Inner mysteries of Egypt and the Nile – 16-30 of January 2026

Join Ancient Origins’ exclusive tour of Egypt’s sacred past, visiting some of the country’s most important ancient sites including:
Giza, Cairo, Saqqara, Luxor, El-Fayyum Oasis, Karnak, Edfu, Abydos, Dendera, Kom Ombo, the Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel, and many more outstanding destinations in the land of the pharaohs! Enjoy unique special access to the enigmatic Sphinx monument and Great Pyramid during private visits..
Join us for an unforgettable experience, exploring the archaeology and history of Egypt.

THE SPLENDOURS
OF ANCIENT EGYPT

US$6495

Explore the mysteries of Egypt on an exclusive 15-day, 14-night tour hosted by Dr. Chris Naunton. Included two private visits to the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx. A local expert in Egyptian history and archaeology will also be accompanying the group.

Dr. Chris Naunton is a British Egyptologist, writer, and broadcaster known for making ancient Egyptian history accessible to both scholars and the public. With a Ph.D. in Egyptology from Swansea University, he has held leadership roles such as Director of the Egypt Exploration Society and President of the International Association of Egyptologists.

Dr. Naunton has presented documentaries like “Flinders Petrie: The Man Who Discovered Egypt” and “Tutankhamun: The Mystery of the Burnt Mummy” authored books such as “Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt” and “Egyptologists’ Notebooks”.

As Director of the Robert Anderson Research Charitable Trust and President of the Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society, Dr. Naunton continues to advance the study and public appreciation of ancient Egypt.

Places to visit : Giza • Cairo • Saqqara • Luxor • El-Fayyum Oasis • Karnak • Edfu • Abydos • Dendera • Kom Ombo • the Valley of the Kings • Abu Simbel

Your qualified leader Dr. Chris Naunton will provide interesting theories and the latest research on the archaeological sites that will be visited.

Register your details to hold your place on this exclusive tour. To secure your place a deposit payment of US$1200 per person is required within 48 hours of completing the form. Payment details are noted at the end of the form.

Ancient Origins Tour of Egypt 15 Days /14 Nights

People will be transferred to the hotel on arrival. People will meet at dinner on the first day.

On arrival, all clients will be given transfers to the hotel in Cairo regardless of arrival time or date. At the end of the tour, clients will just make their own way from the hotel to the airport as it is connected to the building. They can then go at whatever time their flight is. Those who have late flights can always go back into the city if they want.

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Day 1 – January 16, 2026 (Friday)

Arrival in Egypt

Arrive in Egypt, where you will be welcomed at Cairo International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Giza. An orientation session will be held in the evening. Spend your first night at the luxurious 5-star Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel, upgraded to a pyramid-view room.

Meals: Dinner At the hotel

Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel (Pyramid view room)

Day 2 – January 17, 2026 (Saturday)

Saqqara

Start the day with a visit to Saqqara. Explore the fascinating Serapeum, an underground maze of catacombs housing enormous sarcophagi once believed to contain the mummified remains of sacred Apis bulls. Witness evidence of the advanced technology used in constructing these massive granite sarcophagi. Continue to the Pyramid of Teti to see the Pyramid Texts, which depict the pharaoh’s journey to the afterlife. Visit the Heb-Sed Court and the iconic Step Pyramid, built for Pharaoh Djoser around 2675 BCE. Return to Giza for your second night.

Meals: – Breakfast: At the hotel
– Lunch: Authentic local restaurant
– Dinner: At the hotel

Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel (Pyramid view room)

Day 3 – January 18, 2026 (Sunday):

Giza Pyramids and Sphinx

Experience an exclusive early morning visit to the Sphinx enclosure from 5:00 to 7:00 AM and marvel at the sunrise. The Sphinx, with its lion body and pharaoh’s head, is one of the world’s most iconic monuments, thought to represent Pharaoh Khafre (circa 2550 BCE). Later, admire the exteriors of the Great Pyramid, the panoramic view, and the Valley Temple of Khafre.

In the evening, enjoy a private visit to the Great Pyramid between 5:00 and 7:00 PM. Spend your third night in Giza.

Meals: – Breakfast: At the hotel
– Lunch: Authentic local restaurant
– Dinner: Authentic local restaurant

Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel (Pyramid view room)

Day 4 – January 19, 2026 (Monday)

El Fayyum

Depart by bus for the El Fayyum Oasis. Visit the Meidum Pyramid, known for its unique structure, and explore the Pyramid of Hawara, built by Amenemhat III. Discover the legendary Egyptian Labyrinth, said to be one of the ancient world’s great mysteries, completed by Sobekneferu, Egypt’s first female pharaoh. Conclude the day with a lecture on the next day’s visit to the Qasr El Sagha Temple. Stay overnight in El Fayyum

Meals: – Breakfast: At the hotel
– Lunch: Authentic local restaurant
– Dinner: At the hotel

Accommodation: Helnan Auberge Fayoum Hotel

Day 5 – January 20, 2026 (Tuesday):

El Fayyum Exploration

Travel by 4×4 vehicles to Wadi Hitan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Wadi El Rayan. Head to the northern edge of Lake Birket Quran (known in classical times as Lake Moeris) to explore the Qasr El Sagha Temple. Made of polygonal blocks and cyclopean masonry, this enigmatic structure remains a mystery of ancient Egypt. Spend the day investigating the temple and its surroundings before returning to El Fayyum for the night.

