Egypt Tour with guide Mamdoh Mansor Egyptologist / Archaeologist.

Cairo Egypt, Santana Hotel - GAP Tour Sept - Oct 2009

Afternoon Trip to Saqqara, Step, & Red Southern Pyramids

We arrived a day before the guided trip was to start, here is the entrance to Santana Hotel

View from our Deluxe room on the 5th floor, this was likely the best room they had and best view. We paid an extra 100 LE to be upgraded, we paid $70 total per night

Entrance to the Step Pyramid at Saqqara.

This is the oldest pyramid ever !

Temple columns

They were restoring and many parts were in the courtyard

Over 5000 years old !

Saqqara Step Pyramid

The oldest building in the entire world build of stone.

The original necropolis site covered and area over 8 kilometers and was the largest in Egypt, This is also the most important as it has almost all the dynasties represented.

An aggressive man with his camel conned us into a photo then demanded money, I tried to give him 2 LE and he got mad, the smallest I had was a 50 so he got 10 buks for 10 seconds and was a jerk at the end, the folks after him were all basically very nice. Lesson learned !

Parts of the columns organized for restoration

Still getting over the aggressive man.

At a guess these parts would be assembled soon.

Saqqara courtyard

White limestone parts marked for restoration.

Its an impressive area with lots to see.

Wish we had more time.

Dahshur in the distance, you can see the Bent and Red Pyramids in the distance, it was about 42 degrees that day, hot !

A working man with his cart and donkey, photo taken from the taxi

The Red Pyramid, we had to purchase a ticket for each at a security gate, approx 5 buks.   This is the first pyramid that was the traditional pyramidal shape

Steps leading up to the tomb entrance. We were lucky it was the end of the day and the last ones there.

View looking up at the entrance to the tomb, I didn't go as someone told me it was 50 degrees and smelled like ammonia, also only 3'x3' you had to crawl basically

View looking down, you can see V heading back.

Its a great viewpoint and nice time of the day as we were the only ones there !

Panorama View of the Desert

The Egyptian police one had a camel and the other a car. They police the area and are very protective of the artifacts

Their uniforms say tourism police

On the way back to the hotel we saw this man and his son on their cart carrying a pump, fuel and large hoses. This is the norm for how much of work related transport is done in Egypt, mostly outside of Cairo but this was right in Cairo near the Red Pyramid, we went to the Bent pyramid, it just closed so never saw it.

Cairo Egypt Museum

Our first day with the group, only 5 min from the hotel, it was hot at approx 35 deg.

15 total in our group including our guide

Let the journey begin !

GAP = great adventure people

Statues and monuments in the entrance area. 

We got to take a few photos outside but had to turn in cameras as no photos were allowed inside.

These are many of the famous archaeologists of Egypt's long and wonderful ancient history.

Our GAP tour group getting some information prior to going inside the museum.

Mamdoh Mansor our private guide. He has a degree in archaeology and is an Egyptologist

Lotus flower close up

The entrance area had a pool with lily pads and tons of beautiful lotus flowers.

This flower is used to make perfumes

Small Obelisk

A great sphinx in super condition, most do not have the nose left.

Once inside it was mind blowing what we got to see, mummies of kings going back over 4000 years !

An endless amount of wonderful things to see. Best to purchase a book with photos.

This was one of my most favourite places on the tour.

The last remaining Seven Wonders of the Ancient World -  Almost 5000 years old !

The Famous Pyramids at Giza

Our group just inside the entrance getting ready to enjoy, Mamdoh is told alot of the history on the way there in the bus.

Khufu

This is the main Pyramid and the largest even though the next one looks bigger.

Khufu and Boat Museum

It was super hot now at likely over 40 degrees.

Limestone blocks is what was used for construction.

The average weight is aprox 15 tons or 30,000 lb per stone block !

Queens Pyramids next to Khufu, this is just next to the Boat Museum

Walking around one can see the white limestone used for finishing.

A young man offering a camel ride.

He got off and left the camel there and went nearby, the camel just sat.  I think that may be his father sitting nearby

Fossils in the limestone, proving the Nile had been nearby going back in time

White limestone that was covered in sand and never got eroded. The pyramid was completely covered with this but wore off over time.

V standing next to the huge blocks

Corner showing how some of it was moved by tomb robbers looking for valuables.

We saw a dog running up quite high.

You cannot climb on them any more but in past anyone could climb all over without any resistance

A view looking up

The view point where you can see all 3 major pyramids.

Vendors are nearby selling trinkets and souvenirs.

Our tour guide showing he is fun and we have only been with him for half a day.

He made the difference in making it a super experience.

Thanks Mamdoh !

A view of Kahfre

I did not have time to go around where photos could be taken with light instead of shade.

This photo was taken when we first got there, a view of the tourism police and camel assisting a tourist

This one is very appealing with the cap gleaming

It must have been amazing when first completed as it would have been totally white.

A silhouette view of all 3 pyramids at Giza.

Now we are off to see the Sphinx

The Sphinx at Giza

The walkway and first look at the Sphinx showing excavations and the entire body

Face photo in the shade, it was surrounded by a fence so we could not get really close.

The famous Sphinx showing all 3 pyramids in silhouette.

The Sphinx head was carved out of a single stone, view of it and famous Kahfre Cap

A view of the Sphinx and Khufu next door. Look close and you can see the Queen pyramid as well

Khufu & The Sphinx

Photo taken through the fence !

Its almost sunset

Sphinx Face

Note there is a bird on the face. Gives you an idea how big it is !

Photo taken through the fence.

A young lady sold us a papyrus book marker and we gave her a Canadian pin.

Pretty eh ?

The next visit was to the papyrus factory, photos were not allowed. It was great though !

