SKYWALKER TOURS PRESENTS:
A fascinating, and deeply experiential journey to discover the many wonders of Ancient Egypt, uniquely tailored around its astronomy, alchemy and mythology. The tour covers the most important sites of both lower and upper Egypt, and includes the following:
2-hours private access to the Great Pyramid at Giza
1 hour pre-dawn private access at the Sphinx
3-day private Nile cruise from Esna to Aswan
Private access visit to Seti I tomb at the Valley of the Kings, Luxor
Private access to the Temple of Ptah to meet Sekhmet in her original shrine at Karnak.
5 nights in Luxor: visiting Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple & King’s Valley plus other sites
2 nights in Philae / Aswan: visiting the Isis Temple & Elephantine Island
3 nights in Giza: visiting the Sphinx, Pyramids & Saqqara complex
The tour is is led by well-known astrologer and pilgrim guide, John Wadsworth, who is joined by Mags Mackean, an experienced tour guide and passionate Egyptophile. And we have a wonderful local Egyptian guide Ashraf Amin, who has a deep spiritual connection to the temples.
We choose to keep the numbers low for our tours, so that we can have a more intimate experience, and so that we can secure whole hotel bookings in smaller, high quality hotels that can cater for our bespoke requirements and, and ensure that our group container remains strong.
Fees:
The price of the tour is £4440 GBP, with an early bird price of £4225 if paid in full by 31 Oct 2025.
You can secure your place by paying a deposit of £1400 GBP.
Enrolment between 1 June & 30 Sept 2025. Places limited to 14 people.
The price includes the following:
Comfortable, high quality accommodation in twin bedded, en-suite rooms.
All breakfasts & lunches & dinners
Internal flights & all other transportation (including transport from Luxor airport on arrival & to Cairo airport on departure)
All entrance tickets to pyramids, temples, tombs etc.
Private access to the Great Pyramid at Giza
Private access to the Sphinx enclosure
Private access to the Temple of Ptah to meet Sekhmet in her original shrine at Karnak.
All lectures & discussions
English speaking guides
“Filled with magic, mystery and a potential for ancient remembrance, this tour is an initiation into Egypt's well-kept secrets off the beaten path. An opportunity for soul-travellers to experience the beauty of Kemet in a unique and profound way.”(Florian, March 2025)
Experience the Myth, Mystery & Magic of Ancient Egypt
On this 13-day tour, you will experience the power and unique atmosphere of the sacred sites of Ancient Egypt, its star lore, alchemy & mythology. We will journey deep into the mysteries of this ancient land, to meet the Neters (the Egyptian gods & goddess) and receive their knowledge and wisdom. We will dive deep into the mysteries of ancient Kemet through direct experience, facilitated by three passionate and experienced guides, each of whom bring a unique perspective to unravelling the keys to this ancient civilisation.
With John’s astronomical and astrological expertise, we will explore the ways in which the Egyptian temples were specifically aligned to the stars. The tour has been timed to coincide with the return of Venus as the evening star on the day of the solar eclipse when we are at the Isis Temple at Philae, and the important Saturn-Neptune conjunction on 20th Feb, on the day we enjoy private access at the Sphinx and Great Pyramid.
Mags will offer her ceremonial gifts, her rich understanding of the Neters and the power of sacred union, and Ashraf, our much loved and trusted Egyptian guide will offer us his deep knowledge of the temples and his sensitivity to the spiritual power of these sacred sites. And he does it with such grace and humour. You will love him!
Join Us For An Incredible Egyptian Adventure!
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.
On our tour, we will visit all the key sites in both Upper and Lower Egypt. We will be begin in Luxor, where we will visit Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and other key sites on Luxor’s west bank. While there, we will also visit the wonderful Hathor Temple at Dendera, a centrepiece of the tour for us, with its richly decorated astrological ceiling. And we will also enjoy the wonders of the Sety I temple at Abydos. After five nights in Luxor, we will travel to the Horus Temple at Esna, from where we will enjoy a deeply relaxing 3 day private Nile cruise to Aswan, calling at the temple of Komombo on the way.
