Bloomsbury Summer School (text)

Fascinated by ancient civilisations?

We offer anyone with any level of knowledge, inspiring short courses on ancient Egypt and other areas of the ancient world.

BSS in Egypt 2025

BSS in Egypt is a very special learning experience — courses taught in Egypt, offering a programme of classes and visits to archaeological sites, often including sites that are usually closed to visitors but are opened specially for BSS by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Our 13 BSS in Egypt courses to date have been directed by Prof. Barry Kemp, Mr John Romer, Dr Robert Morkot, Dr Stephen Harvey, Dr Peter Lacovara, Dr Bill Manley, Dr Bernadette Brady, and Dr Anna Stevens. We usually base ourselves in one hotel for the entire course. Thus far, our courses have taken place in Cairo, Minya, Sohag, Luxor, and Aswan. Why not join us next month in Luxor?


IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO BOOK! Friday 28 February to Friday 7 March 2025


HATSHEPSUT AND SENENMUT: INNOVATION AND IDEOLOGY

Course Director: Dr Campbell Price (University of Manchester)

This is a NEW course taught in Luxor by the Curator of the Manchester Museum and author of a new biography on Senenmut with AUC Press, with daily lectures and exploration of relevant ancient sites, including 3 ‘special openings’ of sites usually closed to visitors.

Combining lectures and site visits in and near Luxor, we bring you a fascinating course during which we investigate the life and times of two of Pharaonic Egypt’s most intriguing figures: Queen Hatshepsut and her most trusted official, the High Steward Senenmut. We will explore the ancient religious heartland of Thebes and encounter the extensive and innovative monuments the pair created to glorify the gods and maintain their own memory for eternity. Among our special openings, you will enjoy rare access to Deir el-Bahri MMA504. Group meals provide an opportunity to discuss the course and site visits, and to socialise with the Course Director and fellow students. Our Travel Coordinator in Egypt is Galal Alsenusy who has arranged all 14 of our BSS in Egypt courses to date. Our Course Coordinator in Egypt is Dr Kathryn Piquette, Director of Bloomsbury Summer School.


Course Director info Itinerary
Course fee per person:
£3,460 (Single Supplement: £370)
Recommended reading

Cooney, K. (2014) The Woman Who Would be King: Hatshepsut's rise to power in ancient Egypt. Crown.

Dorman, P. (2001) Hatshepsut: Wicked stepmother or Joan of Arc? The Oriental Institute News and Notes 168 (Winter 2001). PDF freely available: https://isac.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/shared/docs/nn168.pdf

Roehrig, C. (ed.) (2005) Hatshepsut: From queen to pharaoh. New York Metropolitan Museum Art. PDF freely available: https://resources.metmuseum.org/resources/metpublications/pdf/Hatshepsut_From_Queen_to_Pharaoh.pdf

Taterka, F. (2015) Hatshepsut and Senenmut or the Secret Affairs of Egyptian State, in Lewandowska, D. Marciniak, K. and Rajfura, H. (eds), Cupido Dominandi: Lust for Power - Power over Lust. Wydawnictwo Naukowe Sub Lupa, 23-35. PDF freely available: https://www.academia.edu/22212491/Hatshepsut_and_Senenmut_or_the_Secret_Affairs_of_Egyptian_State_in_D_Lewandowska_K_Marciniak_H_Rajfura_eds_Cupido_Dominandi_Lust_for_Power_Power_over_Lust_Warszawa_2015_Schole_11_pp_23_35

Tyldesley, J. (1996) Hatchepsut: Egypt’s female Pharaoh. Viking.

Course fee inclusions and exclusions

Price includes:

  • All hotel nights (7 nights at the Pavillon Winter Luxor Hotel)
  • All tours and transfers as detailed in the itineray above including entry fees to all sites, museums, guiding, and coach transportation
  • 3 exclusive special openings as indicated
  • 10 lecture sessions led by Dr Campbell Price as described in the itinerary

Meals and drinks as follows:

  • A Welcome Dinner on Day 2 and Farewell Dinner on Day 7
  • Breakfast daily whilst on tour
  • 6 lunches in restaurants
  • Coffee breaks / refreshments for all lecture sessions
  • Unlimited water with meals and on the coach transportation during visits
  • Tips for the bus driver, archaeological sites guards, porters, waiters, and others providing ad hoc service during the course

Price DOES NOT include:

  • Airfare
  • Egyptian visa
  • Tip for our Egyptian tour guide
  • Any meals or drinks other than those mentioned in the itinerary
  • Travel insurance
  • Any other costs for goods or services not indicated asincluded in the per person course price


How to book

To make your booking and to send payment (£3460 (single supplement £370)), please fill in this form:

Payment Information:

Payment (£3460 (single supplement £370)) should be made to Galal Alsenusy via bank transfer as follows:

Bank: Commercial International Bank, CIB, Khalid ibn el Walid Street, Plaza Center, Luxor, Egypt
Account Name: Galal Alsenusy Co. for Marketing / Tourism
Account Number: 100040467887
Swift Code: CIBEEGCX026
IBAN Number: EG630010002600000100040467887


IMPORTANT: It is critical that you instruct your bank that payment must be Pounds Sterling, NOT Egyptian Pounds. All fees must be paid by the sender.

If required, Galal's address is as follows:

Galal Alsenusy
Almadeena Almonawara St., Ali Ibn Abu Talib St., Opposite Sunset Hotel
Luxor, Egypt

For any further queries, please contact Dr Kathryn Piquette:

* Participants are responsible for their own airfare to and from Luxor. Should you require assistance booking flights, our Egyptian Travel Coordinator, Galal Alsenusy and his team can organise this for you. For details please email: alsinusygalal@yahoo.com