GnT Tours

GnT Tours For those who want to learn more about Ancient Egypt, and those who are up for a little adventure. Make that special bucket list item a reality.
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Designed for travellers who want to experience Ancient Egypt, this 8-day adventure begins with the first pyramids at Saqqara, journeys to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, last resting place of Tutankhamun, the Valley of the Queens and much much more, before returning to Cairo and your chance to venture inside the Great Pyramid. You will see some of the iconic wonders of the world and get to know

local Egyptian residents as much as explore the mysteries of Ancient Egypt. We cover it all in this inclusive tour, from hotel accommodation, all meals and entrance fees. This is much more than just your average trip to Egypt, it's an adventure you'll never forget!

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the first days of September.New Nefertari Chamber in TurinZahi Ha...
09/09/2024

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the first days of September.

New Nefertari Chamber in Turin
Zahi Hawass in Search of Queen Nefertiti
Western Frontier Fortress Discovered

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The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the first days of September.New Nefertari Chamber in TurinZahi Hawass in Search of Queen NefertitiWestern Frontier Fortress Discovered These news stories are taken from various public int...

November Tour Day 9 This is the final day of the Ted Loukes/GnT Tours November Egypt Experience.An early breakfast in Ca...
04/09/2024

November Tour Day 9

This is the final day of the Ted Loukes/GnT Tours November Egypt Experience.

An early breakfast in Cairo, then you will be driven to Egypt’s newest addition, the Grand Egyptian Museum.

The museum plays host to more than 100,000 artifacts, including, for the first time, the entire Tutankhamun collection, much of which has sat in the original boxes it was packed in after the discovery in 1922.

The Grand Egyptian Museum is the largest museum in the world dedicated to one civilization, from pre-historic times through Egypt’s many thousands of years of pharaonic civilization to the more recent Greek and Roman periods.
With so much to see, you will spend most of the day here.
Finally you will be driven to Cairo International in plenty of time for your flight home.

If the Grand Egyptian Museum is not open fully, we will go and see the Grand Staircase and the Atrium at the GEM and then move on to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, home to the Royal Mummies whose tombs you were in only a few days ago.

For more info and to book https://gnttours.co.za

Numbers are limited

Posted with Admin permission.

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the last week of August.MoTA meets UNESCOSaqqara Excavator Report...
02/09/2024

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the last week of August.

MoTA meets UNESCO
Saqqara Excavator Reports
Artefacts Returned From The Netherlands
Khufu Price Increase
Khaled el-Anani in Congo
Late Period Coffin Returns to Swansea, Wales

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The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the last week of August.MoTA meets UNESCOSaqqara Excavator ReportsArtefacts Returned From The NetherlandsKhufu Price IncreaseKhaled el-Anani in CongoLate Period Coffin Returns to Swansea, Wale...

November Tour Day 8I think this is worth repeating - if you have concerns about travelling to Egypt in the current polit...
29/08/2024

November Tour Day 8

I think this is worth repeating - if you have concerns about travelling to Egypt in the current political climate, fear not. In the initial seven months of 2024, Egypt witnessed a surge in tourist arrivals, surpassing 8 million visitors, as announced by Amr El-Kady, the CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Authority. Projections indicate that the total number of tourists in 2024 will surpass 15 million, compared to 14.9 million in 2023.

This is how day 8 goes:

An early rooftop breakfast in Cairo, hopefully in sight of our first stop, from here you will be driven to Egypt’s most famous landmark the Giza Plateau and the Pyramids. Having secured our entrance tickets, we will make our way up onto the plateau.

Nothing can prepare you for your first close up view of the pyramids, it is a scene that will stay with you for the rest of your life. It is almost inconceivable to be outside the Great Pyramid and not go inside, but be warned, it is a bit of a climb inside and surprisingly warm – highly recommended.

We can drive round to the view point and maybe walk back to the Menkaure pyramid. From the pyramids we will make our way down towards the Valley Temple and the Sphinx Temple.

