Destinations · Africa
Egypt
Egypt offers more than five thousand years of continuous history within a single itinerary, from the pyramids of Giza to Islamic Cairo and the temples of the Nile. A faculty-led course here lets students study ancient and modern society in the places where they were shaped.
Overview
Egypt as a classroom
Egypt is one of the few countries where students can trace the full arc of a civilization on site. Pharaonic monuments, Greek and Roman Alexandria, Coptic churches, medieval Islamic Cairo and a modern capital of more than twenty million people all sit within a few hundred miles of the Nile. Students see how archaeology, conservation and tourism shape the way a nation presents its past. The same itinerary also opens questions about urban growth, water, religion and public life today.
ARAMFO has run faculty development seminars and panel discussions in Egypt on ancient art and its influence on contemporary life, and on preservation, cultural heritage and architecture, with stops in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan. Every faculty-led course is customized to the professor's syllabus and travel dates.
Good to know
- Language
- Arabic is official; English is widely used in tourism and at universities.
- Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP); U.S. dollars are accepted at some tourist sites.
- Best season
- October to April
- Typical length
- 10-14 days (customizable)
Highlights
What students will see and do
- Pyramids of GizaThe Great Pyramid, built for Khufu around 2560 BCE, is the last surviving wonder of the ancient world and stands beside the Sphinx.
- Grand Egyptian MuseumLocated near the Giza plateau, this museum houses one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the Tutankhamun collection.
- Islamic CairoThe medieval quarter holds mosques, madrasas and gates from the Fatimid, Ayyubid and Mamluk periods, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Luxor and the Valley of the KingsKarnak and Luxor temples and the royal tombs on the west bank of the Nile reveal New Kingdom religion and burial practice.
- Nile cruiseTravel between Luxor and Aswan by river to see temples such as Edfu and Kom Ombo along the banks.
- AlexandriaFounded by Alexander the Great, the Mediterranean city is home to the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which honors the ancient library.
Faculty-led travel courses
Courses that fit Egypt
Professors build their own syllabus; ARAMFO arranges the visits that bring it to life.
Art, Architecture & HistoryA course could study pharaonic art, Islamic architecture and the methods used to conserve monuments at Giza, Luxor and Cairo.
Education & Teacher PreparationStudents could examine museum education, heritage interpretation and how Egypt teaches its ancient past to schoolchildren and visitors.
Geography & Environmental StudiesA course could study the Nile valley, desert settlement, water management and the pressure of tourism on heritage sites.
Journalism, Film & MediaStudents could study how Egypt's long film tradition and regional media industry present the country's history and current events.
Programs
ARAMFO programs in Egypt
Programs ARAMFO has run or published here. Each can be adapted into a faculty-led travel course for your own students, on your dates.
On the ground
Academic and professional visits
Visits are chosen with the professor to match the course. ARAMFO also arranges flights, housing, meals, local transport, guides and entrance fees.
- Museum and antiquities authority briefings with curators and conservators
- Archaeological site tours led by Egyptologists
- University lectures with Egyptian faculty in history and architecture
- Workshops on heritage preservation and restoration
Get started
Plan a course in Egypt
Tell us about your course and we will reply with a draft itinerary and cost.
More destinations
Other destinations
Countries where ARAMFO has run or published faculty-led courses and faculty development programs.
