Solar Eclipse on the Nile: Totality over Ancient Egypt

Arrive in Cairo on an overnight flight and transfer to your hotel, located conveniently near the airport. Those who arrive early may join a tour of Islamic Cairo and the Khan El Khalili market. This evening, meet up to kick off your eclipse adventure with a welcome reception and dinner. (D)

Rise early this morning and board a private charter flight to Luxor. Situated on the site of the New Kingdom capital of Thebes, Luxor brims with atmospheric temples and tombs. Step into the extraordinary Temple of Amun in Karnak, embellished by generations of pharaohs. Meander amid the colossal columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall and examine hieroglyphs and obelisks. Later, settle into your stateroom aboard the luxurious MS Ellie, your home on the Nile for the next week. After dinner, head out to experience the magic of Luxor Temple at night, when sphinxes and statues are set off by an evocative play of light and shadow. (B,L,D)

Enjoy a leisurely morning aboard as the ship follows the Nile north to Qena. Attend a talk by your Smithsonian Journeys Expert and take advantage of the ship’s amenities before lunch. Go ashore to visit Dendera, a vast complex that is home to one of Egypt’s best preserved temples: the Temple of Hathor, goddess of beauty and fertility. The temple was begun during the Ptolemic period, around 320 BC, and later finished by Roman emperor Tiberius. Admire the detailed carvings and sculpted columns within, and explore the Dendera’s smaller temples, sacred lakes, and birth-houses. Sail back to Luxor late this afternoon and enjoy an expert lecture and dinner on board. (B,L,D)

Rise this morning to witness a once-in-a-lifetime event: a total solar eclipse over the ancient temples along the Nile. From your coveted spot in the path of totality, celebrate with a champagne brunch on deck, hearing about this celestial phenomenon from your experts and Egyptologists. As the moon obscures the sun in the late morning, experience 6 minutes and 23 seconds of totality over timeless Luxor, where the ancient Egyptians beheld the same phenomenon many millennia ago.

Once daylight returns, dock along the Nile’s West Bank and see the Colossi of Memnon, the towering remnants of Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple. Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, dedicated to Egypt’s most powerful female ruler, who famously posed as male to ascend to the throne. In the Valley of the Kings, descend into the tombs of several New Kingdom pharaohs, hewn into the rock and lavishly decorated. Examine intricate wall paintings and gain insight into the rich mythology of the ancient Egyptians. Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, dedicated to Egypt’s most powerful female ruler, who famously posed as male to ascend to the throne. (B,L,D)

*Note that visibility of the eclipse depends on weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

Rise early this morning to visit the remarkably preserved Temple of Horus in Edfu. The second largest temple in Egypt, it combines Egyptian and Greek influences and retains traces of original pigment in some of its bas-reliefs—a fascinating glimpse into the language, myth, and religion of Egypt’s Hellenistic period. Then enjoy a leisurely day of cruising as the ship makes its way south to Aswan. Enjoy presentations by your expert and the onboard Egyptologist, cool off in the pool, and relax on the sundeck, watching ever-changing scenes of daily life along the banks of the Nile. (B,L,D)

Begin the day with a tour of the Temple of Philae, dedicated to Isis, the goddess of love and a central figure in Egyptian mythology. The island sanctuary was painstakingly moved to protect it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser caused by the construction of the Aswan Dam. Then visit a Nubian village, gaining insight into a fascinating culture that predates dynastic Egypt and continues today. After a relaxing afternoon aboard the ship, set out on a scenic felucca ride on the Nile, sailing around Kitchener Island. (B,L,D)

Once a vibrant port town, Aswan saw the trade of spices, precious metals, and even the granite used to build some of the ancient monuments still visible along the Nile. From your berth in the heart of town, set out to explore Aswan’s historic sites. Venture into the bustling streets of the Sharia as Souk market, where colorful crafts, spices, textiles and other goods have long drawn crowds. Visit the Aswan High Dam, an engineering marvel built in the 1960s to harness the annual flooding of the Nile. Next, tour Elephantine, an island trading city that predated Aswan and now harbors a host of World Heritage-listed tombs and shrines. Alternatively, join an Egyptologist for an optional morning tour of the World Heritage-listed temples of Abu Simbel,* dedicated to Ramses II and Queen Nefertari (at additional cost). After lunch onboard, enjoy another presentation from your experts as you sail down the Nile to Kom Ombo. (B,L,D)

*Please note: The optional excursion to Abu Simbel has limited number of spaces available and is sold out at this time. The additional cost is $500 per person, please note your interest in the comments section when you book online or advise an agent if you contact us by phone, and you will be added to the waitlist.

Venture into the Temple of Kom Ombo, a unique, symmetrical double temple dedicated to both Sobek, the crocodile god, and the falcon-headed Horus the Elder. Reboard the ship for a relaxing voyage to Luxor, enjoying lectures on board, gathering for coffee with new friends, and taking in the timeless scenery. If you wish, indulge in a treatment at the onboard spa. (B,L,D)

Fly to Cairo this morning and transfer to Saqqara for lunch. Saqqara served as a vast burial ground for Memphis, and several of its distinctive pyramids still stand. Visit the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest stone monument in Egypt, designed by the architect Imhotep in the 26th century BC. Return to Cairo and check in to your hotel, perched on the banks of the Nile. During an evening at leisure, you might choose from several restaurants at the hotel or walk along the riverfront to a nearby restaurant. (B,L)

Spend today on the Giza plateau, where the ancient Egyptians constructed pyramids as tombs for three fourth-dynasty pharaohs. In the company of an Egyptologist, walk among these awe-inspiring monuments—the largest of which now stands at more than 450 feet tall—and come face to face with the enigmatic Great Sphinx. After lunch, experience the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum, or GEM, a wonder of architecture and design that opened in October 2024. Considered the largest archaeological museum complex in the world, the astonishing GEM showcases tens of thousands of artifacts, now including the complete collection of King Tutankhamun’s treasures—never before display in its entirety. Tonight, toast your eclipse journey in the land of the pharaohs during a celebratory farewell meal. (B,L,D)

After breakfast this morning, transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)