Entry to the Sphinx is down through the Valley Temple. This is a good chance to see close up the incredible precision of the stone cutting, before going through to the walkway that runs along one side of the Sphinx enclosure. From here you can see the Dream Stele of Tuthmose IV and get a good view of the enigmatic face of the Sphinx.

Leaving Giza, you will be driven to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which used to hold some 120,000 artefacts, some of which have never been on display to the public before.
Here you will find the Amarna room with its enigmatic statues of the heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten, the fascinating treasures of Tanis numbering some 2,500 pieces, the incredible artefacts from the joint tomb of Yuya and Thuyu and much much more.

For more info or to book https://gnttours.co.za

Places are limited

November Tour Day 7For those with concerns about travelling to Egypt in the current political climate, fear not. In the ...
27/08/2024

November Tour Day 7
For those with concerns about travelling to Egypt in the current political climate, fear not. In the initial seven months of 2024, Egypt witnessed a surge in tourist arrivals, surpassing 8 million visitors, as announced by Amr El-Kady, the CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Authority. Projections indicate that the total number of tourists in 2024 will surpass 15 million, compared to 14.9 million in 2023.

Our (Ted Loukes/GnT Tours) November tour is just round the corner. This is what Day seven looks like:
After breakfast, you will make your way to the East Bank, taking a boat north down the Nile towards one of the largest open-air temple complexes in the world, Karnak.

As you arrive at the landing and walk past Karnak plaza, we should see the mighty first pylon silhouetted by the morning sun. The approach is through a small avenue of ram-headed sphinxes to what is known as the 1st Pylon. This is the beginning of a walk back in time starting with Nectanebo of the Late Period all the way back to the Middle Kingdom of Senusret I.

There are so many aspects of Karnak that it is impossible to list them here. Wander through the forest of stone that is the Hypostyle Hall, stare up at the impossible heights of the Hatshepsut and Tuthmose obelisks, take a trip through the Botanical Garden of Tuthmose III and witness the Battle Reliefs of Seti I. Take a little used path to the Temple of Ptah with its awesome Sekhmet statue, or find the Temple of Osiris at the eastern end of the complex.

You can visit the Open-Air Museum and find the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut and the White Chapel of Senusret I and a wall with Akhenaten in a rare smiting pose.

From here the newly opened Avenue of the Sphinxes leads back to Luxor Temple.

After lunch, you can take the opportunity to explore the Luxor souk for those extra souvenirs you may want. You will be leaving Luxor this evening and heading back to Cairo.

For more info or to book https://gnttours.co.za

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the third week of AugustNew Digital Interactive PlatformInvestiga...
26/08/2024

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the third week of August

New Digital Interactive Platform
Investigation into Tourist in Luxor Temple
EgyptAir Luggage Tracking
More Sites Get e-Ticketing
Astronomical Observatory Discovered in Kafr el-Sheikh
Metalworking at Giza

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The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the third week of August.New Digital Interactive PlatformInvestigation into Tourist in Luxor TempleEgyptAir Luggage TrackingMore Sites Get e-TicketingAstronomical Observatory Discovered in Kaf...

Egypt is currently full of thousands of tourists who are experiencing the thrill of seeing the Pyramids, and, maybe even...
23/08/2024

Egypt is currently full of thousands of tourists who are experiencing the thrill of seeing the Pyramids, and, maybe even venturing inside, or find themselves deep in the Valley of the Kings staring into the eyes of Tutankhamun. maybe they are sitting on the balcony at their hotel enjoying something cold while the heat of the day slips away, or maybe they are floating gently on the Nile as their boat takes them for a cruise. Wherever they are, they are all safe knowing that Egypt and the Egyptian people have got their back.

Ted Loukes/GnT Tours November Tour - Day 6:

Today begins with a drive to the northern end of the Theban necropolis and the mortuary temple of Rameses the Great’s father, Seti I.