Meals: – Breakfast: At the hotel
– Lunch: Authentic local restaurant or desert picnic
– Dinner: At the hotel

Accommodation: Helnan Auberge Fayoum Hotel

Day 6 – January 21, 2026 (Wednesday):

Grand Egyptian Museum

After breakfast, check out and travel back to Giza to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). While partially opened, most sections, except Tutankhamun’s, are expected to be transferred here by 2026. Later, transfer to Cairo Airport for a flight to Aswan. Spend your first night in Aswan.

Meals: – Breakfast: At the hotel
– Lunch: Authentic local restaurant
– Dinner: Authentic local restaurant

Accommodation: Mövenpick Hotel, Aswan Island (Nile View upgrade)

Day 7 – January 22, 2026 (Thursday):

Abu Simbel

Travel by bus to Abu Simbel, stopping en route to explore a natural rock mesa along the Libyan Desert’s edge. In the afternoon, visit the iconic rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel, built by Rameses II and relocated during the 1960s to avoid submersion due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam. See the smaller temple dedicated to his wife, Nefertari. Return to Aswan for your second night.

Meals: – Breakfast: At the hotel
– Lunch: Packed lunch
– Dinner: At the hotel

Accommodation: Mövenpick Hotel, Aswan Island (Nile View upgrade)

Day 8 – January 23, 2026 (Friday):

Philae Temple and Unfinished Obelisk

Visit the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis, followed by the unfinished granite obelisk in an ancient quarry. Study the methods used to carve obelisks, including mysterious scoop marks that suggest advanced technology. Take a felucca ride to Elephantine Island and explore the ruins of the Khnum Temple. Enjoy free time in Aswan’s old markets in the evening. Spend the night aboard a 5-star Nile cruise ship.

Meals: – Breakfast: At the hotel
– Lunch: Onboard the Nile cruise
– Dinner: Onboard the Nile cruise

Accommodation: 5-star Nile Cruise Ship (Nile Capital, Nile Premium, or Farida Nile Cruise)

Day 9 – January 24, 2026 (Saturday):

Kom Ombo Temple

Sail north towards Luxor and disembark to visit the Temple of Sobek at Kom Ombo. Built during the Ptolemaic period (circa 180–150 BCE), this temple honours Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon-headed god. Spend your second night on the Nile cruise.

Meals: Breakfast: Onboard the Nile cruise
Lunch: Onboard the Nile cruise
Dinner: Onboard the Nile cruise

Accommodation: 5-star Nile Cruise Ship (Nile Capital, Nile Premium, or Farida Nile Cruise)

Day 10 – January 25, 2026 (Sunday):

Edfu Temple

Continue the journey along the Nile, stopping to visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Constructed during the Ptolemaic period (circa 175 BCE), this well-preserved temple provides detailed accounts of the world’s creation and the gods’ arrival during the First Time (Zep Tepi). Explore the sacred sanctuary that houses a wooden boat believed to have carried Horus from the heavens. Spend your third night onboard the cruise.

Meals: Breakfast: Onboard the Nile cruise
Lunch: Onboard the Nile cruise
Dinner: Onboard the Nile cruise

Accommodation: 5-star Nile Cruise Ship (Nile Capital, Nile Premium, or Farida Nile Cruise)

Day 11 – January 26, 2026 (Monday):

Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple

Arrive in Luxor, the ancient capital of Upper Egypt. Disembark and visit the vast Karnak Temple complex, dedicated to the god Amun-Ra. Transfer to your hotel for some rest before an evening visit to Luxor Temple. Illuminated by lights, Luxor Temple is connected to Karnak via the recently reopened Sphinx Avenue, a ceremonial path flanked by over 1,000 sphinx statues. Spend the night in Luxor.

Meals: Breakfast: Onboard the Nile cruise
Lunch: Authentic local restaurant
Dinner: At the hotel

Accommodation: Sonesta St. George Hotel (Side Nile room)

Day 12 – January 27, 2026 (Tuesday):

Abydos Temple & Dendera Temple

Travel by bus to the Temple of Abydos, constructed by Pharaoh Seti I (circa 1290–1279 BCE). Nearby, explore the mysterious Osireion, a subterranean structure thought to symbolise the tomb of Osiris. Its cyclopean masonry and unique design invite comparisons with other ancient sites. Continue to the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, known for its intricate carvings and underground crypts that hint at advanced ancient technologies. Return to Luxor for your second night.

