Passage Through Egypt Aboard Oberoi Philae

Abu Simbel is a site situated on the west bank of Lake Nasser in The Nile Valley. It lies south of Aswan and is frequented by day visitors who come to visit The Sun Temple of Ramses ll.

This morning, visit the lovely Temple of Isis on the island of Philae, from which the Oberoi Philae gets its name. Like Abu Simbel, the Temple of Isis would have been lost to the floods caused by the building of the High Dam if not painstakingly dismantled, moved and reconstructed at its present location.

Visit a granite quarry to learn how massive obelisks—tall, four-sided narrow pillars that end in a pyramidal top used as monuments—were carefully cut from solid rock transported down the Nile.

The afternoon takes a different direction as you relax and enjoy a sail on a traditional felucca or wooden sailboat as the Nubian crew sing local songs and highlight the beauty of the shallow and jutting rocky cataracts of the Nile in the afternoon light.

Aswan is Egypt’s southernmost city and remains hot and dry all year round. It is considered the most picturesque setting on the Nile and serves as a base for tourist excursions to many local sites of interest.

Set strikingly on a hill overlooking the Nile and dedicated to two gods, hawk-headed Haroeris and crocodile-headed Sobek, the Kom Ombo Temple, built during the Ptolemaic era, is richly decorated and has a hieroglyphic calendar.

After a visit to Kom Ombo, board the ship and stay on deck as it approaches Aswan, a gloriously impactful spot on the Nile, backed by hills and granite rocks protruding from the riverbed and framed with sailboats (called feluccas) plying the water. Aswan is just downstream of the northernmost Nile cataract, historically making it a frontier town and trading center with Nubia.

In the afternoon, visit the fine Nubian Museum. End the day with High Tea at the legendary Old Cataract Hotel, from where commanding views of the Nile and Elephantine Island are sure to excite. A Nubian cultural show onboard Oberoi Philae rounds out the day.

Aswan is Egypt’s southernmost city and remains hot and dry all year round. It is considered the most picturesque setting on the Nile and serves as a base for tourist excursions to many local sites of interest.

From the ship, walk to the nearby Temple of Khnum in the town of Esna. This temple has not been fully excavated, and your Egyptologist explains how silt from centuries of the Nile's annual floods buried the temple, which sits about nine meters below river level.

As you walk back to the ship through Esna, take a moment to talk to locals and learn about Egyptian small-town life. Relax on board, dive into the ship's library of Egyptian history, or take a cool swim in the ship's pool. Overnight in Kom Ombo, just under the riverside temple.

Esna is a city of Egypt. It is located on the west bank of the Nile some 55 km south of Luxor. The city was formerly part of the modern Qena Governorate, but as of 9 December 2009, it was incorporated into the new Luxor Governorate.

Journey to the West Bank of the Nile and the famed Valley of the Kings, the burial ground for hundreds of years of Egypt's greatest pharaohs. Explore and photograph the tombs of Set 1 and Tutankhamun. Then visit the Valley of the Queens and the most legendary tomb of them all, that of Nefertari*. Vivid paintings depict the queen's renowned beauty and her journey to the afterlife in exquisite color and quality found nowhere else in Egypt. See the temple of Hatshepsut, dramatically set beneath sandstone cliffs.

Have lunch on board and spend the afternoon traversing the magnificent Nile and marveling at the rich and verdant riverbanks that have sustained life here for thousands of years. The Oberoi Philae offers luxurious space and ample viewpoints to watch life and history as it goes by. Whether ensuite, with friends in the lounge, or on the top deck, today will offer connection to people and place.

In the evening, presentations and recaps from the Egyptologists and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Certified Photo Instructor are scheduled as the ship passes through the lock before an elegant dinner is served. Overnight in Esna.

*Note: The tomb of Nefertari is temporarily closed for renovations. In the meantime, you will instead visit the spectacular Ramesseum, the funerary temple of Ramses II.