This seldom visited temple is the first one of the 19th Dynasty as Seti’s father Rameses I didn’t have time to build one. Seti I dedicated the temple to his father and the god, Amun-Ra. It was meant to compliment his greatest monument, the Hypostyle Hall within the Karnak temple complex across the river.

A short way from here lie the tombs of the Dra Abu el-Naga, home to many discoveries in 2017. We will get to explore the tombs of Roy and Shuroy, the recently opened Djehuty and Hery and whatever else is open.

Time for lunch and also the opportunity to visit the Temple of Merenptah. Intense restoration has restored some idea of the layout of this 19th Dynasty temple, and it was here that Petrie discovered what is known as the Israel stele. The small, but interesting museum shows just how much stone was looted from the temple of Amenhotep III.

Moving west we will start up the road leading to Hatshepsut’s Temple, stopping to take in the ongoing archaeological dig that is the Asasif. Here we will walk across the site to the tomb of Keruef, steward to Queen Tiye with its depictions of Amenhotep III at his jubilee festivals alongside his son Amenhotep IV.

In a straight line west from Karnak through the temple of Seti I lies the Holy of Holies, Djesr-Djseru, the magnificent mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, possibly Egypt’s most famous female pharaoh. Much restoration has been done, notably in recent years by the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. There is much to look at here, especially the descriptions of Hatshepsut’s voyage to the land of Punt.

What about a Koshari sunset dinner on the Nile to finish up the day?

For more or to book https://gnttours.co.za

Posted with Admin permission

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the second week of August.Madbouli Inspects Giza PlateauGEM Ticke...
19/08/2024

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the second week of August.

Madbouli Inspects Giza Plateau
GEM Ticket Prices
Museo Egizio Opens Nefertatri Exhibit
New Ticket Machine at VoK
Roman Era Discovery at Marsa Matruh
On Top Of The Pyramid Exhibition in China
New Digital Guide for Special Needs Visitors

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The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the second week of August.Madbouli Inspects Giza PlateauGEM Ticket PricesMuseo Egizio Opens Nefertatri ExhibitNew Ticket Machine at VoKRoman Era Discovery at Marsa MatruhOn Top Of The Pyramid ...

The 5th day of our (Ted Loukes/GnT Tours) November tour is always a big one as we will spend a large part of the day in ...
16/08/2024

The 5th day of our (Ted Loukes/GnT Tours) November tour is always a big one as we will spend a large part of the day in the Valley of the Kings. This is not just your normal "3 tombs and out", but will allow you access to all the open tombs in the valley, including Tutankhamun, Seti I, Rameses V/VI and Ay (Usually additional costs). This is day 5:

An early start as it gets hot where you are going and it is important that everyone has enough water with them.

The Great and Majestic Necropolis of Millions of Years of the Pharaoh, better known as the Valley of the Kings is one of the highlights of anyone’s visit to the Two Lands.

With the Luxor Pass you can go in any tombs that are open at no extra cost. The valley has been a tourist destination as far back as Roman times, as can be witnessed by some of the graffiti in some of the tombs, so you are in good company, but it was really just over two hundred years ago that excavation began.

You will begin your exploration of the valley with the most famous of all the tombs here, KV62, the tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, followed by the most beautiful, that of Seti I.
The latest list of tombs open to the public are those of Rameses I, IV, VII, IX, the joint tomb of Rameses V and VI, Seti I & II, Twosret/Sethnakht, Merenptah, Siptah, Ay, Tutankhamun and the newly re-opened tomb of Thutmose IV. Not all the tombs are open all time. (This list can change)

After lunch we shall return to the Valley, stopping off at the house of the man who bought so much fame to not only the Valley of the Kings, but also ignited the flame of Egyptology that has captivated so many.
Welcome to the Howard Carter House. It is only by visiting Carter’s house that one can get some kind of idea of just how challenging living and working in Egypt a hundred years ago was. And of course, there is the replica of KV62, Tutankhamun’s tomb for those extra photo opportunities.

