Today we travel through the Egyptian countryside enjoying the scenery as we travel on to Sakkara ~ the grand step-pyramid complex is magnificent and continues as a source of discoveries. The entire complex consists of the pyramid, entry colonnade, south tomb, south/north pavilion, and mortuary temple and west mounds. The step-pyramid may be the oldest stone bld. in the world. Was created by Imhotep: architect, doctor, sage, astronomer, high priest and visionary.   We will have lunch at the Blue Lotus, a charming, family run experience very aptly named. Then onto Memphis ~ old capital of the old kingdom of which little remains but it is noted for its giant statue of Ramses II.  

Continue our sail on to the magical city of Aswan, home to the beautiful and gracious Nubian people. After lunch and docking, we will take a ferry to Isis Temple -- a breathtaking temple located on the Island of Philae -- saved from high dam flooding the buildings were completely moved between 1972-80 Hathor was also honored here (just as Isis is at Dendara) -- the worship of Isis continued long after the intro of Christianity -- about 570 AD a Catholic church was established on the site.

Philae in Greek or Pilak in ancient Egyptian, meaning 'the end,' defined the southern most limit of Egypt. It was begun by Ptolemy II and completed by the Roman Emperors. The Temple was dedicated to the goddess Isis, the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. These three characters dominate ancient Egyptian culture and their story possesses all the drama of a Shakespearian tragedy. The god Osiris is murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. Isis searches for the fragments, collects them together and with her magic powers brings Osiris back to life. They then conceive the god Horus. Osiris becomes god of the under world and judge of the dead - who must answer to him for their deeds on Earth. Meanwhile Isis gives birth to Horus and protects the young god. Later when Horus is grown he avenges his father by defeating Seth in combat.

Isis is a very important figure in the ancient world. She is associated with funeral rites but as the enchantress who resurrected Osiris and gave birth to Horus she is also the giver of life, a healer and protector of kings. She was known as 'Mother of God' and was represented with a throne on her head. During the Roman period her cult spread throughout Greece and the Roman Empire. There was even a temple dedicated to her in London.

The temple at Philae was nearly lost under water when the high Aswan dam was built in the 1960s. Fortunately the temple was rescued by a joint operation between the Egyptian government and UNESCO. In an engineering feat to rival the ancients the whole island was surrounded with a dam and the inside pumped dry. Then every stone block of the temple complex was labelled and removed later to be assembled, like a giant jigsaw puzzle, on the higher ground of Agilka island. The whole project took ten years and has saved one of Egypt's most beautiful temples from certain destruction.

Elephantine Island is the largest of the Aswan area islands, and is one of the most ancient sites in Egypt, with artifacts dating to predynastic periods.

Elephantine is Greek for elephant. In ancient times, the Island, as well as the southern town, was called Abu, or Yabu, which also meant elephant. The town has also been referenced as Kom, after its principle god of the island, Khnum (Khnemu). It is believed that the island received its name because it was a major ivory trading center, though in fact, it was a major trading post of many commodities. There are large boulders in the river near the island which resembled bathing elephants, particularly from afar, and this too has been suggested as a reason for the island's name.

The island is very beautiful, and while many of the artifacts there are in ruin, there is still considerable to see. There has been an ongoing excavation at the town for many years by the German Archaeological Institute, and some of the finds along with many other island artifacts, including a mummified ram of Khnum, are located in the Elephantine Museum.

Another major attraction is the ruins of the Temple of Khnum. Elephantine Island was considered to be home of this important Egyptian god, and while this structure dates back to the Queen Hatshepsut of the 18th Dynasty, there are references to a Temple of Khnum on the island as early as the 3rd Dynasty.

There are also ruins of a Temple of Satet, who was Khnum's female counterpart (the three local deities were foremost Khnum, but also Satet and a local Nubian goddess Anqet. These gods were worshipped here since the earliest dynasties), also built by Queen Hatshepsut, a shrine to Hekayib from the 6th Dynasty, a local governor who was deified after his death. His cult flourished during the middle kingdom, and some fine statues from the shrine are now in the museum. You will also find a 3rd Dynasty granite step pyramid which is now just visible, and to the north, the mud-brick vaults of the late period which housed the bodies of the royal rams. On the south end of the island is a small one room Ptolemaic temple which was constructed from materials removed from the Kalabsha Temple. Here, there are decorations attributed to the Nubian Pharaoh Arkamani from the 3rd century BC The building seems to have been finished by the Romans with reference to Caesar Augustus.

