Viking has opened bookings for voyages on its upcoming Nile River ship Viking Sobek, scheduled to debut in 2025. This vessel will become the 6th addition to Viking's expanding fleet dedicated to the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
Due to high demand in both 2024 and 2025, Viking has initiated the early release of Viking Sobek's inaugural season and 2026 schedule/departure dates for its entire Nile River fleet.
Viking Sobek, accommodating 82 guests across 41 staterooms, mirrors the Scandinavian design featured on Viking's award-winning river and ocean ships. This vessel is identical sistership to Viking Osiris (2022), Viking Aton (2023), and Viking Hathor (2024).
Together with Viking Ra and MS Antares, Viking's Egypt fleet will comprise 6 vessels for Nile River voyages by 2025.
The 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary commences with a 3-night stay at a Cairo first-class hotel, where travelers can explore iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Saqqara necropolis, and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Following this, guests fly to Luxor to visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before embarking on an 8-day roundtrip on Nile River aboard a Viking riverboat. The voyage includes Privileged Access to sites such as the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings. Other highlights feature excursions to locations like the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a traditional Nubian village, offering insights into their culture and a glimpse into a traditional elementary school. The voyage concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.
Travelers seeking an extended journey can opt for pre- and post-extensions, providing Privileged Access to archives and exhibits. The 5-day "British Collections of Ancient Egypt" cruisetour/extension commences in London, where guests visit the British Museum's Egyptian Collection (off/before public hours) and Sir John Soane's Museum (house museum in central London's Holborn district) featuring his Egyptian antiquities. Stops in Oxford include the Ashmolean Museum and a Privileged Access visit to Oxford University's Griffith Institute to explore Howard Carter's Tutankhamun tomb discovery archives. Further Privileged Access is granted at Highclere Castle, showcasing Egyptian artifacts. Other extensions encompass visits to Istanbul, Jerusalem (Ashdod), and Jordan (Aqaba) to explore historical and cultural treasures.