Josh Gates Unlocks the Secrets of the Great Pyramid in the Season 16 Premiere of Expedition Unknown

The long-running Discovery Channel adventure series Expedition Unknown is returning in spectacular fashion — and host Josh Gates is diving headfirst into one of the greatest archaeological mysteries on Earth: the Great Pyramid of Giza.

A Legendary Return to One of the Seven Wonders

In the two-part season premiere, airing Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Discovery Channel, Gates gains unprecedented access to Egypt’s Great Pyramid — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Using cutting-edge 3D scanning technology, he explores hidden passageways and sealed chambers that have puzzled archaeologists for generations.

“The Pyramid is a really enigmatic structure,” Gates explains. “It was built 4,500 years ago and remained the tallest building in the world for nearly 4,000 years. Inside, its layout is so strange — descending and ascending passages, hidden chambers — and no one has ever fully understood what the builders intended. We’re going to crawl through every inch, even places off-limits to the public.”

Debunking Ancient Conspiracy Theories

The special episode, titled The Great Pyramid: Secrets Unearthed, takes a fresh look at the enduring myths surrounding how the Pyramid was built. For decades, fringe theories have claimed that its perfect symmetry and immense size could only be the work of extraterrestrial beings. Gates sets out to prove otherwise.

Armed with advanced scanning tools and a team of Egyptologists, he demonstrates how human ingenuity — not alien intervention — made the Pyramid possible.
“There are fingerprints all over this structure,” he says. “Post holes, alignment stones, tool marks — signs of human work everywhere. It’s time to give credit where it’s due. The ancient Egyptians were incredibly advanced builders.”

An Indiana Jones Spirit in Real Life

Fans have long compared Josh Gates to Indiana Jones, and it’s easy to see why. With a degree in archaeology from Tufts University and a fearless curiosity, he has ventured into some of the world’s most remote and dangerous places. From tombs and jungles to shipwrecks, Gates approaches each mission with both intellect and childlike wonder.

“When I step into a pyramid or a lost tomb, I feel like a kid in a candy store,” he admits. “What’s more fun than running around in the dark looking for lost treasure?”

Beyond the Pyramid: A Season Packed with Adventure

Season 16 of Expedition Unknown doesn’t stop in Egypt. The new episodes promise a global lineup of extraordinary quests.
Gates will team up with Gold Rush star Parker Schnabel to hunt for a multi-million-dollar treasure lost in an infamous stagecoach heist, search the Oregon coast in a real-life Goonies-inspired adventure marking the movie’s 40th anniversary, and plunge into the icy Baltic Sea to locate a lost Nazi submarine.

Following Expedition Unknown, fans can also catch Gates hosting Expedition Files at 10 p.m. ET, where he shifts from hands-on adventurer to storyteller, guiding viewers through some of the world’s most mysterious real-life cases.

The Future of Discovery — and Discovery Itself

After more than 200 episodes, Josh Gates is often asked if there are any mysteries left to explore. His answer is a resounding yes.

“You have no idea what’s still out there — from hidden chambers inside the Great Pyramid to undiscovered shipwrecks on the ocean floor,” he says. “With new technology, this is the most exciting time in history for explorers. For anyone who dreams of discovery, the world is still full of secrets waiting to be found.”

Watch New Episodes

Expedition Unknown airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Discovery Channel, with episodes available to stream the following day on Max and Discovery+.