A Family Adventure to Egypt

A family-friendly, information filled hour awaits you with your very own expert academic Egyptologist. Your expert will know how to engage with budding historians of all ages, making sure the information is delivered in an age appropriate way, helping all the family understand the ancient Egyptian sites you will see, or already have seen, on your adventure.
Together you will talk about all sorts of interesting and exciting ideas such as Pharaohs and the huge scale, colours and scents of Egyptian temples during ancient times.
Visual aids will help bring this history to life as your shown reconstructed images of how the temples once appeared. Last but not least you will talk about hieroglyphics, translating your own sentence and having a go at writing some hieroglyphics yourself.

Of the seven wonders of the ancient world, only one remains today: The Great Pyramid of Giza. Before you visit Giza though, you'll visit the more ancient pyramid site of Saqqara where you'll learn more about the history and evolution of these pyramid structures. At Saqqara, you will discover how the ancient Egyptians experimented with stepped pyramids, including the famous step pyramid of Djoser which is the oldest stone building complex in the world. Astonishingly you will also learn how at Saqqara the Egyptians tried to rebuild entire worlds for use in the afterlife. If you would like to enter a pyramid you might consider doing so at Saqqara where it is less busy than Giza and some of the pyramids have inscriptions inside (please note this is more physically difficult than most people anticipate and is not advised for anyone who suffers from claustrophobia, or neck, back or knee problem). You will also view the bent pyramid of Dashur from a distance and your guide will tell you about the history of the Red Pyramid.

Continuing our journey, and following the evolution of these engineering feats, you'll head to Giza which served as a way for kings to journey to the next world and emerge as gods. Despite their age, the pyramids still overwhelm and impress visitors. You will visit all three of the pyramids at Giza, and also get to see their collective grandeur from a panoramic view point. Proceed to the Great Sphinx with its head of a man and body of a lion, gazing imposingly across the valley.

To the West of Cairo lies the great Sahara desert, stretching all the way to Libya and far beyond across the African continent. The rural sugar cane growing villages of Fayoum and Tunis are the gateway to the desert expanse and offer a surprising number of attractions. Today you will see the astonishing ecologically designed museum at the UNESCO world heritage site of Wadi El Hitan which shows the process of evolution through fascinating prehistoric whale skeletons, including ones with limbs! You will then head out into the wilderness on a 4x4 to see the magic lake which emerges - as if by magic - from the desert scenery. This part of the tour is an adventurous off-road jeep ride with plenty of steep inclines and declines. The lake is a stunning place to stop for an impromptu BBQ lunch which you will enjoy in the wilderness before leaving the desert.

You'll end with Tunis village, and the opportunity to buy some beautiful gifts, thanks to the endeavors of the committed Swiss philanthropist and potter Evelyn Porret. She single handedly took it upon herself to train an entire village which is now packed full of self-sustaining artisan potters.

This tour is not advised for people with back or neck issues, due to the off-road portion of the journey.

Experience the awe-inspiring marvel that is the Karnak Temple, situated in Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes, which once pulsated as the spiritual epicenter of ancient Egypt. It comes as no surprise that Luxor and its surroundings boast an unparalleled concentration of temples, tombs, and monuments, with Karnak reigning as the pinnacle of this sacred landscape. As the earthly abode of the sun god Amun-Re, Karnak held immense significance in the spiritual tapestry of ancient Egypt, showcasing a breathtaking ensemble of shrines, obelisks, and temples.

Explore the mystical West Bank of Luxor, once the renowned necropolis of Thebes. Symbolically positioned where the sun bids its farewell, this ethereal city of the departed embodies the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Journey through a captivating array of intricately painted tombs, narrating the afterlife voyage of the honored deceased. Admire the miraculously preserved burial chambers, like Queen Nefertari's, where vivid colors defy the passage of millennia. Immerse yourself in meticulously restored tombs, such as Queen Hatshepsut's temple tomb, offering a vivid glimpse into their former glory. Delve into legend as you witness the world-renowned discovery of Howard Carter—the complete tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun, adorned with treasures and provisions for his celestial transition. Time permitting, venture further to the tomb of Ramses I and behold the timeless Colossi of Memnon—monumental stone statues guarding the Theban Necropolis since 1350 BCE.

