Solar Eclipse Over Egypt: A Nile Cruise in the Path of Totality

Arrive in Cairo and transfer to your centrally located hotel, which offers sweeping views of the Nile River. After time to get settled, kick off your celestial adventure at a welcome dinner with fellow travelers tonight. (D)

On the outskirts of Cairo lies the Giza plateau, where the ancient Egyptians constructed pyramids as tombs for three pharaohs of the fourth dynasty (approximately 2575–2465 BC). 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. With your Egyptologist guide, uncover the myths, mathematics, and mysteries behind these ancient marvels. Sit down to a leisurely lunch with views of the pyramids before time at leisure this afternoon. (B,L)

Venture into the vibrant Khan El Khalili bazaar, meandering along ancient lanes where merchants have long sold heaping barrels of spices, copperware, and much more. Get a glimpse of everyday life in Cairo and interact with local artisans and vendors as they preside over their wares. Stop for lunch on your own at one of the market’s cafés or restaurants. In the afternoon, board a chartered flight to Luxor, where a luxurious ship awaits—your home on the Nile for the next week. Settle into your stateroom and get acquainted with the ship before gathering for dinner on board. (B,D)

Built among the relics of the ancient capital of Thebes, Luxor brims with atmospheric temples and tombs that recall the grandeur of the New Kingdom. Pay a morning visit to the spectacular Temple of Amun in Karnak, where generations of pharaohs left their mark. Wander amid the colossal columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall, examine well-preserved hieroglyphs, and see shrines and obelisks. Return to the ship for a relaxing lunch and time at leisure. After dark, experience the magic of Luxor Temple at night, illuminated so that its massive pylons and sphinx-lined avenue cast dramatic shadows. (B,L,D)

Celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime event as the total solar eclipse unfolds over the Nile. With your ship perfectly situated in the path of totality, enjoy a full day of festivities on board. Indulge in a specially arranged lunch and learn from your experts and Egyptologists about the scientific and cultural significance of eclipses. As the moon begins to obscure the sun in the late morning, watch the sky darken over ancient temples where the pharaohs witnessed the same celestial event many millennia ago. Experience 6 minutes and 23 seconds of totality, a breathtaking cosmic spectacle over Egypt’s timeless landscape. (B,L,D)

On the Nile’s West Bank lies the Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried in lavishly decorated, rock-cut tombs. Explore several of these burial chambers, marvel at their intricate wall paintings, and ponder the ancient Egyptian’s beliefs about the afterlife. 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. Then stand before the Colossi of Memnon, the towering remnants of Amenhotep III’s once-magnificent mortuary temple. Return to the ship for lunch and a discussion on women’s roles in ancient Egyptian society. Take in the scenery over afternoon tea as the ship embarks on its voyage up the Nile. (B,L,D)

Sail south to Edfu and go ashore for a visit to its remarkably preserved temple, the second largest temple in Egypt. Construction of this temple, which combines Egyptian and Greek influences, began in 237 BC but was not completed until almost 180 years later. At the entrance to the hypostyle hall, the bas-reliefs amazingly retain some of their original pigment, providing insight into the language, myth, and religion of Egypt’s Hellenistic period. Enjoy lunch on board, taking in scenes of life along the banks of the Nile. At sunset, arrive at the Temple of Kom Ombo, a unique symmetrical masterpiece dedicated to both Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. Gather for a festive dinner as the ship sails toward Aswan. (B,L,D)

Aswan once marked the southern border of ancient Egypt, a vibrant port town that saw the trade of spices, precious metals, and even the granite used to build some of the ancient monuments still visible along the Nile today. Discover Aswan’s ancient and modern wonders during two days docked in the heart of the town. Begin with a visit to the Aswan High Dam, an engineering marvel completed in the 1960s. Designed to harness the annual flooding of the Nile and provide irrigation and hydroelectricity, the dam reshaped the Nile’s path. It also necessitated another epic engineering feat: moving important ancient sites to higher ground. Next see the Unfinished Obelisk, an abandoned monument estimated to be more than 3,500 years old that reveals ancient stone-carving techniques. 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). Meet up for lunch on the ship, then board a felucca, or traditional wooden boat, for a sail among the many islands that dot the Nile here. Stop for high tea at the iconic Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile. (B,L,D)

*Please note: Travels may enroll in an optional excursion to Abu Simbel on Day 9 for an additional $395. Additional details about this excursion will be provided closer to departure.

This morning, visit the Temple of Philae, dedicated to Isis, the goddess of love and a central figure in Egyptian mythology. Like Abu Simbel, the island sanctuary was rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser caused by the construction of the Aswan Dam. Later, visit the Nubian Museum for a glimpse into a fascinating culture that predates dynastic Egypt and continues today. If you wish, head into the Aswan spice market in the evening, soaking up the colors and timeless ambiance of this Nile trading outpost. Toast your eclipse experience in the land of the pharaohs during a celebratory meal accompanied by live entertainment tonight. (B,L,D)

After a leisurely morning, return to Cairo on a chartered afternoon flight, and connect to your flight home. (B)