The
Oases of Western Egypt:
With Professor Robert Brier and Patricia Remler
March 3 - 20, 2008
The Great Sand Sea of the western desert of Egypt is actually
part of the Sahara Desert. This arid expanse, running for hundreds
of miles west of the Nile to the border with Libya, is dotted
with five verdant spring-fed oases, Siwa, Dakhla, Bahariya,
Farafra, and Karga, and a sixth, the Fayoum, that was created
during the time of the pharaohs. These oases rarely receive
rain, but instead collect water from numerous wells, some 400
feet deep, springing from the porous sandstone lying beneath
the desert sand.
 Join
Professor Robert Brier and Art Historian, Patricia Remler, on
a memorable 18-day exploration of the oases of the western desert
of Egypt. Begin with a drive through unparalleled desert beauty
to the Mediterranean Sea with a stop at Deir al-Surian Monastery,
or the Monastery of the Syrians. We then follow Alexander the
Great’s path to Siwa Oasis, where the oracles of Amon
declared him the son of Zeus validating his right to rule Egypt.
Bahariya Oasis was a major trading point on the route from Europe
to Africa 2000 years ago, and was the site where the renowned
“Golden Mummies” were found. At Kharga and Dakhla,
view vibrantly colored Roman and Christian tombs. And at Farafra,
drive into the desert to see the White Desert with its fantastic
geologic formations. We end with the Fayoum, the main place
of worship of the crocodile god, Sobek.
This
immense area of Egypt is ideally suited to those individuals
seeking both the beauty of the rugged wilderness and the remote
ruins of Egypt’s historical past.
ITINERARY:
(B)
breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner |
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Day 1:
(March 3): Depart the USA for our overnight flight to Cairo.
Day 2:
(March 4): Upon arrival, transfer to the 5-star Hotel Marriott,
built around a 19th century palace on an island in the Nile
River, and our home for the next two nights.
 Day 3:
(March 5): This morning will be spent in the stupendous Egyptian
Museum, housing the world's greatest collection of Pharaonic
antiquities including the amazing treasures from King Tutankhamen's
tomb. In the afternoon, we will have a short walking tour of
Medieval Cairo visiting Beit el-Kratlea (Geyer-Anderson Museum),
and the Ibn Touloun Mosque, built in 879. The classic grandeur
of its scale makes it one of the most imposing of all Cairo's
great mosques. After a specially arranged presentation on the
archaeology of Kharga Oasis, gather this evening for our welcome
dinner party. (B/L/D)
 Day 4:
(March 6): As we travel towards the Mediterranean,
stop to visit Deir al-Surian Monastery, housing a rich library
that includes Biblical texts and writings of the earliest 'desert
monks'. Most of the manuscripts are in Syriac, a branch of Aramaic,
and the language of Jesus, as well as Pharaonic, Coptic, Arabic
and Ethiopic. Overnight in the San Giovanni Hotel along the
Mediterranean coast in Marsa Matrouh. (B/L/D)
 Day 5:
(March 7): This morning's drive takes us to Siwa Oasis.
Always more North African than Egyptian, Siwa today remains
different from other Egyptian oases. It is the largest and most
remote of them, and most Siwans are Berbers, descendents of
Bedouins that roamed the coast from Tunisia to Morocco. The
local people, who speak a dialect called Siwi, continue to harvest
dates and olives and get about by donkey and cart. Set among
thick palm groves and filled with walled gardens and olive orchards,
the modern town encircles the remains of the ancient mud-brick
fortress of Shali. We will explore the town this afternoon and
visit the Siwa House Ethnographic Museum. Overnight for two
nights at the Siwa Safari Paradise Hotel. (B/L/D)
 Day
6: (March 8): Today we explore several fascinating sites. The
Temple to Amun dates from the 7th century B.C. In 331 B.C. after
taking Egypt from the Persians, Alexander the Great consulted
the oracle here to validate his status as the son of Zeus and
thus the legitimate ruler of the country. The nearby Temple
of Umm Ubayda was at one time joined to the Oracle Temple by
a causeway and formed an integral part of the rituals related
to the Oracle and the god. Gebel El Mawta, the Mountain of the
Dead, guards the northern entrance to the oasis. Tombs from
the Twenty-sixth Dynasty, Ptolemaic, and Roman periods are cut
into the side of the mountain. Fed by a network of underground
springs, Siwa contains several springs. Cleopatra's bath is
reputedly named for one of the Cleopatras who bathed here. (B/L/D)
 Day 7:
(March 9): Our drive through the sweeping sands takes us through
Bahrein, Nawameissa, and Setra Oases, and on to Bahareya Oasis
with it’s more than 200,000 palm trees, thousands of date
and olive trees, and profusion of hot and cold springs. More
than 2000 years ago, the oasis was thriving - a resting place
for merchants traveling between Europe and Africa. One of the
most famous visitors was Alexander the Great who stopped here
on his way back to Memphis. A temple was erected to honor this
king. Overnight at the Palm Village Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day
8: (March 10): In 1996, an amazing cemetery was found outside
the village of Bawiti in Bahareya Oasis. When opened, it was
found to contain Greco-Roman period mummies that had lain undisturbed
in stone-carved catacombs beneath the sands of the Western Desert.
