24 | Egypt Destination Guide
Another unexpected pleasure is the light,
always sof t-focus and of ten sepia-toned by
deser t sands, which somehow makes it easier
to imagine how ancient Nile civilisation is.
These fer tile river plains, inhabited since
6000BC, gave rise to the world's first nation
state, ruled by the fabled pharaohs, whose
legacy remains ever y where today. Ancient
Egypt gave us writing, makeup, music,
mathematics, astronomy… even under wear.
"Central government, in a sense, star ted
here," says Fouad Ber to, our program director
and resident Egyptologist.
These are the brush-stroke moments on an
11-night Pharaohs & Pyramids adventure that
takes in Egypt's headline acts, from its ver y
first pyramid erected in 3000BC at Saqqara to
its final place of worship, the Philae Temple
on Aswan Lake. In between is a procession
of astonishing monuments including the
numbing wonder of Karnak, once the world's
largest religious complex, the touristy but
still phenomenal pyramids of Giza and lesser-
known treasures like the exquisitely preser ved
temple at Qena, which we have to ourselves.
As our other resident Egyptologist Salah
Taw feek says, "Ever y day you think you will
never see another site as impressive, but ever y
day has a site which is just magnificent."
The tour star ts in Cairo where Viking staff
spirit us through the airpor t in record time
and instal us at the riverside Sofitel for three
AQUAV IT TER R AC E , V I K I N G O S I R I S
