Originally Posted by skunkman

Travel to Egypt was just opening up before the pandemic shut it down again. Traditional tours include the pyramids, Cairo and the Egyptian Museum, Memphis, a cruise down the Nile with stops along the way to Abu Sembel the Luxor Temple and visits to the Valley of the Kings and Queens to see the tombs. IOW, the standard tour of Egypt. We were lucky to have traveled with Archeological Paths, because their tour based on itineraries we see, blows alway all other tours. First, the tour consisted of lectures by Dr. Zacki Hawass, former Director of Egyptian Antiquities at various sites. Dr. Hawass used his influence to obtain PRIVATE entries to the pyramids and the Luxor Temple, arranged for us to visit sites of current digs and the non-public sites of the Karnak Temple, plus a "surprise" visit and lecture by his protege, the current Director of Egyptian Antiquities. We were also treated to private entries of tombs that are not open to the public or other tourists. Our tour also included tea at the Presidential palace with Madame Sadat ( Anwar's widow ) and a frank lecture of current Egyptian politics. Dr. Hawass also arranged for us to actually go down and stand between the legs of the Sphinx. Everyone else has to stand on a boardwalk overlooking the Sphinx, as no one is allowed nest to the Sphinx. We were amazed at the other tour groups looking at us from the boardwalk and wondering how we were able to get up and personal with the Sphinx. I'm not an employee or travel agent representing Archeological paths. I'm just an ordinary traveler who stumbled on this tour of Egypt which, compared to the competition is far above it, and well worth its price.