Nile River Cruise - 2

Shore Excursions: Egypt’s Ancient Monuments

As enticing as the boat amenities are, the shore tours of Egypt attractions offered each day are not to be missed.

Luxor—built on the site of the ancient capital of Thebes—boasts the richest array of archeological sites in Egypt. In the city itself, the temples of Luxor and Karnak exude ruined grandeur, their interiors lined with massive statues, elaborately ornamented walls and towering pillars designed to showcase the power of the pharaoh. Outside their walls, bustling bazaars and traditional artisans showcase their wares.

In addition to mass-produced souvenirs, tourists can shop for traditional Egyptian handcrafts such as essential oils, papyrus paintings and alabaster carvings.

 

• Worship the goddess Isis at the Temple of Philae on your Nile cruise.

Lori Erickson

More treasures await in a barren valley that lies on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor. Here, the Valley of the Kings served as the final resting place for the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, which lasted from 1540 to 1070 B.C. Dozens of royal tombs line the steep sides of this desolate valley, including that of King Tutankhamun, which was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922. Even the tombs that were raided by grave robbers are still magnificent, their interiors lined with colorful paintings and hieroglyphs.

Just outside the Valley of the Kings stands another stunning Egyptian monument, the Temple of Hatshepsut. Carved out of a sheer cliff face, it testifies to the power and influence of one of only a very few female pharaohs in Egyptian history.

 

• Luxor, once known as Thebes, is a perfect place to visit on a Nile Cruise, thanks to its rich collection of archeological sites.

Lori Erickson

Heading upriver, the cruise boats visit a number of other important archeological sites and temples. Among the most impressive is the Temple of Kom Ombo (dedicated to the crocodile-headed god Sobek) and Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. 

At Aswan, passengers can make a fitting end to their trip by paying respects at the exquisite Temple of Philae, where the goddess Isis was worshipped for thousands of years. Located on an island in the middle of the Nile, the site’s ruins provide an evocative spot to imagine life here thousands of years ago. Watching the waters of the Nile flow past, it’s as easy now as it was then to fall under the spell of this most famous of rivers.