Museums of Four Cities Tour: Berlin, Paris, London and Cambridge

Why travel on Far Horizons’ Museums of Four Cities?

  • Led by Professor Bob Brier and Patricia Remler
  • Private tour in the British Museum of artifacts found in Sudanese excavations
  • Private tour in the British Museum of artifacts found in Sudanese excavations
  • Tour King’s College Chapel in Cambridge
  • Tour four museums with some of the greatest Egyptian collections outside Cairo
  • Explore the unusual UNESCO World Heritage Site of Peacock Island
  • In Paris see Pere LaChaise Cemetery’s ornate tombs covered with Egyptian motifs
  • Limited to 14 participants
  • View the Paris Obelisk as discussed in Dr. Brier’s latest book
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    2316
    • TBA
    • 9 Days
    • TBA
    • Single Supplement: TBA

    Tour Berlin’s Neues Museum, Paris’ Louvre, London’s British Museum, and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, all containing outstanding collections of Egyptian Art.

    Far Horizons proudly presents a truly unique 9-day tour of Berlin, Paris, London, and Cambridge, with an emphasis on each city’s great museum and their Egyptology collections. Begin in Berlin with a city tour that includes the Peacock Island Palace, a UNESCO
    World Heritage Site. Spend a full day in Berlin’s Museum Island, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Paris, see the Obelisk, described in Dr. Brier’s latest book, travel up the Seine River by Bateaux Mouches vessel, and view the Egyptian iconography in Pere Lachaise, the largest cemetery in Paris. Spend a morning in the Louvre with Dr. Brier showing us the Egyptian collection, and the afternoon on our own for even more discoveries on our own. Travel by chunnel to London for a day in the British Museum, including a private viewing of Sudanese artifacts, and another day in Cambridge to see the Egyptian collection at the Fitzwilliam Museum along with the spectacular King’s College Chapel.

    Overnights will be in charming hotels within walking distance of these great museums, and dinners will be memorable, including an evening at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant with views over the Trocadéro.

    Any questions? Please get in touch

    Museums of Four Cities Tour Itinerary

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

    Day 1

    Depart the USA.

    Day 2

    Arrive Berlin.  After a light lunch, enjoy a city tour.  The Berlin Wall was a barrier that divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989, and the Berlin Wall Memorial Museum contains a small piece of the barricade along with displays on the history of Germany’s division. The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s most famous landmark, was an emblem of Berlin and German division during the Cold War. Today, it is a national symbol of peace and unity. We will travel by small ferry across the Havel River to Peacock Island, a nature conservation area since 1924. From the deck of the vessel we will observe landscaped gardens and the striking white palace that was built by Friedrich Wilhelm II in 1794-97.  Peacock Island Palace, or Pfaueninsel, is our destination.  Created as a half-timbered artificial ruin, that interior reflects the 18th century’s intellectual and cultural world. Together with other palaces in Potsdam and Berlin the island and the palace are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Overnights for two nights at the Radisson Blu Berlin Hotel, located in the city center within walking distance of all main attractions. (L)

    Day 3

    Five world-renowned museums make up Berlin’s Museum Island in the Spree River. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the buildings were constructed between 1824 and 1930 by the most renowned Prussian architects. Our morning will be spent in the Neues Museum, home to selected objects from the Egyptian Museum and the Papyrus Collection. The celebrated masterpiece here is the bust of Nefertiti, the 3,300-year-old painted stucco-coated limestone statue of the Great Royal Wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten. Lunch and the afternoon is on our own to explore Berlin. While on Museum Island, a visit to the Pergamon Museum is highly recommended. This museum houses an incredible collection of exquisite classical treasures such as the striking reconstructions of archaeological buildings – the Pergamon Altar of Zeus, Roman market gate of Milet, Ishtar Gate with the Processional Way of Babylon, and the Mshatta façade. Gather for dinner tonight in one of Berlin’s excellent restaurants. (B/D)

    Day 4

    Transfer to the airport for our morning flight to Paris. After a light lunch in a local restaurant, walk to the Paris Obelisk (read about it in Dr. Brier’s latest book, Cleopatra’s Needles:  The Lost Obelisks of Egypt), and then board the Bateaux Mouches vessel to travel up the Seine River towards Notre Dame de Paris, passing by the Louvre Museum, the Town Hall and the Conciergerie. Dinner is on our own this evening. Overnight for two nights at Hôtel Le Bellechasse, a charming boutique hotel located just steps away from the Musée d’Orsay on the Left Bank. (B/L)

    Day 5

    The Louvre Museum houses one of the largest collections of Egyptian antiquities after the Cairo Museum comprising over 50,000 artifacts, includes those from the Nile civilizations which date from 4,000 BC to the 4th century. Dr. Brier will spend the morning taking us through the collection. The afternoon, including lunch, is free to allow time on our own in the museum. Gather this evening for a very special dinner party at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant with views over the Trocadéro.  (B/D)

