THE MAJESTY OF EGYPT

With Professor Bob Brier and Art Historian Patricia Remler
November 1 - 17, 2009
February 7 – 23, 2010

Herodotus said it 2,500 years ago: "Egypt is the gift of the Nile" - and what a gift it is - a narrow strip of cultivatable land teased from barren expanse of desert that is home of one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known. The Nile, from the Sudan to the Mediterranean, was the life-blood of this remarkable culture that flourished for over 3,000 years.

Far Horizons presents an extraordinary 17-day trip to Egypt that includes many highlights. We have made special arrangements to enter the Queen’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid, Seti I’s Tomb, Nefatari’s Burial Chamber, the Unas Temple at Sakkara, and the Red Pyramid—all closed to the public. We will meet with the excavation director at Elephantine Island, and hear about the Kharga Oasis Project from the archaeologist working there. At the Chicago House, a major center for Egyptian Studies, we will be hosted by the Director and join working archaeologists for cocktails and a tour of the incredible library. And finally, we will board a small vessel, the Eugènie, to cruise from Aswan to Abu Simbal, visiting rarely-seen Nubian sites along the way.

Join us for the unique opportunity to go behind the scenes, and experience the Egypt that tourists rarely see.

ITINERARY:
(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner

Day 1: Depart the USA for our overnight flight to Cairo.

Day 2: Upon arrival, transfer to the 5-star Cairo Marriott, built around a 19th century palace on an island in the Nile River, and our home for the next three nights.

Day 3: Begin today with the Pyramids at the Giza Plateau. The Great Pyramid is one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, and the complex was the necropolis for the Old Kingdom royal families. Continue on to the Solar Boat Museum that houses the 141-foot cedar vessel meant to convey King Khufu to paradise. In the afternoon, return to the Great Pyramid for private entry into the tombs, where our leader will elaborate on the newest theory about how the pyramids were built. Gather this evening for our welcome dinner party in one of Cairo’s fine restaurants. If available, Dr. Salima Ikram of the American University in Cairo will meet the group to discuss her work on the North Kharga Oasis Project. (B/L/D)

Day 4: Drive along the picturesque Nile Canal to Dahshur to see the newly opened Red and Bent pyramids. Then on to Sakkara, site of the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser, forerunner of the great Giza pyramids. View the brilliantlypainted mastaba tombs portraying lively daily life scenes, and then descend into the pyramid of Unas, whose interior walls record the world's first religious texts. Our last stop is Memphis, once the capital of all Egypt. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)

Day 5: In the historic section of the city, visit Ben Ezra Synagogue dating from the 10th century, Amr ibn El-Aas Mosque and Abu Serga Church . Then enter the stupendous Egyptian Museum, housing the world's greatest collection of Pharaonic antiquities including the amazing treasures from King Tutankhamen's tomb. After lunch at the renowned Naguid Mahfouz restaurant, walk through the famous Khan el-Khalili souk, or bazaar, largely unchanged since the 14th century. Board the first class train for our dinner and overnight journey to Luxor in private sleeper compartments. (B/L/D)

Day 6: Upon arrival into Luxor, transfer to our hotel to freshen up and have breakfast. The celebrated Egyptian city of Thebes, modern Luxor, was described by Homer as “the city of a hundred gates” because so many of its temples had the monumental entrances favored by contemporary Greek architecture. Today’s tour includes spectacular Karnak and the Temple of Amun, containing 250 acres of temples, chapels, obelisks, columns and statues built over a period of 2,000 years and incorporating the finest aspects of Egyptian art and architecture. Visit the Luxor Museum to see the remarkable artifacts found in nearby excavations, and the magnificent Temple of Luxor. This has always been a sacred site and was the power base of the living divine and the foremost national shrine of the king’s cult. Dinner and overnight in the boutique Al Moudira Hotel, designed with traditionally styled architecture incorporating beautiful pieces saved from old Egyptian buildings. Each of its enormous bedrooms are hand-painted with unique designs, and the trompe-l'oeil architectural details and curtains painted on the walls add to the idiosyncratic charm of this hotel, our home for the next four nights. (B/L/D)

