Egypt is a country with a rich ancient history, it is home to numerous archaeological monuments and every site you see has a great story to tell. The longest river in the world, the Nile, is the foundation and home for much of what has gone on, and still goes on today in Egypt. A great way to witness 5000 years of history is to take a cruise along the Nile.

More than 280 ships cruise the Nile River between Luxor and Aswan. Cruising the Nile gives you the benefit of exploring modern life along the Nile, while also giving you the ability to tour the ancient temples and tombs along the way through the variety of guided excursions that are available to you.

Most of the ships offer upscale accommodations and amenities. The majority of the Nile cruise ships offer multiple decks including a sun deck with pool for lounging and play.

Restaurants and lounges are located throughout the ship. You can opt for a standard cabin or something more luxurious, although most cabins will still offer floor to ceiling windows and private balconies. The ships vary on the amount of on-board entertainment, but the more upscale ships generally have belly dancers, Nubian dancers, and Whirling Dervishes.

As you sail along the Nile you will realize that not much has changed from ancient times. Even today you will still see donkeys bathing in the river, and farmers harvesting their crops without the use of any modern farming technological advances. The scenery along the Nile riverbank will change before your eyes from green palm trees to giant sand dunes.

Between Luxor and Aswan you will have the opportunities to see sites such as KomOmbo, Edfu, Karnak, Dendera, the Valley of Queens, and the Valley of Kings.

The number of these sites you will visit will depend on the length of your cruise.

At KomOmbo, located 50km north of Aswan, you can visit the temple of KomOmbo. This temple is a double temple dating back to the Ptolemaic Dynasty. It is unique in that it was built for two gods, namely the crocodile god Sobek, and the falcon god Haroeris.

In the city of Edfu, between Esna and Aswan, you may have the opportunity to see the Ptolemaic temple of Horus, Tell Edfu, and some ancient pyramids. The Ptolemaic temple of Horus is one of the most completely preserved temples in all of Egypt. Tell Edfu is the remains of an ancient settlement which provided enough historical remains and information to date it as far back as the Predynastic period. There are also seven small ancient pyramids that are located about 5km north of Edfu and these pyramids have been connected to King Huni of the 3rd dynasty.

In Karnak you will be amazed by the Karnak temple complex. Amongst the complex you will find the remains of ancient temples, chapels, and pylons. Included amongst these remains is the Great Temple of Amun, which was initially built under the rule of Pharaoh Ramses II.

If your cruise is lengthy enough to take you to Dendera you may have the opportunity to visit the Greco-Roman temple known as Lunet, featuring the Temple of Hathor. This temple is another of Egypt’s best preserved temples.

The Valley of Kings is home to 63 tombs and chambers belonging to pharaohs and other Egyptian royalty. In the Valley of Queens, you will find the final resting tombs for the wives of these pharaohs.