Egypt Nile River Cruise

Cruising the longest river in the world, is much like tracing the footsteps of the great pharaohs. Located in northeastern Africa, the Nile River is fed from Lake Victoria 3,500 miles away in central Africa. It crosses nine countries and supports the economic activities of people who live near the river banks.

In some areas, such as the Luxor City in Egypt, the Nile River has been influenced by the advancing technology of the twenty-first century. In other areas, not much has changed over the millennia. Farming is still done in the same way for thousands of years as the Nile continuous to follow its season of flooding. By cruising along the Egyptian Nile River, tourists will most likely find their perfect personal Holy Grail.

For the History Enthusiast

The Egyptian people have long considered the Nile as the River of Life. Without the Nile, neither the ancient Egyptian civilization nor the present Egyptian society would have existed. With this great historical significance of the Nile River, every history enthusiast would like to find clues on what it was like, thousands of years ago. And the tourists who are history buffs would be pleasantly surprised to find that many parts of the Nile have not changed radically. Donkey carts still carry the produce to mud brick houses, reflecting life during the Pharaoh rule thousands of years ago.

For a more authentic taste of the past, the tourists are encouraged to rent the Felucca boat. The amenities may be no match to the larger more modern cruise ships on the Nile, but the allure of the Felucca boat is in the way it reflects the past of Egypt. Feluccas primarily depend on natural wind breeze and the river currents, most do not have engines like its more modern contemporaries. The sails are made of natural fibers, and the rest of the boat is made up of materials which were found on most boats hundreds of years ago. All travels of Felucca are done by day and these boats dock at night. The dark evenings make it impossible to see where the boat is passing, making the boat high at risk of running into shallow sand bars.

For the Culture Fanatic

More than 5,000 years of Egyptian culture still exist today on the banks of the Nile River. And the culture tour of the typical Nile River cruise sets off at Luxor, part of which ancient Egyptians called Thebes. Here, you can easily visit the world’s largest temple complex in history, Karnak. This is where you can find the Temples of Amun, Ptah and Osiris, the gods revered by the ancient Egyptians. The majority of these temples were built by the great Ramses I more than a thousand years before the birth of Christ.

Across the west bank of the Nile, you can see the famed Valley of the Kings, and the spectacular Colossi of Memnon. The massive Colossi of Memnon have stood as silent witnesses to 3,400 years of history and guards the tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep. The awe-inspiring pyramids can be seen for miles away, forever holding the secrets of the tombs of the greatest pharaohs that ruled Egypt.

For the Nature Lover

Aside from the usual temples and pyramids, the tourists can spend a leisurely day in any of the Red Sea resorts. They can also take a tour in a glass bottom boat and experience the beauty of crystal clear waters while observing the peaceful life aquatic organisms. The nature-loving tourist can also go fishing and then sleep under the stars on a gently rolling river boat. A short visit to any of the cataract islands will reward the curious tourists with a colorful bird watching experience.

For the Daring Adventurer

One must-do activity for the daring adventurer is to get inside a hot air balloon and fly over the Valley of Kings. From the skies, the tourists will be rewarded with a glistening panorama of the pyramids. After this tiring but exhilarating experience, the tourist can enjoy the amenities of the modern tour boats on the Nile River, such as swimming pools and Jacuzzis.

The best time to cruise the Nile River and to engage in adventures in Egypt is from November to March, when the temperatures are tolerable. A standard Nile River cruise lasts between three and seven days. During the summer months, the tourists may still tour Egypt and the Nile River, but they must be prepared for the searing eye of the sun.