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El Minya -- The Road Less Traveled
(The Excursion)
 Go
off the beaten tourism track and spend two days in Egypt’s
heartland, the green and fertile El Minya area...and visit two Must
See Sites for everyone with an intense interest of Egyptian history.
Visit what remains of what must have been a magnificent capitol, the
city “Akhetaten” (the Horizon of the Aten), founded by the heretic
pharaoh,
Akhenaton, in the late 18th
dynasty and possibly home to some 50,000 during his reign.
Akhenaton, who with his celebrated queen, Nefertiti, instituted the
worship of a single god as his new state religion...which was fated
to be stamped out at the pharaoh’s death and Egypt’s traditional
worship ushered back in. In the same part of the country are the
Tombs of Beni Hassan...incredibly painted with sumptuous colors and
delicate artistic skill, these tombs of provincial governors from
the 11th and
12th
Dynasties are snapshots of daily life. Every activity was
beautifully recorded on their walls...giving us such insight as to
how life was really lived millennia ago.
Depart from and return to
Cairo. Tour includes:
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1 night at the Aton Hotel in El Minya with dinner
and breakfast included.
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Private touring with University degreed
Egyptologist guide
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Private A/C vehicle and driver
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All sightseeing with entry/user fees and hotel
taxes and service fees
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Baksheesh at the two sites for the guards (but
tip for your private guide and driver is not included).
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Day
1 |
Depart from Cairo driving south on the Desert
Highway. It’s about 200 miles to Tell El-Amarna,
and you will arrive in the early afternoon.
Visit the city’s site, including the great plain
where Akhenaton received his divine inspiration
to build his city...unique in history for its
total destruction following the Pharaoh’s reign.
Visit the great plain, notable foundation ruins
of temples and palaces and the rock cut
Necropolis housing the Royal Tomb. Proceed north
to El Minya for overnight at the Aton Hotel with
dinner and breakfast included. |
| Day
2 |
After breakfast drive just a bit south, passing
the beehive Muslim tombs in the little village
just across the river to arrive at the site of
the Beni Hassan Tombs. These are rock cut and
within the limestone cliff...some 39 tombs
altogether but only 4 that are open. You can
spend most of the morning viewing the splendor
of the Middle Kingdom, stop by the tiny art
gallery at the Visitor’s Center, before heading
back to Cairo, arriving at your hotel in time
for dinner. |
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US$525 per person, double occupancy. Minimum 2
guests. Single supplement US$100. |
All prices above are good through
30 April 2009.
Not Included: Meals not mentioned;
Beverages;
International airfare; Egypt departure taxes; Extras and items of a
personal nature; Tips for your
escort, driver and guides. |
