SKYWALKER TOURS LTD PRESENTS:
A fascinating journey to discover the many wonders of Ancient Egypt, uniquely tailored around its astronomy, astrology and mythology. The tour covers the most important sites of both lower and upper Egypt, and includes 2-hours private access to the Great Pyramid at Giza on the day of the Spring Equinox. We will be tuning into the special energy and unique atmosphere of the pyramids, temples and tombs that we visit, contemplating their astronomical alignments and astrological correspondences, and experiencing the particular acoustic resonance of their chambers.
The tour is is led by well-known astrologer, author and pilgrim guide, John Wadsworth.
Fees:
The price of the tour is £2475.
You can secure you place by paying a deposit of £500.
The price includes the following:
All internal flights & other transportation (including transport from airport on arrival)
Comfortable, high quality accommodation in twin bedded rooms. (Single supplement: £250)
All breakfasts & lunches (and some dinners)
All entrance tickets to temples, tombs etc.
Private access to the Great Pyramid at Giza
All lectures & discussions
English speaking guides
Join Us For An Incredible Egyptian Adventure to the Stars!
This 10-day tour will be focussed around Ancient Egyptian star lore, astrology, and the astronomical alignments of Egyptian temples. The tour has been timed to coincide with four important astrological events. We will be present at particular temple sites that powerfully resonate with the energy of these astrological moments. We will honour the Spring Equinox at the Sphinx and Great Pyramid of Giza for sunrise on 20th March. Two days later, on 22nd March, we will be present for the Sun-Venus Star-Point conjunction at the Hathor temple at Dendera. On 24th March, we will be at the Temple of Karnak for the Sun-Mercury inner conjunction. And will we welcome in Venus’s return from the Underworld, and her reappearance as the ‘morning star’ at the isis Temple at Philae (Aswan) on 27th March.
The temples of Egypt are the houses of the Gods, created as their portal gateways into the world of mortals. Each temple represents the Universe, its ceiling is the sky, its floor and columns the earth, with its trees and plants, while the crypts represented the Underworld. Its mortuary temples were for the pharoahs, while its cult temples where dedicated to specific Gods, such as the Temple of Isis at Philae, the Temple of Osiris at Abydos, and the Temple of Horus at Edfu.
We will visit all the key sites in both Upper and Lower Egypt. This includes us having a two-hour private access at the Great Pyramid. We will visit the temple complexes at Saqqara, Karnak & Luxor. The Hathor Temple at Dendera will be a centrepiece of the tour for us, with its rich astrological features, and we will enjoy the wonders of the Osiris temple at Abydos. We will visit the Valley of the Kings and other key sites on Luxor’s west bank. And then travel to Aswan, where we find the Temple of Isis at Philae, visiting the Khnum temple at Esna and the Horus temple at Edfu on the way. We will also enjoy boat trips on the Nile, visits to the Great Museum at Giza, Cairo Old Market, the Nubian Museum and Nubian Village at Aswan.
Aligned to the Heavens!
The temples served, among many other functions, as astronomical observatories, and their positioning and alignment to the stars are meticulously calculated. The pyramids at Giza align with the stars of Orion’s Belt, which for the Egyptians was part of the constellation that recognised as Osiris. The pyramids also simultaneously align to the constellation of Cygnus the swan, when viewed from the primordial mound The Great Pyramid at Giza is perfectly aligned to the four cardinal points, and shafts within its two primary chambers were deigned to point directly to specific stars.
The astronomer-priests of Ancient Egypt studied the rhythms and cycles of the natural world and identified the astral patterns that coincided with them, using the stars as markers to foretell natural and cosmic events. Much of the mythology of ancient Egypt centres around the correspondence between natural and celestial events, such as the annual flooding of the Nile, which happened at the time that the star we know as Sirius (Sothis to the Egyptians) reappeared in the sky after a three-month absence. This is remembered as the grieving of Isis at the loss of her murdered husband Osiris. It is said that the fertile, life-giving waters of the Nile, gifted to the land of Egypt at the time of the flooding, were Isis’s own tears of longing for her husband’s return. This is laid down in the Pyramid Texts at Saqqara in Lower Egypt, which we will be visiting as part of our tour. At the magnificent Temple of Hathor at Dendera, in Upper Egypt, we find beautiful depicitions of the Zodiac figures, and of the planetary gods.
Ancient Egypt Star-Lore Tour Itinerary
Day 1 (18 Mar): Arrive Cairo airport. Transfer from airport to Pyramids Edge Hotel. Dinner and induction evening at the hotel.
Day 2 (19 Mar): We will visit the Saqqara temple complex. This is one of the most ancient sites in Egypt. We will visit the step pyramid, the Temple of Unas, also the Teti temple. These contain pyramid texts, which describe the significance of the heliacal return of Sirius (Sothis) and the Pharoah’s journey into the afterlife, his journey to the stars. While at Saqqara we will also visit the catacombs of the Serapeum, which contain giant sarcophagi, of mummified bulls. we will return to the hotel in Giza, and in the evening, after dinner, John will give his first lecture on ancient Egyptian astronomy. If we can we will try a catch a glimpse of Mercury at Sunset, for his final appearance in the sky, ‘as an evening star’ before entering the Underworld.