We will then spend two nights at the stunning Old Nubian Guesthouse close to the Isis Temple at Philae, which we will visit, along with the very ancient Satet temple on Elephantine Island. We will also visit a Nubian village, and enjoy sumptuous Nubian hospitality along with their lively entertainments. We will fly from Aswan to Cairo, where we will spend the final three days in Giza with an up-close and personal view of the pyramids from our hotel there. On 20th Feb, the day of the Saturn-Neptune conjunction, we will enjoy a pre-dawn private visit to the Sphinx enclosure. And later the same day, we will enjoy two hour private access in the Great Pyramid. And on our final day we will visit the extraordinary temple complex at Saqqara, where we will see the pyramid texts, the step pyramid and the extraordinary wonders of the Serapeum.
“It's hard to put into words the experience this trip has brought me....heart opening and expansive on every level and truly magical! John, Mags and Ashraf are a dream team!
John for his amazing vision, passion and extensive knowledge of astrology, Mags for her incredible heart connection and holding a wonderful nurturing space for us all and Ashraf for his wonderful knowledge and spiritual connection to these ancient lands. I feel so blessed and full to the brim by the whole experience and know that my heart will continue to open to the magic that was created on this trip. Thank you so much!”
— Sara Wagstaff (March 2025)
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 the 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.
“I just want to convey my deepest gratitude for putting together such a wonderful trip. It left me with a sense of having touched something deep in me. A sense of peace and of connection too. I am grateful beyond words to you and to the team. Ashraf is a pearl and Mags such an inspiration. I feel blessed to have taken part in this sacred journey.”
— Philippe (March 2025)
Ancient Egypt Star-Lore Tour Itinerary
Day 1 (9 Feb): Arrive Luxor airport. Transfer from airport to Flamingo Hotel, Luxor West Bank
Day 2 (10 Feb): In the morning we will visit the Valley of the Kings, with a passing stop at the Collossi of Memnon. We will visit several 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. The centrepiece of our time here will be a special access visit to the magnificent tomb of Seti I. In the afternoon we will visit the stunning mortuary temple of Queen Hatchepsut, which enjoys the most magnificent setting and is perfectly aligned to the Winter Solstice sunrise.
We will enjoy drinks in the early evening, enjoying the sunset over the Kurna mountain, looking back at the Valley of the Kings.
Day 3 (11 Feb): 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 enjoy a private access visit to the Temple of Osiris, where we find the ‘Seven Gates’ and the ‘Seven Keys of Life’. 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.
Day 4 (12 Feb): We will head out from Luxor early to 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, we will have access to its crypts, hidden passages, and primordial chamber. These carry a very powerful energy, and one of them houses the famous ‘Dendera Light Bulb’. In the afternoon we will visit the enigmatic Temple at Abydos, dedicated to Osiris. Here we will see the beautifully preserved temple walls of Seti I’s mortuary temple.
Day 5 (13 Feb): 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. In the early evening, we will enjoy a barbecue in the desert close to Kurna, with star-gazing and laser tour of the constellations of the night sky!
Day 6 (14 Feb): We will take a coach to the magnificently 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. We will also see the famous Building Texts, which describe the tradition of temple building and how it dates back much farther back into antiquity than we are led to believe.
Days 6-9 (14-17 Feb): After visiting Edfu temple, we will join our private dahabiyir cruise part for a sublime, lesiurely three-day cruise to Aswan. This will give us time and space to relax and reflect on all we have experienced so far. We will gather for sharing circles, talks a blue lotus tea ceremony with Mags, and stargazing at night, where John will introduce the Egyptian view of the starry heavens.
Along the way, we will stop at the atmospheric Aswan quarry, and at the spectacular Temple of Sobek at Komombo.
Day 9 (17 Feb): We will arrive at Philae, Aswan on the day of the solar eclipse, which is also the day that Venus returns to the sky as the ‘evening star’, so we should be able to glimpse her reappearance in the fading light of sunset. This perfectly aligns with us being at Philae, the home of Isis, and we will visit her original temple there, which is very close to our unique and atmospheric island hotel, the ‘Old Nubian’. We will also visit the relocated Isis temple, which was moved stone by stone in the 1960s and 1970s, after the the new Aswan dam was built, in a spectacular reconstruction of the original temple.
