Explore More - 2019

UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF

UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE Discover a land where the foundations of modern civilization were laid, a place of mysterious tombs, intoxicating spice markets, desert sands and magnificent monuments. On board elegant Viking Ra, sail the Nile, your gateway to pharaohs and pyramids Cairo Known as the “City Victorious,” soaring minarets, glittering mosques and 19th-century palaces mix with bustling streets, eclectic markets and eccentric hawkers to create an irresistible charm. Cairo has sites aplenty: the necropolis at Sakkara, a vast, ancient burial ground and the site of what is thought to be Egypt’s oldest pyramid, the Step Pyramid of King Djoser; and the Giza Plateau, home to the extraordinary Great Pyramids, last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the Great Sphinx. Cairo’s Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is a treasure trove of precious wonders. Marvel at the breathtaking treasures of King Tutankhamen and the other great pharaohs, displayed alongside mummies, grave goods and everyday household items. There is also the colorful souk in Khan el- Khalili, where you can stock up on sparkling silverware, gold artifacts and the softest handmade carpets. Luxor Site of the former ancient city of Thebes, here stand the Temples of Luxor and Karnak, long buried beneath desert sands. Walk along monumental peristyles and past obelisks, and learn how ancient hieroglyphics hint at the beliefs and lifestyle of ancient Egyptians. The magnificent Luxor Library and Heritage Center is rich with the fascinating history of the country and its monuments. At the Nile’s west bank is the Valley of the Kings and Queens. Explore the dazzling and beautifully reconstructed Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, partly carved from dramatic limestone cliffs, and the vast and exquisitely painted Mortuary Temple of Egypt’s last warrior pharaoh, Ramses III. Qena The temple complex at Dendera is located just outside the market town of Qena and is home to one of Egypt’s most iconic and perfectly preserved buildings, the Temple of Hathor. This colossal stone-roofed structure has magnificent columns, dark chambers, twisting stairways and underground crypts, all carved with the most impressive hieroglyphics. A fitting tribute to Hathor, the goddess of love and sensual pleasures (also known as the “Lady of Drunkenness”), this atmospheric place is guaranteed to capture your heart. The impressive hieroglyphics at Dendera 94 VIKING.COM EXPLORE MORE 2019

EGYPT EXPLORE MORE 2019 | VIKING.COM 95