About the Tour

For almost 5,000 years, Egypt has mesmerised, amazed and confounded travellers. As a country it showcases some of humanity's greatest achievements in the realms of art and architecture and features the glorious remnants of one of history's most powerful, influential and enduring cultures.

This comprehensive tour provides an exciting, and for many, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore ancient Egyptian civilisation in depth. Over three weeks we investigate the magnificent royal monuments, grandiose temples, intricately decorated tombs, and the settlements, society and people of the world's first nation state through its unique archaeological landscape and fascinating artefacts.

We visit the most significant archaeological sites and major museums, including the Great Pyramid (the only surviving wonder of the ancient world), the incomparable collections of the Egyptian museum, the site of Akhenaten's capital city at Amarna, the magnificent temples of Karnak and Luxor, and the beautifully decorated royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings.

A four-day cruise along the Nile, the life-giving river of ancient and modern Egypt, provides fascinating insights into everyday life along the riverbank. The tour will allow for unhurried exploration of the sites, with short walks to some sites and exploration on foot of the larger monuments, and free days included to discover modern Egypt and rest weary feet!

The tour package also includes a course of six pre-tour seminars to provide background to the extraordinary pioneering civilisation that was ancient Egypt, along with brief on-tour 'refreshers' to enhance your journey. As well as your tour leader, who is a fully qualified Egyptologist, your group will be accompanied by a highly experienced Egyptian guide and a New Zealand tour manager.

Itinerary - January 2010

Sun 3 January:

Wellington - Athens

Tue 5 January:

Wellington - Cairo

Wed 6 January: Cairo

We arrive in Cairo early morning and begin with an exploratory bus tour of this densely populated, dynamic city.

Thu 7 January: Cairo

A visit to the Egyptian Museum reveals the greatest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the world. With 107 rooms, it houses some of the most beautiful examples of ancient Egyptian art and sculpture, including Tutankhamun's gold death mask and the famous royal mummy room. (B)

Fri 8 January: Cairo - Saqqara and Dahshur - Cairo

We investigate the 3rd dynasty Step Pyramid complex, the foremost necropolis of ancient Memphis, site of the first pyramid and earliest known stone architecture. This site marks the beginnings of the Old Kingdom and the greatest pyramid age. From here, we travel to the 4th dynasty Red Pyramid (the first true pyramid) and the Bent Pyramid, where we have an opportunity to explore the burial chambers. (B)

Sat 9 January: Giza

We visit the site of Egypt's most enduring monument and the peak of Old Kingdom royal architecture, the Great Pyramid. A thorough examination of the monuments includes the 4th dynasty royal pyramids, the Sphinx, royal mortuary temples, the boat museum, western mastaba cemetery and, of course, the chance to go inside the Great Pyramid itself.

Sun 10 January: Cairo

Free day to explore the city or relax at our hotel. (B)

Mon 11 January: Cairo The Faiyum - El-Minya

We travel to El-Lahun, site of the 12th dynasty pyramid of Senwosret II and the mastaba tomb of Inpy, the King's chancellor and architect. Here, we explore the Middle Kingdom pyramid town of Kahun, home to the pharaoh's workers and an unparalleled source of information about everyday life during the early 2nd millennium BC. Our home for the next two nights is El-Minya. (B)

Tue 12 January: El-Minya - Beni Hasan and Tell el-Amarna - El-Minya

From El-Minya we travel south, breaking our journey to visit Beni Hasan and the fascinating tombs of the region's 11th and 12th dynasty governors, with their unique decorative themes. Continuing south, we travel to Tell el-Amarna, location of the ancient capital city of Akhetaten. Built by the pharaoh Akhenaten in the 18th dynasty, and abandoned soon after his death, this is the only surviving example of a New Kingdom city. (B)

Wed 13 January: El-Minya - Luxor

After arriving and checking in to our hotel in Luxor, we spend a leisurely afternoon exploring the beautiful collection held at the Luxor museum. Its stunning artefacts include the mummy of Ramesses I, a unique exhibition about ancient Egypt's military history, statues from the cachettes found in Karnak and Luxor temples and some of the finest surviving examples of Amarna Period art. (B)

Thu 14 January: Luxor: The East Bank temples

We spend a full day visiting the most complex and magnificent temples of the New Kingdom; the great temples of Amun at Karnak and Luxor. At Karnak, the largest religious complex in history, we investigate the main temple buildings, associated shrines and dazzling chapels in the Open Air Museum. Then it's on to Karnak's partner temple, Luxor, where the finest architects of the 18th and 19th dynasty demonstrated their prowess at ancient Egypt's foremost festival site. (B)

Fri 15 Janury: Luxor: The West Bank tombs

We spend the day in the world's most famous realm of the dead, the Theban necropolis, which was the burial place for many of ancient Egypt's greatest New Kingdom pharaohs and officials. Our visit includes the unparalleled royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the superb Tombs of the Nobles and the ancient village of the royal tomb builders at Deir el-Medina. (B)

