Minia overnight from Cairo

Overview

Minia is the third-largest monumental site of all Egypt after Luxor and Aswan, so it is at least 2 days to see as many as possible of it. What you will see in Minia there is nothing matching it in all Egypt such as the rock-cut tombs of Bani Hassan located on the mountain of the East Bank of the Nile, these tombs characterized by unique athletic scenes like wrestling, pugilism and aerobics, ... About 30 km. to the south of Bani Hassan and on the same bank of the Nile you visit the first center of monotheism in the world ( Amarna) "'Akhtatin" literally translated the horizon of the sun is where the meditator pharaoh Akhenaton, XIV century b. c. recited his own psalms to god Aton. Amarna has been regarded as one of the capitals of Ancient Egypt. Crossing the Nile, we reach" Hermoplis" that was one of the religious centers where" Thoth" the God of wisdom has been worshiped.

Itinerary

Day 1

Breakfast at your hotel in Cairo You will transfer south to EL Minia about 3 hours, (300 km.), after lunch you continue visiting the Necropolis of Beni Hassan The tombs date mostly to Dynasties XI and XII .12 tombs are decorated, and four are open to visitor characterized by painted scenes of daily life, recreation and military activities.

Tomb of Baqet III -BH15

Baqet was provincial governor of Menat-Khufu (modern el-Minia) during the later years of Dynasty XI. The walls of the tomb have many painted scenes depicting the desert hunt, Industrial scenes of weaving and spinning, hunting and fishing in the marshes, catching birds and gathering papyrus, battle scenes, wrestlers, funerary scenes, also includes recreational scenes of sports and playing senet

Tomb of Khety -BH17

Was the son of Baqet. His tomb is similar to that of his father’s, the walls of the tomb are decorated with scenes of fowling and the papyrus harvest, hunting in the desert. Khety and his wife are shown presiding over the activities and watch women dancing and playing games, Clappers and dancers and musicians are shown before Khety’s statue being dragged on a sledge. There are long scenes of men practising unarmed combat or wrestling. The movements can be seen easily because the bodies are painted in contrasting shades

Tomb of Amenemhet- BH2

Dates to Dynasty XII, he was the last governor of the province during the reign of Senwosret I. The walls have scenes of agriculture and industries, hunting in the desert, military activities and funeral rites with offering-bringers. Amenemhet sits with his wife at a table containing all the produce of his land.

Tomb of Khnumhotep II- BH3

Khnumhotep II was a successor of Amenemhet His titles include ‘Hereditary Chief’ ‘King’s Acquaintance’ and ‘One who is Beloved of his God’. The scenes are more colorful and livelier and make it the most interesting of the Beni Hasan tombs. On the north wall is a famous scene depicting a caravan of Asiatic in their striped robes bringing gazelles and other items to trade, also two beautiful scenes of Khnumhotep with his family, fowling and snaring birds in the marshes in a papyrus skiff. On the base of the wall can see Khnumhotep’s well-preserved autobiographical text. There is a magnificent view from up the mountain.

Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 2

Breakfast at your hotel in Minia and continue visiting Amarna about 70 km south to Minia To the north and south of the city of Akhenaton There are the tombs of the officials of the court of Akhenaton, containing many scenes depicting the royal family in the distinctive style of Amarna art. Between the north and south tombs lies the entrance to the Royal tomb in which the king’s own tomb is carved

Tomb of Ay -25 one of the southern tombs

Ay was actually buried in his royal tomb at Thebes, but his Amarna tomb reflects his earlier powerful position in the city. His titles include ‘God’s father’, ‘Fan-bearer on the Right Hand of the King’ and ‘Overseer of all the Horses of the Lord of the Two Lands’, as well as ‘Royal Scribe’ and ‘Chief of Archers’. In the entrance to the tomb on the left-hand wall, Ay is depicted with his wife Tiye in a very beautiful carving below the royal family worshiping the Aten. On the right-hand side, Ay and his wife adore the god Aten with a relief of the ‘Hymn to God Aten

Tomb of Meryre 4 one of the northern tombs

The most beautifully decorated and most elaborate of the Northern tombs. Was 'High Priest of Aten and ‘Fan bearer on the King’s Right Hand’. In the entrance to the antechamber, Meryre adores the rising sun, with prayers to the Aten. At either side of the antechamber, false doors have been carved and decorated with tall floral standards and cartouches of the King and the Queen and the Aten. To the right of the doorway is a colorful depiction of Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti with two of their daughters (Meritaten and Meketaten), presenting a laden offering table to the Aten. A multicolored rainbow is shown below the sun disc. Meryre as high priest is the figure in front of the King. Following the wall around to the left, Meryre accompanies the royal family on a visit to the Great Aten Temple. Many soldiers, attendants and foreign representatives accompany the procession.

Amarna Royal Tomb 26

The tomb was first found in the 1880s by locals it was already robbed and damaged it may have been designed to allow the sun rays to illuminate the tomb each morning. In one of the side rooms, there are important scenes depicting the king and queen mourning the death of a woman on a funeral procession, and also you can visit the ruins of the palaces and the temples and the boundary stela

Lunch in a local restaurant and later you go visiting Ashmonin that was a cult center of Thoth, the god of wisdom, healing and writing. And was called Hermopolis Magna during the Greek period as god Hermes was associated with the Egyptian Thoth, there you will see his two famous colossal baboon statues. About 7 km towards the desert is the necropolis of Tuna el Gabl there you visit the family tomb of Petosiris, a high priest of Thoth lived around 300 BC. This temple-tomb is unique, built-in pure Egyptian style with pillared hall at ground level and a cult chapel behind, with the subterranean burial chamber; on the walls, you will see scenes of agriculture and industries as well as daily life behind the tomb of Petosiris is the tomb of Isadora, dates to the 2nd century AD

After finishing the tour, you will travel back to Cairo.

Included/Excluded

- English-speaking tour guide during your excursions.
- Transfers in private vehicle with air conditioning.
- 1 Bottled Mineral Water.
- 2 Days Tour.
- Main Entrance Fees.
- This itinerary could be changed in order according to the circumstances of service not to be canceled.
- Accommodation for 1 night in Minia, Huros hotel, half board.
- 2 lunch meal in a local restaurant.
- Tourism Police Permission.
- Tax.

- Personal spending.
- Any Beverages.
- Tipping.
- Anything not mentioned above.