Revel in the atmosphere, glowing light and cooler temperatures on your evening visit to Luxor temple. You’ll feel mystified as you try to comprehend how the enormous statues and granite obelisk at the entrance could possibly have been created without the use of modern machinery. These statues and the obelisk were signs of fertility and prosperity and were capped with precious metals to capture the light so everyone could find their way to the temples. The temple of Luxor dates to 1400 BCE and was intended for priests rather than the general public. This is also the site where kings were crowned. Alexander the Great claimed to have been crowned at Luxor, but in fact it is unlikely he travelled this far south.

Visit the enchanting temple of Kom Ombo, nestled on the picturesque banks of the Nile River, midway between Luxor and Aswan. This magnificent temple traces its origins back to the Ptolemaic dynasty around 200 BCE and holds a captivating tale of dual deities. Dedicated to Horus, the Falcon God symbolizing keen vision and the love of the people, and Sobek, the crocodile god representing earthly instincts and revered out of fear, this unique double temple embodies the profound notion that within each of us reside both good and bad. It stands as a timeless reminder that humanity's purpose lies in maintaining a harmonious equilibrium within ourselves and in the universe.

Kom Ombo Temple, beyond its spiritual significance, played a pivotal role in ancient Egypt's medical practices. With Sobek revered as the god of fertility, the temple became a prominent hub for fertility treatments and various other forms of healing. Adorning its walls are intricate depictions of ancient Egyptian medicine and hygiene practices, including the meticulous washing of food before consumption, offering glimpses into the civilization's advanced understanding of health and well-being.

To honor Sobek within the temple, priests would embark on a ritual journey to the Nile, selecting a living crocodile to reside in this sacred space. When the crocodile eventually passed away, it would be mummified and replaced, a custom that highlights the reverence bestowed upon the deity. Today, you can witness these preserved crocodile mummies at the adjacent museum—a small but truly captivating treasure trove.

Embark on a fascinating journey to Aswan, where you will have the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the captivating Nubian community of Egypt. The Nubians, an ethnic group hailing from Northern Sudan and Southern Egypt, have been an integral part of the Nile region for centuries, renowned for their expertise in trading precious goods such as gold and spices. This tour takes you beyond the surface, offering an authentic glimpse into the lives of the Nubian people. Unlike conventional tourist encounters, we steer clear of the well-trodden path and guide you to the unexplored side of a genuine Nubian village. Here, you will interact with the locals, step inside their homes, and discover their unique infrastructure. Accompanied by the villagers themselves, you will embark on a village tour, encountering remarkable ancient remnants that deviate from the typical tourist routes.

It's well worth the journey down to the border of Sudan to marvel at the temples at Abu Simbel which were built by Ramses II to demonstrate the might and glory of Egypt to the nearby Nabatean tribes. There are 20m tall twin statues of Ramses II carved into the mountainside as well as images of the king bearing the double crown of lower and upper Egypt. Knee high to Ramses, you'll see his wife Queen Nefertari and his children, their diminutive form indicative of their lower status. The great temple of Abu Simbel was dedicated to the sun god Amun, the god Ra-Horakhty and the god Ptah, and to the deified form of Ramses himself. The rescue story of these monuments from the rising waters of Lake Nasser is also remarkable – the monuments were cut into blocks and then moved, stone by stone, to more elevated land.

The relaxed city of Aswan definitely deserves its reputation as Egypt's most beautiful city. Much of what you will see here is in some way connected with the momentous damming of the Nile here during the 1960s to control the annual flooding and create Lake Nasser. The ambitious project took decades to complete. The scale of the engineering works is impressive and standing at the top of the dam you will enjoy sweeping views of the lake and the surrounding arid desert scenery. Continue to the temple of Philae, an outstanding temple complex dedicated to the goddess Isis and dating back to the Ptolemaic age of about 690 BCE. There are many legends associated with Isis and the temple, but the most famous is the story of Isis finding the heart of Osiris after his murder by his brother Seth. As with Abu Simbel this temple was dismantled piece by piece and rebuilt on higher ground to avoid it being flooded by the damming of the Nile. The temple is accessed by motorboat.

Enjoy the beautiful beach destination of the Red Sea - a place for true relaxation or fun activities, the choice is yours. Whether relaxing by the pool, sipping a refreshing drink, or taking a boat for a scuba diving adventure beneath the warm waters there's something for everyone. The waters here are known to have some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world. The brightly coloured reef is illuminated by the strong Egyptian sunshine, which is so powerful it can easily penetrate the water to the deepest reef areas. For those looking to explore the region away from the beach there's plenty of interesting things to do such as visiting fishing villages, UNESCO heritage sites and scaling majestic sand dunes for quad biking adventures.