Day 10 (18 Feb): On our second day in Aswan, we visit Elephantine Island, and the very ancient Satet temple, which has an extraordinary atmosphere. We will also visit the Nilometer on Elephantine, and then move on to the Nubian museum, where will see the relocated stones of Nabta Playa and learn about the rich and fascinating history of Nubian culture. We will enjou the colourful delights of an authentic Nubian Village, and a fabulous night of music, dance and entertainment.
Day 11 (19 Feb): We leave Aswan in the morning to fly to Cairo, and we will spend the afternoon at the Egyptian museum, a rich and fascinating journey into the history of Egypt from Old Kingdom to the Middle Kingdom to the New Kingdom, right up to the time of the Greeks and Romans. Here we will see the Tutankhamen room, and the famous mask and other treasures from that much celebrated tomb.
We will arrive at our hotel in Giza in time for sunset to get our first sight of the pyramids. And the terrace of our hotel has a front row view!
Day 12 (20 Feb): This is a very exciting day, the day of the Saturn-Neptune conjunction. We will be up very early to enjoy our pre-dawn private access at the Sphinx, which is an experience that is hard to put into words. In 2025, we were here with our group for the Spring Equinox, with the Sun at 0˚ Aries. This prepared the way for this tour, when we will be there as Saturn and Neptune align at the same location in the heavens at the start of Aries, for this rare and potent astrological alignment. Later in the day, we visit the Giza plateau, and then in the early evening, we will have two hours private access at the Great Pyramid, where we will visit its three chambers: the Subterranean Chamber, the Queen’s Chamber and the King’s Chamber, where we will have the opportunity to meditate, tone and chant in one of the most powerful and resonant places on the planet. It is a day you will never forget!
Day 13 (21 Feb): On our final full day, we will visit the Saqqara temple complex. This is one of the most ancient sites in Egypt, and one of the most remarkable. We will visit the step pyramid, the Temple of Unas, also the Teti I temple. These contain pyramid texts, which describe the significance of the heliacal return of Sirius (Sothis) and the Pharoah’s shamanic journey into the Duat to meet the Neters (the Egyptian Gods & Godesses), and his journey to the stars. While at Saqqara we will also visit the catacombs of the Serapeum, which contain giant sarcophagi, supposedly of mummified bulls, though when you are there, you will realise that there must have been something far more mysterious going on! We will return to our hotel in Giza, gather as a group to discuss the wonders of the day and its astronomical significance.
“This is a tour for dreamers, for those seeking to drop beneath the surface and experience the magic of Egypt. It is intensely rich on all levels and offers a generous insight into the mysteries of Egypt's heritage.
John is a wonderful leader. His love of the land comes across so clearly. He brings years of experience in visiting Egypt. Ashraf knows the temples and what they offer like a master; his unflagging good humour and exceptional skills at negotiating the system makes for a seamless experience. Mags brings her own magical touch and support.”
— Hermione (March 2025)
Tour Schedule Summary
Day 1 (9 Feb): Arrival in Luxor & Induction
Day 2 (10 Feb): Visit the Valley of the Kings & Hatchepsut Temple
Day 3 (11 Feb): Vist Amun-Ra Temple complex at Karnak & Sekhmet. Sphinx Avenue. Luxor Temple visit.
Day 4 (12 Feb): Visit Osiris Temple (Abydos) & Hathor Temple (Dendera)
Day 5 (13 Feb): Visit Deir-el-Medina, Medinet Habu & Isis Temple. Evening tea in the Desert.
Day 6 (14 Feb): Visit the Horus Temple at Edfu. Board our dahabiya private sailing boat - Nile Cruise Day 1
Day 7 (15 Feb): Nile Cruise Day 2 - visit the Aswan quarry
Day 8 (16 Feb): Nile Cruise Day 3 - visit the Temple of Sobek at Komombo
Day 9 (17 Feb): Nile Cruise Day 4. Arrive Aswan. Visit Temple of Isis at Philae. Solar Eclipse. Venus return as evening star.
Day 10 (18 Feb): Visit the Satet Temple & Nilometer at Elephantine Island, Nubian Museum & Nubian Village.
