Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel

Arrive in Cairo and begin your Egyptian journey with a stay at the five-star St. Regis Cairo. Settle into your luxurious accommodation and enjoy time at leisure after your arrival. The hotel serves as your base for the first three nights, providing easy access to Cairo’s major archaeological and cultural attractions. Arrive before 3:00 p.m. local time for a smooth start to the expedition. The evening is free to relax and prepare for the fascinating discoveries ahead.
🏨Your stay at – The St. Regis Cairo (🍴B&L)

Begin with the legendary Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. Enjoy privileged access and the opportunity to enter the Great Pyramid while your Egyptologist shares stories of its construction and ancient significance. After lunch, explore the Grand Egyptian Museum, including the monumental statue of Ramses II and selected treasures spanning thousands of years. A National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Certified Photo Instructor accompanies you throughout the day, helping capture the remarkable archaeological sites. Return to your hotel for a festive welcome reception.
🏨Your stay at – The St. Regis Cairo (🍴B&L)

Travel to Saqqara to discover the Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Zoser, an important milestone in ancient Egyptian architecture. Explore beautifully preserved wall paintings, reliefs, and the elaborate mastaba of Mereruka, offering insight into everyday life during the Sixth Dynasty. After lunch, enjoy leisure time at the hotel or visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. The museum traces Egypt’s history from prehistoric times through the modern era and houses the mummies of several prominent pharaohs, including Ramses II, Seti I, and Hatshepsut.
🏨Your stay at – The St. Regis Cairo (🍴B, L, D)

Fly by private charter to Luxor and explore the immense Karnak Temple complex, where generations of pharaohs added temples, columns, shrines, and monuments. Walk among the towering columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall before embarking the elegant all-suite Sun Goddess. Enjoy lunch onboard and settle into your spacious cabin. In the evening, visit Luxor Temple, illuminated after sunset and guarded by monumental statues of Ramses II. Return to the ship for dinner and begin your Nile cruising experience.
🚢 Your stay at – National Geographic, Sun Goddess (🍴B, L, D)

Cross the Nile to the West Bank and explore the legendary Valley of the Kings, the burial ground of Egypt’s great pharaohs. Visit the tombs of Seti I and Tutankhamun before continuing to the Valley of the Queens and the temple of Hatshepsut. The tomb of Nefertari is currently closed for renovation, so the Ramesseum is visited instead. Return to Sun Goddess for lunch and spend the afternoon sailing through fertile Nile landscapes. Pass through the Esna Lock before an elegant dinner and overnight stay in Esna.
🚢 Your stay at – National Geographic, Sun Goddess (🍴B, L, D)

Begin with a walk to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, located beneath the modern town and still awaiting complete excavation. Your Egyptologist explains how centuries of Nile flood deposits buried the temple below street level. Walk through Esna’s narrow streets on the return journey, offering opportunities to observe local life and connect with the community. Spend the afternoon relaxing aboard Sun Goddess, perhaps enjoying the library, swimming pool, or lounge. Enrich your journey with onboard presentations about ancient and modern Egypt.
🚢 Your stay at – National Geographic, Sun Goddess (🍴B, L, D)

Visit Kom Ombo Temple, dramatically positioned above the Nile and dedicated to the crocodile-headed Sobek and falcon-headed Haroeris. Continue sailing toward Aswan, surrounded by granite formations, hills, and traditional feluccas. Explore the Temple of Isis on Philae Island, which was carefully relocated to protect it from rising waters following construction of the High Dam. Visit a granite quarry and see the unfinished obelisk while learning how monumental structures were carved and transported. End the day with a Nubian cultural show onboard.
🚢 Your stay at – National Geographic, Sun Goddess (🍴B, L, D)

Disembark Sun Goddess and fly by private charter to Abu Simbel in southern Nubia. Explore the remarkable temples dedicated to Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, originally constructed in the 13th century BC and later relocated to protect them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. After lunch, board a privately chartered aircraft to Cairo and check into the five-star InterContinental Citystars Hotel. Gather with the group for a final dinner, celebrating the extraordinary archaeological and cultural experiences of your Egyptian expedition.
🚢 Your stay at – InterContinental Cairo Citystars (🍴B, L, D)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to Cairo International Airport for your onward flight. Departure is available at any time, allowing you to choose a flight schedule that suits your travel plans. Your Egypt expedition concludes after nine days of exploring ancient monuments, sailing the Nile, discovering archaeological treasures, and experiencing the culture and landscapes of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel.