Today was yet another highlight of our trip to Egypt. It really feels like every day has been one. We boarded a small airplane at Aswan Airport for a short flight to visit the temples at Abu Simbel. The massive carvings made an immediate impression, and the interior details were absolutely breathtaking.
As stunning as the carvings were, what truly left me dumbfounded was learning that the entire complex was moved piece by piece in 1968 to save it from being submerged by the newly formed Lake Nasser. The mountain that the temples appear to be carved into is actually artificial. I never would have guessed, as it looks completely natural.
Abu Simbel is often billed as a must see, and I wholeheartedly agree. The short plane ride was a small inconvenience for the chance to experience such an unforgettable, bucket-list site.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/1800 sec, ISO50 “Temple of Esna” Esna, 2025
We spent the morning in the city of Esna with a short walk through the streets, followed by some time for shopping. Bartering with the shopkeepers can feel intimidating at first, but compared to vendors in Morocco, Egypt is pretty tame. It actually became kind of fun, and I like to think we got pretty good at it. Of course, my mom is the real master of haggling. We came away with some clothes, a stamp, and a few dishes and bowls.
After that, we cruised the Nile for the rest of the day on our way to Aswan. Back on the ship, we enjoyed high tea and some time browsing the library, where I found a book about Hatshepsut, whose temple we had visited the day before. We were then treated to a delicious local meal. To cap it all off, we watched an incredible Egyptian sunset.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO250 “Valley of the Kings” Luxor, 2025
Another day where we truly stepped back through time. We descended into the tombs of Pharaohs Tutankhamun and Seti I in the Valley of the Kings outside of Luxor. The artwork on the walls was the most amazing we had seen yet, with depictions of animal headed gods, intricate hieroglyphs, and beautiful designs. We even saw some unfinished artwork, which made it fascinating to spot the sketchwork done before the paint was applied. I could have stayed down there for hours just gazing at the walls and ceilings.
In the afternoon, we visited the Temple of Hatshepsut. The scale and design of the temple are impressive, and I thought the statues of her with a beard were especially cool. Her story is very interesting!
Back aboard the Thoth, we enjoyed an evening performance by a whirling dervish. It was my first time seeing one in person, and I was completely blown away. I honestly do not know how they can spin for so long. It seems like it would cause permanent inner ear damage, right?
Before falling asleep, I put on a documentary about King Tutankhamun on the cabin television. I barely made it ten minutes before nodding off. This would become my routine for the next few nights.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/45 sec, ISO800 “Valley of the Kings” Luxor, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/40 sec, ISO200 “Valley of the Kings” Luxor, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO400 “Valley of the Kings” Luxor, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO640 “Valley of the Kings” Luxor, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO320 “Valley of the Kings” Luxor, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO320 “Valley of the Kings” Luxor, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/9000 sec, ISO80 “Hapshepsut Temple” Luxor, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/1500 sec, ISO50 “Cruising the Nile” Egypt, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/1000 sec, ISO80 “Vendors on the Nile” Egypt, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/40 sec, ISO500 “Whirling Dervish” Egypt, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO640 “Tut Documentary” Egypt, 2025
Our ship departed Luxor this morning and arrived in Qena around noon. From there, we headed out on a shore excursion to the Dendera Temple complex. It is massive and incredibly impressive. It is hard to put into words the feeling you get while walking among these ancient structures. It truly feels like stepping back in time, and it was wonderfully surreal.
After our visit, we returned to the ship for dinner and enjoyed a welcome toast with the crew. It felt so nice to come back to our little home on the Nile.
Today was a long day filled with unforgettable sights. After an early breakfast, we boarded a plane and flew south to the city of Luxor. Our first stop was Karnak Temple, another incredible highlight of the trip. The massive pillars and towering obelisks are absolutely overwhelming in scale, and the carvings are breathtaking. It is hard to even imagine the effort, planning, and motivation it took to build something so enormous and detailed.
After wandering the grounds and enjoying a strong Turkish coffee, we boarded the tour bus and headed to our home for the next several days, the Viking Thoth. The Thoth is a brand new ship in the Viking fleet, and we were the very first group of guests to sail with her. It felt so special knowing we were the first to stay in the cabins, dine at the tables, and dip our feet in the pool. For lunch, I went with the burger, yes I know, but I was craving it and it was actually really good. We always share our dishes anyway!
We rested for a few hours, enjoyed another wonderful meal, and then headed out for an evening excursion to Luxor Temple. The grounds were beautifully lit and offered a completely different experience at night. Seeing such an incredible site in the cooler evening air was truly magical. It is something I will never forget.
