Egypt & Nile River Expedition 2027

• Arrive at Cairo International Airport (CAI), where you’ll be greeted and transferred to the hotel

• Check in to the five-star Four Seasons Nile Plaza, your home for the next four nights

Accommodations: Four Seasons Nile Plaza Cairo

• Explore Egypt’s most iconic sites: the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, including privileged access beyond the barrier for an up-close encounter

• Enter the Great Pyramid of Cheops and walk the Grand Gallery to the burial chamber with expert insights from an Egyptologist and guidance from a National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions certified photo instructor

• Enjoy a private, after-hours visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum, featuring the statue of Ramses II, the Solar Boat, treasures of King Tut, and more

• Festive welcome reception on the lawn of the historic Mena House Hotel with views of the pyramids

Accommodations: Four Seasons Nile Plaza Cairo
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

• Private visit to an active archaeological dig at Saqqara, hosted by renowned Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass

• Explore the Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Zoser, the mastaba of Mereruka, and beautifully preserved wall reliefs depicting daily life in ancient Egypt

• Lunch at a local restaurant followed by time to explore Khan el Khalili bazaar and a guided walk along historic El Moez Street, including the Qalawun Complex

• Visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), featuring 50,000 artifacts and the Royal Mummies Hall with kings and queens such as Ramses II and Hatshepsut

• Cocktail reception at the hotel, with dinner at leisure

Accommodations: Four Seasons Nile Plaza Cairo
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

• Discover Cairo’s Islamic heritage with a visit to the Citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammad Ali, offering sweeping city views and iconic Ottoman-inspired architecture

• Enjoy a traditional Egyptian lunch at Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant in the historic Khan el Khalili Bazaar, followed by time to explore its vibrant market stalls

• Stroll along El Moez Street, admiring centuries-old Islamic architecture and visiting the renowned Qalawun Complex

• Evening reception at the hotel to reflect on the day, with dinner at leisure

Accommodations: Four Seasons Nile Plaza Cairo
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

• Fly by private charter to Luxor in Upper Egypt, arriving in time for lunch

• Explore the vast Karnak Temple complex, including the Great Hypostyle Hall and the obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut

• Afternoon check-in at the Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa

• Evening visit to Luxor Temple, beautifully illuminated after sunset and guarded by statues of Ramses II

Accommodations: Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

• Morning drive (approximately 90 minutes each way) north along the Nile to visit the remarkably preserved Temple of Dendera in Qena

• Explore the temple’s vivid reliefs and restored colors, including notable depictions of Cleopatra

• Return to Luxor for lunch

• Afternoon at leisure to relax at the hotel or explore the historic streets of Luxor

• Pre-dinner presentation by expert Egyptologists, offering deeper insight into Egypt’s ancient wonders

Accommodations: Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

• Early morning excursion to the West Bank and the Valley of the Kings, exploring the tombs of Seti I and Tutankhamun

• Visit the Valley of the Queens to see Nefertari’s tomb if open; otherwise explore the Ramesseum and the Temple of Hatshepsut

• Return to Luxor to embark Oberoi Philae, your luxury Nile vessel for the next four nights

• Lunch onboard as the ship begins sailing the Nile, with views of daily life along the river

• Afternoon presentations by expert Egyptologists and a certified photo instructor while transiting the lock en route to Esna for an overnight stay

Accommodations: Oberoi Philae
Meals included: All meals are included aboard Oberoi Philae

• Morning visit to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, partially excavated and set well below today’s Nile level

• Short walk through the town of Esna, offering a glimpse of daily life along the river

• Sail toward Edfu aboard Oberoi Philae, with time to relax onboard

• Afternoon exploration of the Temple of Edfu, Egypt’s second-largest temple, dedicated to Horus and renowned for its dramatic reliefs and inscriptions

Accommodations: Oberoi Philae
Meals included: All meals are included aboard Oberoi Philae

• Morning sailing on the Nile en route to Kom Ombo

• Visit the hilltop Temple of Kom Ombo, uniquely dedicated to Haroeris and Sobek, with richly carved Ptolemaic reliefs

• Continue south to Aswan, enjoying scenic views of golden hills and feluccas along the Nile

• Arrive in Aswan, once a vital Nubian trading post and still renowned for its natural beauty and charm

Accommodations: Oberoi Philae
Meals included: All meals are included aboard Oberoi Philae

• Early morning boat excursion for birdwatching among the islands and shorelines of the Nile near Aswan

• Visit the Temple of Isis on Philae Island and explore a nearby ancient granite quarry where obelisks were carved

• Afternoon felucca sail along the Nile, taking in the timeless scenery

• Sunset reception at the historic Old Cataract Hotel, followed by dinner and a Nubian cultural performance onboard

Accommodations: Oberoi Philae
Meals included: All meals are included aboard Oberoi Philae

• Disembark Oberoi Philae and fly by private plane to southern Nubia to visit the iconic temples of Abu Simbel

• Explore the monumental temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, dramatically set above Lake Nasser and renowned for their ancient artistry and modern relocation

• Lunch followed by a charter flight back to Cairo and check-in at the Waldorf Astoria in Heliopolis

• Final farewell reception and dinner with fellow travelers, reflecting on your journey through Egypt’s timeless wonders

Accommodations: Waldorf Astoria Heliopolis
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

• After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home

Meals included: Breakfast