Pharaonic Egypt - From Cairo to Abu Simbel

Fly at c. 9.45am (Egypt Air) from London Heathrow to Cairo, arriving c. 4.20pm (time in the air: c. 4 hours 40 minutes). Time to settle into your room before dinner. First of three nights in Cairo.

After an introductory lecture, drive to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, displaying a vast collection of artefacts, including the unmissable Royal Mummies Gallery. In the afternoon visit the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities to view the richest collection of Pharaonic art in the world, including treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun. 

The recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is now the world’s largest archaeological museum, holding King Tut’s full treasure collection and relics spanning Egypt’s ancient history to the Greek and Roman periods. On the edge of Cairo, the Giza Complex, home to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx – Egypt’s most iconic archaeological site – dates back over 4,500 years. Third and final night in Cairo.

Early morning flight to Aswan. Drive to Abu Simbel for a first visit to the dramatic twin temples of Ramesses II and his Great Royal Wife, Nefertari, on the shores of Lake Nasser. Some free time in the afternoon before returning to Abu Simbel for the evening sound & light show. Overnight in Abu Simbel.

A second early-morning visit to Abu Simbel offers the chance to experience the site at its best, avoiding the peak crowds. Drive to Aswan. Enjoy a scenic ride on a Felucca (a traditional wooden sailboat) on the Nile at sunset, before returning to the hotel for dinner. First of two nights in Awan.

The High Dam is one of the engineering wonders of the world. View in the distance the imposing Kalabsha temple, relocated to the banks of Lake Nasser during the construction of the High Dam. Between the High Dam and the Old Dam lies the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis, which was reconstructed on a landscaped island after the flooding of its original location. Also visit the ancient granite quarries where a flawed obelisk dating to the 18th Dynasty lies unfinished. Final night in Aswan.

Drive north to Kom Ombo to explore the remains of the unique double temple to Sobek and Haroeris (Horus the elder), teetering on the banks of the Nile. Continue through the agricultural landscape of Southern Upper Egypt and visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. On the way to Luxor, stop at the Temple of Esna, renowned for its remarkable astronomical reliefs. Arrive in Luxor for the first of five nights.

Spend the morning at Luxor Temple, a magnificent sanctuary dedicated to Amun, closely linked to Karnak Temple through the grand Opet Festival. Later, explore the Luxor Museum, which houses ancient Egyptian artefacts from Thebes, including statues from the Karnak Cachette, a well-preserved mummy of Ramses I, and exquisite reliefs from Akhenaten’s reign. 

Drive to the Theban West Bank, the vast city of the dead, home to the Valley of the Kings, where New Kingdom pharaohs were buried in magnificently decorated rock-cut tombs. Visit their grand mortuary temples, built as Houses of Eternity for the royal cult. Deir el-Bahari is the stunning terraced temple of Hatshepsut, honouring Egypt’s great female pharaoh. Return via the Tombs of the Nobles, adorned with exquisite reliefs and vivid scenes of festivals and funerary rites. 

Follow the Nile north to Abydos, the sacred cult centre of Osiris, god of the afterlife. A major pilgrimage destination, it was also the burial site of Egypt’s earliest pharaohs. Here, the Temple of Seti I is one of Egypt’s most impressive, renowned for its well-preserved reliefs. In the afternoon, visit the Dendera complex, site of the Temple of Hathor, which features a breath-taking astronomical ceiling and vivid reliefs, including a famous depiction of Cleopatra VII and Caesarion. 

Visit the ancient site of Thebes and the vast temple complex of Karnak, which includes another spectacular temple dedicated to Amun. Continue to Deir el-Medina, the village of the skilled workmen who built and decorated the royal tombs. A rare settlement site, it features the inhabitants’ own decorated tombs with perfectly preserved colours. In the afternoon, visit the Ramesseum, the magnificent memorial (or mortuary) temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Fifth and final night in Luxor.

Late morning transfer to Luxor Airport for the group flight to London via Cairo, arriving at c. 9:00pm.