Nile
River Cruises and Holidays in Egypt
We offer different holidays combining a Nile
River cruise with visits to the main sights of Egypt. We offer many
cruise and stay options, of lengths from 8 to 17 days. Itineraries can
include Red Sea Diving Holidays, Red Sea Liveaboard Safari, Western
Desert Oasis Safari, Cairo and the Pyramids, or extensions to Abu
Simbel by lake Nasser Nile River cruise ship or air.
Visits to Cairo are usually based on Giza to
the south east of the city, where you find the Pyramids and the Sphinx
and be amazed by their size. The fascinating Egyptian Museum includes
the burial treasures of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun. In the evening is a
Sound and Light Show in the shadow of the Sphinx.
From Cairo fly to Luxor or Aswan to join your
Nile River cruise ship - alternatively start your holiday by direct
flight to Luxor. From Luxor some cruises go north to Dendera, for a
visit to the temple of the God Hathor, then sail back to Luxor.
From Luxor visit the Valley of the Kings,
with its hundreds of tombs, most famously that of Tutankhamun. See
also the Valley of the Queens, Deir El Bahri, the mortuary temple of
Queen Hatsheput and the Colossi of Memnon. Cruises also offer visits
to the temple complexes of Luxor and Karnak, both noted architectural
sights.
Your cruise ship sails via the river lock at
Esna to Edfu. The temple of Edfu, dedicated to the falcon-headed God
Horus, is one of the best preserved in Egypt. Further down the River
Nile is the famous Kom Ombo temple dedicated to the crocodile God
Sobek, with its mummified crocodiles.
Aswan is a colorful city, noted for its
markets. Visit the Aswan High Dam, and the temple of Philae, which was
dismantled and rebuilt to avoid being submerged under the Dam's rising
waters. Kitcheners Island is a beautiful botanic garden with many
exotic plants and trees.
From Aswan there are excursions by air to the
temples of Abu Simbel. This massive ancient site was moved from its
original position and rebuilt to avoid being submerged by the rising
waters of the new Lake Nasser. The people in the picture (bottom
right) indicate its huge size.
It is also possible to cruise from Aswan to
Abu Simbel and see marvelous desert landscapes, particularly sunrises
and sunsets. This allows visits to temples and sights only accessible
by water, on the shores of Lake Nasser. There are virtually no towns
or villages, or mooring sites, so small boats are used for transport
ashore. Excursions include Wadi El Seboua and the temple of Ramsis II,
Kasr Ibrim and the relocated temple of Amada.
The cruise listing below shows the length of
each cruise holiday and the areas covered. Click on the cruise name to
reach the detailed information pages. |