In the Wake of Cleopatra Photo Expedition

This extraordinary adventure with professional photographer Dan Heller is a traveler’s dream journey-exploring by 12-passenger dahabiya, the traditional two-masted yacht of the Nile, with the added feature of a focus on travel photography. With our Egyptologist guides, we discover the great monuments of ancient Egypt that line this legendary river valley on a five-night cruise from Luxor to Aswan, as well as fascinating out-of-the-way sites little visited by other travelers and behind the scenes visits to isolated villages where we meet the local people. As we sail the Nile and explore the ancient wonders of Egypt, Dan will offer one-on-one coaching on photo technique and shooting skills with the goal of helping you create images that capture your travel experience and take your skills to the next level. Evening slide shows are a fun and informative way to revisit the day’s experiences while seeing for yourself the benefit of the tips and skills being shared.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Days 1-3
Cairo and the Great Pyramids

The Great Pyramids at Giza epitomize the mystery of ancient Egypt. We explore these wondrous tombs of the Pharaohs then visit the lion-headed Sphinx, ancient Memphis, and the necropolis at Sakkara. We also roam the labyrinthine Khan El Khalili Bazaar and Old Cairo, and explore the Egyptian Museum, with its amazing artifacts spanning the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. The treasures of young King Tutankhamen, including his famous mask of solid gold—the icon of Egypt—are fascinating to behold.

Day 4
Luxor / Karnak Temple

We fly to Luxor, ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom capital, and visit stupendous Karnak, with its forest of stone columns. This splendid temple was built over more than a thousand years by generations of pharaohs. In the evening, we explore Luxor temple, a strikingly graceful piece of architecture on the banks of the Nile.

Days 5-9
Valley of the Kings / Sailing the Nile

Across the Nile from Luxor is the Valley of the Kings, where Howard Carter made his epic discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922. We explore the graceful tombs and mortuary temples of the valley, including the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which merges with the sheer limestone cliffs as if nature herself had built this extraordinary monument. At Esna, with its Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum, we embark aboard our dahabiya, a sailboat that harkens back to a nostalgic and elegant era of travel, yet boasts all the modern comforts. The term dahabiya means “golden boat” as they were once the preserve of the royals and were common on the Nile in the 19th and early 20th centuries. With a shallow draft, these vessels navigate not only on the main river but also in the maze of canals threading through its banks. This allows us to visit lesser-known sites such as El-Kab, home of Nekbet, the vulture goddess of Upper Egypt, along with famed riverside temples including Edfu, the best preserved ancient temple in Egypt, and Kom Ombo, on a high dune overlooking the Nile. From time to time, we enjoy barbecues and picnics at beautiful spots, and one evening, we moor at Cobania Island for a visit with local villagers.

Days 10-12
Abu Simbel and Cairo

Fly to Abu Simbel to see the Nile-side temples built by Ramses II, an example of both ancient grandeur and modern preservation. Four immense statues of Ramses dominate the facade of the great Sun Temple, their faces gazing sternly across the water. In the 1960s, UNESCO arranged the disassembly and relocation of these precious temples to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Your final day is in Cairo, exploring its fascinating Coptic sites. Depart on Day 12.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Optional Extensions

If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extensions:

• Alexandria Extension (3 days)
• Jordan: Petra & The Dead Sea Extension (7 days)

What the Trip is Like

The trip is rated Level 1+, Easiest. It is an overland touring trip with day walks exploring the fascinating ruins and wonderful towns in this ancient and modern civilization. Please note that we have several early morning starts, especially on days with air travel.

On this special travel photography departure, we will follow the itinerary and visit all the sites on our classic In the Wake of Cleopatra journey, with the added feature of having a professional travel photographer accompany the group.  Dan Heller will share photography tips and skills with interested members of the group, and will present several evening slide shows. Our Egyptologist guides will be with us throughout the journey, sharing the fascinating history of ancient Egypt.

Explanation of Trip Levels