocks & sand, the Nile River is almost level with the town, but according to Clarke Somers in his journal article “El-Kab & the Great Wall,” “in its early youth the town must have stood well above the flood waters. The site could be described as a bay between sandstone cliffs to the north & south, and this same sandstone was used to build the Temples found in this site. Constantly occupied during Pharaonic times, the ruin of the city seems to date the 8^th century, with the Arabian occupation.

Step out from the Boat & accompanied by the Tour-guide, proceed for a short visit of the Temples.

The main Temple complex at el-Kab within the massive mudbrick wall that encompassed at least part of the ancient town contains many different structures.

Driving north along, you will see the huge 12 metres thick mudbrick walls of the town enclosure, which still contain within them the ruins of temples, cemeteries & a sacred lake.

The central Temple is the oldest of the remains, with its origins possibly dating to the Early Dynastic Period. Of the two ruined structures remaining today, the Temple of Thoth was begun by Amenhotep II in 18^th Dynasty & enlarged by later New Kingdom pharaohs. A contiguous monument, a larger Temple of Nekhbet built during the Late Period, partly overlays the older structure and many blocks from the Middle & New Kingdoms have been re-used.

It is difficult to make out the plan of monuments within the town site as the inside is very overgrown & confusing, but the remains of a birth-house & a small Roman temple can still be seen. One interesting feature is the drainage system which is exposed in front of the 2^nd Pylon of the Nekhbet Temple.

A short distance away on the other side of the road are several rock-cut Tombs, ranged on a terrace in the side of the cliff at the entrance to the Wadi Hellal. These are the burial places of New Kingdom officials of the region & are now open to visitors. The style of the early New Kingdom wall-paintings is similar to those of the nobles’ tombs from the same period at Thebes.

Return to the Boat & sail for a short distance to Edfu.

Edfu is a small town located on the west bank of the Nile River between Esna & Aswan, & is the site of the 2^nd largest in Egypt (after the Karnak Temple in Luxor) - Ptolemaic Temple of Horus & an ancient settlement & Cemetery site from around 3000 BC onward. Just outside town, there are some ancient Pyramids. It was the 'home' & cult centre of the falcon god Horus of Behdet (ancient name for Edfu) & believed by the Egyptians to be the site of a famous battle between Set the God of Chaos & Horus.

Preserved by desert sand, which filled the place after the pagan cult was banned, the Temple is dedicated to Horus, the avenging son of Isis & Osiris. The Temple of Horus (also known as the Temple of Edfu) is considered the best-preserved cult Temple in Egypt. This 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. It is very similar in style to the Temple of Hathor in Dendera. With its roof intact, it is also one of the most atmospheric of ancient buildings. 200 years ago, the Temple was buried by sand, rubble & part of the village of Edfu, which had spread over the roof. Excavation was begun by archeologist Auguste Mariette in the mid 19^th century.  

Started by Ptolemy III (246–221 BC) 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.

Arrive & accompanied by the Tour-guide, proceed for a tour of the Temples. Enjoy a ride to the Entrance in a horse drawn carriage via a long row of shops selling tourist stuff & a new Visitors Centre with a room for showing a 15 minutes film on the history of the Temple in English.

Return back to the ship and relax for the balance of the day.

Overnight on board.  B L D 

Early morning, sail for 26 miles to the enticing ancient site of Gebel Silsileh.

This is the border of the Egyptian region of Nubia & in ancient times Egyptians believed that the Nile originated here. It was famous throughout for the quality of the building stone which was quarried here.

Gebel Silsila is the name given to a rocky gorge between Kom Ombo & Edfu where the River Nile narrows & high sandstone cliffs come right down to the water’s edge. There was probably a series of rapids here in ancient times, dangerous to navigate, which naturally formed a frontier between the regions of Elephantine (Aswan) & Edfu.

In Pharaonic times the river here was known as Khennui, the ‘place of rowing’. On the West bank there is a tall column of rock which has been dubbed ‘The Capstan’ because of a local legend which claims there was once a chain (Silsila in Arabic) which ran from the East to the West Banks.

Spend time, exploring the Temples.

Situated on the west bank are 33 Cenotaphs (rock chapels) of the 18^th Dynasty but the most famous structure here is the rock cut Temple of Horemheb on the west bank, opposite where the main quarries were. Behind the 5 unevenly spaced doors can be found inscriptions from various Pharaohs including Merenptah, Ramesses II and Ramesses III. 