Day 7: Begin today on Luxor’s west bank, the royal necropolis of the Kings. Guarding the approach to the necropolis are two massive statues known as the Colossi of Memnon. The longest, deepest and most complete in the valley, the Tomb of Seti I is by far the most magnificent of the imperial burial places. Normally closed to the public, we have special permission to enter. Seti I's reign is known for high achievements in art and culture, and his majestic mausoleum was one of the hallmarks of his building projects. The ceiling in the crypt area is painted with astronomical decorations depicting constellations in the night sky. Continue to one of the smallest in the necropolis, the Tomb of Tutankhamun, undoubtedly the most famous of the Egyptian tombs because of the extraordinary discoveries made here in the early 20th century. Deir El Medina was the village home of the workmen who were responsible for the construction and embellishment of the royal tombs from the New Kingdom. The master masons, artists and sculptors who worked on the crypts were born, trained, lived, died, and buried here. Continue to the Ramesseum, built by Ramesses II as his mortuary temple. The main building, where the funerary cult of the king was celebrated, has pylons decorated with scenes from the Battle of Kadesh showing Ramesses fighting the Hittites. The Chicago House is the Oriental Institute headquarters in Egypt and a major center of Egyptological studies. Here, we join the Director and his staff as they host us for cocktails and a specially arrange private viewing of the library, among the finest in Egypt. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Depart this morning to visit two very special sites: Abydos and The Temple of Dendera. Abydos, one of ancient Egypt’s most sacred ancient cities, was the cult center of Egypt’s most beloved hero and the central figure of the Osiris legend, and the lovely wall reliefs in the temples tell of this popular tale. There are many temples to Hathor, the cow-goddess who presided over love, music, dance and enjoyment, but the temple in Denderah is the best preserved. The building is richly decorated with 18 Hathor-headed columns supporting the roof of the hypostyle hall and a series of reliefs linking the traditions of Hathor with her husband, Horus. (B/L/D)

Day 9: Begin today on Luxor’s west bank in the Valley of Queens, the burial place of the royal wives, concubines and daughters of the pharaohs, and the princes who died at an early age. The most renowned of these tombs was that of Nefertari, favorite wife of Ramses II. Normally closed to the public, we have special permission to enter to see the interior of the burial chamber, covered with scenes of exceptional quality and beauty. Ramesses III chose the sacred site of Medinet Habu to build his funeral temple. Surrounded by a fortified enclosure wall and covering more than twenty acres, the complex contains funerary chapels, shops, and the gigantic Great Temple with it intact pylon decorated with scenes of the king’s victories. Here, we join Dr. Ray Johnson for a private, behind the scenes tour of the building. And finally, see the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh, certainly the most beautiful architecture within the Valley of the Kings. (B/L/D)

Day 10: On our drive to Aswan stop along the way to explore two remarkable Ptolemaic sites. The Temple of Horus at Edfu is the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt and the second largest after Karnak. Built from sandstone blocks, the huge Ptolemaic temple has a massive entrance pylon covered with traditional scenes of the king smiting his enemies before Horus. Kom Ombo is notable for its two sanctuaries. One is dedicated to the crocodile-god, Sobek, and the other to the falcon-god, Horus the Elder. In ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank near here, and hundreds of mummified crocodiles were found in the vicinity. Upon arrival into Aswan, walk to the nearby Nubian Museum, opened in 1997. The recipient of the Aga Khan award for its stunning architecture, this new museum highlights Nubia, historically Egypt's gateway to the rest of Africa. Today, Nubia’s lands lie under Lake Nasser, submerged in 1971 when the Aswan High Dam was opened. Check into the Old Cataract Hotel, majestically positioned on an outcrop of pink granite overlooking the Nile. Built in 1899, the hotel once was a rendezvous for royalty and is where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile in the suite still named after her. This is our home for the next three nights. (B/L/D)