Finally you will head back up the Valley of the Kings road, but take the turn off into the Western Valley to see the tomb of Ay, the successor to Tutankhamun. This is where the famous Dr Zahi Hawass was looking for the tomb of Nefertiti.

For more info or to book https://gnttours.co.za

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the first week of August.Child Sacrifice by Tomb RobbersCoffin of...
12/08/2024

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the first week of August.

Child Sacrifice by Tomb Robbers
Coffin of Ankhpakhered in Wales
Seminar on NK Architecture in Luxor

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The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the first week of August.Child Sacrifice by Tomb RobbersCoffin of Ankhpakhered in WalesSeminar on NK Architecture in LuxorThese news stories are taken from various public internet sources incl...

November Tour: The Grand Egyptian Museum Our November Tour has been extended to include an extra day for the Grand Egypt...
10/08/2024

November Tour: The Grand Egyptian Museum

Our November Tour has been extended to include an extra day for the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). This massive edifice is not yet officially open, and so what happens if it is not open by the time we leave for Egypt?

Well, let us see what we can do. Firstly, as we are a relatively small group we can decide at the last minute to do whatever everyone would like to do. Our suggestion would be either a return to Saqqara as there is much more to see than the first day's itinerary covers, or we could go to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation which is the current home of the Royal Mummies.

Secondly, the GEM carries so many items that it is estimated that if you spent 2 minutes on each artefact it would take you 3 months to do the whole museum. We would also like to point out that, in most cases, visitors really want to see the Tutankhamun treasures and although there are actually over 5,000 items from his tomb, many of them are boxes of seeds, fruit, wine jars and some garments and other not really interesting articles, from a visitor's perspective.

People are saying that the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir is emptied or closed but neither are true. We were there at the end of last year and there are more than enough artefacts on display to keep you going for a lot longer than we will be there, including the golden funerary mask, the jewellery and daggers of Tutankhamun and much more, the throne, the canopic chest and the Anubis statue are all still there.

If the GEM is not yet open we can still do the Atrium and the Giant Staircase as well.

The Grand Egyptian Museum is not Egypt

For more or to book https://gnttours.co.za

November Tour Day FourOur November tour is getting ever closer. Don't miss out on this amazing chance to get up close to...
08/08/2024

November Tour Day Four

Our November tour is getting ever closer. Don't miss out on this amazing chance to get up close to the Great Pyramid, the Sphinx, Tutankhamun and much much more. The tour is almost all-inclusive with your accommodation, meals, transport in Egypt and entrance fees fully covered. The numbers are limited, very limited.
Don't worry about the situation with Israel and Palestine, it is miles away in another country. Don't worry about the GEM, if it's open we'll go, Insha'Allah. Now onto day four:
You have looked at two ends of the Ancient Egyptian social scale, with the royalty on one hand and the workmen on the other. Today you start out by visiting the tombs of some of the nobility.

This stratum of Egyptian society includes powerful courtiers and officials of the ancient city of Thebes. Some 400 tombs cover the hillside between the Valley of the Queens and the road to the Valley of the Kings.

Where royal tombs were decorated with spells and incantations from the Book of the Dead to guide their owners through the underworld, the Duat, the nobles, intent on celebrating their lives after their death, decorated their tombs with wonderfully detailed scenes of their daily lives.

All that walking over the hillsides of Qurna will have built up an appetite, or at least a thirst. Time to make your way towards our next mortuary temple and some refreshments.

“I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert… near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies…”

So wrote Percy Shelley in his poem “Ozymandias”, supposedly inspired by the arrival at the British Museum of a 7-ton section of a statue of Rameses the Great from the next port of call, your second mortuary temple, The Ramesseum.

The House of Millions of Years of Usermaatra-setepenra that unites with Thebes-the-city in the Domain of Amun, to give it its full title, took 20 years to build and carries scenes of Rameses’ campaigns against the Hittites, notably the battle of Kadesh.

