Egypt
Up the Nile & Into History: Sailing Through the Stories of Egypt
Program No. 25131RJ
On the ultimate adventure in Egypt, sail along the Nile aboard a modern dahabeya, explore the Valley of the Kings and learn about Egyptian history at the Great Pyramid of Giza.
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13 days
12 nights
31 meals
10B 10L 11D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
2
Arrival
Cairo
5
Historic Cairo
Cairo
7
Dendera & Luxor Temple
Sailing on Nile
10
Edfu & Gabal EL Selsela
Komb Ombo
12
Abu Simbel
Cairo
13
Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
Follow in the footsteps of pharaohs as you visit ancient sites and travel aboard a modern take on a traditional dahabeya, a style of ship that once transported Egyptian royalty. Begin your adventure in Cairo with expert-led field trips to the Egyptian Museum and the Great Pyramid of Giza before flying to Luxor and embarking on your riverboat voyage. Set sail for ancient sites like the Valley of the Kings — including the tomb of King Tut — and temples in Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, all part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, enjoy the camaraderie of your small group of fellow Road Scholars as you explore Egypt’s past and present together.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to three miles per day over uneven terrain in hot conditions with little to no shade. Days are long and can include various hours standing. Stairs on this program are often uneven and without railings. This program includes three domestic flights within Egypt.
Micro Group
These adventures feature our smallest group size, with 12 participants or fewer.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy a field trip to the Hanging Church of Cairo, one of Egypt’s oldest churches, and the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, one of Egypt’s oldest mosques.
- Explore the Nubia Museum in Aswan, filled with artifacts displaying the culture of Nubia and a garden with a cave where prehistoric rock inscriptions were carved.
- Marvel at the temple at Abu Simbel, where four immense statues of Ramses II sit at the entrance.
Suggested Reading List
(12 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Up the Nile & Into History: Sailing Through the Stories of Egypt
Program Number: 25131
A History of Egypt, From Earliest Times to the Present
From the birth of Egyptian civilization though the Pharaohs, Ptolemaic, Roman and Coptic Egypt, the advent of Islam, the Mamluks, Ottoman empire, British occupation, Nassar, Sadat, Murabak and beyond, this succinct book traces the arc of Egyptian history and culture in just under 400 pages.
The Yacoubain Building
The Yacoubain Building by Alaa al-Aswany (translated into 23 languages) was the best-selling Arabic novel for 2002 and 2003 and was voted Best Novel for 2003 by listeners to Egypt’s Middle East Broadcasting Service. Set in the time of the first Gulf War in 1900 Alaa al-Aswany writes the story of Egyptian society in downtown Cairo. Characters are housed in the now downtown Cairo landmark the Yacoubain Building where Alaa al-Aswany brings complex Egyptian society alive.
Egypt Map
The coverage of easy-fold map -- with insets of Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Giza, the Nile River Valley, Cairo and other sites -- includes Petra, Jerusalem and most of Israel.
When Woman Ruled the World, 6 Queens of Egypt
Celebrated Egyptologist Kara Conney’s narrative explores the lives of six remarkable female pharaohs, from Hatshepsut to Cleopatra, and shines a light on female power, exploring the connections between Woman’s roles as public figures then, and now.
The Nile Cruise
Weaving classic travelers' accounts with essays and 150 color photographs, this compact book beautifully illuminates the history and allure of the towns, temples and tombs of the Nile from Abydos to Abu Simbel.
Down the Nile, Alone in a Fisherman's Skiff
Mahoney weaves the tale of her quest to row the Nile with deft portraits of the people she meets in this marvelously engaging chronicle.
The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Egypt
Ingenious color maps, site plans, photographs and accompanying essays trace Egyptian civilization from the founding of Memphis through the sacking of Thebes and invasion by Alexander the Great in 332 BC in this authoritative, remarkably concise history.
The Cheapest Nights
Yusuf Idris writes short stories that give readers a glimpse into the social and cultural disparities of everyday Egyptian life.
Egypt, A Short History
Princeton historian Tignor distills five decades of study and travel for this vivid account of the sweep and tumult of Egyptian history from the settlement of the Nile to the present.
Eyewitness Guide Egypt
A visually rich guide to the history, culture and monuments of Egypt.
The Nile: A Journey Downriver through Egypt’s Past and Present
Wilkinson takes readers on both a historical and contemporary journey down the Nile, highlighting the small details that intertwine river landmarks with and Egypt’s ancient civilization.
The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt
Toby Wilkinson, a world rewound Egyptologist, tells the story of Egypt’s great civilization, from its birth as the first nation-state to its absorption into the Roman Empire. Drawing upon forty years of archaeological research, award-winning scholar Toby Wilkinson takes readers inside Egypt’s history once ruled by divine kings who led with all-too-recognizable human emotions.