Elephantine Island is a beautiful place to visit, with wonderful gardens and some truly significant artifacts. It is also a good place to spend some leisure time, wondering among the Nubian villages where the people are friendly and the houses are often very colorful. The houses often have paintings or carved with a crocodile at the bottom, a fish in the middle and a man on top, with a woman's hand made of brass as a door knocker between the fish and man. Others will have a sacred black cube of Mecca, with a painting depicting the means of the owner's pilgrimage to Mecca.

Agha-Khan is the Mausoleum of the spiritual leader of the Ismailis, a Shi'ite sect (as were the Fatimid) based principally in India but with followers around the world. It is a very elegant pink granite structure of late 1950 origin, which also resembles the Fatimid tombs in Cairo. Members of this sect consider themselves to be the direct spiritual descendants of the Fatimid. The Mausoleum has an excellent view, including Aga Khan's white villa below, and is near the Monastery of St. Simeons on the west bank at Aswan. His Begun, or wife, still lives in the villa three months of the year.

The Aga Khan was extremely wealthy. On his birthday in 1945, he was weighed in diamonds which he then distributed to his followers. It should be noted, also, that he was a large man. Every day that his widow was at the Villa, she places a Red Rose on his white Carrara marble tomb. His widow, Omme Habibeh, popularly referred to as "The Begum" died on July 1st, 2000. The other months, a gardener fills this function, and it has been rumored that at one point, not a single rose could be found in Egypt, so for almost a week, roses were flown in from Paris by private jet.

Mohammed Shah Aga Khan was educated in Europe and succeeded his father in 1885 to become the 48th imam. He was succeeded by his grandson, Karim AGa Khan upon his death in 1957.

Day 5

Today you will start your tour on the East Bank of Luxor. Entering down the ancient Avenue of the Ram Headed Sphinx, we arrive at the Monumental Temple of Karnack (Healing of the Ego and Birth of the Heart). After ceremony and contemplation as well as a visit to the Temple of Sekmet (Lion Goddess) within the Karnack Complex, it is on to the famous Luxor Temple (The Temple of Man). This Temple was built to simulate the human body and it is here we will be anchoring the field "Unity Conscious" as we walk in silence activating our physical cells to anchor the 9^th wave in our physical bodies(a resurrection ceremony). After a powerful day, a free evening to enjoy this vibrant and fascinating city of Luxor for dining and shopping. Overnight Hotel (B)

We will travel down the Avenue of the Rams to reach the Temple of Karnack. This temple boasts many multiple temples, obelisks, great gates and the famous hypostyle hall. We will also come face-to-face with the lion goddess Sehkmet. Karnack is the largest temple complex in Egypt and demonstrates the religious significance of the area in ancient times.

Luxor Temple: A strip of green in the middle of the desert tilled fields and in the background the red rocks of the "Libyan Chain" Here lies Luxor, one of the  greatest capitals of the ancient world.

Charming and evocative, with the Nile along the quiet waters of the river, the small, silent streets of the Bazaar that come to life in the evening  with their colours, sounds and lights.

In ancient Egypt, the power of the god Amun of Thebes gradually increased during the early New Kingdom, and after the short persecution led by Akhenaten, it rose to its apex. In the reign of Ramesses III, more than two thirds of the property owned by the temples belonged to Amun, evidenced by the stupendous buildings at Karnack. Although badly ruined, no site in Egypt is more impressive than Karnack. It is the largest temple complex ever built by man, and represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders. The Temple of Karnack is actually three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples located about three kilometers north of Luxor, Egypt situated on 100 ha (247 acres) of land. Karnack is actually the sites modern name. Its ancient name was Ipet-isut, meaning "The Most Select (or Sacred) of Places".    

This is the great, ancient city of Thebes, capital of the Egyptian empire for almost one thousand years, which Homer referred to in the IX canto of the Iliad as "Thebes with one hundred gates" and for which "only the grains of sand in the desert surpassed the abundance of wealth contained therein". The Copts called it Tapé, hence the Greek Thebai, but for Egyptian inhabitants it was Uaset, meaning "the chief town" and Niut, "the City" it was later on called Diospolis Magna. Its present name of Luxor comes from the Arab El Qousour, translation of the Latin "Castra" with which the ancient Romans indicated the city where they had installed two encampments.

In the Memphis era it was a small village where the God of War Montu was worshipped and its temples marked the boundaries of the territory. As from the X Dynasty, thanks to its geographical position and political grounds, its importance started to increase considerably until the military successes of its princes made it a great power. Capital of the pharaohs of the New Empire, the god Amon was worshipped in great splendour in the triad in Mut and Khnsu. It was the age of great victories and triumph in Asia Minor, Nubia and Libya. It was a happy period ­ perhaps the happiest in Egyptian history ­ and Thebes had no rivals : victorious Pharaohs accumulated incredible wealth there (city where the houses are rich in treasure) from war booty; from the Red Sea the Persian Gulf and even from the Sahara ­ across the road of the oases ­ merchants arrived to grow rich and to enrich the townsmen of Thebes who reached the incredible figure of half a million!

