Egypt is a place that stirs the imagination—where ancient temples rise from the desert and the Nile still shapes daily life. This 16-day journey takes us from Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum and the historic lanes of Coptic Cairo to the sweeping vistas of Aswan, where we stay at the legendary Old Cataract Hotel.

We cruise the Nile in slow, elegant style aboard Set Nefru, a traditional dahabiya that stops at small villages and lesser-known temples. In Luxor, we settle into the richly atmospheric Al Moudira on the West Bank and explore the Valley of the Kings, avoiding the crowds wherever possible.

A side trip to the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel adds a fitting flourish to this deep dive into the world of the pharaohs. With time, comfort and context, this is Egypt not just seen—but felt.