On the way back to the hotel there is time for a stop at the Colossi of Memnon. These two 18-metre-high statues of Amenhotep III originally stood guard at the entrance to his mortuary temple. Unfortunately, very little remains to see of what once was the largest structure of its kind, even bigger than Karnak in its day.

For more info and to book https://gnttours.co.za

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the beginning of August.Cat Night at Shanghai MuseumCrocodile Mum...
05/08/2024

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the beginning of August.

Cat Night at Shanghai Museum
Crocodile Mummy Gives Up Its Secrets
Augmented Reality Museum Displays
Tutankhamun in Bolton UK

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The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the beginning of August.Cat Night at Shanghai MuseumCrocodile Mummy Gives Up Its SecretsAugmented Reality Museum DisplaysTutankhamun in Bolton UKThese news stories are taken from various publi...

November Tour Day ThreeAfter breakfast, you will catch your transport to your first stop.The Valley of the Queens, almos...
03/08/2024

November Tour Day Three

After breakfast, you will catch your transport to your first stop.
The Valley of the Queens, almost a misnomer, as not only queens, but also royal princes were interred here. Ta-set-neferu, the place of the beautiful ones, is the final resting place of much of the Rameside royalty, most famously Nefertari, wife of Rameses the Great.

It is thought that the use of the valley for queens is related to the sacred grotto at the western end where there are depictions of Hathor, the goddess who personified love, beauty, music, motherhood and joy.

Next your driver will take you round to the worker’s village of Deir el Medina, less than a kilometre away. Welcome to the village of the workmen who actually built the tombs, who laboured away, cutting through the rock, plastering the walls and crafting the splendid decorations of these hallowed spaces for their kings and queens. Their workmanship shows in the beauty of the tombs they built for themselves, in and around the village.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site carries one of the best documented accounts of community life in the ancient world, spanning almost four hundred years.

Leaving the site of the workers village, you can make your way down the road past Qurnet Marai and on to Medinet Habu and some lunch.

After a short break, you begin your investigation of the first of the mortuary temples on the itinerary.

The temple of Medinet Habu is Rameses III’s lasting legacy to Ancient Egyptian history. Its walls carry more than 7,000 m2 of decorated reliefs detailing the king’s military campaigns against would-be invaders from the north, in particular, the Sea Peoples.

For more info and to book https://gnttours.co.za/

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the fourth week of July.Cairo Ring Road Banners63 Tombs Found in ...
29/07/2024

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the fourth week of July.

Cairo Ring Road Banners
63 Tombs Found in Damietta
Bibliotheca Alexandrina 50 Short Documentaries
Hydraulic Theory About The Step Pyramid

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The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the fourth week of July.Cairo Ring Road Banners63 Tombs Found in DamiettaBibliotheca Alexandrina 50 Short DocumentariesHydraulic Theory About The Step PyramidThese news stories are taken from ...

Our November tour is round the corner and places are moving. Your first day in Egypt will depend on your flight arrival ...
26/07/2024

Our November tour is round the corner and places are moving. Your first day in Egypt will depend on your flight arrival time, so we will all meet at a hotel in Giza and chill for the day (this is included in the price), get to meet each other, and generally chat about what lies ahead. Day one officially starts the next morning with breakfast before we head off to our first stop.

Egypt, the home of the pyramids, and where better to start than with the first one, the Step Pyramid in the Saqqara complex.

You will start with the fabulous Imhotep Museum, named for the architect of the pyramid, and your first chance to see a real mummy.

From here the minibus will take you to the entrance to the Step Pyramid.

A short walk through the entrance colonnade into the Great Court will bring you face to face with the Step Pyramid, the first ever man-made stone monument.

From here it is a few steps to the Pyramid of Unas, where you can make your way into the underground burial chamber to see the first recorded Pyramid Texts. Not far from here is the magnificent tomb of Mehu.

On the opposite side of the Step Pyramid is the collapsed pyramid of Teti and the tomb of Mereruka.

