Egypt: Ancient Wonders of the Legendary Nile

TRAVELER FAVORITE

11 DAYS FROM $6,995

• Learn about ongoing National Geographic–supported excavations at an ancient stone quarry. • Enjoy an exclusive after-hours visit to the Egyptian Museum. • Cruise the Nile River from Luxor to Aswān, passing magnificent temples and villages.

Signature Land Light/Moderate

DAYS 1–2 I CAIRO, EGYPT/ŞAQQĀRAH/ DAHSHŪR Arrive in Cairo and transfer to your elegant city center hotel. 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 hieroglyphics in the Mastaba of Kagemni, and step inside the Pyramid of Teti to see an ancient burial chamber from the Old Kingdom. 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 at Giza. The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 3 I GIZA/CAIRO Discover the fabled Pyramids at Giza, built some 4,500 years ago. Stand in the shadows of the 481-foot Great Pyramid of Khufu—the largest structure in the complex—and if you wish, venture into the structure’s interior burial chamber. Explore the Solar Boat Museum, which houses a restored cedarwood vessel built to transport Pharaoh Khufu to the afterlife; then gaze up at the Great Sphinx of Giza. After a lunch overlooking the pyramids, return to your hotel and enjoy time at leisure. The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAYS 4–6 I LUXOR/NILE RIVER Catch a flight to Luxor, known in antiquity as Thebes. Explore the open-air temple complex of Karnak and its Great Hypostyle Hall. Peruse ancient relics at the Luxor Museum, and visit Luxor Temple after nightfall when the structure is magnificently illuminated. In the famed Valley of the Kings, descend into the tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter. Then enjoy a special opportunity to enter the less visited tomb of Seti I, and explore the Ramesseum, Ramses II’s mortuary temple. Venture into the Valley of the Queens, which holds the burial chambers for the pharaohs’ wives, including Nefertari—Ramses II’s favorite wife. Visit the mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut—the longest reigning female pharaoh—and set sail on the Nile aboard our luxury riverboat. Steigenberger Resort Achti; M.S. Mayflower Meals: 3B, 3L, 3D

DAY 7 I JABAL AS SILSILAH/KAWM UMBŪ Follow in the wake of the pharaohs as we cruise south along the Nile, passing magnificent temples and ancient villages. 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. M.S. Mayflower | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 8 I ASWĀN Wake up docked in Aswān, a busy market town north of the Aswān High Dam. Explore the island temple of Philae, a site of ancient pilgrimage for devotees of the goddess Isis. Visit a nearby quarry to view the “unfinished obelisk.” Half-carved out of granite bedrock, it was intended to be larger than any ancient obelisk ever erected, until a large crack caused the project to be abandoned. Later, enjoy high tea at a historic hotel followed by an excursion aboard a felucca—a traditional wooden sailboat. M.S. Mayflower | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 9 I ABU SIMBEL/CAIRO Fly to Abu Simbel, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to two of Egypt’s most impressive temples. In the 1960s, the site was dismantled and reassembled to make way for the Aswān High Dam—a feat of engineering rivaling the original construction of the temples. Stand at the base of the colossal statues of Ramses II and gaze at 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. The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D DAYS 10–11 I CAIRO Head into Old Cairo, the location of the city’s original settlement. Venture to the 12th-century Citadel of Saladin, and step inside the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Continue to the area that is now the center of Egypt’s Coptic Christian community and also 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. After time to explore the enchanting Khan el-Khalili souk, enjoy an exclusive after-hours visit to the Egyptian Museum. The following morning, transfer to the airport for your flight home. The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo | Meals: 2B, 1L, 1D

ADD TO YOUR EXPERIENCE

Jordan Post-trip Extension | 5 days from $2,995 Extend your trip to Jordan and immerse yourself in the mystery of ancient Petra, explore historic Amman, and enjoy a float in the Dead Sea. A National Geographic Expert and Expedition Leader will accompany this trip, and local guides will join us along the way.

Nora Shawki Geologist, Educator Egyptian-born Nora Shawki is a National Geographic Explorer who has been excavating ancient sites in the Nile Delta for seven years. She served as a field archaeologist at sites throughout Egypt and northern Sudan, and now directs her own excavation at satellite sites in the Delta. Nora was a 2015 National Geographic Young Explorer grantee.

INFORMATION

Dates: This expedition is offered from October through April. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement applies; please see our website. Airfare is not included in the price. Internal flights are an additional $500 per person. All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change. This itinerary is for informational purposes only and is subject to change at any time without notice.