National Geographic’s Beyond King Tut Immersive Experience: Review

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her adventures around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

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This year marks the 100th of the discovery of King Tut’s tomb—the first fully intact royal burial to be unearthed in Egypt. Artifacts from the young king’s tomb have traveled the world, but now, they will permanently remain in Tut’s homeland, at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

If you can’t make it to Egypt to see King Tut’s treasures in person, National Geographic’s new Beyond King Tut Immersive Experience is the next best thing.

Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience, showing a silhouette of a person looking at a close-up of a sarcophagus

The exhibit uses wall-to-wall screens to project photos and videos from National Geographic’s archives to recreate the feeling of being there in person. As visitors walk between rooms, they will be taken along a virtual journey through King Tut’s life, his death and mummification, his anticipated trip through the afterlife, and the discovery and excavation of his tomb. Lifelike physical replicas, including a sarcophagus and boat, add to the immersive feel.

After going through the exhibition, VIP ticket holders (or those who choose to upgrade) will have the chance to strap on VR headsets for an even more immersive show. Narrated by actor Hugh Bonneville, CityLights’ short film “Tutankhamun: Enter the Tomb” takes viewers on a 360-degree tour of King Tut’s final resting place.

Entrance to a room called "Verses of Immortality" in the National Geographic Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience — National Geographic

“The goal of ‘Enter The Tomb’ was to create an experience that was both educational and entertaining for visitors,” says CityLights co-founder Joel Newton. “Accomplishing this level of realism required new technology, of course, but also the excellence of traditional Hollywood craft. Our team consists of the world’s top artists who are usually working on blockbuster movies. They worked tirelessly to transport audiences to the Valley of the Kings and walk away with a memory of being in Tutankhamun’s tomb.”

Ticket prices vary by city, but start at around $20 for adult general admission.

Where Can You View the Immersive Experience?

The Immersive Experience is currently open in:

Boston, Massachusetts
Washington, D.C.

The exhibit will be coming soon to the following locations:

Los Angeles, California (tickets on sale now)
Vancouver, Canada (tickets on sale now)
Atlanta, Georgia (presale waitlist available)
New York City, New York (presale waitlist available)
San Francisco, California (presale waitlist available)

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