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

The wait is over — Expedition Unknown is back, and host Josh Gates is taking viewers on his most ambitious journey yet. In the Season 16 opener, airing Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Discovery Channel, Gates ventures deep inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, unraveling ancient mysteries and confronting the world’s oldest engineering enigma.

A Historic Season Premiere Inside the Great Pyramid

The two-part premiere marks one of the most significant moments in the show’s history. Gaining exclusive access to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Gates explores never-before-seen tunnels and chambers hidden within the 4,500-year-old structure.

Using state-of-the-art 3D scanning technology, the team maps mysterious passageways buried deep beneath the Pyramid, uncovering clues that could change everything we know about how it was built.

“The Pyramid is a really enigmatic structure,” Gates says. “It was the tallest building in the world for 4,000 years — and it still holds secrets no one fully understands.”

Separating Myth from Reality

Throughout the episode, Gates takes aim at some of the world’s most persistent conspiracy theories — including the notion that the Pyramid was built by aliens or advanced ancient civilizations.

Instead, Gates and his team present hard evidence proving that the monument was the result of human brilliance and determination.

“You can see the fingerprints of human construction everywhere,” Gates explains. “Post holes, alignment stones — real, tangible signs of ancient labor. The Egyptians deserve the credit. They were master builders.”

Indiana Jones Spirit in a Real-World Explorer

It’s easy to see why fans often compare Josh Gates to Indiana Jones. A trained archaeologist with a degree from Tufts University, he approaches every expedition with both expertise and excitement.

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

Gates’ trademark enthusiasm continues to make Expedition Unknown one of Discovery’s most beloved and enduring adventure series.

Beyond Egypt: A Season of Global Adventure

After the Great Pyramid special, Season 16 will take viewers across the globe on more high-stakes quests. Gates teams up with Gold Rush star Parker Schnabel to track a multimillion-dollar treasure linked to a legendary stagecoach heist.

He’ll also embark on a real-life Goonies-style quest along the Oregon coast, marking the iconic film’s 40th anniversary, and dive beneath the icy Baltic Sea to hunt for a lost Nazi submarine.

The season promises mystery, danger, and discovery at every turn.

A New Era of Exploration

After more than 200 episodes, Gates shows no sign of slowing down. He insists that the world remains full of mysteries waiting to be solved.

“From hidden chambers in the Great Pyramid to shipwrecks in the world’s oceans, there’s still so much to find,” he says. “With new technology, it’s an incredible time to be an explorer.”

Following Expedition Unknown each week is Gates’ complementary series Expedition Files at 10 p.m. ET, where he takes a more investigative, storytelling approach to unraveling real-world mysteries.

How to Watch

Catch the Season 16 premiere of Expedition Unknown every Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on Discovery Channel, with episodes available to stream the next day on Max and Discovery+.

From Egypt’s ancient sands to the cold depths of the Baltic, Josh Gates proves once again that the world’s greatest treasures are waiting for those bold enough to chase them.