Day 11 (19 Feb): Fly from Aswan to Cairo. Visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Day 12 (20 Feb): Private access at the Sphinx, pre-dawn. Visit the Giza plateau. Private access at the Great Pyramid.
Day 13 (21 Feb): Visit Saqqara complex. Step pyramid of Djoser, Pyramid of Unas (pyramid texts) & Serapeum
Day 14 (22 Feb): Take international flights home from Cairo Airport.
Terms & Conditions
Please Read Before Booking
Payment & Refund Policy: Your deposit of £1400 is non-refundable. To qualify for the early-bird discount, the balance payment of £2850 must be paid in full by 31st October 2025. All balances must be paid by 31st December 2025. 70 days from arrival in Egypt, 50% of the full tour price will be charged as cancellation fees (plus bank fees). 45 - 30 days from arrival in Egypt, 75% of the full tour price will be charged as cancellation fees (plus bank fees). 30 days or less from arrival in Egypt, 100% of the full tour price will be charged in cancellation fees.
Insurance: You must organise your own travel insurance. Skywalker Tours Ltd cannot be held responsible for any accident or injury that you might incur on the trip, and we are not liable for any stolen goods, medical emergencies or travel delays. Please provide us with a copy of your insurance policy at least two weeks prior to the start of the tour. Please choose ‘cancel for any reason’ insurance as this will cover you for all eventualities.
Visas: You will need to purchase a visa for Egypt. This can be done upon arrival in Egypt. A 30-day visa can be obtained at the airport in Cairo or at Luxor airport for £30 GBP or $25 USD. Please note: this must be paid in cash in either of the relevant currencies.
Accommodation: The price of the trip includes sharing a twin-bedded room with another participant (double room for couples). If you wish to enjoy single occupancy in the hotels, there is a supplement payable of £500 for those ten nights. Single supplement is not available on the three nights that we spend on the private Nile cruise, as we only have a limited number of twin cabins.
Travel: The price of the tour includes all transport costs within Egypt. This includes the internal flight from Aswan to Cairo (19th Feb 2025). You are responsible for booking international flights, and internal flight transfer to Luxor (if needed) for the start of the tour. These flights are not included in the price.
Food: Breakfasts, lunches and evening meals are included in the price. Egyptian cuisine is heavily meat and fish based. We are able to accommodate vegetarian diets, gluten or dairy free requirements, and specific food allergies. However, we cannot accommodate specialist diets such as keto / ketogenic, unless you are able to eat meat or fish as part of this.
Tipping: Tipping (known as ‘baksheesh’) is a major part of Egyptian tourism, and we have allocated an amount within the cost of the tour to cover the tipping of guards and officials within the temples and pyramids. This is then dealt with solely by Ashraf, our Egyptian guide, which makes for a much smoother experience in the temples, and removes any requirement for you to tip on any of our organised visits. However, it important that you are guided by the tour leaders in what you can and cannot do in the temples. There will be opportunities for quiet time, meditation and chanting at certain points, pre-arranged by Ashraf. However, spontaneous praying or chanting that is not pre-arranged, will usually meet with a demand for payment from the guards (known colloquially as ‘meditation tax’) and in such a case, you will be expected to pay this charge yourself. Tipping of hotel staff and drivers is not included, but is expected, and the amount that you pay will be at your own discretion. There is also an expectation that participants will tip the guide, Ashraf, at the end of the tour. Again, the amount is at your own discretion.
Changes to Schedule & Personnel : The itinerary for the tour and accommodation may be liable to change if circumstances dictate that are beyond our control. In the unlikely event that one of the tour leaders is taken ill and cannot attend, a replacement guide will be arranged. If the tour is cancelled outright for reasons not listed below (under section 11. Force Majeur), then you will be entitled to a full refund of all monies paid.
Early Departure from the Tour: If you decide to leave the tour early for whatever reason, you will be asked to fill in a ‘Sign Out’ form, and no refund will be due. Skywalker Tours 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: Skywalker Tours Ltd is not accountable; nor legally responsible, and will not pay out any reimbursement if our obligations have been affected by any unforeseen circumstances that cannot be reasonably 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, travel restrictions arising from a future pandemic, and/or similar occasions.