Sunrise at Aswan through Nubian Desert to Abu Simbil or also spelled Abu Simbel

The Famous Temples at Abu Simbil

In Aswan we got up at 3 am in the dark to get ready for departure to Abu Simbel.

We first went through military gates with lots of buses preparing for a convoy trip. This is the sun coming up after about an hour of driving.

Views of the desert from the bus.

Some spots had drifting sand covering parts of the highway.

Passing a small pick up with 2 boats each bigger than the pick up on top.

Note how far he pulled over to let us pass.

Desert photo from the bus.

Power lines generally follow the highway all the way there.

It took 3 hours drive each way, good thing the GAP bus had very good AC !

Getting close to Abu Simbel

We went through several check stops where they noted that we had arrived.

The entrance and exit at the monument.

Our group is on the right in the photo with our guide Mamdoh.

The walkway around the little mountain.

You cannot take photos inside the temples.

Some carvings near the entrance. The top of the mountain that was moved in the 60's

Fist glance at the statues.

These were all covered in sand and discovered in the 1800s.

Amazing to think that these were carved all the same of one person King Ramses II

Mamdoh our guide preparing the group for what is inside the temples as you cannot take any photos.

A good shot of the huge statues.

The head of one is on the ground.

Single photo of

King Ramses II

Just beautiful !

Us at the famous Temples at Abu Simbel

Melanie, Claudia and V

Over towards the Queens Temple

Queens Temple Statues

Art & Cartouche's

Wide shot of both Temples

Hard to believe all of this was moved when they made Lake Nasser and the High Dam

Story of the moving of the temples and monuments

Re assembly story.

Re assembly and final touches

Final touches

Final Touches

The rear of Abu Simbel temples.

Note the words Abu Simbel means Simple Man in memory of the strong man that was hired to move the sand away, ask Mamdoh for the great historical story.

On the way back it was very hot.

From the bus you could see desert mirages.
Yes it appeared just like water.

Look closely at the line of land in the middle and just below. The mirage would change a bit looking just like water changing a bit.

A visit to the perfume / essence factory outlet.

You can buy essences made from raw materials.

Aswan, the Nile & A great day and night on the Felucca's

Our group getting ready to board the Felucca's, the resort accommodations were superb and food was good, a super nice pool & you cannot beat the location on the Nile

Our 2 Felucca sail boats getting ready for boarding.

Crew was moving them closer to the ramp.

Yahoo we are aboard and ready to sail the world famous Nile River.

Looking back at Aswan and the huge Nile Cruise ships.

The Captains Grandpa

Sailing on the Nile was so peaceful. We sailed under this bridge and the main mast had to be lowered so we could make passage

The famous Swiss couple

Aurien & Celine fun !

Grandpa smoking his shisha pipe

Famous Tombs at Aswan

Now look at that smile.

We branded Mamdoh our guide as a Canuk ( Canadian) for the day.

View of the Nile river bank, see the livestock and farmers

Nan and Shan

Chilling out and enjoying serenity.

Pillow fight with the French gals

Mamdoh getting it from zee French , watch out !

Lunch on the support boat. The crew on this boat were super nice and made us a super nice tasty chicken dinner.  Candlelight too !

I went for a short walk and found this well machine for irrigation. Check it out its quite cool.

Nubian Home with donkeys.

Note the irrigation ditch nearby

The other half of our group taking off after lunch

Amir and Tamkeen on their honeymoon :)

Al playing with is camera

The young and in very good shape Captain.

He was very good at his job and made us feel very safe.

He played Bob Marley on his ghetto blaster.

A unique ship passing by in the late afternoon.

We beached the sailboats on a nice sandy beach and put out a ramp

It got dark quick, the support boat had beer and it was a super nice evening.

After a nice sleep and no bug bites this is what I saw at first light, the river was flat as if it was a lake. Nice photo of the nearby Felucca's & reflections

A few minutes later this is what we saw on the far side of the Nile. It was so serene. Hardly anyone talked, we just enjoyed the special feeling.

Sunrise on the Nile, this was close to the 1st of Oct 2009, about 18 degrees in the early morning. Very little bedding was required. When I looked at the ramp to shore the river had risen 2' while we slept.  

They served us a super nice breakfast as we watched the Nile get busy with marine traffic

Kom Obo Temple on the Nile - Known as the house of the Crocodile

The first recordings of the level of the Nile river

Nile O Meter stands the test of time

We rode the support boat for an hour or so and got on our bus at a nearby doc.

This was an optional Temple Mamdoh recommended, he did it for free and cost us each about 2 or 3 buks for entry.

Small modern village near the entrance. It looked very clean and organized. Approx

This location was a new city made for displaced Nubians

Entrance ramps and view of the Temple of Kom Obo

Entrance

9 am at this point

Great detail and very well preserved

Cartouche

Bas Relief's

Amazing Detail

Note the Crocodile God

The famous Nile o Meter

This spiral staircase was made to measure the level of the mighty Nile river over time, this was the first method and was recorded on steps etc.

Beautiful and wonderfully preserved scene with kings and gods.

Continuation of the scene showing the Crocodile guide

Note,  once the High Dam at Aswan  was made the alligators were never seen on the north part of the Nile.

An amazing scene in perfect condition after thousands of years !

Hieroglyphs and birth scene.
Note to the left is a mother nursing

Greco Roman type of Pillars

A dove on the fence on the way out

Last view of the temple

Farming field next to the village. Farmer and son at work.

Next we are on our way to Luxor

Luxor - 2nd Half Egypt Tour - Red Sea,Sinai,Suez Canal,Cairo

Click  the link above to see the 2nd half, it will open in a new window

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Contact Mamdoh Mansor Email mamdo32@gmail.com or Phone (+2 ) 012 4535 628