Day 11: Our explorations today cover several interesting sites. The granite quarries of ancient Aswan lay beside the Nile, thus providing easy access to boats for transporting this prized building stone to sites downstream. A crack in the granite stopped the cutting of what would have been an enormous obelisk, now known as the Unfinished Obelisk. The island of Philae was the center of the cult of the goddess Isis and her connection with Osiris, Horus, and the Kingship during the Ptolemaic period of Egyptian History. For over 50 years the island and its monuments lay half-submerged in water built up by the Aswan Dam, until the UNESCO rescue operations completely dismantled and rebuilt the temples and moved them to the nearby island of Agilika. This afternoon, embark by motorboat to see the temples, courts and other ancient constructions. On the nearby island of Soheil, where Anukis the daughter of Khnum was worshipped, are found more than 250 inscriptions engraved on rocks by pilgrims, dating from the fourth dynasty down to Ptolemaic times. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)

Day 12: Board a private vessel to visit the ancient stronghold of Elephantine Island, one of the most ancient sites in Egypt with artifacts dating to pre-dynastic periods. The island was considered to be home of the important Egyptian god, Khnum. Here, we join an archaeologist from the German excavations for a specially-arranged tour of their work, and view the Temple of Khnum, originally erected during the Old Kingdom, a Greco-Roman Necropolis and the Temple of Satet, built by Queen Hatshepsut. The Nile at Aswan is dominated by the sand-covered hills of the West Bank, strewn with rock-cut tombs of high-status officials of the Old and Middle Kingdom. Our destination this afternoon is The Tombs of Nobles, decorated with colorful scenes of the owners' biographies and scenes of everyday life. The afternoon is free to wander in the Aswan marketplace, or souk. (B/L/D)

Day 13: Transfer to the 5-star Eugénie cruise boat. This distinctive vessel epitomizes all the class and glamour of a more elegant age - warm wood paneling throughout, plush furnishings, velvet curtains, and tasteful antique furniture. Lake Nasser, the world’s largest man-made lake, lies south of Aswan. Dotted with hundreds of islands and abundant wildlife, the area features natural beauty with incredible history. The temples here - Ramses II’s large temples in Abu Simbel are the most well known - were saved in the late sixties through a worldwide effort when UNESCO move them to higher ground. Most of these wonderful monuments have been nearly unreachable for visitors until MS Eugénie began to cruise these waters. Today’s visits include Kalabsha, a Greco-Roman Period temple dedicated to Mandoulis, a Nubian solar deity. Then it’s on to see a rock-cut temple of Beit el Wali, built by Ramses II in his youth and with lively battle scenes, and a young Rameses riding in his chariot. Continue sailing to the Kiosk of Kertassi, dedicated to the goddess Isis, with two magnificent Harthoric columns. This evening, sail to Wadi Al Seboua. All meals and overnight onboard the Eugénie for the next three nights. (B/L/D)

Day 14: Enjoy a leisurely morning onboard as we pass through the Tropic of Cancer. After lunch, debark to view a most impressive trio of antiquities. Climbing to the heights of Wadi Al Seboua to see the well-preserved Temple of Meharakka, a Roman period edifice dedicated to Serapis. Then walk through an avenue of sphinxes to Wadi El Seboua Temple, the rock-cut shrine built by Ramses II dedicated to the god Amon and later transformed into a church. Continue on to the Temple of Dakka, dedicated to Thoth, the God of Divine Wisdom, time, science and literature. (B/L/D)

Day 15: After breakfast, explore several interesting sites. The Temple of Amada, built during the 18th Dynasty and the oldest temple in Nubia, displays a vivid collection of brightly painted reliefs of the kings and gods. The hemi-speos of Derr was built by Ramses II and was dedicated to the sun god Ra and the divine aspect of the pharaoh. The magnificent wall paintings inside include representations of ceremonies and divinities. The Tomb of Penout is the only still existing example of a tomb of an Egyptian viceroy in Nubia. Then sail on to view the Citadel of Kasr Ibrim, sole vestige of the distant past of Nubia in its original location. Explanation is done from the sun deck of the ship, as entrance to the site is not permitted due to its fragile condition. Continue to Abu Simbel and anchor opposite the imposing, colossal statues of the two rock-cut temples of Ramses II and his cherished wife Nefertari. The statues were the first to be saved by the UNESCO campaign. After lunch visit the Abu Simbel Temples, and enjoy the optional evening sound and light show. The ancient rulers look down on us as we enjoy an open-air cocktail party and candlelight dinner facing the temples. (B/L/D)

