Bales Worldwide and Ancient World Tours (AWT) have created new partnership to provide a unique kind of holiday to one of the world’s ‘must see’ destinations. Founded in 1994, AWT has been providing historical tours to Egypt with some interesting additions. If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring the interior of man’s oldest stone structure, the Step Pyramid at Sakkara or wondered if it’s possible to enter closed tombs like the amazing Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens or the largest tomb in the Valley of the Kings, KV5, with the man who discovered it, then the answer is ‘yes’! With a combination of special permits from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, internationally acclaimed archaeologists accompanying many of the tours and 15 years of unrivalled know-how, almost every site in Egypt is available to the discerning traveller.
AWT’s Peter Allingham explains the philosophy behind the company. ‘AWT is unusual in that we’re not really a commercial body. We make donations to archaeological sites and projects and in return, we get some truly amazing access – places that even I wouldn’t have imagined we’d be allowed into have become accessible to us because everyone knows that we care deeply about the monuments, the history and the Egyptians themselves’.
AWT’s product is definitely for those with an interest in getting beneath the surface of Egypt but you can join any tour with no knowledge of Egypt at all. ‘We always include the classic sites on our tours’ says Peter ‘but because we don’t rush the visits it’s much easier to feel that you’re getting to grip with the history than you might do if you had just an hour in one place’. AWT’s visit to magical Karnak, for example, starts at dawn when the temple is completely empty and lasts for about three hours. ‘We do encourage our passengers to get up early. The chance to visit wonderful places with just the sound of birdsong and with the early morning light illuminating the world’s largest temple complex just can’t be missed!’
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Bales Worldwide (formerly known as Bales Tours) is a family run independent tour operator established by George Bales in 1947. Bales have become more and more flexible over time, in order to truly meet your needs. Wherever you decide to travel and whenever you want to travel, whether it is in 14 months time or just 3 weeks away, Bales have 60 years of knowledge and expertise to give you a holiday of a lifetime. 