Nile Cruises: What To Expect

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Travel )



Known as the cradle of civilization, Egypt conjures up images of pyramids and sphinxes, of ancient historical landmarks. You can travel through Egypt riding on a camel’s back while exploring the desert. Another alternative would be by cruising the Nile.

Since the Nile River is known as one of the longest rivers in the world, you can begin your journey either in Aswan or Luxor for a shorter trip. Taking a Nile River cruise is dependent on the time of the year. The ideal time to travel to Egypt for cruises on the Nile would be during April to October. You definitely want to avoid the time of the year when the Nile River undergoes its annual flooding.

A felucca is the traditional Egyptian Nile sailboat. Compared to luxury Nile cruises, the felucca is quite primitive. Riding a felucca is ideal if you want to spend only a few hours on a boat while cruising the Nile.

Since there are a number of Nile cruises, you have to choose your itinerary well depending on the amount of time that you have and your budget for the cruise. Most Nile cruises visit the Temple of Horus, one of the most well-preserved temples in Egypt today. Other highlights of Nile cruises are the Aga Khan’s Mausoleum and Botanical Garden, the Karnak Temple and the Luxor Temple. Some choose to go to Aswan and ride on one of the horse-drawn carriages there. In Aswan, you can visit the Old Cataract Hotel. Fans of mystery writer Agatha Christie will be delighted to know that she wrote her famous novel, Death on the Nile at this very hotel.

Try learning a few basic words of Arabic when you are there. This will be helpful when you go shopping and when going to all the destinations of your Nile cruise. Whether you go on a mid-priced or a luxury cruise, make sure you cover as much ground as possible and visit as many of the famous Egyptian landmarks as you can.


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