Heading south from the Horemheb Temple, you will see various shrines & tombs, which bear inscriptions from the reigns of various rulers including Merenptah, Hatshepsut, Ramesses II & Amenhotep II.

It is hardly surprising that by 18^th Dynasty, travellers had developed the custom of carving small shrines into the cliffs here & dedicating them to a variety of Nile gods and to the river itself. Smaller shrines were cut by Tuthmose I, Hatshepsut and Tuthmose III, before Horemheb constructed his rock-cut temple here, then many of the 19^th Dynasty or later kings left their mark in some way. Gebel Silsila became an important cult centre & each year at the beginning of the season of inundation offerings & sacrifices were made to the gods associated with the Nile to ensure the country’s wellbeing for the coming year.

On both banks of the Nile the massive quarries produced the sandstone needed for the prolific construction of monuments, at first in small quantities & as the skills of the workmen grew, the stone was more extensively quarried to build great monuments such as the colonnade of Amenhotep III at Luxor, the Karnak Temple of Amenhotep IV, the Ramesseum & Medinet Habu, to name but a few. By Ptolemaic times most of the Upper Egyptian temples contained monuments built from Gebel Silsila sandstone. Because of the sanctity of the site, the sandstone was considered to have an extra holiness.

The steep sandstone cliffs of the West Bank are cluttered with grafitti, shrines & stelae, including 33 rock chapels.

The most prominent deity depicted here appears to be Sobek the crocodile god, ‘Lord of Khennui’, who with Haroeris (Horus the Elder) is one of the twin gods of Kom Ombo. Hapi as god of the Nile also received a large share of offerings. The site’s proximity to Aswan meant that the Triad of Elephantine, Khnum, Satet & Anuket were worshipped here. Tauret the hippopotamus goddess is also featured at Gebel Silsila, especially in the Speos of Horemheb.

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Come back to the Boat.

Balance of the day is at leisure. 

Overnight on board.  B L D 

Morning, set sail for the island of Maniha, where the Dahabiya will moor for the night, on the tranquil banks of the Nile.

Full day at leisure.

Morning, sail to Kom Ombo, an agricultural town, a short distance away.

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 two 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 two 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, and 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 Kraków.

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. The crocodile was 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 crocodile & effigy of the crocodile-headed god Sobek.

Reach Kom Ombo.

Shortly thereafter, accompanied by the Tour-guide, proceed for a visit to 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 two 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 the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and 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). his 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 instrument which they named Nilometer used to measure the level of the river waters.

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 temple 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.

Come back to the Ship & after lunch, depart for Aswan.

Welcome to Aswan!!!

Aswan is Egypt’s most southern city located in the ancient Nubian lands & has always been this country's main gate to the rest of Africa. 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 and 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.

Reach Aswan & immediately, proceed to visit the Aswan High Dam.

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 and it now generates electricity for most of Egypt. The project is commemorated by a lotus-shaped monument at the western end of the Dam.

Continue the Tour & return to the pier to board a motorboat for a short ride to Philae Temple on the Island of Agilika. The boat to the temple leaves you at the base of the Kiosk of Nectanebo, the oldest part of the Philae complex. 

Philae is currently an island in the reservoir of the Aswan Low Dam downstream of the Aswan Dam & Lake Nasser, Egypt. Originally located near the expansive First Cataract of the Nile in Upper Egypt, it was the site of an Egyptian temple complex. These rapids & the surrounding area have been variously flooded since the initial construction of the Aswan Low Dam in 1902.

The temple complex was later dismantled & relocated to nearby Agilkia Island as part of the UNESCO Nubia Campaign Project, protecting this & other complexes before the 1970 completion of the Aswan High Dam. The temple was dedicated to goddess Isis & was one of the last strongholds of ancient Egyptian religion.

Despite being the smaller island, Philae proper was, from the numerous & picturesque ruins formerly there, the more interesting of the two. And since Philae was said to be one of the burying-places of Osiris, it was held in high reverence both by the Egyptians to the north and the Nubians (often referred to as "Ethiopians" in Greek) to the south.

In the central court of the Temple of Isis, the mammisi is dedicated to Horus, son of Isis & Osiris. Successive pharaohs reinstated their legitimacy as the mortal descendants of Horus by taking part in rituals celebrating the Isis legend & the birth of her son Horus in the marshes.