Sat 16 January: Luxor: The West Bank Mortuary temples

We return to the West Bank to explore the elegant royal mortuary temples, the 'Houses of Millions of Years', where the deceased pharaohs were worshipped in perpetuity. Our day includes visits to Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari, the Colossi of Memnon, the Ramesseum, and Ramesses III's mortuary temple at Medinet Habu. (B)

Sun 17 January: Luxor - Dendera - Abydos - Luxor

After travelling to Dendera, we investigate the near-complete Graeco-Roman period Temple of Hathor, one of the best examples of an ancient Egyptian temple complex, where we have a chance to see rooftop chapels up close. From here, we head to Abydos, centre of the cult of Osiris and site of the exquisite Temple of Seti I (and its famous 'king list'), perhaps the foremost sacred site in Egyptian history. (B, L)

Mon 18 January: Luxor

We board our cruise boat in the morning ready for sailing down the Nile the next day. The rest of the day is free. (B, L, D)

Tue 19 January: Nile cruise: Esna

Our first stop on the river is Esna with its intriguing remains of the Temple of Khnum, guardian of the source of the Nile. (B, L, D)

Wed 20 January: Nile cruise: Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan

Continuing upriver, we stop at the magnificent Temple of Horus at Edfu, considered to be the most complete temple in Egypt and a glorious example of Ptolemaic Egyptian architecture. Sailing on, we reach Kom Ombo, the ancient crossroads of the trade routes from western Sudan and the eastern desert gold mines. Here, we explore the Temple of Sobek (the crocodile god) and Horus the Elder (the good doctor), with its unique dual design and unusual depictions of ancient medical equipment. The final leg of our cruise takes us to Aswan. (B, L, D)

Thu 21 Janury: Aswan

We visit the Aswan High Dam and examine its impact on the ancient landscape. A short boat trip takes us to the Island of Philae and the Temple of Isis, the divine archetype of wife and mother, with its accompanying mammisi celebrating divine birth. On our return to Aswan we visit the ancient granite quarries and the unfinished obelisk, followed by an exploration of the viceroy's tombs on the opposite river bank and end the day with a trip to the Nubian Museum. This is the final night onboard the cruise boat. (B, L, D)

Fri 22 January: Aswan - Abu Simbel - Cairo

After leaving the boat and travelling south, we reach the Sun Temple of Ramesses II. This majestic temple reflects the power of ancient Egypt's most prolific pharaoh and marks the southern border of his kingdom. We also look at the accompanying Temple of Queen Nefertari, his most favoured consort, and the massive UNESCO project that saved these temples from the waters of Lake Nasser. Afternoon flight to Cairo. (B)

Sat 23 January: Cairo - Alexandria

Today we drive from Cairo to Alexandria, taking a detour to visit the Military Museum and British Military Cemetery at El-Alamein. This was the site of fierce fighting between Allied and German forces in October 1942. Winston Churchill described the battle of El-Alamein as the turning point in World War II. (B)

Sun 24 Jnauary: Alexandria

We visit Pompey's Pillar, which rises out of the ruins of the Serapeum temple, the catacombs of Kom El-Shokafa (the largest known burial site in Egypt), Kom Al-Dikka (the only Roman amphitheatre to be unearthed in Egypt) and visit the Graeco-Roman Museum, a great record of Alexandria's unique mix of Egyptian, Greek and Roman influences. (B)

Mon 25 January: Alexandria - Cairo

We return to Cairo and our central city hotel. (B)

Tue 26 January: Cairo

The final day of our tour is a free day of exploration or relaxation in Cairo and includes a farewell group dinner. (B, D)

Wed 27 January:

Depart Cairo early afternoon (B)

Thu 28 January:

In transit

Fri 29 January:

Arrive Wellington early evening

B, L, D = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner provided.

Tours depart from and return to Wellington New Zealand. Participants from other countries are welcome to join the tour in Egypt.

While the intention is to follow the outlined itinerary, it is subject to change if necessary. We cannot guarantee that all the sites and museums indicated will be accessible and/or open: your tour leaders have the right to change the itinerary at any time as circumstances dictate.

Teacher Bio

Tour Leader Sarah Vidler is a freelance consultant, guide and teacher. She holds a masters degree in Egyptian archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, which she gained with distinction.

Since moving to Wellington from the United Kingdom, she has worked with Te Papa and its 2006/07 Egypt Beyond The Tomb exhibition and has taught a range of courses for Victoria Community Continuing Education, including Ancient Egypt: The Archaeological Truth, Ancient Egypt: A Day In The Life, Pharaohs: A Brief History of Ancient Egypt and The Monuments of Ancient Egypt.

Sarah has travelled extensively throughout Egypt and the Mediterranean and co-led the inaugural Victoria University study tour to Egypt in 2008.