Expedition Overview
Expedition Overview
SPECIAL OFFERS
- 2024 Early Booking Offer – Select Signature Land & River Cruise Departures
For a limited time, save $400 per person on North America itineraries or save $500 per person on international itineraries when you book select 2024 National Geographic Signature Land departures by April 7, 2023. Or, save $750 per person when you book a 2024 River Cruise by April 7, 2023.*
Take advantage of these special offers by calling 1-888-966-8687 or contacting your Travel Agent, or booking online and mentioning codes EBRSL24 for Signature Land departures and EBRRC24 for River Cruise departures.
This is offer has limited availability, so reserve your trip soon!
Available Departures- Jan 4-14, 2024
- Jan 18-28, 2024
- Feb 1-11, 2024
- Feb 15-25, 2024
- Feb 29-Mar 10, 2024
- Mar 14-24, 2024
- Mar 28-Apr 7, 2024
- Apr 11-21, 2024
- Apr 25-May 5, 2024
- Enjoy an exclusive, after-hours visit to the Egyptian Museum, home to spectacular relics recovered from King Tutankhamun’s tomb, including his throne and golden burial mask.
- Venture away from the crowds to lesser visited sites, including the pyramids at Dahshūr, the Valley of the Queens, and the stunningly painted tomb of King Seti I.
- Visit the ancient stone quarry at Jabal as Silsilah, and learn about ongoing National Geographic–supported excavations at the site.
- Experience the rhythms of daily life along the Nile River as we cruise from Luxor to Aswān, past ancient temples and farming villages.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Trace the history of one of the world’s most ancient and greatest civilizations, from the oldest standing pyramid at Şaqqārah, to the grand tombs and temples of Luxor, and the Coptic churches, Islamic mosques, and bustling souks of Cairo. Stand in the shadows of the great Pyramids of Giza and gaze into the eyes of the Great Sphinx; then puzzle over colorful hieroglyphs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, where Egypt’s great pharaohs constructed elaborate tombs among the desolate desert landscape. Travel in the style of the ancient pharaohs along the storied Nile River—the lifeblood of Egypt—and soak in the riverbank scenery of lively villages, lush date palms, and striking remnants of Egypt’s multilayered history.
Arrive at Cairo International Airport (CAI) and transfer to your elegant city center hotel, located on the east bank of the Nile. As you settle in, soak up your first views over this fabled river from your room, and if you wish, set off to explore on your own.
Begin your journey through ancient Egyptian history at the complex of Şaqqārah, home to Djoser’s step pyramid—the oldest standing pyramid in Egypt. Puzzle out your first set of hieroglyphics in the mastaba of Kagemni, and step inside the Pyramid of Teti to see an ancient burial chamber from the Old Kingdom. After lunch, we’ll veer off the beaten path with a trip to Dahshūr, home to the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid—both architectural precursors to the Pyramids of Giza. Return to Cairo and enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel this evening.
This morning, discover the fabled Pyramids of Giza, built some 4,500 years ago. As you approach these architectural marvels, feel the thrill of glimpsing their ancient slopes through the gaps that stand between Cairo’s modern high rises. Stand in the shadows of the 481-foot Great Pyramid of Khufu—the largest structure in the complex—and if you wish, channel your inner Indiana Jones for an exhilarating excursion into the structure’s interior burial chamber. Gaze up at the Great Sphinx of Giza and enjoy lunch overlooking the pyramids. Then return to your hotel and enjoy time at leisure before dinner.
Catch an early flight to Luxor, known in antiquity as Thebes. The city served as Egypt’s capital at the height of the New Kingdom and its chief god was Amun, king of the ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses. Visit the open-air temple complex of Karnak, and weave your way between the intricately etched columns of its Great Hypostyle Hall. Then pay a visit to the Luxor Museum to peruse ancient relics, including royal mummies and more than a dozen well-preserved statues discovered beneath the Luxor Temple courtyard in 1989. After nightfall, we’ll visit the temple itself, lit up to showcase the grandeur of its soaring columns and larger-than-life statues.
Venture into the Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom built elaborate underground tombs—a departure from the burial pyramids of the Old Kingdom. We’ll descend into several chambers, painted with vivid hieroglyphics that depict the lives of the pharaohs and the journey to the afterlife. Explore the tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered sealed and still containing original burial treasures, by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. Our group will also enjoy a special opportunity to enter the less visited tomb of Seti I, where portions of the chamber are completely covered from wall to ceiling in brilliant hieroglyphics. Continue to the Colossi of Memnon for a photo op, then visit Madinat Habu—the mortuary temple for Ramses III. Later, settle into our luxury riverboat on the Nile.
MS Farah
Begin the day with a visit to Ramesseum, Ramses II’s mortuary temple. Scattered with granite remains of the king’s giant likeness, the temple inspired the poem “Ozymandias” by English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Continue to the Valley of the Queens, which holds the burial chambers for the pharaohs’ wives and other family members—and sees far fewer visitors than the neighboring Valley of the Kings. Soak in the solitude of these stunning tombs, including Nefertari’s, one of the most colorful and intricately decorated chambers from antiquity. Visit the impressive mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut—the longest reigning female pharaoh—then return to our riverboat and set sail on the Nile this afternoon.