Some of the mummies are on display at the Bahreya Museum. Time
permitting, visit the early Christian basilica at Ain el-Hayez.
 Drive
to Farafra Oasis where the mud-brick houses are painted blue,
some even decorated with landscapes, birds and animals. Continue
into the White Desert to explore the geologic formations. Tonight
we will watch the sunset over the exquisite sands of the desert
and dine under the stars. Overnight in the Badaweya Hotel in
Farafra with rooms in a domed building in local architectural
style among flowering bougainvillea, and banana and lemon trees.
(B/L/D)
 Day 9:
(March 11): Deir El Haggar is a tiny perfect Egyptian
temple ruin nestled between undulating dunes in the Sahara half-way
between the Nile and the Libyan border. Dating from the Roman
period (erected during the reign of the Emperor Nero) it has
inscriptions from the reigns of Nero, Vespatian, Titus and Domitian.
We'll visit Gebel Al-Muzawaqa to see decorated tombs of Pedubastis
and Petosiris. Continue to Dakhla. Inhabited since prehistoric
times, studies show that there was once a huge lake here. It
is a very lush region brimming with orchards and produce, and
10,000 years ago, the climate here was similar to that of the
African Savanna. Overnight for two nights in the Desert Lodge,
built in the traditional style and situated on top of a cliff
overlooking the village below. (B/L/D)
Photos of Dakhla Desert Hotel: Entry
Hallway | Front
Entry with Chess
 Day
10: (March 12): There are several notable villages in the Dakhla
Oasis. The capital, Mut, was named after the ancient goddess
of the Theban Triad. Here, the Museum of the Inheritance is
housed inside a traditional house, and displays different aspects
of Dakhalan culture and family life. The ancient fortified town
of Al-Qasr at the foot of the limestone cliffs and on the edge
of the lush oasis is little changed from medieval times. Built
on the foundations of a Roman village, the old town is a labyrinth
of mud-walled alleys narrowly separating houses with elaborately
carved wooden lintels. Amheida, on the western edge of Dakhla
Oasis, is a vast archaeological site.  It
was thought to be the site of the ancient Roman town of Trimethis,
according to literary sources, although the surrounding landscape
indicates substantial occupation pre-dating the Roman Period.
The afternoon is free. (B/L/D)
Day
11: (March 13): Balat is a picturesque town that was important
in the Old Kingdom. Nearby are the Al-Adaba tombs and ain Asil.
Most notable are the five mastabas, or burial buildings, which
were discovered during a sandstorm. During excavations of the
mastaba of the governor Medunefer, who served during the rule
of Pepi II, rich funeral artifacts were found, including exquisite
gold jewelry. Roman era tombs were found in nearby Ezbet Bashandi
Village. Continue to Kharga and overnight for three nights in
the four-star Pioneer Hotel with rooms around a center courtyard
and swimming pool. (B/L/D)
 Day
12: (March 14): The largest oasis, Kharga, is usually identified
with the city of Oasis mentioned by Herodotus. We will visit
several outstanding sites within Kharga. The Temple of Hibis
is the only Persian temple in Egypt. Built on the site of an
18th-dynasty settlement of Saites, the 6th-century B.C. temple
is well preserved with painted vultures and huge reliefs of
Darius greeting  Egyptian
gods on the outer walls. Nestorian chapels have been found at
El-Bagawat, including 263 mud-brick chapels with Coptic murals,
including the Chapel of Peace with images of Adam and Eve and
the Ark on its dome, and the Chapel of the Exodus with frescoes
of Pharonic troops pursuing the Jews led by Moses out of Egypt.
Qasr el-Ghueida is one of the few temples constructed and decorated
entirely during the Ptolemaic period. Qasr el-Zaiyan contains
a small temple erected under the Ptolemies; it flourished until
the Byzantine period. Northeast of Kharga is found the ruined
Temple of Nadura, built by the Romans. The temple was most likely
dedicated to the wife of the Egyptian god Amun. Finally visit
the picturesque Kharga fortress city, the Ghuweita, strategically
positioned on a high hill protecting the surrounding valley.
(B/L/D)
Photos: Temple of Hibis under
restoration | Roof
lintels
 Day
13: (March 15): Today will be an adventure! By four-wheel drive
vehicles, we will journey deep into the desert to explore three
remote Roman fortresses. Qasr el-Labeka is an extensive site
dramatically situated beneath the pastel northern cliffs and
contains two temples, at least one aqueduct, a large cemetery,
and the formidable fortress with its four round towers. Ain
Umm Dabadib is an amazing collection of buildings, tombs, and
aqueducts. Most distinguished among the ruins is this mud-brick
fortress, which looms high above all the other ruins. Ed-Deir,
another majestic mud-brick Roman fortress, protected the shortest
caravan route between Kharga and the Nile. (B/L/D)
 Day
14: (March 16): Baris Oasis is the second largest settlement
in Kharga. Here, walk through houses designed in traditional
Nubian style by the architect, Hassan Fathy; they remain uninhabited
because local people refused to live in them due to their similarity
to tombs. The city of Dush grew as a result of the slave trade.
