Depart the US in the morning, arrive in New York in the afternoon, and take an overnight flight to Cairo – Egypt. Your friends from Spirit Quest Tours will be on hand to make sure you have everything you need when you arrive. Book your own air or travel on air miles. Take the afternoon off, relax by the pool, or visit one of the local souvenir shops. Optional group dinner at Felfella Restaurant, a wonderful local spot featuring traditional Egyptian mezzes and fresh grilled food – be sure and try some "Om Ali," a delicious traditional Egyptian dessert.
In the afternoon we continue to the famous Egyptian Museum, with its staggering collection of relics dating back to 4,000+ BC. Here we will experience first hand the different periods of ancient Egypt and the individual artistic and architectural styles of each period. The highlight of this museum is the visit to the priceless treasures of Tut-Ankh-Amon. You will marvel at the intricate workmanship and the tiniest details of the contents of the luggage packed for this King to accompany him to the next world. Cairo has played a pivotal role in the history of the three great Western monotheisms: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. From the discovery of Moses among the bullrushes, to sheltering the holy family during the slaughter of the innocents, to its centuries at the center of the Islamic world, Cairo has been intimately folded into the West’s spiritual heritage. Today we’ll explore these themes while visiting “Old Cairo;” including the oldest synagogue in Egypt, the famed St. Sergio Church and the beautifully peaceful Ar Rafaii Mosque. Afternoon departure for Cairo Airport for our short flight to Luxor, home to the greatest concentration of antiquities on the planet. Known as Thebes in the ancient world, Luxor is a friendly and fascinating mixture of the ancient and modern, the metropolitan and the rustic.
Day 6, Wednesday, February 18th: Thebes, the Valley of the Kings (B/L/D) In the morning, we will drive to Dendera Temple, one of Egypt’s most beautiful temples, which is dedicated to Hathor, Goddess of Love, Music and Joy. Here we meditate in the Chapel of Nut, the birthing room, as well as seeing the world’s oldest sundial, and graffiti from Napoleon’s soldiers. Our ceremony here, in the Chapel of Osiris, is one of our most sacred. No pilgrimage to Egypt is complete without visiting Abydos. 10th Day, Sunday February 22nd: Temples of Horus and Kom Ombo (B, L, D) We have a morning visit to the best-preserved temple in Egypt, the fabulous Temple of Horus the Avenger – the falcon god. Consecrated to Horus and to Set, it is the embodiment of the principles of self-mastery and resurrection; balancing the forces of dark and light. Our initiation will encompass all these themes as we empower the Horus within us. We return to our cruise ship, The Afandina, for lunch, then sail to Kom Ombo, the temple dedicated to two deities: the crocodile god, Sobek, and Horus the Elder, the innate potential for enlightenment dormant within each of us. Kom Ombo was a famous healing temple in ancient days and is now both a gloriously picturesque edifice and an energy-filled ruin overlooking a bend in the Nile. After our ceremony here, we continue sailing through the countryside of Egypt on our way to overnight on an Island between Kom Ombo and Aswan. You're free this evening to experience the lounge or enjoy the solitude of sailing from the ship’s upper deck.
11th Day, Monday February 23rd: Aswan/Temple of Philae (B, L, D) In the morning, we sail to Aswan, and in the afternoon, enjoy a felluca ride (a small delightful sailboat – peaceful and serene) around the Islands on our way to the Temple of Philae: the delicate, elegant, quintessentially feminine temple of Isis. The graceful antiquity of Philae was meticulously moved stone by stone from its ancient site (now submerged) to its new, higher, island home in the middle of the lake. Today it gives us – modern men and women with modern machines and incredible technical knowledge – great insight into what the ancient and intelligent peoples of the world could do with only simple technology and the will to create. During our ceremony we will anchor our intentions for the future inside the divine matrix of creation. We check into the St. Catherine’s Hotel, a lovely and rustic resort reminiscent of Colorado or Sedona, nestled deep in the mountains. Private cabins feature plenty of space as we “rough” it in this beautiful country.
Like Wadi Feiran, St. Catherine’s Monastery is a welter of powerful energies, mythic occurrences, and Biblical importance. From the receiving of the law to the mystery of the burning bush, there are few sites in the Holy Land more revered and important than St. Catherine’s and Mount Moses. After the visit to St. Catherine's Monastery If weather permits, we will be able to ride camels up the side of Mount Moses accompanied by our Bedouin guides. At base camp, we will climb nearly 800 steps to the small church at the very pinnacle of the mountain in time to see the sunset. Then we will climb back down as dusk falls and a riot of stars fill the sky like jewels
14th Day, Thursday February 26th: Cairo (B) After a day drive to back to the Giza Plateau, we will check into Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel, a fabulous and luxurious hotel just a few blocks from the Pyramids. Wash off the dust of the Sinai with a dip in the pool, and later in the evening, treat yourself to Mediterranean or Tex-Mex at one of the great on-site restaurants.
