​An Exclusive Expedition to Egypt's Restricted Mysteries

​This unique event has been a decade in the making. Organized and led by Prof. Dr. Carl H. Smith from the University of East London, participants will have an exclusive experience at the heart of ancient Egyptian sanctuaries—an opportunity typically inaccessible to the public and even to archaeologists. Prof. Smith spent over ten years securing the necessary permits from the Egyptian authorities, and it is uncertain if such access will ever be granted again, as these permits are issued individually and rely on longstanding personal relationships.

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​Program

​Day 1 – Inside the Great Pyramid

​Evening: Exploring the Great Pyramid

​We start our Egyptian adventure with an exclusive evening visit (4 hours) to one of the most famous ancient structures in the world, the Great Pyramid.

​We will spend ritual time in the Subterranean chamber, the Queens chamber and the Kings chamber, the chambers above the King’s chamber exploring all the mysteries within and without.

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​Day 2 – Dashur, Serapeum and Saqqara

​Morning: Exploring Dashur 

​We start the day with a visit to the closed pyramid of Amenemhat III (the Black Pyramid) at Dashur. To gain access to the pyramid, a team of workers will excavate down to the entrance! Below the pyramid, in the subterranean structure, lies a labyrinth of complicated passages. The King's section with the beautiful granite sarcophagus has remained mostly intact.

​Afternoon: Exploring the Serapeum and Saqqara (Djoser's Step Pyramid)

​In the afternoon we will explore the Serapeum of Saqqara where the mystery primarily revolves around the construction and transportation methods used to create the elaborate underground tombs. Each sarcophagus in the Serapeum weighs an astonishing 60 to 70 tons and is carved from a single block of granite.

After that we have exclusive access to an adventure beneath the sands of Saqqara to explore the subterranean tunnel system beneath Djoser's Step Pyramid, the oldest pyramid in the world. The labyrinth of tunnels is spread over three levels, with nearly 6 km of tunnels and chambers to explore. This includes up-close access to Djoser's impressive granite sarcophagus. In the storerooms, over 40,000 stone vessels have been found, many of which remain in situ, and some even predate Djoser.

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​Day 3 – Exploring Abusir, Abu Ghorab & the Osiris Shaft

​Morning: Exploring Abusir and Abu Ghorab at Sunrise

On our last day, we will have an early start to take a 2-hour hike from Saqqara across the desert under the cover of darkness to arrive at the remarkable solar temples and pyramid complex of Abusir just as dawn breaks. Here, we will explore the remains of four pharaohs' pyramids and other relics of the Old Kingdom's grandeur. We have also now gained additional permission to enter Abu Ghorab, a 40-minute walk from Abusir, the largest and best-preserved solar temple and the site of an Early Dynastic burial ground dating back to the First Dynasty.

​Afternoon: Exploring the Osiris Shaft

​Our final visit takes us back deep under the Giza Plateau, where we have additional permission to explore the mysterious Osiris Shaft, located under the causeway of Khafre. The shaft and its chambers were believed to be a representation of the mythical Tomb of Osiris. Descending using long metal ladders, we will explore this complex of three vertical shafts and three levels, which is at least 3,500 years old. At level 2, 25 meters underground, there are massive granite sarcophagi in two of the eight niches. The lowest level is filled with crystal clear water, through which an ancient sarcophagus can be viewed.

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​Tickets

​We have managed to secure 12 of the 20 available tickets, which are being offered exclusively to the Argonauts community on a first-come, first-served basis.

​The price for this three-day event is €2,200 per person, including accommodation, meals, transportation between sites, as well as entry tickets. Flights to and from Kairo are not included. VAT applicable.