Day 16: Leave the Eugénie vessel and transfer to airport to board the flight to Cairo. Elegantly landscaped on what was a 500-year-old garbage heap outside the main wall of the medieval quarter, Al Azhar Park is congested Cairo’s first large green space in more than a century. Our final lunch will be in the park’s Mamluk-style Citadel Restaurant, one of the world’s most atmospheric alfresco dining experiences with spectacular views. The afternoon and dinner are on our own. Return to the Cairo Marriott and overnight. (B/L)

Day 17: Transfer to airport to board our flight back to the USA. (B)

(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner

NOV 2009 STUDY LEADERS: Professor Bob Brier received his Ph.D from the University of North Carolina. He is not only one of the nation’s leading Egyptologists, but a brilliant lecturer and storyteller. He is professor of philosophy at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University and the author of several books including The Murder of Tutankhamen: A True Story and The Daily Life of the Ancient Egyptians. Professor Brier has served as director of the "Egyptology Today" program of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and as host of the Learning Channel series, The Great Egyptians. He has twice been selected as a Fulbright Scholar, and is a lecturer for The Teaching Company. He is a wonderful teacher with a special flair for evoking the distant past in ways that make it seem vividly present. Patricia Remler is an author, photographer, and art historian. She was the Researcher for four important Learning Channel documentaries - the three-part Pyramids, Tombs, and Mummies, the six-part series The Great Egyptians, the one hour Napoleon's Obsession: The Quest for Egypt, and the three-part dseries Unwrapped, The Mysterious World of Mummies. She is the author of Egyptian Mythology A - Z..

FEB 2010 STUDY LEADER: To Be Announced.

TRIP DATES: November 1-17, 2009 and February 7 – 23, 2010

TRIP COST: $12,495.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes round trip airfare from New York’s JFK to Cairo, Egypt and the Egyptian internal flights; all hotels; most meals (as listed in the itinerary); the overnight train in sleeper compartments from Cairo to Luxor; three nights onboard the Eugénie cruise ship; ground transportation; and entry fees.

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: A separate donation check for $150.00 to “The Epigraphic Survey”; passport or visa fees; airport taxes; beverages or food not included on regular menus; laundry; excess baggage charges; personal tips; alcoholic drinks; telephone, email, and fax charges; or other items of a personal nature.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $1,395.00. Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement will be charged.

REGISTRATION: A deposit of $500.00 along with a separate check for $150.00 to “The Epigraphic Survey”, is required along with your registration form. Final payment is due 75 days before departure. Upon receipt of your deposit and completed registration form, you will be sent a reading list and a clothing and equipment list.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Cancellations received in writing at least 75 days before departure will receive a refund less a $250.00 administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 75 days before the departure date will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees. Upon registering for the trip the purchase of travel protection with both trip cancellation and emergency evacuation is strongly advised.

NOTE ON DONATION: Cost of the trip does not include the separate donation check for $150.00 to "The Epigraphic Survey". As a tour company that benefits from the historical, cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to scholars, archaeological and cultural projects, and museums in each of our destinations. This has created a bond with the academic community that allows you to gain an 'insider's view' of the work being done in each country. Please see information on the University of Chicago's Epigraphic Survey website —http://oi.chicago.edu/research/projects/epi. Note that the donation is required as part of your registration for the trip and that it is non-refundable.

PRIVATE TOURS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES: The private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts. However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be onsite when our groups arrive due to other commitments.

FUEL SURCHARGES: Far Horizons must pass on price increases when additional fuel charges are levied.

LIMITED TO 24 PARTICIPANTS