    Day 6

    The Institut du Monde Arabe was founded in 1980 in collaboration with the countries of the Arab League and the French government. Beautifully located on the left bank of the Seine, the stunning building includes a museum and library. We will spend the morning in the museum which offers a view of the Arab world from a cultural, religious, social and anthropological perspective, from its origins to the present day. We then drive to the Pere LaChaise, first opened in 1804 and the largest cemetery in the city of Paris. There are more than 70,000 ornate tombs and Mausoleums of the rich and famous, and many are covered with Egyptian motifs. After a late lunch in a local restaurant, board the Chunnel to travel to London. Dinner is on our own. Overnight at the Radisson Edwardian Blu Bloomsbury, located next to the British Museum, for three nights.  (B/L)

    Day 7

    Today we explore the world-renowned British Museum. The Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum houses the largest collection of Egyptian objects outside Egypt, objects that illustrate the cultures of the Nile Valley, from the Neolithic period (about 10,000 BC) until the present day. The Department also houses an important archive relating to Egyptology and Nubian Studies, and one of the leading research libraries in this subject area. The morning will be spent with Dr. Brier discussing the artifacts on display. After lunch in a nearby pub, We will meet privately with Dr. Derek Welsby, the Honorary Secretary of the Sudan Archaeological Research Society and Assistant keeper in the Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum, who will take us into the stores in the Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan to privately view material that has been found in Sudanese excavations. The rest of the afternoon will be on our own to spend more time with the Egyptian collection or to view other sections of the museum.   (B/L/D)

    Day 8

    Founded in 1209, Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world’s fourth-oldest surviving university.  Our all day exploration of Cambridge will include the King’s College Chapel, containing the largest fan vault in the world and some of the finest medieval stained glass. Then it’s on to the Fitzwilliam Museum containing over 16,000 Egyptian artifacts including a notable collection of coffins. Highlights are the granite sarcophagus lid of Ramesses III and the vividly painted coffin of Nespawershefyt (also known as Nes-Amun) that is covered from head to toe in bright hieroglyphs and images in reds, greens and blues. This was one of the very first gifts to the Fitzwilliam collection, given in 1822. Upon return to London, meet for our gala final dinner together in a nearby restaurant. (B/L/D)

    Day 9

    Return to the USA.

    Route

    Tour Information

    Tour Cost & Inclusions

    Price is based on double occupancy and includes:

    • Internal flights during the trip (if applicable)
    • The accompaniment of your scholar throughout the entire trip
    • Local English-speaking guide
    • Hotel accommodations (3 or 4 stars; or best available based in the area)
    • Ground transportation
    • Airport transfers for arrivals and departures
    • Most meals as noted in the itinerary
    • Entry fees to all included sites and museums
    • Gratuities to guides, drivers, and restaurant and hotel staff
    • Coordination for any private presentations or tours

    Trip prices are based on a minimum number of participants. If this minimum number is not met, trip prices are subject to change. Should the prices need to change, Far Horizons will reach out to registered guests to discuss directly.

    Single Supplement

    Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.

    Exclusions

    • International round trip airfare
    • A separate donation check of $150.00 per person to a designated donation project
    • Passport or visa fees
    • Required vaccines or tests
    • Airport or departure taxes
    • Alcoholic drinks, beverages or food not included on set menus
    • Excess baggage charges
    • Personal tips and hotel incidental expenses
    • Laundry or other items of a personal nature

    Donation Checks

    As a tour company that benefits from the cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to the scientific and cultural sites and projects which we visit. This has created a bond between Far Horizons and the academic and local communities that has helped us establish an extensive list of lecturers and contacts in each of our destinations. We ask that each participant donate to the noteworthy project we designate. The donation amount is $150.00 per person. Note that the donation is required as part of your registration for the trip and that it is non-refundable.

    Exchange Rate Fluctuations

    Prices are based on currency exchange rates keeping below a projected level. While it is unlikely, if the exchange rates should change substantially, Far Horizons reserves the right to charge an additional amount to the trip cost.

    Registration

    A deposit of $1000 per person is required along with your registration & health forms, which will be linked in the email confirmation you receive once you pay your deposit on our booking platform. Final payment is due 120 days before departure. Prior to departure, you will be sent a reading list and a tour bulletin containing travel information.

    Visas

    We will let you know if you need a visa and provide details and instructions on where to obtain your visa. You are responsible for securing your own visa. If you would like to look into specific visa requirements based on where you live and where you would like to travel, we suggest visiting Sherpa to find out more about the latest visa and travel requirements.