One the east bank rise the temples in which the gods dwelt whereas on the west bank building were constructed for the worship of dead sovereigns; apart from this theory of temples, parallel to the river runs the heavy rock curtain that conceals the Valley of the Kings.

Thebes then inexorably fell. The very geographical position that one thousand years beforehand had favored the birth of its power now became the main reason for its decline : too far from the "hot" delta region, where the Ramses were forced to create military stations to stem foreign invasions, Thebes lost its political, spiritual and military supermacy. Subsequent dynasties originally came from the delta and the twons of tains, Bubast and Sais replaced it as capital of Egypt. Left defenseless.

Thebes fell prey to the Assyrian army lead by Assarhaddon, which sacked it in 672 B.C.; once again in 665, Assurbanipal's army deported the townsmen before turning them into slaves and stripped the town of its statues and treasures. Lastly, it was completely razed to the ground in 84 B.C. by Ptolemy Lathyros to the extent that during the roman era it was a mass of ruins visited by wayfarers; the few remaining townsmen settled in what remained of the temples and the tombs were reduced to stables. This time too, as happened in the case of Memphis, Ezekiel's prophecy that Thebes would be violently shaken came true.

Temple of Amon Ra: In Luxor, all that remains of its glorious past is the temple that the ancient Egyptians built to the glory of Amon ra king of the gods, and which they called "Southern harem of Amon".  

Brought back to light in 1883 by Gaston Maspéro, the temple is 260 metres long and its construction was basically commissioned by two Pharaohs, Amon-Ofis III who started it in the XIV century B.C. and Ramses II who completed it adding the porticoed courtyard with its axis moved eastwards, and no longer north-south as in the case of the rest of the temples.  

The architect was probably amenophis, son of Hotep. The temple of Luxor was joined to that of Karnack by a long stone-paved dromos, a drome and a processional avenue, flanked by sphinxes with rams heads that the XXX Dynasty replaced with sphynexes with human heads. This street has not been brought to life completely and they are still working on it.  

The avenue ended at the entrance to the temple of Luxor, marked by the large pylon erected by Ramses II, which features a 65-metre front decorated with bas-reliefs illustrating scenes of the military campaigns of the Pharaoh against the Hittites.  

In ancient time, the pylon was preceded by two obelisks, two seated colossi and two standing colossi. Today, only the left 25-metre high obelisk is still standing: the other was taken to Paris in 1833 and placed by the engineer Lebas in Place de la Concorde on the 25th October 1836. The two colossi in granite represent the Pharaoh seated on his throne, fifteen and a half metres in height on a base of about one metre. Of the other four statues in pink granite leaning against the pylon, one was to represent Queen Nefertari and another decrepit one to the right, his daughter Merit-Amon.  

Having passed through the triumphal entrance, one enters the court of Ramses II, with its double row of columns with closed papyrus capital and statues of Osiris in the inter columns. To the north-west of the courtyard one can admire the temple-deposit of the sacred boats built by Thot-Mosis III and dedicated to the triad Amon, Mut and Khonsu.    

Then follows a colonnade of two rows of bell-shaped columns 52 meters long that take us to the second courtyard, or courtyard of Amon-Ofis II, surrounded on three sides by two rows of columns with closed papyruses, a real, highly evocative forest. From here, across a transversal hypostyle hall, one enters the last sanctuary, the most intimate and sacred part, which gave the temple its name of "Adytum of the south" theatre o the final moment of the festival of Opet, the largest and most solemn held during the year.

The festival, which lasted little more than fifteen days, started on the nineteenth day of the second month of the flood, that is towards the end of August. The highlight of the ceremony came when out of the temple of Karnack came the sacred boat of Amon-Ra which carried by thirty priests and followed by those of Mut and Khonsu, covered the whole avenue of sphinxes and arrived at the temple of Luxor; here the boats were closed in the sanctuary for a couple of days, before returning to the temple of Karnack, always accompanied by a rejoicing crowd singing and dancing.

Luxor--The Temples of Thebes

Many of the main roads which lead to the temples of Thebes (Luxor) used to be continuously lined with sphinxes. Those which flank the entrance of the First Pylon of Karnack combine the body of a lion with the head of a ram. The ram was a symbol of the god Amun for whom the temple was built. Each sphinx protects, between its forelegs, a standing statue of the king--originally Ramesses II (c.1279-1213 B.C.).

