STUDY LEADER
Since 1993, Stephen Harvey has been Director of the Ahmose and Tetisheri Project, which centers on excavation of
the monumental complex of King Ahmose at Abydos, southern Egypt, under the aegis of the Pennsylvania-Yale-Institute of Fine Arts,
NYU Expedition to Abydos.
He received his PhD in Egyptian Archaeology in 1998 from the University of Pennsylvania.
In addition
to extensive fieldwork at Abydos, Dr. Harvey has worked in Egypt at Giza and Memphis, as well as on archaeological projects in the
United States, Syria and Turkey.
From 2003-2006, Harvey was Assistant Professor of Egyptian Archaeology in the Oriental
Institute at The University of Chicago. In 2006, he led the reinstallation of the Picken Family Nubian Gallery of the Oriental
Institute Museum, together with co-Curator Bruce Williams.
From 1998 to 2002, Harvey was Assistant Director of the Institute
of Egyptian Art and Archaeology and Assistant Professor in the Department of Art of the University of Memphis, Tennessee.
He
was Assistant Curator for Egyptian Art at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland from 1996 to 1998.
ITINERARY
DAY 1, Sat - U.S./Cairo
Fly from your home to New York and join our EgyptAir flight to Cairo.
DAY 2, Sun - Cairo
Upon
your arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to the Mena House hotel, located at the base of the Giza Plateau. There
will be an informal meeting and orientation at 5:00 pm.
L,D
Hotel - Mena House
DAY 3, Mon - Cairo
This morning we will drive to
Saqqara to visit the Old Kingdom necropolis and to explore the first pyramid, the 3rd Dynasty Step Pyramid complex of Djoser. We will
also visit several of the pyramid precedents, the Old Kingdom Mastaba tombs from the time of Qa'a (Mastaba 3505) and Adjib (Mastaba
3038). We will also visit the 5th Dynasty Pyramid of Unis, with its pyramid texts, and the remains of the 3rd Dynasty Pyramid of Sekhemkhet.
B,L,D
Hotel
- Mena House
DAY 4, Tue - Cairo
We will drive to Zawiet Ayan, where we will visit the ruins of two pyramids of an unknown kings,
possibly Khaba (3rd dynasty) and Nebka (4th dynasty). After our return to the hotel we will have an afternoon lecture.
B,L,D
Hotel -
Mena House
DAY 5, Wed - Faiyum
The first true pyramids were built by Senefru, the first king of the 4th dynasty. We will visit his two pyramids
at Dashur (the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid) and his pyramid at Meidum. This pyramid has been attributed, with some uncertainty,
to Senefru’s father Huni. While at Dashur we will visit the ruins of several middle kingdom pyramids, such as Amenemhet II, Amenemhet
III and Senwosret III. From there we will drive to the Faiyum where we will have an evening lecture.
B,L,D
Hotel - Helnan Aubery
DAY
6, Thu - Faiyum
While at the Faiyum we will jump
forward in history and visit the Middle Kingdom pyramids at Lisht (Amenemhet I and
Senwosret I, with its nine subsidiary pyramids and 1 satellite pyramid), Illahun (Senwosret II, with its eight mastabas and single
"Queen's pyramid") and Hawara (Amenemhet III), before returning to our hotel.
B,L,D
Hotel - Helnan Aubery
DAY 7, Fri - Cairo
Today
we will return to Giza, stopping to visit the ancient greco-Roman city at Karanis on the way
B,L,D
Hotel - Mena House
DAY 8, Sat
- Cairo
Today we will visit the Giza Plateau for the entire day. We will explore the Pyramids of Khufu, Khafra, and Menkaure as well
as their six subsidiary pyramids, two satellite pyramids and mortuary temples, valley temples, the Solar Boat Museum, the Sphinx complex
and the 4th Dynasty Mastaba of Khentkawes.
B,L,D
Hotel - Mena House
DAY 9, Sun - Luxor
This morning we will drive north to Abu
Roash and the 4th Dynasty Pyramid of Djedefre. The afternoon will be spent at Abusir where we will visit the 5th dynasty Pyramids
of Sahure, Neferirkare, Niuserre and Raneferef. There will be an evening lecture at the hotel
B,L,D
Hotel - Nile Hilton
DAY 10,
Mon - Luxor
We will return to Saqqara to visit several of the pyramids of the 5th Dynasty located there such as Userkaf and Djedkare.
We will also visit several 6th Daynasty pyramids, such as Teti, Pepi I, Merenre and Pepi II, and possibly the 8th Dynasty Pyramid
of Ibi. This evening we will fly to Luxor.
B,L,D
Hotel - Winter Palace or Steigerberger
DAY 11, Tue - Luxor
Today we will drive
by private convoy to Abydos where we will see the 1st and 2nd dynasty precursors of the pyramids as well as the last royal Pyramid
of Amose, first king of the 18th dynasty. We will return to Luxor in the late afternoon.
B,L,D
Hotel - Winter Palace or Steigerberger
DAY
12, Wed - Luxor
We will drive to the West Bank to see the remains of the Pyramid of Nubkheperre Intef of the 17th Dynasty. We will
also see the democratization of pyramids at the common tombs for the workers during the 18th and 19th dynasties at Deir el Medina.
There will be an evening lecture.
B,L,D
Hotel - Winter Palace or Steigerberger
DAY 13, Thu - Luxor
Taking a break from pyramid
touring, we will visit the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple, before catching our afternoon flight back to Cairo.
B,L,D
Hotel -
Cairo Marriott
DAY 14, Fri - Cairo
The entire day will be spent in the Cairo Museum where we will see many artifacts associated
with the kings whose pyramids we have visited over the past two weeks.
B,L,D
Hotel - Cairo Marriott
DAY 15, Sat - Cairo/U.S.
We
will depart from the Cairo airport for our return flight to the USA having completed a once in a lifetime visit to some of Egypt's
most unique monuments.
B
NOTE: Though we have made preliminary arrangements for the sites listed in the itinerary,
circumstances prior to, or at the time of, our visit may require us to modify the itinerary and sites visited. Every effort
will be made to ensure that all special sites will be available to us and we will notify tour participants as soon as possible if
there are any changes.
COMMENTS
Egypt's Complete Pyramids is one of the most specialized tours we have ever had the pleasure of offering.
Through special arrangements with the Egyptian athorities we have received permission to visit many sites in Egypt which are normally
closed to visitors.
Because of the unique nature of this trip and the cost of the special arrangements, there is a minimum requirement
of 15 participants. In order to insure an exceptional experience for everyone on the tour, there is an absolute maximum of 20
participants (subject to change), including the Study Leader.
The tour includes stays in the Cairo Marriott, the garden section
of the Mena House (Pyramid side), the Helnan Aubry in the Faiyum, and the Winter Place or Steigenberger in Luxor.
The price of the tour includes all meals and non-alcoholic beverages at meals. The customer is expected, but not required, to
tip the guide and tour manager. All other tips are included except for personal items.