Meals: Breakfast: At the hotel
Lunch: Authentic local restaurant en route to Dendera
Dinner: At the hotel

Accommodation: Sonesta St. George Hotel (Side Nile room)

Day 13 – January 28, 2026 (Wednesday):

Valley of the Kings, Ramesseum & Hatshepsut’s Temple

Cross the Nile to the Theban West Bank, the realm of the dead in ancient Egypt. Visit the Valley of the Kings, including the tomb of Tutankhamun and others adorned with intricate reliefs of underworld texts. Explore the Ramesseum, with its astronomical ceiling and colossal statues of Ramses II, and the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Stop for photos at the Colossi of Memnon before returning to your hotel for the night.

Meals: Breakfast: At the hotel
Lunch: Authentic local restaurant
Dinner: At the hotel

Accommodation: Sonesta St. George Hotel (Side Nile room)

Day 14 – January 29, 2026 (Thursday):

Habu Temple, Deir el-Medina & Howard Carter’s House

Visit additional West Bank sites, including Medinet Habu (Habu Temple), the worker’s village at Deir el-Medina, and Howard Carter’s House. In the evening, fly back to Cairo and check in to your hotel near the airport.

Meals: Breakfast: At the hotel
Lunch: Authentic local restaurant
Dinner: At the hotel

Accommodation: Le Méridien Cairo Airport

Day 15 – January 30, 2026 (Friday):

Departure

Bid farewell to Egypt. Transfer to Cairo International Airport for your departure.

Meals: Breakfast: At the hotel

Ancient Origins Tour of Egypt 15 Days /14 Nights
Price per person based on double occupancy: US$6495
Please note prices are based on a single person sharing a room with another tour guest
Single occupancy supplement: US$1295
TOUR DEPOSIT US$1200 PER PERSON
A deposit of US$1200 per person is required to secure immediate booking. The remainder of
the payment will be required ten weeks before the start date of the tour.

Exclusive Access Experiences

1. Exclusive Insider Access to the Great Pyramid

The early morning private access (05:00-07:00) makes for an incredibly solemn and spiritual experience. Arriving before sunrise, we will step into the pyramid zone in complete stillness, undisturbed by crowds. Witnessing the sunrise from within the Great Pyramid’s sanctuary offers a truly profound moment.

We will have exclusive access to the Great Pyramid, including entry into the burial chamber, where the empty granite sarcophagus rests. Reaching this chamber requires navigating a tight passageway, requiring you to bend as you proceed. Please note that there are no inscriptions inside the pyramid.

2. Exclusive Insider Access to the Paws of the Sphinx

Our private access takes place during normal working hours, but grants you the rare opportunity to enter the Sanctuary of the Sphinx. Unlike regular visitors, who can only view the Sphinx from a distance, we will stand right at its feet, touching its ancient paws and experiencing its immense presence up close.

Our Egyptologist guide will captivate us with the myths and historical accounts surrounding this legendary figure. We will also have the unique opportunity to see the Dream Stele (Sphinx Stele), positioned between the Sphinx’s paws. This epigraphic monument was erected in 1401 BC by Pharaoh Thutmose IV of the 18th Dynasty, and our guide will explain its inscriptions and historical significance.

These experiences provide an unparalleled opportunity to connect with Egypt’s ancient wonders in a way few ever do.

TOUR DEPOSIT
US$1200 PER PERSON

A deposit of US$1200 per person is required to secure immediate booking. The remainder of
the payment will be required ten weeks before the start date of the tour.
Any problems or queries contact us here

ACCOMMODATION

14 nights in luxury hotels including daily breakfast:
Three nights in 5* hotel Giza (Steigenberger Pyramids – Pyramid view upgrade)
Two nights in 5* hotel el-Fayyum (Helnan Auberge Fayoum Hotel)
Two nights in 5* hotel Aswan (Movenpick, Aswan Island – Nile View upgrade)
Three nights full board on 5* Nile Cruise
Three nights in 5* hotel Luxor (Sonesta St George – Nile View upgrade)
One night in 5* hotel Le Meridien Cairo Airport.

CANCELLATIONS
& REFUNDS

Cancellations must be received in writing and will be processed according to the date the written notice is received. Although a verbal cancellation is appreciated, it will not be accepted as final notice. Departure is defined as the date of the first flight from travellers country, or the trip departure date as indicated on our Trip Schedule, whichever comes first.
Money will be refunded minus the following cancellation fees/penalties per person (unless different for a particular trip, then the special cancellation schedule of that trip will apply):
– From time of booking up to 90 days prior to departure US$500.00 per person
– 89-60 days prior to departure US$750.00 per person
– 59-31 days prior to departure 75% of total land cost
– 30-0 days prior to departure No refund
Aside from the above penalties, any additional penalties on airline tickets imposed by the airlines- in cases of cancellation or date changes after issuance of tickets – will be totally charged to the traveler. In addition, any costs involved in obtaining visas will also be collected from the traveler and cannot be reimbursed by Ancient Origins or its suppliers.
Hotel rooms booked on our tours are run of The House (ROH), any special rooms with views or upper floors will entail a supplement that clients will be responsible to cover.