Photo of the Day

Each day, we highlight one extraordinary photograph from National Geographic. Check out more of our photos here.
Dozens of hot air balloons fly over a vast, sandy excavation site.

August 17, 2026 | Up in the Air

Dozens of hot-air balloons filled with tourists fly over the vast Theban Necropolis near Luxor, Egypt. Thebes was the capital of Egypt during parts of the Middle Kingdom (2040 to 1750 B.C.) and New Kingdom (1550 to 1070 B.C). Today, it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site where ancient Egyptian civilization lives on via the thousands of tombs and burials continuously uncovered by archaeologists.
András Zoltai