Going Off The Map (Full Episode) | Egypt with the World's Greatest Explorer | National Geographic

Joseph Fiennes embarks on a journey through Egypt with his cousin, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, renowned as the world's greatest living explorer. This adventure aims to retrace Ranulph's historic expedition down the Nile 50 years prior, testing Joseph's limits and exploring what drives his cousin to pursue such extreme endeavors. Their journey begins in Cairo, where a minor logistical challenge arises: a missing car horn for one of their vehicles, a vintage Land Rover. Navigating Cairo's chaotic traffic without a horn proves to be a daunting task, highlighting the city's high accident rates. Ranulph, surprisingly, demonstrates proficiency in Arabic, a skill acquired during his military service in the Middle East, which proves invaluable in acquiring the necessary horn through skilled negotiation. A significant milestone is their visit to the Pyramids of Giza. Ranulph, who had only glimpsed them during his initial expedition due to time constraints, now has the opportunity to truly experience them with Joseph. They are granted the extraordinary privilege of camping overnight next to the pyramids and, even more remarkably, of exploring the interior of the Great Pyramid at night with special permission from the custodian, Dr. Ashraf. Inside the pyramid, Joseph faces physical and mental challenges. He navigates narrow, steep, and dark tunnels to reach subterranean chambers, experiencing a mix of apprehension and exhilaration. Ranulph, despite his age, remains remarkably agile and encouraging. Joseph grapples with the cramped conditions and lack of oxygen, pushing his own physical and mental boundaries. He explores the unfinished first chamber, marvels at the precision of its construction, and ascends challenging passages. They then move to the Queen's Chamber, accessible only by crawling through a long, low passage. Joseph, already exhausted by the humidity and lack of air, is awestruck by Ranulph's endurance. The Queen's Chamber, once believed to house a life-size statue of the Pharaoh, still holds mysteries. Finally, they reach the King's Chamber, the largest and most prestigious, a vast space containing only a red granite sarcophagus. Both cousins are left "awestruck" by the experience. Emerging at dawn, Joseph reflects on the surreal and dream-like nature of spending a night within a wonder of the world. The expedition then heads south towards Luxor. To reach it, they must cross the Nile via ferry, a journey that involves navigating the El Minya province, an area prone to terrorist attacks, necessitating frequent police checkpoints. This situation mirrors Ranulph's 1969 expedition, which was also hampered by security concerns due to the ongoing conflict between Egypt and Israel. Ranulph recalls being forbidden to enter Egypt by the Ministry of Defense, but the official notice arrived after they had already arrived. The current journey involves a constant change of police escorts, with varying degrees of helpfulness. The ferry crossing itself presents a logistical challenge, with Joseph being put in charge of loading their vehicles, including police escort vehicles, onto the ferry. He humorously embraces the role of "world's greatest parking attendant." On the ferry, Joseph experiences the Nile, the lifeblood of Egypt, and learns about its significance from the ferryman, who has worked on the river for 34 years, following in his father's footsteps. Joseph even gets a chance to steer the ferry, finding it a "lovely driving" experience and a "dream come true." He also shares a pun about the Nile. Upon reaching Luxor, Ranulph recounts a past incident where he was arrested on suspicion of being an Israeli spy, a consequence of the Nile being considered strategic territory during the Arab-Israeli conflict. The presence of an 18-foot map of the region had raised suspicions. After interrogation and examination of his equipment, Ranulph was released. This expedition, however, was instrumental in launching Ranulph's career as an explorer, gaining him international recognition and even leading to him being shortlisted for the role of James Bond. Joseph visits the Temple of Luxor, famous for its filming location in "The Spy Who Loved Me," feeling like a tourist rather than an actor or explorer. Ranulph then introduces Joseph to Tahtib, an ancient Egyptian martial art involving the use of four-foot sticks. Joseph is set to spar with a leading expert, Radwan Mansour. Despite initial apprehension, Joseph draws upon his acting training and embraces the challenge, feeling a connection to his 25-year-old cousin's past vigor. He witnesses footage of Ranulph from 50 years prior, noting his enduring spirit. The next leg of the journey takes them to the Red Sea, crossing the mountainous and hot Wadi Gemal desert. This off-road driving challenge tests Joseph's skills, a stark contrast to Ranulph's experience in his modern vehicle. They camp overnight in the desert with the Bedouin people, who have a deep knowledge of the terrain. Joseph opts for a safer sleeping arrangement in a hammock suspended from a metal frame, while Ranulph chooses a tent. He reflects on the resilience of the Bedouin people. The following morning, a race is proposed to the Red Sea: Joseph in his classic car, facing tougher terrain, versus Ranulph in a newer vehicle on smoother roads, with Bedouin guides assisting both. Joseph expresses concern about his temperamental car, particularly a leaky radiator that causes delays. He feels he has the harder route and accuses Ranulph of having an easier ride. Despite the challenges, Joseph's car ultimately reaches the Red Sea first, much to Ranulph's surprise, though he suspects Ranulph might have eased off the accelerator. Joseph describes the feeling of reaching the cool water after the unforgiving desert as "sheer delight," reconnecting with the spirit of his younger cousin and his initial expedition. Ranulph expresses that this trip has been an opportunity to get to know his cousin better and to revisit places he hadn't explored in depth, like the Red Sea, despite spending much time in the nearby region. Joseph finds the trip invaluable for looking back and connecting with his cousin's past. The final leg of their Egyptian expedition involves witnessing the temples of Abu Simbel. Joseph employs his unique camping method to avoid creepy-crawlies, and his off-road driving skills are put to the ultimate test.