Welcome to Cairo. Upon arrival in Egypt, you'll be met by an Atlas Obscura representative at the airport pre-immigration to help assist with your arrival. Afterwards, catch a private transfer to your boutique hotel in the heart of the city, located on an island in the middle of the Nile. Here you will be met with traditional Egyptian hospitality in a quiet oasis amongst the bustle of the city. 

Your first stop today will be the Egyptian Museum, one of the finest classical museums in the world. Stand face-to-face with the Golden Mask of Tutankhamun and wander amongst the ancient Egyptian statues, jewelry, amulets, sarcophagi, papyrus, and ancient coins and hear the stories behind some of them. For lunch, you'll take to the streets for a guided tasting at some authentic Egyptian eateries.

Your afternoon will be spent exploring two mosques; the grand 14th century Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, the finest example of early Mamluk architecture in Cairo, and the Al-Rifa'i Mosque. Followed by a guided walk through the storied, old streets and a visit to the famous Khan el-Khalili bazaar. A group welcome dinner at a local Egyptian restaurant will conclude your first full day in Cairo.

Today you’ll journey across arid plains to the oasis city of Al Fayoum, known as the “Garden of Egypt.” Here towering date palms and sunflowers dot the landscape, and local farmers work the lush fields with their water buffalo. Al Fayoum has been inhabited for thousands of years and is known for its ancient canal system, citrus fruits, nuts, and olives.

A thrilling ride across the sand dunes in a 4x4 desert safari vehicle will take you to Wadi al-Hitan, Egypt's "Whale Valley,” where you'll find a treasure trove of whale fossils scattered amid the sand and rocks. After a delicious picnic lunch, you’ll stop at the incredible desert valley of Wadi Rayan, where the barren landscape is broken by beautiful waterfalls and tree-lined pools. Return to Cairo.

This morning’s excursion is to Saqqara where a 4700-year-old Step Pyramid predates the Pyramids at Giza by about 200 years. This is Egypt’s oldest surviving pyramid and one of its richest archaeological sites, where discoveries are still ongoing; a treasure trove of intact wooden coffins and mummies were excavated here in 2020. Enter the pyramid to gaze upon its ancient hieroglyphs, then get off the beaten path and visit the far less known Sarapeum, the burial place for sacred bulls, and Mereruka, the largest and most elaborate of all the non-royal tombs in Saqqara.

You'll stop for lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Cairo. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the treasures of Cairo on your own.

Tick one of the world’s most iconic sites off your bucket list today. Your visit to the Pyramids of Giza, the only surviving member of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, will be accompanied by an experienced Egyptologist. You’ll approach these mystifying marvels on camelback, known locally as the “ships of the desert.” 

Travel back in time this afternoon to the sixth century BCE to when Cairo was home to the Persians, to see the ruins of the Babylon Fortress, the city’s oldest original structure. Inside you’ll find a number of important Coptic Christian Churches from the time of the Romans in Egypt, including the Church of St. Sergius and Baccus and the beautiful Hanging Church. Enjoy a home-cooked meal this evening with a local family who are passionate about traditional Egypitan food.

After a one-hour flight to Luxor, you'll visit the Luxor Temple, via the Avenue of Sphinxes, then Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple, considered to be a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture. See the Colossi of Memnon, ancient statues that have captivated the imaginations of curious travelers for millennia. Then we’ll hop on our riverboat and take a break for lunch.

Shortly before sunset, you'll venture into the famed Valley of the Kings, the site of royal burials since 2100 BCE, for an exclusive private encounter. Arriving shortly before it closes to the public, enter the tomb of King Tutankhamun where you can view his mummy. Once everyone else has departed, you’ll have the 63 magnificently preserved tombs all to yourself, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Your Egyptologist guide will take you to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Temple of Karnak this morning, the largest religious complex ever built for a god - Amun-Ra. The main structure is surrounded by the houses of Amun's wife Mut and their son Khonsu, whose temple we will explore. Return to your luxury riverboat for lunch and a little relaxation time. This afternoon we set sail up the Nile to Edfu. This evening, enjoy the comforts of your Nile cruise with dinner and entertainment.

Disembark after breakfast, and take a horse and carriage ride to the well preserved Edfu Temple is considered the best-preserved temple in Egypt, dating back to 237-57BC. After lunch, sail to the Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual building constructed during the Ptolemaic period (108 to 47 BCE). The temple features a unique engraving, thought to be among the first representations of medical and surgical instruments. At the time it was carved, Egyptian medical science was almost certainly the most advanced in the world. Don’t miss the mummified crocodiles, which are now displayed in the Crocodile Museum attached to the temple.

Disembark after an early breakfast to go in search of the Temple of Philae and the Temple of Isis, the goddess of love and passion in ancient Egypt. After the flooding of Lake Nasser, the whole complex had to be moved from Philae Island to Agilkia Island. 

Visit the remains of the Unfinished Obelisk, so called because building work was abandoned when large cracks began to appear in the granite. It provides a rare insight into the building techniques of ancient Egypt. After lunch, you'll take to the water on a leisurely sail by felucca around Elephantine Island. Enjoy the sunset over the river, and then a delicious home-cooked dinner with a local Nubian family.

This morning you’ll catch a 45-minute flight to Abu Simbel, one of the crowning monuments of Rameses the Great, completed in 1244 BCE, and one of Egypt’s greatest treasures. UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention was created, in fact, to preserve Abu Simbel. After the Nasser Dam was built, the temple was briefly submerged underwater. A large effort saw it removed and rebuilt, piece by piece.

After your unforgettable journey through some of the world’s most storied lands, it’s time to say goodbye to the archaeological wonders and the friends we’ve met along the way. Head to the airport or on to your next destination. You have an easy walk from the hotel to the international terminal to catch your flight home. If your flight departs later in the morning, breakfast is included at the hotel. Until our next adventure!