Cruising Down the Nile is an Ancient Tradition
Nile cruises have been immensely popular among travellers to Egypt for decades. Combining your Egypt tours with a Nile cruise is by far the best way for you to explore a large number of ancient sights in Egypt, including monuments like Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Philae Temple and so many others, all while traveling in the lap of comfort.
For countless years, cruising the Nile was the best and virtually the only way people could visit southern Egypt to see the classical sites there, and visit the ancient temples and tombs and other historical sites that are located along this stretch of the Nile River in Egypt.
As is to be expected, nowadays one can fly to cities like Aswan and Luxor, but there is still something magical about seeing old Egypt the old way – by way of a Nile River cruise. It is simply the best way to visit Upper Egypt, and it has several advantages when compared to other modes of travel.
Why Choose Nile River Cruises?
One obvious advantage of Nile River cruises is the fact that you don’t have to keep on packing and unpacking your stuff. Move your baggage aboard, set up your quarters, and off you go. Your “hotel” travels with you while you relax in luxurious surrounding.
Another advantage of Nile cruises for tourists is the opportunity to stop and spend some time exploring various local attractions along the route; the ones that airplanes simply fly over and bypass. One can really gain a wonderful appreciation of the realities of life in rural Egypt, as well as the antiquities to be found throughout the region.
You just can’t beat sitting in the shade on the deck of your floating hotel and enjoying a tall, cool refreshment as you watch the essence of Egypt drift by. With occasional stops permitting one to disembark and mingle with the local merchants, Egypt Nile cruises are without question the most fulfilling way to go.
Types of Nile Cruise and Stays in Egypt
Nile cruises are usually either three, four or seven nights, but these can vary quite a bit. The shorter cruises generally operate between Luxor and Aswan, while some of the longer cruises head further north to Dendera and even Cairo, and often offer ground tours to a number of remote areas.
A fairly complete 12-day tour of Egypt might include several days around Cairo including seeing the Giza Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum and other antiquities, and a brief flight down to Abu Simbel in the very southern part of Egypt, all structured around a 7-day cruise.
And, importantly, you don’t have to worry about being uncomfortable or inconvenienced in any way by virtue of your choice to travel by river. Most of the available 5-Star Nile cruise ships really are nothing but floating hotels, with all the amenities and pampering one would expect from their land-based cousins. You will discover night clubs, swimming pools, hot tubs, top restaurants, and even libraries and beauty salons, all aboard your Egypt Nile cruise ship.
Just as with regular hotels, you get what you pay for when it comes to the cabins themselves, with everything from the most luxurious suites to basic single-bed accommodation from which to choose. It is common for there to be video movies each night, and some boats are even equipped with cameras allowing passengers to view the passing countryside on the TV in their cabins.
There is also no shortage of entertainment on board Nile cruise ships. Whatever your tastes; from disco dancing to belly dancing shows, to costume parties; all and more can be found on most Nile cruises. And, you will find the same amount of variety beckons when it comes to food.
Buffets are very popular of course, but you will also find more formal, sit-down restaurants as well, and don’t forget, all meals are included in the price of your Nile River cruise, so you can eat whatever you want and as much as you want without ever having to worry about the bill.
One thing though, you will want to bring along (or purchase onboard) bottled water to drink. The ships claim to have the most modern of water filtration systems, which is great for showering, but we personally advise our customers against drinking tap water during their cruise down the Nile.
Dahabiya Nile River Cruises
Dahabiyas are traditional or traditional river yachts that have been sailing on the Nile for countless centuries already. They are instantly recognizable by the two sails, one at the back and one in the front. Most of the Dahabiyas which are used for tourist Nile cruises only have 8 to 12 cabins which are luxurious and spacious.
Because of their limited passenger capacity, Dahabiya cruises make for a far more personalized experience when compared to a cruise on one of the large now cruise ships. Many Dahabiya cruises will also depart providing that at least four berths have been booked. So, if you are traveling as a large family, or if you are traveling as a group of friends, you could potentially have the entire vessel for yourself.
As is the case with the large cruise ships, a good Dahabiya Nile River cruise itinerary will include daily excursions and entrance fees to several of Egypt’s most cherished ancient monuments, including sites such as Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Queen Hatshepsut Temple, Philae Temple and Edfu Temple which was dedicated to Horus the falcon-headed god. An Egyptologist guide will accompany you to all these breathtaking sites in order to Explain all about the Egyptian history surrounding these sites, and ensure that your cruise along the River Nile is more rewarding than ever.
In summary, if you want a very lively and vibrant Nile cruise experience, then it would be best to book a cruise on one of the large Nile cruise ships. If on the other hand, you want to visit all the same great archaeological sites in Upper Egypt, but you also want to enjoy an unrivaled level of privacy, serenity and tranquility, a Dahabiya Nile cruise would certainly be the best choice for a truly amazing experience.
Because of their far smaller size, Don’t expect to find facilities like an outdoor swimming pool, a discotech, a fully equipped gym and etc. However, they have everything you need in order to ensure a truly unforgettable Cruise along the River Nile.
When to Go on a Nile River Cruise?
The best time for all Nile cruises, or any Egypt tour package for that matter, is basically between October and mid April, when the weather is nice and cool, and all the Nile’s locks are open. Still, Nile cruises are available year-round.
Similar to land-based hotels, there is a wide range of pricing from which to choose. These are based on the quality of the boats and their accommodation options. Decent boats can range in price between about $100.00 USD to almost $400.00 USD per night, with seasonal increases of between 25% to 50% during Christmas and Easter.
Optional Extras
A lot of the better Nile River cruises provide passengers with an opportunity to enjoy various optional extras. Some of the most popular include:
- A half day trip from Aswan to Abu Simbel to see the magnificent rock-hewn temples of Pharoah Ramses II.
- Professionally narrated and breathtakingly beautiful Sound and Lights shows in the evening at Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple.
- An early morning hot air balloon ride over the ancient temples and ruins of Luxor. Seeing these ancient structures from above is truly and awesome experience.
More Than “Just” the Nile River
Most people who think of Egypt think of antiquities, but Egypt offers much more.
Certainly it is a prime location to see our great heritage from the ancient world, including Pyramids and wonderful tombs and temples, but it is also part of the Holy Land, and spiritual Egypt tours to Christian and other religious monuments are popular. Egypt also offers a great deal for nature lovers in the form of desert treks; fantastic scuba diving; golf; fishing, and even bird watching vacations…
Relax by the Red Sea; explore the Sinai coast, marvel at the antiquities of Cairo, or enjoy a leisurely float down the river on a luxurious cruise boat. Come and see the many wonders of Egypt.
At Egypt Tours Plus, we only partner with the very best companies to ensure that your cruise will be flawless and leave you with lifelong memories. Contact us now to begin planning your dream vacation or to book your magnificent five-star Egypt Nile River cruise today
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