The 2009 Autumn Middle East Tour Itinerary
Join tour leader David Down
for the journey of a lifetime!
Travel through the great cities of antiquity with David Down and the staff of Digging Up the Past in a journey that you will never forget. Twenty-one days of amazing sights and fascinating history as you explore ancient tombs, wander around massive temples and marvel at the cities that once ruled the world. Enjoy fabulous buffet meals in the luxury hotels overlooking the Nile River and relax by the hotel swimming pools if you desire.
Proposed Itinerary
Thursday October 1 – Tour Day 1
Depart 5.35 pm on Singapore Airlines flight SQ 234 from Sydney for Cairo via Singapore. Flights from Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth at no extra cost. International travellers can join us in Cairo for the land price only. Price on application.
Friday October 2 – Tour Day 2
Depart from the airport and travel by a/c coach to visit the Pharaonic Village where ancient Egypt comes to life and see the replica of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Then to the Dynasty 5 pyramids at Abusir. Overnight in Cairo
Saturday October 3 – Tour Day 3
FREE DAY IN CAIRO
Sunday October 4 – Tour Day 4
Morning flight to Luxor to see the huge temple of Karnak with its colossal statues. See the inscriptions and reliefs of Thutmosis III and Rameses II, and the obelisk of Hatshepsut. Then to the temple of Luxor with its beautiful avenue of sphinxes and impressive columns. Overnight in Luxor
Monday October 5 – Tour Day 5
See the huge statues called the Colossi of Memnon, the workmen’s village at Deir el Medina, the temple of Rameses and the tombs of the Nobles at Qurna. Overnight in Luxor
Tuesday October 6 – Tour Day 6
Explore the temple of Medinet Habu and the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari. Visit an alabaster factory. See the magnificent tomb paintings in the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Go inside the tomb of Tutankhamun and see the boy kings mummy on display. Overnight in Luxor
Wednesday October 7 – Tour Day 7
Day trip by a/c coach to the temple of Sethi I at Abydos with its historic “king list”, the underground temple known as the Osireion and the temple of Seti’s son, Rameses II. In the afternoon to the temple of Denderra to see the zodiac ceiling and the relief of Cleopatra. Drive through picturesque villages, and see farmers and their animals at work beside the Nile River. Overnight in Luxor
Thursday October 8 – Tour Day 8
By road from Luxor to Aswan. Visit the temple of Edfu with its huge statue of Horus. Then on to the crocodile temple of Kom Ombo with its deep cut hieroglyphic inscriptions and reliefs. At Aswan visit the Temple of Philae, the granite quarries, and the unfinished obelisk of Hatshepsut. Overnight in Aswan
Friday October 9 – Tour Day 9
By a/c coach to the Temple of Abu Simbel, cut out of the cliff face for Rameses II. Return to Cairo by Egypt Air. Overnight in Cairo
Saturday October 10 – Tour Day 10
FREE DAY IN CAIRO
Sunday October 11 – Tour Day 11
To the Sphinx, then the three great pyramids of Giza and the ancient re-assembled funeral boat of Khufu. See Memphis, the capital of Ancient Egypt, then the Step Pyramid of Saqqara. In the evening, see the impressive Sound and Light show at the Giza pyramids. Overnight in Cairo
Monday October 12 – Tour Day 12
Over the desert by a/c coach to the Faiyyum, Egypt’s largest oasis, then to the 12th dynasty pyramid of Hawarra, built with mud bricks and straw. On to Kahun, a 3,500 year old city where Israelite slaves were employed. Visit the pyramid of Meidum. Overnight in Cairo
Tuesday October 13 – Tour Day 13
In the morning, explore “Old Cairo” with its narrow streets, ancient synagogue, picturesque Coptic churches and the bazaar. Then tour the Citadel and Alabaster Mosque. In the afternoon, visit the Cairo Museum with its fabulous collection of treasures from tombs and temples, and see the mummies of the great Pharaohs of Egypt in the Royal Mummy room. Overnight in Cairo
Wednesday October 14 - Tour Day 14
Those group members not staying for Jordan will depart Cairo for the return journey to Australia via Singapore at 2.15pm
Early flight from Cairo to Amman. Take a tour of the city of Amman and see the citadel Ummayed Palace, the Hercules Temple and the best archeological museum in Jordan. On to the Roman Theatre and then to the west part of Amman for a look at the new city. Overnight in Le Meridien Amman
Thursday October 15 – Tour Day 15
Drive along the King’s Highway towards Petra. On the way, visit Madaba and see the mosaics and the Madaba map, a mosaic map of Palestine. On to Mount Nebo where Moses was shown the Promised Land. Visit the Crusader castle at Kerak then on to Petra. Overnight in Crowne Plaza Petra
Friday October 16 – Tour Day 16
Walk, or ride a horse to the Siq, through the clefts in the rock that lead into the rose red city of Petra. See el-Khazneh, the temple cut out of the cliff face, the theatre, if energetic climb to the High Place or walk to the newly discovered temple. Overnight in Petra