MS Farah
Follow in the wake of the pharaohs as we cruise south along the Nile, where magnificent temples and ancient villages line the banks against a dramatic desert backdrop. Dock at Idfū and travel inland to Jabal as Silsilah, where laborers once cut stone that was used in the construction of area temples, including those of Luxor and Karnak. Learn about ongoing National Geographic–sponsored efforts to excavate an ancient quarry. This afternoon, sail to the Temple of Kawm Umbū, dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile-headed god. When the temple was active thousands of years ago, crocodiles were held here; today, you can view several mummified specimens at the neighboring Crocodile Museum.
MS Farah
Wake up docked in Aswān, a busy market town north of the Aswān High Dam, completed in 1970 to tame the regular flooding of the mighty Nile. Explore the island temple of Philae, a site of ancient pilgrimage for devotees of the goddess Isis. In the 1960s, the entire temple complex was moved to its current location on Agilkia Island due to flooding caused by the construction of the Aswān dams. Visit a nearby quarry to view the “unfinished obelisk,” half-carved out of granite bedrock, that was intended to be larger than any ancient obelisk ever erected, before a large crack caused the project to be abandoned. In the afternoon, enjoy high tea at the historic Old Cataract Hotel. Then board a felucca—a traditional wooden sailboat—and enjoy a serene glide along the Nile.
MS Farah
Fly to Abu Simbel, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to two of Egypt’s most impressive temples, built by the Egyptian king Ramses II. In the 1960s, the site was dismantled, lifted, and reassembled some 600 feet west and 200 feet above the original site, a feat of engineering rivaling the original construction of the temples. Stand at the base of the colossal statues of Ramses II and puzzle out the hieroglyphs carved on the walls of the inner hall. Later, fly back to Cairo and settle into our hotel. Gather for a talk on women’s issues in modern Egypt, then enjoy dinner at the hotel.
This morning, we’ll head into Old Cairo, the location of the earliest original settlement. Venture to the 12th-century Citadel of Saladin, a hilltop fortress commissioned by Sultan Saladin, and step inside the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, built in the Ottoman style. Next, continue to the area that is now the center of Egypt’s Coptic Christian community, and home to the ruins of Roman fortifications, the first mosque built in Egypt, and the oldest synagogue in Cairo. Visit the Hanging Church—one of the city’s oldest Coptic churches—and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the enchanting Khan el-Khalili souk, then put your bargaining skills to the test in the market stalls. Later, return to the hotel for some leisure time before an exclusive after-hours visit to the Egyptian Museum. This evening, cap off our extraordinary adventure with a farewell dinner.
After breakfast, transfer to the Cairo International Airport and catch your flight home.
Extensions
Extensions
- Egypt: Jordan Extension5 days from $2,995
Post trip - 5 Days
Located at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, the desert kingdom of Jordan is packed with natural wonders, spellbinding ancient cities, and sacred Biblical sites. Delve into eclectic Amman, a maze of restaurants, mosques, and historic monuments. Then venture to the fabled rock-cut city of Petra, and spend a night at a luxurious hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea.
Arrive in Amman, the capital of Jordan. Dating to the Chalcolithic Age, this ancient city bears the traces of countless empires and peoples, from the Ammonites to the Romans and the Umayyads to the Ottomans. Take a drive through the modern part of the city before lunch, then set out to explore old Amman. We begin our tour at the historic Citadel, considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. Marvel at fascinating artifacts at the Jordan Archaeological Museum and wander the steps of the magnificent Roman Theatre, boasting a seating capacity of 6,000. The evening is yours to relax at our hotel or discover Amman on your own. Enjoy a delicious dinner of typical Levantine dishes tonight.
Drive to Mount Nebo, a hill outside of Amman where Moses was offered a glimpse of the Promised Land, according to the Hebrew Bible. Take in your first view of the Dead Sea from the summit, and continue to Madaba. A town of importance during the early Byzantine era, Madaba is home to a stunning mosaic floor map—the oldest surviving map of the Holy Land. Pause for a traditional Jordanian lunch, then make your way to legendary Petra, carved out of sandstone cliffs by the Nabataean Arabs as early as the second century B.C. Settle into our hotel, and head out after dinner to experience the city by night, when it glows under the light of more than a thousand candles.
Set out on a full-day tour of Petra with an expert guide, venturing into the rock-cut city by way of the Siq, a narrow gorge that forms a natural opening to this UNESCO World Heritage site. Admire the exquisite façade of the iconic Treasury, which once served as a royal tomb; stroll the colonnades of the Great Temple complex; and choose to climb up more than 800 steps to the top of the impressive Monastery. Enjoy a refreshing lunch at the Basin Restaurant, surrounded by towering rose-colored ruins, and return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Travel north to the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex. Take in breathtaking views of the Dead Sea and the Jordan Rift Valley from the lookout, and visit the Dead Sea Museum to learn about the geology and history of this fabled salt lake, situated at the lowest point on the surface of the planet. Then continue to the lakeshore and settle into our luxurious spa hotel. The mineral-rich waters and mud of the Dead Sea have long been known for their healing properties; Queen Cleopatra is said to have been a frequent visitor here. Treat yourself to a revitalizing spa treatment this evening.
Depart our hotel after breakfast. Drive to Amman and transfer to the airport to connect with your flight home.