The mysterious Serapeum is next on today’s itinerary.

If there is time we will vist the site of ancient Memphis

Depending on what else is open, you will take your leave of Saqqara and head for some lunch and then onward to Dashur, and the Bent and Red Pyramids. Here you can venture inside the challenging Bent Pyramid.
(the visiting order may change)

After all that exertion, a relaxing drive to the airport, a bite to eat and a flight south. Next stop Luxor.

For more info and to book www.gnttours.co.za

Our November tour to Egypt is getting closer and it is time to have a look at the proposed itinerary. The GnT Egypt Expe...
24/07/2024

Our November tour to Egypt is getting closer and it is time to have a look at the proposed itinerary.

The GnT Egypt Experience begins in Cairo with some of the earliest tombs and pyramids at Saqqara, a visit to the mysterious Serapeum, as well as the chance to go inside the Bent Pyramid. To give everyone a chance to meet each other and to recover from travelling, we shall meet a day earlier at a hotel in the general Giza/Saqqara area, then we can begin day one, refreshed and rested.

At the end of the first day, an evening flight will take you south to Luxor and the start of an unhurried journey of discovery through the one-time capital of the land of the Pharaohs and the extraordinary burial grounds of Ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom. You will visit some of the more interesting tombs and temples in the Luxor area, many of which are not on the general tourist itineraries. Drawing on his knowledge, resources and personal experiences, your host will lead you on a fascinating exploration back in time.

You will walk the paths of not just kings and queens from the distant past, but also those of the nobility of the age, the men and women who held the reins of officialdom in the name of the Pharaoh, and the oft-forgotten workmen who laboured under extreme conditions to bring these massive undertakings to life.

After nearly a week in Luxor, an evening flight will take you back to Cairo ready for an early start, which begins with a visit to Egypt’s most famous landmark, the Giza Plateau, home to the Pyramids and the Sphinx, where you will have the opportunity to go inside the Great Pyramid, followed by an afternoon at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir. Your final day will be spent exploring the new Grand Egyptian Museum. You will then be driven to Cairo International Airport in time for your international departure.
For more information go to www.gnttours.co.za

Everything included in the tour itinerary is the ideal, best case scenario, however things can change and we will do our best to make alternative plans. In the unlikely event that the GEM is still not open by November, you will go to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, including the Royal Mummies Hall or maybe a revisit to the Saqqara complex.

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the third week of July.Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs Opens in...
22/07/2024

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the third week of July.

Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs Opens in Germany
Top of the Pyramids: Ancient Egyptian Civilisation Opens in China
Underwater Discoveries in Aswan
Anubis in London

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The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the third week of July.Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs Opens in GermanyTop of the Pyramids: Ancient Egyptian Civilisation Opens in ChinaUnderwater Discoveries in AswanAnubis in LondonThe...

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the second week of July.The Zahi Hawass FoundationAl-Wafd Illegal...
15/07/2024

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the second week of July.

The Zahi Hawass Foundation
Al-Wafd Illegal Antiquities Smuggling
Donald Redford Retires

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The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the second week of July.The Zahi Hawass FoundationAl-Wafd Illegal Antiquities SmugglingDonald Redford RetiresThese news stories are taken from various public internet sources including:http://...

November is getting ever closer and things affecting tours to Egypt don't seem to be resolving themselves as fast as we ...
14/07/2024

November is getting ever closer and things affecting tours to Egypt don't seem to be resolving themselves as fast as we would like.
Let's have a look at the two main concerns.

Israel/Palestine

The first is the current conflict between Israel and Palestine. At the time of writing a ceasefire seems closer than it has been for the last 10 months, and we can only hope that the talks produce a lasting solution. However, let's not forget that the conflict is in another country and not in Egypt. The area around the Rafah gate and that part of north-eastern Sinai has been on the UK and US travel advice for many years. It has always been advised against travelling to that part of the Sinai Peninsula; the current conflict has not changed that.

