A Pilgrimage to Abydos
We invite you to recreate this ancient pilgrimage.
De Oude Egyptenaren geloofden in een heilige reis. Een reis die zij ten minste één keer in hun leven moesten maken, zoals moslims dat naar Mekka doen.
Voor hen was dat naar Abydos, de stad van Osiris, de Neter van wederopstanding, eeuwig leven en de kracht van vernieuwing.
Abydos was seen as the gateway to the afterlife. It was the place that symbolized the eternal cycle of death and rebirth. By traveling to Abydos, one connected not only with Osiris but also with the promise that life continued beyond physical death.
De pelgrimage was (en is nog steeds) een ritueel van zuivering en inwijding.
Men ontving er zegeningen voor een goed en vervuld leven op aarde, maar ook de garantie van voortbestaan in het hiernamaals.
De reis naar Abydos bracht mensen dichter bij hun essentie,
en herinnerde hen eraan dat het aardse bestaan slechts een deel van een veel groter, kosmisch verhaal was.
Daarom was deze reis zo heilig..
Het was niet slechts een fysieke tocht, maar een innerlijke initiatie,
een thuiskomen in en bij de bron, bij het mysterie van Osiris, en daarmee bij het eigen, onsterfelijke licht.
When is A Pilgrimage to Abydos?
We invite you to recreate this ancient pilgrimage.
Tijdens onze A Pilgrimage to Abydos retraite gaan we samen 8 dagen de tempel van Abydos binnen.
We zullen rituelen ondergaan, inwijdingen ontvangen, sterven en opnieuw geboren worden, net zoals de Oude Egyptenaren dat duizenden jaren geleden deden.
Day after day we purify our Ka, onze persoonlijkheid, ons ego, de lagen die ons binden.
En tegelijk nodigen we onze Ba, ons licht, onze ziel, uit om dieper in ons lichaam te incarneren.
Zo maken we ruimte om werkelijk te leven vanuit de kracht van ons onsterfelijke wezen.
Impression of the Seti Temple in Abydos and the House of Life where we are staying
Why this journey to ancient mystical Abydos?
Omdat Abydos meer is dan een plek. Het is een levende poort.
Een poort naar je ziel, naar het mysterie van dood en wedergeboorte, naar een herinnering die veel ouder is dan dit leven.
People feel the call to go to Abydos when they:
be ready to really let go of old layers and patterns,
feel that their soul wants to descend deeper into their body and life,
longing for a direct encounter with the light that shines beyond the personality,
want to connect with the power of the Neteru and learn how to work with them,
intuitively knowing that their path calls for receiving a sacred initiation,
óf al meerdere keren naar Egypte zijn geweest en nu voor een langere periode écht de diepte in willen,
gedragen door één heilige tempel en een proces dat zich dag na dag verdiept.
Je gaat mee omdat je voelt dat het tijd is.
Tijd om dichter bij je essentie te komen, om te laten sterven wat je niet langer bent,
en opnieuw geboren te worden in je ware licht.
What is included in this retreat?
- Hotel: Alle overnachtingen bij het House of Life in Abydos. Je slaapt op een éénpersoonskamer.
- A full program: You will receive an 8-day retreat program in and outside the mystical temple of Abydos.
- Transport: Including transportation from Luxor to Abydos and from Abydos to Luxor.
- Meals:
- Lunch and dinner.
- Entrance tickets: Voor alle keren dat we de tempel bezoeken. (1-2 keer per dag)
- Accompaniment: powerful, transformative guidance throughout the process, including reflections, activations, meditations, temple assignments, and other supportive methods.
- An online introductory meeting: We komen met de groep van te voren online samen om alvast kennis te maken en het proces te openen.
Not included:
- Travel insurance.
- Flight from/to Luxor.
- Visa (€25, available online or on arrival, cash only)
Review: An inspired journey with Brian Van Leeuwen and Esther Geskus
I was allowed to participate in a retreat in Egypt under the guidance of Brian and Esther and it was more than transformation. What they offer is truly unique. Not just a journey along ancient temples to create a different inner feeling, but a mystical exploration of inner layers. Guided with the sensitivity of a librarian who knows exactly which book your soul needs at that moment.
Their approach is difficult to put into words. It is soft and powerful, subtle and profound. The sessions before and after the visit to the temples offered space to sink, to feel and to process, but also to let go, to liberate and to anchor in yourself. Brian and Esther create a foundation in which you are invited to embrace your pain points instead of running away from them.
Without perhaps realizing it yourself, they activate the alchemy within yourself along the way. Silent, intense moments arise in which you feel inner doors opening. As if something in you remembers who you really are. It is a tasting of what can arise in you when you let yourself be touched by the land, the energy and their inspired presence. I am so grateful for this journey and for the group in which we have carried, mirrored and strengthened each other with an open heart, gentleness and courage. We help each other grow, often without words.
Warm greetings,
Jurgen
Practical information and investment
Location:
The retreat will take place from in Abydos, at the House of Life, a special place right next to the Temple of Seti I.
You'll need to book your own flights to and from Luxor (not included). We'll help you book the right flight. We also recommend arriving in Luxor three days early to allow time for your flight to land.
Meals and rhythm:
During this journey we fast in the morning and enter the temple fasting.
- Around 13:00 we enjoy an extensive lunch together.
- Around 19:00 dinner follows.
These meals are included in the price.*If you would like to have breakfast, please indicate this in advance and it can be arranged for an additional charge.
Investment:
- Early bird Single Room: € 2.400,-
- Normal bird Single Room: € 2.600,- (vanaf 1 februari 2026)
*excluding flight with Egypt Air from Amsterdam to Luxor.
Group size: This retreat has room for ten participants. You will be guided by Brian and Esther.
You can pay in installments, but a deposit of 30% is required to reserve your spot.
Video Testimonial from Sanne about our Egypt Travels
Will you join us on this unforgettable retreat journey?
Meet the team
Lead Facilitator - Brian van Leeuwen
Brian's path has been shaped by years of intense inner journeys and trainings, embracing and healing his own shadows and challenges. He has undergone and guided hundreds of sessions, and his work with the mysteries of life and the soul is deeply rooted in both ancient wisdom and modern spirituality. His connection to ancient Egypt, and in particular his initiation into the light of Amun-Ra, is an important pillar in his work, which is palpable in his retreats and workshops.
Brian's mission is to put people back on their path and help them remember the light within themselves. He stands for transformation on all levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Whether it is personal sessions, in-depth group retreats in Egypt, or his Mystery School, Brian stands beside people as a guide, mirror and source of inspiration on their journey to a life of clarity, connection and fulfillment.
He believes that every person possesses deep inner strength and works from the vision that life is a journey to fully remember and embody who we really are.
Lead Facilitator - Esther Geskus
Esther is a passionate facilitator, coach and trainer who guides people in connecting with their authentic core, body, emotions and life energy. With a deep love for holistic transformation work and a passion for tantra, Esther creates safe and powerful spaces in which participants can experience their “spark” again.
Her own journey of self-love and consciousness expansion has inspired her to integrate transformational work on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, energetic and spiritual. This work focuses on releasing traumas and blockages, allowing people to feel freer and happier. Tantra plays a central role in this. For Esther, tantra means not only liberation and expansion, but also embodied spirituality – a deep connection with the body, emotions and the flow of life energy.
Her mission is to support people in regaining their balance, life energy and self-love, so that they can embrace life with self-confidence, strength and joy and inspire others.