The Temple of Amun at Karnack

Standing in the shadow of the First Pylon of the Temple of Amun at Karnack (in Luxor, Egypt), one is struck by the length of its east-west axis and the colossal size of its columns. Like all other temples in Egypt, this one symbolizes the mound of the original creation. The ground rises ever so gradually from the entrance toward the sanctuary. The columns are stone replicas of the vegetation which was growing in the the marshy land around the mound of creation.

In the center of this first court are the ruins of the kiosk of Taharqa (690-664 B.C.), one column (middle ground, right) of which is complete. Beyond the kiosk before the Second Pylon are two standing statues of Ramesses II (c.1279-1213 B.C.). After the Second Pylon, the columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall can be seen.        

The Great Hypostyle Hall of Karnack

The Great Hypostyle Hall of Karnack Temple was begun during the reign of King Sety I (c.1290-1279 B.C.) and was completed by his son, Ramesses II (c.1279-1213 B.C.). The north- south axis of the hall provides views which reveal not only the immensity but also the practicality of the architecture. The central row of 12 columns on the east-west axis are 69 feet/21 meters in height, about 33 feet/10 meters in circumference, and have open papyrus capitals. The 122 columns in the side aisles are 43 feet/13 meters in height, 27.5 feet/8.4 meters in circumference, and have closed papyrus-bud capitals (as seen here). Remember that the whole of this hall was roofed with stone slabs, and the interior was quite dark. The difference in height between the central and the side aisle columns was used to provide natural light through clerestory windows which have vertical stone slats.

Obelisk of Hatshepsut

Leaving the hypostyle hall through the third pylon you come to a narrow court where there once stood several obelisks. One of the obelisks was erected by Tuthmosis I (1504 - 1492 BC) who was the father of Hatshepsut. This obelisk stands 70 feet (21.3m) tall and weighs about 143 tons. During the centuries between Tuthmosis I and Ramesses VI, the kings of the time did more than their share of destroying and dismantling. This obelisk was never touched. The original inscription was left in its place. However, two kings did add their inscription on either side of the original. Beyond this obelisk is the only remaining Obelisk of Hatshepsut (1473-1458 BC). It is 97 feet (29.6m) high and weighs approximately 320 tons. Besides the Lateran obelisk in Rome, this is the tallest standing obelisk. The one in Rome is 101 feet (30.7m) high. Hatshepsut was a woman who dared to challenge the tradition of male kingship. She died from undisclosed causes after imposing her will for a time. After her death, her name and memory suffered attempted systematic obliteration. The inscription on the obelisk says, "O ye people who see this monument in years to come and speak of that which I have made, beware lest you say, 'I know not why it was done'. I did it because I wished to make a gift for my father Amun, and to gild them with electrum."  

The Obelisk of Thutmose I

Beyond the Third Pylon and in the Central Court of Karnack Temple is the Obelisk of Thutmose I (c.1493-1479 B.C.). This is the last of four obelisks which originally stood in front of the Fourth Pylon, which, in the time of Thutmose I, was the entrance into Karnack Temple. The obelisk is 71 feet/21.7 meters in height, sits on a base 6 feet/1.8 meters square, and weighs about 143 tons. Each side of the obelisk has three vertical lines of inscription, the central one being a dedication by Thutmose I.

The Sixth Pylon of Karnack Temple

Just to the east of the Sixth Pylon of Karnack Temple is the vestibule to the sanctuary (right), where the priests kept the portable shrine used by the god's statue in processions. In the vestibule, built by Thutmose III (c.1479-1425 B.C.), are these two granite columns, elegant reminders of the importance of the concept of a unified Upper (Nile valley) and Lower (Nile delta) Egypt. These columns are decorated in raised relief with the papyrus on the left (north/the delta) and the lotus on the right (south/the valley).

Day 6: LUXOR / CAIRO

An early morning start takes us across the Nile to the West Bank where we will visit Dier Al-Bahari, The Temple of Hatshepsut (The only female pharaoh). Here we honor the Goddess Hathor (the nurturer) and the God Anubis (Guide through the Underworld) to capture their magic and again anchor the "Unity Conscious" energy in a place where there has been much past pain. A quick lunch and then onto the Temple of Medinet Habu dedicated to the fierce warrior Ramses II. At Habu we will create a West Bank ceremony honoring the warrior within our Unity Consciousness. Then it's back across the Nile as we head to the Airport for our return flight to Cairo. Overnight Hotel (B)

Dier Al-Bahari, The Temple of Hatshepsut ~ The female pharaoh ruled Egypt for 20 years (18^th Dynasty) - this spectacular temple is partially free-standing and partially rock-cut. All three terraces are open and reconstruction is still continuing.   There are two small chapels -- on the south dedicated to the goddess Hathor and the other dedicated to Anubis. Medinet Habu -- the mortuary temple of Ramses III (1184-1153BC). An unusual feature is the entrance to the temple which was constructed in the form of a Syrian fortress -- the temple became a place of security during unsettled times.   The painted carved reliefs are particularly well preserved.