Day 4 (21 Mar): In the morning, we will visit the Great Cairo Museum (recently relocated to Giza), which is one of the largest museums in the world, housing an extraordinary collection of archeological treasures from ancient Egypt. This will be our last day in Cairo and we will fly to Luxor in the afternoon. And arrive at our beautiful accommodation in Luxor, with views of the Nile. In the evening, John will give a presentation on the astronomical ceiling at Dendera ahead of our trip there the following day.
Day 5 (22 Mar): Sun-Venus Star-Point Conjunction. We will head out from Luxor early to visit the enigmatic Temple of Osiris at Abydos. Here we will see the beautifully preserved temple walls of Set I’s mortuary temple, and get a look of the Osirian, the most ancient part of the temple. After lunch we will visit one of the most important sites on our tour, the Hathor Temple at Dendera. Dendera is encoded with the most sophisticated astronomical knowledge of ancient Egypt. While there is only a blackened replica of the original circular zodiac, (original in La Louvre, Paris) the zodiacal figures displayed on the ceiling of the main temple on the ground floor, along with the planets, and the twelve hours of night, are beautifully preserved as an extensive colour bas-relief. There are many other treasures to discover at Dendera also, and we have private access to the two crypts. Both carry a very powerful energy, and one of them houses the famous ‘Dendera Light Bulb’. This is a special day astronomically / astrologically as it is the ‘inferior’ conjunction of Sun and Venus, when Venus makes her closest approach, and performs her most mystical rite for the Earth. And Hathor is the Egyptian representation of Venus.
Day 6 (23 Mar): In the morning we will visit the Valley of the Kings, with a passing stop at the Collossi of Memnon. We will visit four of the tombs, including the magnificent tomb of Ramses V & VI, with its well preserved ‘Book of the 12 Gates’ and its spectacular astronomical ceiling depicting Nut, goddess of the starry heavens. In the afternoon we will visit the mortuary temple of Queen Hatchepsut.
We will enjoy drinks in the early evening, enjoying the sunset over the Kurna mountain, looking back at the Valley of the Kings.
Day 9 (26 Mar): We leave Luxor early in the morning, and head toward Aswan. On the way we make two stops. The first stop is at the Temple of Khnum at Esna, which has a ceiling depicting the images of the zodiac signs, in a similar (though rather less impressive) style to that of the ceiling at Dendera. We with then visit the hugely impressive, and remarkable well-preserved Temple of Horus at Edfu. This temple contains a fascinating set of bas-reliefs not found at other temples. This includes the scene of Horus spearing Set (depicted as a hippo) in twelve different places on his body. That evening we will arrive in our sumptuous, characterful hotel in the Nubian village in Aswan where we will stay for the last two nights of the trip.
Day 3 (20 Mar): We will visit the Giza plateau for Sunrise, so that we can appreciate the alignment of the Sphinx facing due east toward the Spring Equinox sunrise. Many believe that the Sphinx can be dated to the Age of Leo, when the constellation of the lion could be see rising at the time of the Spring Equinox. We will then enjoy 2 hours private access in the Great Pyramid, where we can be alone in the King’s Chamber and experience its uniquely powerful atmosphere. We also have the ability to visit the Queen’s Chamber & the subterranean chamber. We will spend the rest of the morning exploring the Giza plateau, including Gebel Ghibli, the primordial mound. We will rest after lunch, on account of our early start. In the late afternoon, we will visit the wonderful Old Cairo market and have dinner there.
Day 7 (24 Mar): Sun-Mercury Conjunction. In the morning we will take a boat across the Nile to the East Bank to visit the vast temple complex of Amun-Ra at Karnak. This will include private access to the Temple of Ptah to meet the powerful, lion-headed goddess, Sekhmet, said to one of the few living statues that still exist in Egypt. We will have our lunch at Karnak, and then walk the Sphinx Avenue to experience the wonders of Luxor Temple, the so-called ‘Temple of Man’, following the research of Schwaller de Lubicz. Another special day astrologically, as Mercury performs his most mystical rite.
Day 8 (25 Mar): This is our last full day in Luxor, and a more relaxed day, with a later start. We will explore more of the west bank. In the morning, we will visit Deir-el-Medina, the incredbly well preserved tombs of the workers, with their vivid colour bas reliefs. We will also visit a small Hathor temple there, that depicts the famous judgment scene, the weighing of the heart and the feather. Then in the afternoon, we visit the much-loved Medinet Habu Temple, mortuary temple of Ramses III. If there is time, we will also visit the the small Isis temple, which is a hidden gem. In the early evening, we will take a falluka ride on the Nile for the sunset, and then enjoy a barbecue in the desert close to Kurna, with star-gazing and laser tour of the constellations of the night sky!