    ETIAS

    Starting in 2025, the European Commission will roll out a U.S. style electronic travel authorization system for visitors from countries that are currently not part of the EU. These visitors have been granted visa-free access to the EU and Schengen member countries through virtue of their good track record on security issues and, thus, have not been deemed as a threat to EU security. ETIAS (which stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System) will check the security credentials and charge a fee to travelers visiting EU member countries for business, tourism, medical or transit purposes. Travelers who currently visit Europe visa-free are able to enter EU and Schengen Member countries cost-free and without any digital security screening prior to their arrival to Europe. ETIAS is not a visa, and is more accurately referred to as a visa-waiver. The ETIAS, like the ESTA, is a travel authorization for travelers not requiring a visa to visit Europe. Under the ETIAS, these visitors will undergo additional security checks prior to being permitted to enter the EU. The ETIAS will be mandatory for citizens of such countries as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. For more information, please visit the ETIAS website.

    Cancellation

    Cancellations received in writing at least 120 days before departure will receive a refund less a $500 per person administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 120 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 tour, the purchase of travel protection with both trip cancellation and emergency evacuation is strongly advised. Links to recommended insurance policies will be included in the email you receive confirming receipt of your deposit.

    Air Ticketing

    International round-trip flights are not included in the cost of the trip. If Far Horizons must change the trip dates or cancel the trip for any reason, Far Horizons is not responsible for any air ticket you may have purchased. Please send your complete air schedule as soon as you have it. NOTE: Please contact Far Horizons if you would like us to handle your air ticketing. We offer a ticketing service for a small fee.

    Private Tours and Talks

    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 on site when our groups arrive due to other commitments.

    Walking and Standing

    Far Horizons expects all participants to be physically active and able to walk and climb independently throughout the full touring days. This includes walking over uneven terrain (uphill and downhill) for 2 miles or more at each site. You should expect to be on your feet for much of each day, averaging as much as 5 miles of walking per day. As such, each participant should be able to walk unaided at a pace of 3 miles per hour for at least an hour at a time, and to stand unsupported for at least 60 minutes. Bearing this in mind, we suggest that, if you have not already done so, you begin walking several miles every day, ideally including stairs and hills. If you have questions about your ability to keep up with the group or the strenuous nature of this trip, please contact the Far Horizons staff.

    Expectations During Travel

    This tour is designed for flexible, energetic people who like to be active, have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. We have designed this trip to be as comfortable as possible while also aiming to visit some remote or unique sites that other companies do not attempt to include in their itineraries. There may be days when we have very long drives, and the conditions of the roads may vary. Hotels and transportation in some remote areas may not be up to Western standards. There may be times when no bellhops are available; please pack with the understanding that you need to be able to handle your own luggage at times. Sometimes, we may be walking over uneven trails for a mile or more; hiking boots are strongly recommended. Not every meal will be haute cuisine, and several lunches may be picnics or box lunches. By maintaining a flexible attitude, we will soon be captivated by the beauty of the natural scenery, the hospitality of the local people, and the fascinating sites we will see. Your flexibility and patience will be appreciated.

    Itinerary Changes

    Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur. While we are committed to keeping as close to the published details as possible, sometimes it is simply not possible. Weather events, government affairs, or other factors out of our control sometimes come into play. A good book to read, as well as patience, a flexible attitude, and a sense of humor are essential.

    Travel Insurance

    We strongly recommend that you consider purchasing travel insurance. Should illness or an unforeseen event force you to cancel your travel plans after your final payment or during your trip, it would be doubly unfortunate to incur a significant financial loss. Trip cancellation protection will enable you to be reimbursed for the loss of your payment if you are unable to travel for any of the covered reasons in the “Outline of Coverage” section or should you have an accident or suffer from any medical conditions during the trip.  
     
    Far Horizons offers customized protection plans through Travel Insured International (a Crum & Forster Company) with the following benefits:
     
    • Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption for covered reasons
    • Trip Delay
    • Baggage Loss and Baggage Delay
    • Emergency Medical Expenses and Emergency Medical Evacuation
    • 24-Hour Accidental Death & Dismemberment
    • 24-Hour Travel Assistance & Concierge Services
    • Option to upgrade to ‘Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR)’
     
    We recommend reviewing the language in detail so you are aware of specific parameters. Depending on the policy, to waive the Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion or to upgrade to CFAR coverage, the plan must be purchased within 14 to 21 days of the initial trip deposit, the full trip cost must be insured, and the traveler is medically fit at the time of plan purchase. Otherwise, coverage may be purchased at any time before departure. 
     
    To obtain a personalized quote and/or purchase a plan through Far Horizons/Travel Insured International, simply click HERE. For specific questions regarding the Worldwide Protector Plan, please contact Travel Insured International’s Customer Care Center at 1-800-243-3174 or by email at customercare@travelinsured.com, and refer to Far Horizons’ account number: 54070.