The Temple of Dush, dedicated to Isis and Serapis, is in pure
Pharaonic tradition. Its name derives from Kush, the ancient
Sudanese capital which traded with Egypt along the Nile. Continue
to Luxor. Overnight in the Hotel Nile Palace in Luxor. (B/L)
 Day
15: (March 17): An early flight returns us to Cairo. Upon arrival,
board our bus to drive south towards the nearest of Egypt's
oases - Al Fayoum where the lush greenery stretches along the
placid shores of Lake Qaroon. We will visit several fascinating
sites today. Originally established by the 12th-dynasty King
Amenemhett III,  Medinet
Madi contains a small, well-preserved temple dedicated to Sobek,
Horus and the cobra goddess Renenutet. Tell Umm el-Breigat is
the site of the ancient town of Tebtunis. At the entrance of
the Fayoum, Senwosret II built his ‘Shining Pyramid”
of limestone and mud-brick at El Lahun. After the failure of
his Dahshur Pyramid, Amenemhet III abandoned it and started
over with a new pyramid located near the modern village of Hawara
el-Makta, not far from Lahun. It was built in typical 12th Dynasty
fashion with a mud-brick core and a casing of fine white limestone.
Overnight in the newly-renovated Helnan Auberge Fayoum Hotel,
once a hunting lodge of King Karouk. (B/L/D)
 Day
16: (March 18): Today we continue our exploration of the Fayoum.
Kom Aushim, or Karanis, was one of the largest Greco-Roman cities
in the Fayoum. It was founded in the third century BC, probably
by  Ptolemy
II Philadelphus, and was originally inhabited by the mercenaries
of his army. Excavation at Karanis began in 1895 and was the
first Greco-Roman site ever excavated in Egypt. During ancient
times, Qasr Qarun was the beginning of the caravan route to
the Bahariya Oasis and marks the location of the ancient town
of Dionysias. The town contains a fascinating temple dedicated
to Sobek-Re, the crocodile god, built more than 2000 years ago.
The first real pyramid of Egypt was built at the border of Fayoum
in Meidum. A huge tower shaped structure almost 200 feet high,
it may have been built by the 4th Dynasty King, Snefru. In the
afternoon, drive back to Cairo and overnight for two nights
at the Marriott Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day
17: (March 19): This morning there will be time to walk through
the famous Khan el-Khalili souk, or bazaar, largely
unchanged since the 14th century. Gather for our last lunch
together with the afternoon and evening free. (B/L)
(B)
breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
NOTE ABOUT ITINERARY CHANGES: Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur. A good book to read as well as a flexible attitude and a sense of humor are essential.
STUDY
LEADERS:
Professor
Bob Brier and Patricia Remler
 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 (Berkley Books, 1998) and The
Daily Life of the Ancient Egyptians (Greenwood Press, 1999).
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 has received
Long Island University's David Newton Award for Teaching Excellence
in recognition of his achievements as a lecturer. 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 series
Unwrapped, The Mysterious World of Mummies. She is
the author of Egyptian Mythology A - Z.
2008 TRIP DATES: March
3 - 20, 2008
 2008
TRIP COST: $8,495.00
(per person, double occupancy)
Includes round trip airfare from New York’s JFK to Cairo,
Egypt and the Egyptian internal flight; all hotels; most meals
(as listed in the itinerary); ground transportation; and entry
fees.
COST
DOES NOT INCLUDE: passport
or visa fees; airport taxes; beverages or food not included
on regular menus; laundry; excess baggage charges; personal
tips; alcoholic drinks; telephone and fax charges; or other
items of a personal nature.
2008
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $795.00
TRAVEL
IN THE OASES: This trip is for the hardy! This trip
is designed for flexible, energetic people who like to be active
and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. We will
be traveling into remote areas of the western Egyptian desert.
Hotels are the best available but will not be up to the standard
of the hotels along the Nile. Most will not have bell staff,
and you may have to carry your own luggage. Please note that
the hotels listed here could change. Meals will not be haute
cuisine and several lunches will be picnics or box lunches.
During several days we will be walking over uneven terrain for
a mile or more. There are days where we will be traveling in
4-wheel drive vehicles that may not be air-conditioned or new.
A flexible attitude, team spirit and a good sense of humor are
helpful! If you have questions about your ability to handle
this sort of challenge, please call us.
RESERVATION:
A deposit of $500.00, along with a separate check for
$100 written to the Institute of Bio-Archaeology (with 'for
the Kharga Project' in the subject line), 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.
An information book designed for this trip, including maps of
archaeological sites and articles of pertinent interest, will
be sent upon receipt of final payment.
CANCELLATION
AND REFUNDS: Cancellations received in writing at least 75 days before
departure will result in an administrative fee of $250.00. Cancellations received
less than 75 days before departure will not receive a refund. If for any reason
you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees.
Registrants are strongly advised to buy travel insurance that includes trip
cancellation.
TRIP
LIMITED TO 24 PARTICIPANTS
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