Egypt: Ancient Wonders of the Legendary Nile
Overview
Highlights
- 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.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- Transfers upon arrival and departure
- Transportation provided on-trip
- Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Daily activities and excursions as indicated in the itinerary
- (2021) All gratuities
- (2022) All gratuities except the Expedition Leader*
Itinerary
Accommodations: The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo
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.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo
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 se...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo
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 slop...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: Steigenberger Resort Achti
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 anci...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: M.S. Mayflower
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 ...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: M.S. Mayflower
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 po...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: M.S. Mayflower
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 t...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: M.S. Mayflower
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...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo
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...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo
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 b...
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the Cairo International Airport and catch your flight home.
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with National Geographic Expeditions.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Tour Operator
National Geographic Expeditions span the globe and are designed to reflect our travelers' broad spectrum of interests, from small-ship expeditions and classic train journeys to photography workshops and family adventures. When you travel with us, you'll enjoy boundless opportunities to be surrounded by natural wonders and exotic wildlife, to explore celebrated archaeological sites, to learn about different cultures and share in local traditions. A National Geographic expert or expert team accompanies each expedition, sharing their knowledge and passion for a region and making each experience enriching and unforgettable.
An Extraordinary Legacy of Exploration
National Geographic Expeditions, the travel program of the National Geographic Society, was founded on the same belief in the importance of exploration that distinguishes the Society's 125-year history. Launched in 1999, National Geographic Expeditions now operates hundreds of trips each year, spanning all seven continents and more than 60 destinations.
Since its founding in 1888, the Society has developed incredible resources—from its network of experts, contacts, and Society-sponsored researchers all over the globe, to the top-tier editorial staff of National Geographic and National Geographic Traveler magazines, and the books, maps, and film and television divisions. National Geographic Expeditions taps these resources to create unique and authentic expeditions to fascinating parts of the world.
As part of the National Geographic Travel group, National Geographic Expeditions aims to fulfill the Society's mission to inspire people to care about the planet by providing meaningful opportunities to explore it. Proceeds from all travel programs support the Society’s efforts to increase global understanding through exploration, education and scientific research.
National Geographic Adventures
National Geographic Adventures are unique, active itineraries for intrepid travelers that feature spectacular places, cultural interaction, and physical challenge: the perfect mix for an unforgettable adventure. Trek through some of the world's most legendary mountain ranges and veer far off the beaten path, discovering wild landscapes by foot, kayak, horseback, or camel. Each adventure has a designated activity level—from Easy to Ultimate Challenge, and you'll have the option to take it easy or push your limits on a harder hike throughout most trips. Your group will never be larger than 16 travelers, and you'll explore in the company of top guides, enjoying adventures that are both physically active and culturally rewarding.
National Geographic Student Expeditions
National Geographic Student Expeditions offer active summer travel experiences for high school students in some of the world's most amazing places. With the guidance of dynamic trip leaders and top National Geographic experts, students explore their interests, build new skills, and experience new landscapes and cultures firsthand. Each type of program—expedition, field workshop, community service trip, and photo workshop—is designed to educate and inspire, combining adventure, discovery, and cultural immersion. Photo workshops are led by a National Geographic photographer and include instruction and daily photo shoots. Students in our community service programs live in a village and work with community members on a variety of service projects. On each expedition and field workshop, students get involved in a unique, hands-on project that allows them to delve deeper into a specific topic—such as photography, wildlife and conservation, filmmaking, or archaeology—and further engage with the places they visit.
National Geographic Difference
Travel that’s tailored to your interests: Whether you're a budding photographer, a natural history enthusiast, a parent looking for a great family trip, or a traveler seeking an active adventure, you'll find an array of opportunities that fit your passions and interests.
The beauty of happenstance: Some of the best moments in travel occur when you least expect them. So that you can savor these instances and enjoy each place in a way that’s meaningful to you, we offer options and build free time into our itineraries wherever we can.
Travel in good company: Lasting friendships often begin on National Geographic Expeditions. Your traveling companions are Society members like you: active, engaged, and curious about the world.
Explore the world in comfort and style: Whether you're relaxing in the arcaded courtyard of a 15th-century monastery in Peru or speeding through Siberia on a private luxury train, our accommodations are carefully selected for their exceptional quality, location, and character.
We'll take care of the details: Leave the legwork to us. We take care of the logistics and details so you can relax, enjoy, and immerse yourself in the places you are exploring.
Exceptional resources at your fingertips: To help prepare for your trip, we’ll send you detailed information specific to your trip, including National Geographic books, articles, or maps relating to your destination. You’ll also receive a 20-percent discount on your next purchase* from our gift catalog or online store—shopng.com—as well as a free one-year subscription to a National Geographic magazine of your choice.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Airfare to and from destination, as well as internal airfare
- Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance
- Visas when applicable
- Alcoholic beverages
- (2022) Expedition Leader gratuities*
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