Mary-Anne takes us on a journey through the ancient wonders of Egypt, a country that is much visited but holds timeless appeal. Maybe it’s the temples, pyramids and statues rising majestically from the sprawling desert sands, the pull of the great Nile as it meanders through the country giving life as it goes, or the warmth and hospitality of its people. The fascination is never-ending and we feel it is the ideal place for a sketching journey; capturing the desert landscapes, the rich life played out on the Nile, the grand scale of the monoliths as well as the fine details of the hieroglyphs and lavish adornments of the royal tombs.

We begin our journey in the nation’s capital, Cairo, taking in the jewels of the Giza Plateau – The Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, as well as a visit to Saqqara where we’ll see the Pyramid of Djoser – thought to be the oldest in the world. We move on to the temples and tombs of Luxor including the sheer vastness of the Valley of the Kings.

The Nile is our home for 4 nights as we relax into our 5* cruise ship.  Our sketchbooks will constantly be to hand to capture scenes of river life playing out around us from the fisherman in their weathered wooden boats to the hard working farmers on the banks. We sip our drinks on deck and take in the sights and sounds of the river.

We meander south to the charming frontier city of Aswan and its surrounding Nubian villages which will provide colourful subjects for our sketchbooks. From here we take an included excursion to the awe-inspiring rock-hewn temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel – a sight not to be missed

We return to Cairo for a little more sightseeing before we board the flight back home.

Painting Highlights

• Exploring the landscape of Giza Plateau with its focal point – The Great Pyramids, and the contrasting step pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara
• Visit the intricately decorated Pharaonic tombs located at the famous Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatchepsut, Medinat Habu Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon
• Take in the grandeur of the Karnak Temple by day and see the contrast of the play of light when it’s illuminated by night
• Enjoy relaxing on deck aboard the 5* Nile Cruise, taking in everyday life of Edfu and Kom Ombo on the banks as you sail past. We will also make stops to see the riverside temples.
• Marvel at the colossal structure of Abu Simbel, rising from the desert sands – a sight never forgotten.
• Take in the chilled out life of the colourful Nubian communities of Aswan and its islands