The 2^nd Pylon leads to a hypostyle hall, with superb column capitals & beyond lie three vestibules, leading into the Inner Sanctuary of Isis. Two granite shrines stood here, one containing a gold statue of Isis & another containing the barque in which the statue travelled, but these were long ago moved to Florence & Paris, and only the stone pedestal for the barque remains, inscribed with the names of Ptolemy III & his wife, Berenice.

Take a side door west out of the hypostyle hall to the Gate of Hadrian where there is an image of the god Hapi, sitting in a cave at the First Cataract, representing the source of the river Nile.

East of the second pylon is the delightful Temple of Hathor, decorated with reliefs of musicians (including an ape playing the lute) and Bes, the god of childbirth. South of this is the elegant, unfinished pavilion by the water’s edge, known as the Kiosk of Trajan (Pharaoh’s Bed), perhaps the most famous of Philae’s monuments & one that was frequently painted by Victorian artists, whose boats were moored beneath it.

Heading north, you walk down the outer temple court, which has colonnades running along both sides; the western one is the most complete, with windows that originally overlooked the island of Bigga. At the end is the entrance of the Temple of Isis, marked by the 18m high towers of the first pylon with reliefs of Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos smiting enemies.

Visit he 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.When its hieroglyphs were compared with those of the Rosetta Stone, it threw great light upon the Egyptian consonantal alphabet.

The tour concludes.

If conditions permit, sail around the Aswan islands in a felucca (sailboat) around Elephantine and Kitchener's Islands to view the Botanical Gardens & Aga Khan Mausoleum.

Return to the Boat which will be docked at Aswan.

Balance of the evening at leisure.

Overnight on board.  B L D 

Morning after breakfast, the Cruise comes to an end.

Disembark & meet The Journeys Rep who will transfer to Aswan Airport for the short flight to Abu Simbel.

Laid-back & quiet, the Nubian town of Abu Simbel lies only 40 km north of the Sudanese border, on the western bank of the artificial Lake Nasser, about 230 km southwest of Aswan.

It is famous for 2 spectacular colossal rock temples, part of UNESCO's Nubian Monuments World Heritage site, desert scenery & millennia-old monuments set amidst soaring cliffs. The Temples were once in danger of being flooded with the construction of the Aswan High Dam but were saved via an extensive project to cut the temples into pieces & move them to higher ground, where they are seen today.

Often referred to as the Temples of Ramses II, the 2 enormous sandstone structures at Abu Simbel were built in 1255 BC by Ramses II to commemorate himself & his favorite wife Nefertiti. The larger temple, dedicated to 3 major Egyptian deities, features 4 large statues of Ramses II on its facade, while the smaller Temple is dedicated to the love goddess Hathor, with statues designed to embody Nefertiti. Carved in the hill and decorated with magnificent colors & murals, these 2 Temples have miraculously survived for thousands of years.

On arrival at Abu Simbel Airport, you would be welcomed by the Egyptologist Tour-guide & immediately proceed for a visit to the Temples (Tour-guides are not permitted inside either the Great Temple of Ramses II or the smaller Temple of Hathor).

On the short walk to the entrance, the Tour-guide will explain the history of the site, including details of the UNESCO-led relocation of the entire cliff face to higher ground, and how the Temples were discovered by accident in 1813.

Using photos & illustrations, the Tour- guide will explain about the structures & interior artworks. As one of the few ancient Egyptian sites which largely escaped damage by past invaders, the interiors of Abu Simbel’s Temples are astounding.

Learn the stories behind Abu Simbel’s detailed bas-reliefs & hieroglyphs, take in the unusual dedications to Queen Nefertari & slip inside her own exquisite temple.  Stand beneath the colossi that guard the Great Temple and spot carved baboons high on the rock face. The scale of the buildings and their detailed decoration leaves most visitors in awe. The Temples' attraction is further enhanced by their scenic location on the edge of Lake Nasser in the orange sands of the desert.

After visiting the temples, there may be time for a short visit to the small Visitor's Center which documents the UNESCO relocation project.

You will then have free time to enter the temples & explore them at your leisure.

After spending 4 hours, you would be transferred back to the airport to continue on your onward flight to Cairo.

Return to the Airport for your onward flight to Cairo.

On arrival at Cairo International Airport, you would be welcomed by a Journeys Rep who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel.

Check-in at the hotel.

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

Overnight.  B  

Full 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. Time to say good-bye to mystical Egypt & go home. But, we sure hope that you may want to discover a little bit more of this enchanting country on your next visit.

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 facilities & to leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

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.

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

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Cairo International Airport for your onward journey.  B

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