This excerpt from the online version of news outlet Egypt Today shows the number of people who visited Egypt in the first half of 2024. Over 7 million people. And an increase on the previous year.

"Egypt welcomed 7.069 million tourists between January and June 2024, surpassing the previous high of7.062 million recorded during the same period in 2023. This represents a 0.1 percent increase compared to2023 and a 2.4 percent increase from 2010."
Egypt Today: Tues 02 July 2024

The point is, the situation in Gaza has not affected people visiting Egypt. There is nothing to worry about. Tourism is a major part of the Egyptian GDP, and the government will not let anything affect that. In case you weren't aware, there is an entire section of the police dedicated to looking after tourists and these are very present on the streets. We were in Egypt last October and everyone felt completely safe. We are also constantly in touch with people in Egypt, and if it looks like things are becoming problematic, we will not go.

The Grand Egyptian Museum

The long awaited Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) hopefully will be open by the time November gets here. The Egyptian government wants the opening to be a big global event with heads of state from all over the world. The current situation regarding the earlier concern might be stopping that happening. There are other reasons as well. The infrastructure around the GEM is not ready; the gardens are not completed, while work is still going on constructing the new Metro line. Additional hotels are still being planned, so, although the museum itself might be ready, it is now a lot of the peripheral stuff that is still being finished.
However, it is worth considering what would you really miss if the museum stays restricted to the entrance and the Grand Staircase.

Most of the Tutankhamun jewellery, including the famous golden funerary mask, is still at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, along with many other artefacts from the King's tomb.
The Canopic shrine and chest, the Anubis statue, and the golden throne are all still in the Egyptian Museum.
The shrines from the burial chamber have been moved.
The enigmatic rishi coffin from KV55 is still at the Egyptian Museum.
The Akhenaten/Amarna room and its contents are still at the Egyptian Museum.
The mummy of Tutankhamun remains in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings.
The Royal Mummies are at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and not the GEM.

Egypt is not the Grand Egyptian Museum

The Giza Plateau and the Pyramids are not in the GEM
The Great Sphinx is not in the GEM
The Step Pyramid at Saqqara is not in the GEM
The Bent Pyramid at Dashur is not in the GEM
The Egyptian Museum is not in the GEM
The Luxor Museum is not in the GEM
The Mummification Museum is not in the GEM
Luxor Temple is not in the GEM
The Valley of the Queens is not in the GEM
Deir el-Medina is not in the GEM
Medinet Habu is not in the GEM
The Tombs of the Nobles are not in the GEM
The Ramesseum is not in the GEM
The Valley of the Kings is not in the GEM
Hatshepsut's Temple is not in the GEM
Karnak Temple is not in the GEM

But, all these places and more are included in our tour.

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the first week of July.No Change to UK/US Travel AdviceNMEC & Arc...
09/07/2024

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the first week of July.

No Change to UK/US Travel Advice
NMEC & Archaeogentic Analysis
Sherif Fathy New Minister of T&A
Mrs. Yamona Al-Bahar Deputy Minister
Stolen Coffin Returned to Sweden
NMEC Audio Guide for Royal Mummies Hall

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The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the first week of July.No Change to UK/US Travel AdviceNMEC & Archaeogentic AnalysisSherif Fathy New Minister of T&AMrs. Yamona Al-Bahar Deputy Minister Stolen Coffin Returned to ...

02/07/2024

Egypt welcomed 7.069 million tourists between January and June 2024, surpassing the previous high of 7.062 million recorded during the same period in 2023

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the last week of June.Aswan Tomb DiscoveryForeign Delegations in ...
01/07/2024

The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the last week of June.

Aswan Tomb Discovery
Foreign Delegations in the 18th Dynasty
SCA, Christies and the Head of Tutankhamun

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The stories that made the Ancient Egypt headlines over the last week of June.Aswan Tomb DiscoveryForeign Delegations in the 18th Dynasty SCA, Christies and the Head of TutankhamunThese news stories are taken from various public internet sourc...

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