Nile Cruise - A Cruise into the History of Egypt

by Kirti Saxena Kirti Saxena is a web enthusiast and a writer

Going on a Nile Cruise will take you on a journey through beautiful places – places where history, culture and modern day living exist hand in hand. Egypt is an extremely popular tourist destination and if one visits Egypt, taking a cruise down the River Nile will prove an exciting and memorable holiday. The Pyramids, Sphinx and other historical masterpieces of architecture found in Cairo, capital of Egypt, are sights that cannot and should not be missed. Besides Cairo, the other Egyptian cities that are of interest during a cruise down the River Nile are Port Said, Alexandria, Safaga and Sharm El-Sheikh.

The Luxury Cruise Company organizes several cruises on the River Nile. While cruising down the River, one gets to see on its banks many monuments and ancient temples; alongside these historical sites the Egyptian people go about their everyday business. The ships that ply along the River Nile are mostly luxury liners, fitted out with every convenience and comfort one would expect in a 5-star hotel. Amenities like a sun deck, lounge, bars, laundry service, restaurants and swimming pool plus opulent interiors and elegant cabins welcome the visitors. Some ships also have a currency exchange counter, gift shops and boutiques.

A Nile cruise could consist of a one week cruise, with stopovers in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. From Luxor a day excursion on a smaller cruise boat could be made to Dendera, where one would get an opportunity to visit the Dendera Temple. These cruise boats are small but comfortable meant for short excursions and are fitted out with a splash pool, bar and sundeck. The main start and end points of a Nile cruise would be Luxor and Aswan. Stops are made at sites where one can see the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Luxor Temple, the tomb of Tutankhamen, Karnak Temple and many other historical monuments. The Ptolemaic temples, Temple of Horus and Kom Ombo can be visited when stops are made at Edfu and Esna.

If you are planning a Nile cruise, there are a few points to keep in mind. The cruise boats on the Nile are not geared to accommodate people who are handicapped or with limited mobility. A special visa is required to visit Egypt and this will be issued at the airport on arrival. The best time to go on a River Nile cruise would be between November and March when the weather is cooler.

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