Saturday October 17 – Tour Day 17
FREE DAY IN PETRA
Sunday October 18 – Tour Day 18
In our own a/c coach from Petra down to Wadi Rum. Once there, take a 2 hour jeep ride and explore the desert where Lawrence of Arabia made his headquarters. Continue on down to Aqaba on the shore of the Red Sea for a panoramic tour, then drive down to the Dead Sea, lowest point on earth. Overnight in Marriot Hotel, Dead Sea
Monday October 19 – Tour Day 19
Take a short drive from the Dead Sea to the Jordanian baptismal site where Jesus was thought to be baptised by John the Baptist then drive back to our hotel and take a swim in the Dead Sea where you can not sink. Return to Amman. Overnight in Le Meridien Amman
Tuesday October 20 – Tour Day 20
North by a/c coach to Jerash, one of the great cities of the Decapolis. Walk through the forum and cardo, see Hadrian’s Arch and the Hippodrome, the North and South theatres and the great temple of Artemis. Then continue to Ajlun and explore the castle there. Return to Amman. Overnight in Amman.
Wednesday October 21 – Tour Day 21
Depart Amman for Australia via Dubai and Singapore. Our group tickets have a flexible return date. Rather than returning directly to Australia, you may prefer our travel agent to arrange a tour through Israel, Turkey or Europe. Please contact us for more information.
What the tour includes
The tour price includes all air and land travel costs involved in the itinerary as well as admission fees to all sites visited as a group. First class, twin-share hotel accommodation is provided, with private bathroom. All breakfasts and dinners on the tour are included, as well as hotel tips, porterage, visas and airport taxes while with the group. Cost of drinks (including bottled water), passports, travel insurance, all photographic expenses, including camera tickets at museums etc and personal items are not included in the tour price.
We do not have the tour price yet so please use the form below to ask for the latest information, including the price.
Reserve your place now!
Our tour groups are small and friendly. Since places on the tour are limited, you are advised to make your plans early and contact us as soon as possible. A deposit of $A150 is required with your application, along with a photocopy of the front page of your passport. The deposit is refundable, except for a $A20 cancellation fee. Full payment is required eight weeks before departure. Please phone/write/email for more information. Our brochure containing tips on travelling in the Middle East is available for anyone and is sent to all applicants.
This is your opportunity to visit all the major historical and archaeological sites in Egypt with David Down, editor of Archaeological Diggings, Australia's top magazine of ancient history and archaeology. David has been visiting the Middle East for over 30 years. He has lectured around Australia, and will give on-site explanations of the history of each site and a description of the archaeological discoveries made there.
Extra travel
We will travel on flexible excursion tickets (group discount) with Singapore Airlines. Tickets can be cancelled or dates changed at any time though some charges may apply. At your own cost you can go on to Europe or America before or after the tour, providing you return to Australia within one year of your departure. You may also have a 3 day stopover in Singapore at your own expense on the return journey. Our travel agent can arrange for transfers and accommodation at quality hotels close to the city centre. Travellers from other countries may join the tour in Cairo for the tour cost, less the price of the Australian air ticket.
Our travel agent is:
Harvey World Travel (Toronto)
64 The Boulevarde,
Toronto
NSW 2283
Phone: 02 4959 8666
Fax: 02 4950 5869
Lic No. 2TA 4798.
Travel in Egypt between Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel is mostly by air. On the ground we will have our own comfortable, air-conditioned coach and you will stay in luxury hotels which include buffet breakfasts and dinners that cater for a wide variety of tastes.
All cost of travel outside the itinerary is the responsibility of the applicant. The itinerary is subject to change as circumstances may make necessary, and extra costs for such changes are the passenger's responsibility. Prices quoted are based on air fares, taxes and foreign exchange in effect 1 May 2008 and are subject to any change that may become effective at a later date. No refund can be made for any services offered on the itinerary but not used.
More information?
Phone: (02) 1800 240543
Fax: (02) 9012 0882
or write to Diggings (Australian office)
For further information about the tour and its price, please fill out the form below. If you are in Australia or New Zealand you will receive a printed brochure, if elsewhere a .pdf file you can print out.