Itinerary

ADVANCED EGYPT [TENTATIVE] ITINERARY

Jan. 22-Feb 7, 2010

Jan 22: DAY 1: Depart JFK via Egypt Air; meals served aloft.
Jan. 23: Arrive CAIRO. After getting visas, transfer to our hotel, the Mena House—with the GIZA Pyramids out our window! After a rest we’ll talk, then walk to dinner. B, D.
Jan 23-26:Jan. 24: Day 3 Pre-Trip Day I: GIZA Pyramids! We’ll go into the Great Pyramid and the others, depending on what is open. Then, pending his availability, we’ll speak with Mark Lehner, world’s leading authority on the Giza Pyramids, and take a tour of his excavations! B, D.
Jan. 25: Pre-Trip Day II: SAQQARA Pyramids! We’ll take a look at Djoser’s Step Pyramid, and then try to meet with Miroslav Verner and get a personal tour of his excavations at Abu Sir! B, L.
{January 25: ‘Regular’ Advanced Traveler’s leave from JFK; meals served aloft.}
Jan 26: Free day for Pre-Trip participants—perhaps for Cairo’s petrified forest! Arrival of the regular Advanced trip’s participants. B, D.
January 27: Departure for the FAYUM! Once a lake area, it’s now resplendent with agriculture—and archaeological sites! Led by personal friend Tamer, we’ll go first to two little-visited pyramids—at Hawara, and at Il Lahun. Both yielded great artifacts, including jewellery and the famous ‘Fayum Portraits’. Overnight in the Fayum! B, D.
January 28: Fayum! We’ll also explore the “Valley of the Whales” –going back some 20 million years, when this region was under the sea—leaving spectacular finds behind! Back to the Mena House. B, L.
Jan 29: Alexandria here we come! But instead of taking the fast Desert Road, we’ll make a detour—to the Wadi Natrun! Namespot for natron, the mineral composite used in mummification, we’ll also go into one [or more, depending on time] of the early Christian monasteries in the valley. B, D.
January 30: Full day in Alexandria, visiting the library among other things, and the Graeco Roman Museum (hopefully, open again by then) B, L, D.
January 31: The Monastery of Abu Mina, and on to Cairo, staying at our old friend hotel, the Ramses Hilton. B, D.
Feb. 1 and 2: Medieval Cairo! One of the too-frequently overlooked areas of this world-class city, we’ll go from one Medieval gate to another, along one of the world’s iconic streets, Princes Street! B, D.
February 3: Old Cairo! Back even further in time we go—to Roman, Jewish and early Christian Cairo! Or ADD ON II:
Evening flight to Hurghada
February 4 Home for the Advanced group,         or ADD ON: into ‘the Mountains’—Mons Porphyrites et Claudianus! Two of the least-visited archaeological sites in the world [fewer than 400 people have ever seen Porphyrites since the end of the Roman Empire!]; we’ll visit thoroughly, spending an overnight out in the desert.
February 5. Still in the mountains! Late flight back to Cairo. Ramses Hilton the next two nights.  B.
February 6: Free day in Cairo—the Cairo Museum perhaps, or the newly restored Islamic Museum, or just a day to rest and savor our experiences.      B.
February 7: Flight to the United States, arriving the same day.  B; meals aloft