A Nile cruise in actuality, is a journey through the history and culture of Egypt. As you stroll along the Nile river and gaze over the river valley, you will be greeted with myriad motifs, patterns, colors and textures of life and be surprised to discover that there are many parts of the country that still bear the remnants of the ancient Egyptian style of living. Nile cruises bring you up, close and personal to an diverse, vibrant and inspiring culture, that had once been the cradle of humanity.
Nile Cruises In Their Various Forms
There’s no one Nile river cruise. The cruises come in quite a range, with the platter spanning the entire range from the short three or four nights tours to the lengthy seven nights cruises. These tours are hectic to say the least and you can be sure that you will see and experience quite a chunk of Egypt within a short span of time.
To elaborate, the three nights Nile cruises, from Aswan to Luxor, will take you through the High Dam at Aswan, the temples of Philae, Kom Ombo Edfu and Esna and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Luxor. Besides, the cruise will also cover the famed and the legendary Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the Unfinished Obelisk.
The four nights Nile cruises, apart from the destinations covered by the three nights tours, will additionally include the temples of Luxor and Karnak. Herein you also have the option of visiting a Nubian village and the Botanical Island aboard the “falucca” (a traditional Egyptian sailing boat commonly seen on the Nile) and the Elephantine Island and the Tombs of the Nobles.
The seven nights Nile river tours have the same itinerary as the aforementioned two, but you get to do your sightseeing at an easier pace, with two nights of complete rest.
Your choice of a cruise will also include the kind of conveyance: boats or ships. You can either opt for the conventional Nile cruiser that is more along the lines of a floating hotel providing you all conceivable forms of amenities or go in for the “falucca”.
To harp more on the kind of accommodation package that the various Nile river cruises have in store for you; the Nile cruiser is basically a mammoth ship with amenities and services that will put even the Ritz-Carlton to shame. The cruiser will have on offer luxurious rooms and opulent suites with private bathrooms, air conditioning and varied entertainment options, exotic and extensive choices in terms of the cuisine offered on board and even libraries, swimming pools and stores.
For the more wild-at-heart traveler looking for a taste of how Egyptians lead their lives, a trip along the waters of the Nile atop the “falucca” is a must. Herein accommodation arrangements are basic and you will have to sleep out in the deck. But that would be a whole new way of experiencing Egypt: the sphinx might just reveal its long-held secrets to you as you glide past the sandy dunes and valleys or you might spot Ra moving across the night sky as you gaze up from the deck.
Handy Tips To Think Over Before Your Nile River Cruise
Before you book the tours and sign the check, there are certain things to be kept in mind about a Nile river cruise:
- The stretch between October and middle of April is the ideal time for a cruise on the Nile. You will not have to contend with the scorching sun and the Nile river locks will be open.
- Expect a rise of 25-50% in the usual prices of the tours during peak tourist seasons like Christmas and Easter.
- Ensure that your cruise is “all-inclusive”, that is to say, the package includes accommodation, sightseeing and also the transportation.
- Accommodation in the lower decks come cheaper than the ones on the upper deck.
The Nile cruise is an excellent way of experiencing the magic and mystery of Egypt.