We will also visit the world famous Khan El Khalili Bazaar for an afternoon of shopping and bargaining with the street vendors in this thousand year-old market. Enjoy a set lunch at the Najib Mafouz restaurant, named after Egypt's greatest writer, who sat there each day while writing his Nobel Prize-winning novel. Then as a special treat, we'll visit the "Alley of the Tentmakers" to truly touch an authentic face of Egypt. Some of the remarkable hand-sewn quilts found in the Alley of the Tent-Makers Tonight you will enjoy your farewell dinner at a very special place!!!
Day 1 - February 13th: Depart USA
In the afternoon, we visit the Nubian Market of Aswan, “ The Pearl of Egypt”. With its colorful Nubian bazaar, laid-back atmosphere, warm and wonderful people and a lovely promenade along the Nile, Aswan is a favorite city in Egypt for many visitors. Dinner aboard ship for our last night on the Nile.
We later visit the famous Mena Papyrus Gallery Institute, where we will see how handmade copies of old Egyptian art showing the tombs and temples are created, and how papyrus is made.
Day 2 - February 14th: Arrival in Cairo - Rest Day (B)
Mid-morning arrival to Cairo International Airport where you'll be met by your Spirit Quest representatives who will provide you with a visa and will assist you through immigrations and customs. We depart by bus to the Mena House Oberoi hotel, one of the most spectacular hotels of the world. The former hunting palace of the Khedive Ismael (the last King of Egypt), the Mena House boasts 140 years of history. Join the ranks of former guests such as Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Princess Grace, and royalty from all over the world.
But perhaps best of all will be the view from our hotel – where the Great Pyramid fills the sky like a mountain.
Day 3 - February 15th: Sakkara/Egyptian museum (B, L)
Today we visit the magnificent Old Kingdom site of Sakkara, the home of King Zoser's Step Pyramid. We'll explore some of the Old Kingdom's most important "noble's tombs" with their stunning relief carving that vividly bring to life the everyday world of Egypt, more than 2000 years before the birth of Christ.
At Sakkara we accelerate our spiritual work with a ceremony and initiation to open the third eye chakra. The ancient Egyptians showed the uraeus - the rearing cobra - sitting on the brow of the pharaoh as a symbol of the enlightened consciousness and the awakened perception of the initiate (just as the snake is the symbol of the kundalini energy in the Vedic system of India).
The site at Sakkara is crowned with carvings of rearing cobras - a clear indication of the spiritual energies which are found here and which are amplified and focused by the temple structure. This will be the focus of our initiation at this site: enabling our powers of discernment and clear-sight - critical tools that we'll rely on for the rest of our pilgrimage and a certain sign of the initiate.
We will have lunch on the route back at a beautiful countryside Egyptian restaurant where the bread is baked by hand, and then stop at The Sakkara Carpet Academy for our first opportunity for some serious shopping: magnificent hand-loomed silk and wool rugs.
Day 4 - February 16th: Alexandria / Bibliotech Alexandria / Alexandria Museum (B/L)
Today we venture further afield – exploring Alexandria, the “jewel of the Mediterranean.” Enjoy a day trip as our air-conditioned luxury coach transports us to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea! Long revered as a robust center of learning, culture and spirituality, Alex had a deep influence on the early Christian Church. We’ll also visit the breathtaking new “Bibliotech Alexandria” the stunning, ultramodern rebirth of the greatest library and center of learning in the ancient world. And we'll explore the Alexandria Museum, which features both Egyptian and Greek artifacts, presented in a lovely, intimate style.
We'll have lunch on the water at the fabulous "Fish Market" restaurant, then return to our hotel for dinner or a restful evening.
Day 5 - February 17th: Old Cairo / Coptic Museum / St. Sergio / Ar Rafaai / Luxor Temple, Nile Cruise. (B/L/D)
In the early evening, we board our PRIVATE cruise ship, the luxurious dahabeya Afandina. This gorgeous ship, with almost a 1:1 ratio of staff to guests, will be our home for the next week. The Afandina, boasting incredible materials, workmanship and design, is a truly world-class experience that harkens back to an earlier era of travel. Nothing can prepare you for the magic of sailing the Nile on the Afandina.
In the evening we will visit the magnificent structure of Luxor Temple. Here is where R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz developed his revolutionary Symbolist Interpretation; science, art, religion and philosophy are fused into one vast, coherent whole. Part of the largest temple complex in the world, Luxor is not to be missed.
