History of Medicine Along the Nile
About the tour
Cruise in comfort to Egypt’s most fascinating destinations in the company of a world-renowned Egyptologist and an experienced tour leader. Learn about the history of medicine in Egypt as you progress along the River Nile aboard the luxury MS Jaz Regent Nile river cruiser and stay in first-class hotels in Giza and Luxor.
Listen to lectures by Professor Rosalie David, Director of the KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology at the University of Manchester and a renowned authority on the medicine of Ancient Egypt. The focus of her career has been the establishment of a new university specialisation – biomedical research within the field of Egyptology – to provide a different approach to understanding the civilisation of ancient Egypt.
This tour includes guided private shore visits to sites of medical historical interest, as well as the wonders of ancient Egypt. Both Rosalie and Janice will also accompany you on shore visits.
There is an optional 3-night extension to the great city of Alexandria and the battlefield of El Alamein after the tour.
Download our brochure History of Medicine Along the Nile
Our online booking system is temporarily unable to accept payments. If you would like to book this tour please call our office on:(Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764.
Your tour leader
Janice Liverseidge
Janice Liverseidge was previously Director of Membership at The Royal Society of Medicine and is now a full time guide and in her spare time a trustee of both the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund and the London Handel Festival. Earlier in her career she worked for the British Medical Association. She is also a registered Blue Badge tourist guide and regularly leads groups in London on medical history walks, tours of the Wellcome Collection and other healthcare locations plus provides music and art tours for the Foundling Museum and the London Handel Festival. Janice has travelled extensively, including an eight month journey around India, South East Asia and Australia, and has led highly successful RSM tours to Vietnam and Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Cuba, South Africa, China, Uzbekistan and Japan.
Need more information?
- Tel: (Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764
- Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Itinerary at a glance
- Day 1: Giza (Fri, 14 Feb) Arrive in Cairo and transfer to the Steigenberger Cairo Pyramids Hotel.
- Day 2: Giza (Sat, 15 Feb) Visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. In the afternoon visit the Grand Egyptian Museum.
- Day 3: Giza (Sun, 16 Feb) View the original Sakkara Step Pyramid before entering the Tomb of Ankhmahor and visiting the Imhotep Museum. Visit the new Royal Mummies Hall at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.
- Day 4: Giza / Luxor (Mon, 17 Feb) Morning flight to Luxor and board the Jaz Regent river cruise ship. Talk: ‘Ancient Egyptian Civilisation: Historical Background, the Significance of the Nile, the Beginnings of Civilisation’ by Prof. Rosalie David (RD)
- Day 5: Luxor / Esna / Edfu (Tues, 18 Feb) Drive to the ancient city of Thebes. Visit the temples of Luxor and Karnak, paying close attention to the Sacred Lake and Botanical Hall of King Tuthmosis III. Sail to Edfu and cross Esna Lock. Talk: ‘Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Medicine’ - RD
- Day 6: Edfu / Aswan (Wed, 19 Feb) Guided tour of the Temple of Horus in Edfu. Sail to Aswan. Talk: ‘Mummies - A Resource for Studying Disease, Treatment and Lifestyle’ - RD
- Day 7: Aswan (Thurs, 20 Feb) Visit the Temple of Philae and the Aswan High Dam. Felucca sailing boat trip to visit Kitchener and Nubia Islands to learn about Nubian medicine.
- Day 8: Aswan (Fri, 21 Feb) Optional morning visit to Abu Simbel or bird watching tour to a Nubian village. Afternoon at leisure.
- Day 9: Aswan / Kom Ombo / Edfu / Luxor (Sat, 22 Feb) Talk: ‘The Temples as Centres of Healing’ - RD. Sail to Kom Ombo. Visit the well preserved Kom Ombo Temple. Here, see a rare engraved image of what is thought to be the first representation of medical instruments for performing surgery, including scalpels, curettes, forceps, dilator,scissors and medicine bottles dating from Roman Egypt. Sail to Edfu.
- Day 10: Luxor (Sun, 23 Feb) Talk: ‘The Ancient Egyptian Contribution to Graeco-Roman and Later Medicine’ - RD. At leisure while sailing.
- Day 11: Luxor (Mon, 24 Feb) Drive to Denderah to visit the Temple of Hathor, with its sanatorium where patients were treated with ‘Dream Therapy’. Proceed to Abydos to visit the Temple of Seti I with its magnificent wall paintings and bas reliefs. Transfer to the Sonesta St George Hotel.
- Day 12: Luxor (Tues, 25 Feb) Visit the Valley of the Kings with access to three tombs at the site, followed by a visit to the Temple of Hatshepsut, Queen Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir El Bahari, and the Temple of Ramesses II. Continue to the village of Deir el Medina. Farewell dinner.
- Day 13: Luxor/ Cairo (Wed, 26 Feb) Depart for flight back to Cairo or take extension to Alexandria.
Alexandria Extension
- Day 13: Luxor/ Alexandria (Wed, 26 Feb) Fly from Luxor to Cairo. Drive via Wadi Natrun Coptic monasteries to Alexandria. Check in to the Cecil Hotel.
- Day 14: Alexandria (Thurs, 27 Feb) City tour of Alexandria and a guided visit of the Roman Theatre and the catacombs. Visit the outstanding National Museum including the Roman and Manuscript Museums. Return to the hotel via a stop by the Citadel of Quait Bay, Abu El Abbass Mosque and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Dinner at the Fish Market.
- Day 15: Alexandria / Cairo (Fri, 28 Feb) Visit El Alamein and the Commonwealth, German and Italian cemeteries, followed by a visit to the military museum. Return to Cairo and check in to the Intercontinental City Stars.
- Day 16: Cairo (Sat, 1 Mar) Transfer to Cairo airport for onward flight.
Tour cost
The cost of the tour is USD $5,914 per person sharing (excluding international flights and transfers). The cost of the tour with a room to yourself is USD $7,496.
Our online booking system is temporarily unable to accept payments. If you would like to book this tour please call our office on:(Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764.