Discover Egypt’s historic waterway in all its grandeur with a cruise along the world-famous Nile River.
Adrian M. Lindley
I’ve been fortunate to visit many countries around the world, but I was as awestruck as the most inexperienced tourist when I recently stepped onboard the Tuya, the boat that would take me on a three-night cruise on the Nile River. Over the next few days, I would get the chance to see many of the most famous landmarks of ancient Egypt, from the temples of Luxor to the Valley of the Kings. My highway would be the Nile, that legendary waterway celebrated in myth and story.
As I boarded the vessel on my Egypt vacation, I couldn’t help but think that I was entering a movie (though with apologies to Agatha Christie, I sincerely hoped it wouldn’t include a murder). My time on board the Tuya didn’t disappoint. There’s a good reason why travelers have been cruising the Nile for many centuries—it’s the best way to tour the fertile valley that contains the monuments of one of the world’s greatest civilizations.
Nearly 300 boats ply the waters between Luxor and Aswan in the south of Egypt. Most visitors take a short airplane flight from Cairo to either city and then board a boat docked on the Nile. Vessels typically feature anywhere from 40 to 120 cabins and offer Nile cruises lasting for three or four nights, depending on whether they’re traveling up or downriver.
Lori Erickson
After the intense urban bustle of Cairo, the cruise boats offer a calm and peaceful way to see the scenery of rural Egypt. Watching from the shaded sundeck that tops most boats, passengers can see scenes that at times seem many centuries old. Men in long robes wearing turbans lead donkeys along dusty footpaths, while fishermen travel on the Nile in feluccas powered by triangle-shaped sails.
It’s easy to see why the Nile has always been considered the lifeblood of Egypt, for without its waters the surrounding land is a vast desert. Only a narrow strip of vivid green lines the river’s banks, while endless sand and rocks stretch into the distance just beyond.
The best time to cruise the Nile is December to February, but the shoulder seasons from March to April and October to November can also be very pleasant. While prices are lowest during the summer, the hot weather can be oppressive. Prices typically range from $80 to $120 per person or more, per night, depending on the season and vessel.
For information on planning a trip to Egypt, see www.egypt.travel or call the Egyptian Tourist Authority in New York at 212-332-2570.
Boats offer a variety of onboard entertainment that ranges from talks by Egyptologists to belly-dancing performances. Many boats, all of which are air-conditioned, have swimming pools that provide a refreshing place to relax in the heat of the day. As night falls over the river, soft breezes bring a welcome coolness as the desert sky begins to sparkle with stars.
Comments
1 Comments on this article | read all commentsby viky on October 28, 2009
Nice post on Nile cruises. I am already planning to go on Nile cruise to Egypt. I am very much excited to go on board.