Today is devoted to Thebes as we cross the Nile to the West Bank to visit the Valley of the Kings, where the great and mysterious funerary texts (“The Books of the Dead”) are exquisitely painted or carved into walls. We continue our visits to Mednet Habu, called by the Egyptians themselves “the most splendid of all”, and then on to the immense Colossi of Memnon. We will also stop at an alabaster factory in the Valley, where we can buy wonderful pieces for just a fraction of what we would pay at home.
07th day, Thursday, February 19th: Dendera, Abydos, the Osirion and the
Flower of Life (B/L/D)
In the morning, we go to Abydos, one of the most spellbinding spots of Egypt. Here at the Temple of Seti I is the birth of what was to become the Rameses style. Among the temple’s special features are the Seven Axial Chapels, whose reliefs number among the most beautiful in Egyptian art, and the ancient, enigmatic Osirion, home to the Flower of Life: the most important symbol in sacred geometry. We'll also see the bizarre "future vision" hieroglyphs which seem to show tanks, planes and helicopters.
08th day, Friday, February 20th: Karnak, Esna (B,L,D)
This morning we visit the great Karnak temple at sunrise to play in the energies of the largest spiritual site in the world. Once connected to Luxor Temple, two miles away, by a long avenue of Sphinxes (now almost fully restored), Karnak is dedicated to the Powers of Creation and exhibits profound solar alignments. Karnak is the theater in which humanity plays out its destiny.
After exploring the temple, we'll move to the "Chapel of Sekhmet," to experience one of our most powerful and beautiful initiations.
We spend the afternoon and evening sailing on the Nile, waving at the villagers, farmers and fishermen as we slowly glide through the peaceful waters as we pass by the first Esna Lock. Overnight in Esna
09th day, Saturday, February 21st: Esna/Edfu (B, L, D)
Enjoy a relaxing day off as we sail the Nile. Take in the views from one of our private decks, enjoy afternoon tea in the bar, take some time to journal or recapitulate your experiences, or watch a movie in our private living room. Overnight at Edfu.
12th Day, Tuesday February 24th: depart for the Sinai, stop in Wadi Feiran (B/D)
We take the early morning flight back to Cairo, then board our bus for the journey to one of the most sacred landscapes on the planet: the Sinai. First we will stop at the remarkable Wadi Feiran, a beautiful natural wonder that doubles as a time machine, transporting us back to the pages of the Old Testament: Exodus 17. It is here that Moses struck a rock to bring forth a spring for his thirsty people, here that the Hebrews camped in preparation for battle, here that Moses climbed Mount Tahoun to watch the great battle unfold. And it is here that centuries of pilgrims, priests and worshipers have journeyed to move closer to their faith.
13th Day, Wednesday February 25th: Climb Gebal Musa (Mt. Moses) Visit St. Catherine's Monastery (B/D)
This optional excursion is only recommended for the fit traveler, but don’t worry, the bazaar at the hotel and the wonderful landscape of the Sinai make for a fine substitute if you would rather not undertake this special feature. (Optional trip, weather permitting $55)
Enjoy an evening of rest, relax by the pool, or explore local Cairo.
15th Day, Friday February 27th: GIZA, PYRAMIDS, and SPHINX/Khan El Khalili Bazaar / Alley of the Tent Makers/Farewell Dinner (B,L,D)
Open your heart and listen – feel the energy of the spirits… this morning we experience the most remarkable Wonders of the World: The Sphinx and the Pyramids of the Giza Plateau. As we stand between the paws of the Sphinx our Egyptian guide, who is an encyclopedia of Egyptology, will give us detailed examinations of various controversial theories surrounding these amazing structures.
Then we are blessed with a private visit inside the Great Pyramid and our final initiation in the King’s Chamber. This is the spiritual keystone that will lock all of our work in place: in our psyches, our energy bodies, our hearts, our minds and in the divine matrix of creation on the invisible planes of causality. The spiritual technology of the Great Pyramid is a powerful resonator/amplifier for our intentions, so we will apply our conscious will toward creating profound change in our lives, and in the world.
16th Day, Saturday February 28th: Final departure (B)
Breakfast followed by transfer to Cairo International airport for your flight back home.
* Itinerary is subject to change due to reasons beyond our control.
Accommodations:
Mena House Oberoi Hotel Feb 14th — Feb. 17th (3 nights) Bed and breakfast
Afandina Private Cruise Feb 17th — Feb 24th (7 nights) Full board
St. Catherine Hotel Feb 24th — Feb 26th (2 nights) Half board
Le Meridien Pyramids Feb 26th— 27th (2 nights) Bed and breakfast