Nile Cruises
A cruise of the Nile River in Egypt is truly one of the most unique travel experiences one can have, and generally such a voyage appeals to only the most discriminating and adventuresome traveller.
Nile cruises generally come in three, four or seven night versions. The shorter ones usually operate between Luxor and Aswan, while the longer ones will travel further north to Dendera, offering a multitude of day tours over land to the more remote areas that cannot be reached by cruise ship.
Generally a Nile River cruise will be just one part of a longer, more comprehensive tour of Egypt. It doesn’t make sense to travel so far for anything shorter. For example, a 14 day tour of Egypt would include spending several days touring around Cairo, visiting the pyramids, museums and other sights, followed by a short flight to Abu Simbel located in the most southern part of Egypt, followed by a seven-day cruise on the Nile River. This type of an itinerary would allow you to get a very comprehensive view of the region and everything it has to offer.
The usual Nile River cruise takes place onboard what can only be described as a “floating hotel.” The better “Nile Cruisers” have just about every amenity as a land-based hotel, including swimming pools, hot tubs and exercise rooms. Just like their large cruise ship counterparts, they also have luxury accommodations, a variety of nightclubs and restaurants onboard, and even a small library. The better boats will also have in-room TV, private bathrooms, and perhaps even full suites available. Most will offer a variety of entertainment options as well, including cocktail parties, shows, and various parties. Expect pricing on these sailings to range from £35.00 to about £170.00 per night. In high season, expect those prices to be about 25% to 50% higher, especially during the Christmas and Easter seasons.
For the person who is more adventurous, or can’t afford these prices, they can take their cruise onboard a “felucca,” which is Egypt’s traditional Nile sailboat vessel. These trips, however, tend to be rather short, usually lasting only several hours. However, multi-day trips can be arranged onboard the larger feluccas travelling between Aswan and Luxor. While making the trip on a felucca will be far cheaper, be aware that these vessels are rather primitive. Often the tourists will sleep on the open deck. The crew sailing the ship will also double as the cooks. So, there will be no luxury amenities on this type of voyage.
As for “must sees” during the various stops on your cruise down the Nile River, here are a few suggestions. Don’t miss Abu Simbel where the four large statues of Rameses II guard the temple's entrance. You will need to fly to Abu Simbel from Aswan City, which will take about 45 minutes. Or if you have several hours to spare, you can take a bus to get there.
Karnak Temple in Luxor City is another site you won’t want to miss. It is without a doubt the largest temple of its kind in the world. The Great Hypostyle Hall is very impressive indeed.The Valley of the Kings is another place you won’t want to miss. Also located near Luxor, it contains the carved underground tombs of 60 pharaohs, including that of Tutankhamun (better known as King Tut).
An additional four temples you may also wish to view during your Nile River journey are Esna, which is of the Ptolomaic time, a sanctuary surrounded by a city of the modern era. The Temple of Hapshepsut, who was the greatest female Pharaoh of Egypt. Kom Ombo Edfu’s Temple, which is particularly well preserved. It is dedicated to Horus. If time permits, you may also wish to visit the Valley of the Queens, the Philae Temple, and the Aswan High Dam.
And finally, the Temple of Luxor, which sits right next to the Karnak Temple and is just about as impressive. While a Nile cruise isn’t for everybody, it is definitely something that a select few will want to add to their future holiday plans.
See all the great destinations you can visit on the Nile River
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