Please note that you will drive via motorcoaches between Luxor and Dendera Temple if your arrival coincides with low water and cruise this section of the Nile during high water times.

Start the day enjoying the remote temple of Dendera. Constructed during the time of Roman emperors, hundreds of years of black soot were delicately removed to reveal stunning artwork beneath and reliefs on the temple walls depicting Empress Cleopatra.

Next, is the exquisite Luxor Temple guarded by its massive statues of Ramses II. This temple has been a place of worship for millennia. Its magnificent pylons, columns and statues are also an excellent site to visit after sunset, illuminated with magical lighting.

After dinner onboard, venture into Luxor for an opportunity to leisurely enjoy the evening in this ancient city on the east bank of the Nile.

Dendera, also spelled Denderah, Tentyris, or Tentyra is a small town and former bishopric in Egypt situated on the west bank of the Nile, about 5 kilometres south of Qena, on the opposite side of the river.

Since the early steamers visited Egypt in the nineteenth century, Luxor has remained a tourist hotspot. Situated on the east side of the Nile in the centre of The Nile Valley, Luxor is an ideal location for tours and trips to surrounding places of interest.

Since the early steamers visited Egypt in the nineteenth century, Luxor has remained a tourist hotspot. Situated on the east side of the Nile in the centre of The Nile Valley, Luxor is an ideal location for tours and trips to surrounding places of interest.

With the guidance of your Egyptologist, who will share narratives and personal experiences, today welcomes exploration of some of Cairo’s most outstanding architecture and monuments to Islam. Atop the Citadel overlooking Cairo sits the commanding Ottoman-era Muhammad Ali Mosque, completed in 1848. Its five domes can be seen throughout the city.

After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the Khan el Khalili bazaar, Egypt’s most famous and largest market dating back to the 14th century, for the best taste of Cairo’s vibrant and sometimes frantic pace. You can find anything from filigreed silverwork to semiprecious stones, and other souvenirs.

Next, stroll the exquisite El Moez Street, which dates back to the 10th century, making it one of the oldest in Cairo. Marvel at the Islamic architecture as you arrive to the Qalawun Complex, comprised of a mausoleum, a madrasa and a hospital—and considered to be among the finest examples of Islamic architecture in Egypt.

Egyptian treasures are legendary, and expertly guided visits to the finest collections are essential for a complete experience. This morning, travel to Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid of the pharaoh Zoser, a revolutionary design that initiated the art of pyramid-building. You will also see some of Egypt’s most charming wall paintings and reliefs, showing scenes of harvesting, fishing, music-making and dancing, as well as the elaborate and exquisite mastaba of Mereruka, the largest in Saqqara. While not a royal, Mereruka (or Meri) was, among other things, “Chief Justice and Vizier” to Pharaoh Teti of the Sixth Dynasty, wealthy enough to build such a large and colorful tomb for his afterlife.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and then return to the hotel where you can enjoy the hotel amenities, chat with the Egyptologist, visit the National Museum of Egyptian Culture or explore on your own. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.

Today, after a morning welcome briefing, start by exploring the premier treasure of Egypt—the Pyramids and Sphinx complex in Giza. Learn how the magnificent Pyramid of Cheops was built from over two million blocks of stone and took tens of thousands of workers over twenty years to build. The infamous Sphinx was carved out of a single massive piece of stone and displays the Pharaoh Chefren’s head on the body of a lion. Privileged access takes you inside the barrier for an up-close experience with the Sphinx.

Go inside the Great Pyramid, following the Grand Gallery’s narrow passageway to the burial chamber of Cheops. Your Egyptologist will narrate with stories and details, bringing the experience to life, while your National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Certified Photography Instructor will be on hand to ensure that perfect photos happen.

After lunch, explore the galleries of the newly opened and highly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) with expert Egyptologists. Witness the 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II in the Grand Hall, the Solar Boat, the King Tut collection and select treasures from the prehistoric to the Greco-Roman period. Enjoy a festive welcome reception at the hotel tonight. Dinner is at your leisure.