A Pilgrimage to Abydos
We invite you to recreate this ancient pilgrimage.
Monday, June 8 to Monday, June 15, 2026
The ancient Egyptians believed in a sacred journey, a journey they were required to make at least once in their lifetime, just as Muslims do to Mecca.
For them that was to Abydos, the city of Osiris, the Neter of resurrection, eternal life and the power of renewal.
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.
The pilgrimage was (and still is) a ritual of purification and initiation.
People received blessings for a good and fulfilled life on earth, but also the guarantee of continued existence in the afterlife.
The journey to Abydos brought people closer to their essence,
and reminded them that earthly existence was only part of a much larger, cosmic story.
That's why this journey was so sacred..
It was not just a physical journey, but an inner initiation,
a homecoming in and at the source, at the mystery of Osiris, and thus at one's own immortal light.
When is A Pilgrimage to Abydos?
We invite you to recreate this ancient pilgrimage.
During our A Pilgrimage to Abydos retreat we will enter the temple of Abydos together for 8 days.
We will undergo rituals, receive initiations, die and be reborn, just as the ancient Egyptians did thousands of years ago.
Day after day we purify our Ka, our personality, our ego, the layers that bind us.
And at the same time we invite our Ba, our light, our soul, to incarnate deeper into our bodies.
In this way we create space to truly live from the power of our immortal being.
Impression of the Seti Temple in Abydos and the House of Life where we are staying
Why this journey to ancient mystical Abydos?
Because Abydos is more than just a place. It's a living gateway.
A gateway to your soul, to the mystery of death and rebirth, to a memory far older than this life.
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,
or have already been to Egypt several times and now want to really go into depth for a longer period,
carried by one holy temple and a process that deepens day by day.
You go along because you feel it's time.
Time to get closer to your essence, to let die what you no longer are,
and be born again into your true light.
What is included in this retreat?
- Hotel: All overnight stays at the House of Life in Abydos. You'll stay in a single room.
- 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: For all the times we visit the temple. (1-2 times a day)
- Accompaniment: powerful, transformative guidance throughout the process, including reflections, activations, meditations, temple assignments, and other supportive methods.
- An online introductory meeting: We will meet online with the group beforehand to get acquainted and open the process.
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, from Monday, June 8 to Monday, June 15, 2026.
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 a day early so you have time 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 (from February 1, 2026)
*excluding flight with Egypt Air from Amsterdam to Luxor.
Group size: Space is limited for this retreat, so we can offer everyone transformative and profound guidance. You will be led 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.