Day 10 (27 Mar): During the day, we will travel by boat along the Nile to visit the magnificent Isis Temple at Philae, the primary site of Isis worship in Egypt. After the construction of the first Aswan Dam in the early 1900s, the original site at Philae regularly flooded and several decades later it was proposed to move the temple to the higher ground nearby during the 1960s and 1970s, prior to the construction of the High Dam. In an extraordinary feat of engineering, the temple was moved stone by stone to the new site. As well as visiting the relocated temple complex, we will also visit the original island of Philae, which has a very special energy and where some monuments still remain. Venus is directly connected to Isis, and we will honour Venus’s return from the Underworld, as the morning star here at Philae
We will then visit the Nubian Village in the evening, and enjoy a wonderful last night dining out together, enjoying all the colour, music and dance of the Nubian culture.
Tour Schedule Summary
Day 1 (Mar 18): Arrival in Giza & Induction
Day 2 (Mar 19): Visit the temple of Saqqara. Lecture on Egyptian astronomy
Day 3 (Mar 20): Spring Equinox. Giza Plateau & Great Pyramid Private Access. Visit Cairo Old Market
Day 4 (Mar 21): The Great Museum at Giza. Fly to Luxor. Evening Lecture on the Astrology of Dendera Temple
Day 5 (Mar 22): Venus Star Point Day (Sun-Venus Conjunction). Visit Osiris Temple (Abydos) & Hathor Temple (Dendera)
Day 6 (Mar 23): Luxor West Bank Day 1: Valley of the Kings & Mortuary Temple of Hatchepsut (Deir-El-Bahri)
Day 7 (Mar 24): Sun-Mercury Conjunction. Vist Amun-Ra Temple complex at Karnak & Sekhmet. Sphinx Avenue. Luxor Temple visit.
Day 8 (Mar 25): Luxor West Bank Day 2: Visit Deir-el-Medina, Medinet Habu & Isis Temple. Falluka Nile trip. Star gazing evening.
Day 9 (Mar 26): Travel from Luxor to Aswan. Visit Horus Temple (Edfu) & Khnum Temple (Esna) en route.
Day 10 (Mar 27): Venus return as ‘Morning Star’. Visit Isis Temple at Philae, Aswan. Visit Nubian Museum. Night out in the Nubian Village
Day 11 (Mar 28): Fly back from Aswan to Cairo
Terms & Conditions
Please Read Before Booking
Payment: A non-refundable deposit of £500 secures your place on the tour. The balance payment of £1975 must be paid in full by 30 Nov 2024.
Passport Details: We will ask for your passport details, when you send your deposit. These must be received by 30 Nov 2024 at the latest.
Refund Policy: The deposit portion is non-refundable after 30th June 2024. Prior to 30th June 2024, your deposit is refundable (less a £60 admin charge). 90 days from arrival in Egypt, 50% of the tour price will be charged as cancellation fees (plus bank fees). 60 days from arrival in Egypt, 75% of the tour price will be charged as cancellation fees (plus bank fees). 30 days from arrival in Egypt, 100% of the tour price will be charged in cancellation fees.
Insurance: You must organise your own travel insurance. Kairos Education Ltd cannot be held responsible for any accident or injury that you might incure on the trip, and we are not liable for any stolen goods.
Visas: Please ensure that you have the relevant visas that you need before booking this tour and have a passport with at least 6 months past the end date of the tour. For UK and EU citizens, a 30-day visa can be obtained at the airport in Cairo for around £30.
Accommodation: The price of the trip includes sharing a twin-bedded room with another participant. For those travelling alone, we will do everything we can to match you with a suitable room-mate. If we are unable to do that, you will be required to pay the single supplement (£250 for the 10 nights).
Confirming the Tour Go -Ahead: Please do not book your international flights until the tour is confirmed in writing via email. We will not be held responsible for any costs incurred if you book your flights prior to this.
Changes to Schedule: The itinerary for the tour, and accommodation may be liable to change if circumstances dictate beyond our control, though this is very unlikely. If we have to cancel the tour for any reason, you will receive a full refund
Early Departure from the Tour: If you decide to leave the tour early for whatever, you will be asked to fill in a ‘Sign Out’ form no refund will be due. Kairos Education Ltd accepts no liability for any unforeseen expenses that may arise from this, and bears no accountability for banishment or any other circumstances that may arise.
Force Majeur: Kairos Education Ltd is not accountable; nor legally responsible, will NOT pay our any reimbursement if our obligations have been affected by any unforeseen circumstances that cannot be avoided. This applies (but is not limited) to the following force majeur scenarios: War, threat of war, terrorist activities, civil discord with its consequences or the risk of such activity, riot, natural or atomic disasters, fire, chemical or biological disasters and adverse weather, sea, ice and river conditions, and/or similar occasions.
The tour is now fully booked. However, it is quite possible that we will receive cancellations, so you can still enrol below to join the waiting list.