The greatest collection of Egyptian antiquities, which houses over 200,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts, is, without doubt, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It is a place of true discovery and, even after many visits, you will continue to make new and delightful discoveries every time you venture into its many galleries.

To be sure, the museum can be daunting in the sheer numbers of its antiquities on show, but there is an order within its layout and it is a dream come true for anyone wanting to study Egyptian antiquities.

The museum's ground floor follows the history of ancient Egypt. Upon entering through the security check in the building, one looks toward the atrium and the rear of the building with many items on view - from sarcophagi and boats to enormous statues.

Just in front of these you will find an Object of the Month on display. Behind it are some of the most important items from the time of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt some 5,000 years ago, including the famous slate palette of king Narmer - one of the first documents of Egyptian history. Also on show are small masterpieces of sculpture - keep in mind that these are some 50 centuries old. This is an area that should not be missed!

From the entrance area itself, turn left and you will find an amazing diversity of small statues from the Old Kingdom - they depict individuals, families, and people at work.

Continuing around the building in a clockwise direction takes you forward in time as you duck into the different rooms. At the far end of the building you will be confronted by material from the time of the heretic pharaoh, Akhenaten.

Upstairs on the first floor (i.e.second level) are thousands of smaller items from the span of Egyptian history. Of course, everybody wants to see the treasures from Tutankhamun's tomb - these occupy a large area along almost two side of the upper floor. Chariots, gloves, jewellery, the famous mask - many of the antiquities from his tomb are displayed here.

Tutankhamun's tomb contained four gilded shrines nested one inside the other. All four of these shrines are on display in the museum. They are lined up in order of decreasing size. The innermost of these covered a stone sarcophagus which remains in the tomb. Inside the stone sarcophagus were three coffins - the innermost being made of 110 kilograms of solid gold. Inside that lay the pharaoh himself wearing the famous gold mask (at right). Tutankhamun remains in his tomb to this day. Two of his three coffins are on display in the same room as the mask, along with stunning jewellery. This room alone can occupy one for a considerable time. The room has been remodelled recently with better presentation.

Apart from the Tutankhamun exhibits upstairs, there are countless coffins, amulets, ushabtis, household items, etc. Some of the Middle Kingdom tomb models of armies, boats and landowners surveying their livestock shouldn't be missed. The human figures almost seem alive! Also upstairs is the Mummy Room where you can come face to face with some of the great rulers of ancient Egypt.

Day 2: ST. CATHERINE / DAHAB (B)

We awaken early this morning to watch the sun rise from the top of Mt. Sinai. After this you will begin your descent towards St. Catherine €™s Monastery where you will be able to visit the smallest, yet oldest Christian Monastery in the world. We arrive back in Dahab around noon to enjoy the beach and the inviting Red Sea where the rest of the day and night is free. Overnight Hotel (b)

Day 3: ST. CATHERINE (B)

This day we will follow our hearts and our Egyptian Brother Amro Mounier to discover more wonders of the Sinai Penninsula and complete our ceremonies and Anchoring. Overnight Hotel. (B)

Transport to Cairo airport for your final departure. Home Sweet Home

TOUR FEES:

RIDING THE WAVE
Anchoring the 9th Wave of Unity Consciousness in Egypt

Shared room fees, per person:
(includes non-refundable deposit)

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Single room fees, for one person:
(includes non-refundable deposit)

REGISTER NOW to reserve your place on the tour.

Tour includes:

Accommodation in Cairo at  Le Meridien Pyramids  Hotel or similar.
Accommodation in Aswan at  Movenpick  Hotel or similar.
Accommodation in Luxor at  Steigenberger Nile Palace  Hotel or similar.
Accommodation on board of the sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan.
Domestic flight ticket Luxor -- Cairo.
All transfers as per the above-mentioned itinerary.
All entrance fees for the above-mentioned sightseeing.
Meals as mentioned below (B) Breakfast - (L) Lunch and (D) Dinner.
English speaking tour guide during sightseeing.

Itinerary subject to change as situations and guidance dictate.

Passport required. Visa required for US citizens. No immunizations required.

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To Register, CLICK HERE.