If you are interested in the question of how to fully and interestingly spend time in Egypt, then you should definitely choose a Nile cruise from Cairo or Luxor. Thus, you can not only have fun, but also get acquainted with the ancient history of this country. Now beautiful yachts are constantly cruising along the longest river, which provide all the amenities for tourists, so such a trip will definitely become one of the brightest moments of relaxation. This article will talk about how you can independently organize a cruise on the Nile to see all the most interesting sights of Egypt.
A bit about Egypt
Now we’ll talk directly about the place where the Nile River is located, namely Egypt. It is worth understanding that people come here not so much for beautiful landscapes, but to get acquainted with the ancient history of this state. The history of this former empire, the true cradle of civilization, has more than five thousand years. Only here one of the seven wonders of the world remains - the pyramids in Giza, which annually attract hundreds of thousands of tourists. Almost the whole country now relies specifically on the tourism business, since the hot climate and warm waters of the Red Sea attract travelers to relax on the beaches. But the longest river in Africa really attracts special attention . That is why Nile cruises are one of the easiest and most convenient ways to have fun in this country, which is almost entirely desert.
Best season
The area of the country where the Nile River is located is more than 95% desert, and therefore you should prepare for the weather to be incredibly hot. During the day, often the temperature will reach 40 degrees. In this regard, it is important to consider when exactly the Nile cruise will be most convenient.
By default, the peak season for tourists in Egypt runs from December to February, so it makes no sense to go sailing during this period, since there will be a huge crowd of tourists on them, and you will not especially enjoy relaxing on clogged vehicles. That is why October and November will be the most convenient option. During this period there is still no such scorching sun, and yacht cruising is already more or less stable. The only negative can be that at this time the water level in the river is quite low, and therefore the yacht can be difficult to move around.
Travel to Egypt
Of course, if you really really want to enjoy the beauties of the river, then you will initially have to take a vacation and take the Moscow-Cairo plane. This city, which is located in the northern part of the country, is the capital of the state of Egypt. In addition, the Nile Delta is located here, so Cairo is the best starting point for a new adventure. By default, most planes really land at Cairo's international airport, so it is the busiest in the country.
Cruise through a travel agency
When you landed at the airport in Cairo, the most convenient option for further travel will be the acquisition of a tour. Thus, the full package will provide the service not only of the cruise and excursions, but also a transfer from the hotel and back. Now such travel packages can easily be bought at any travel agency or even in a hotel in large cities - Hurghada, Cairo or Shari el-Sheikh. Yes, indeed, this way of traveling will be more expensive, but then you don’t have to worry about anything.
Self organization
Those who do not want to contact travel agencies can independently organize an adventure for themselves. For them, the cruise, after they arrive by plane from Moscow to Cairo, begins precisely from the capital. Since the cruise itself starts in either Luxor or Aswan, the best option is to travel from Cairo to Luxor by bus, which constantly runs here. They are very comfortable, so there will be no inconvenience. In addition to buses, trains also run, which is why travelers often choose a night train, which in the morning will take you to the right place for less than $ 50. You can see only those attractions that are interesting, and not all that are included in the travel package. And excursions and tickets to ancient places can be bought right on the spot. The only negative is that you have to carefully monitor what time the ship leaves, since no one will wait for the latecomers.
Direction
Nile cruises are always carried out in only one direction, that is, from Luxor to Aswan or vice versa. However, experienced travelers are advised to choose Luxor as the starting point, since it is closest to all other resort cities and so you can significantly reduce the trip. Such a cruise lasts for 4 days - this time is completely enough to explore all the interesting sights without much haste.
Fun on a yacht
For those who want to not only immerse themselves in the history of the country, which is told during the cruise from Luxor to Aswan, but also have a good fun, it is worth choosing a yacht as a means of transportation. Now they are distinguished by increased comfort, and their enormous size made it possible to call them real "floating hotels." In them you can find not only the deck and cabins, but also fitness rooms, restaurants, shops. The rooms are also very comfortable, with air conditioning, a TV and even a shower, so besides the fact that the rest takes place on the water, they can not be distinguished from those hotels that are located on the ground. In addition, during the cruise on the Nile, three meals a day are always offered during the day, but you will have to pay for drinks yourself.
Felucca Rest
Those who, on the contrary, want to enjoy peace and quiet during a cruise on the Nile from Luxor, should choose a traditional sailing boat, which is called Felyuk. It will not offer a variety of entertainment, but they can fully relax to the sound of water. True, you’ll have to sleep in the open air, but you can enjoy the magnificent sunset. On such boats you can take a full trip or rent it for just a few hours as you wish.
Sample route
Despite the fact that there are a huge number of river tours offered, most of them are built on the same route, so the sights do not differ much. Among them, the mandatory stopping places will be:
- Luxor. It is not only the starting point of the trip, but also one of the most ancient cities in the world. Now it has become in many ways a solid museum located in the open. You should definitely visit the famous City of the Dead at least once in your life, in which the Valley of the Kings is located, where an incredible number of burials were found - 42 tombs of the pharaohs. In addition, the Sphinx Alley, which stretches for a couple of kilometers, attracts attention.
- Edfa also has great mythological meaning. In this city, according to legend, two gods fought - Chorus and Seth. The choir won this battle, but lost one of its eyes. This legend in many ways provides an understanding of the power itself, which has existed for thousands of years in Egypt, namely the personification of the pharaohs in deities. The ancient Egyptians believed that the first ruler was the god Osiris, who was then killed by Seth, who desired the throne for himself. His wife Isis later was able to revive her husband, and after she bore him a son - Horus. In this battle, a young deity was able to avenge his father, becoming a full-fledged heir. The pharaohs considered themselves the personification of this particular deity, so one of the most beautiful temples dedicated to him was built here.
- Kom Ombo is located in the northern part of the river and is dedicated to two gods, Horus and Sebek. Here is their temple, which personifies their greatness.
- Aswan is the final destination of travel. Here you must definitely look at one of the largest dams in the world, which reaches more than a hundred meters in height. By the way, the USSR took an active part in its construction, so that in the local pavilion it will be possible to admire the numerous photographs and plans written in Russian. The construction of this dam led to the formation of the artificial lake Nasser, which is so huge that it is often called the inland sea. In addition, there are ancient temples and the Aswan Bazaar, where you can buy national clothes and real aromatic spices.
In addition, you can also visit the majestic Abu Simbel Temple, as well as Filet Island and Nubian Village. Particular attention should be paid to Abu Simbel, especially if there is interest in ancient history. An interesting philosophical thought has been written on its walls for thousands of years now, which reads: "When a person knows that he is moving the stars, the Sphinx will laugh and life on earth will stop."
Reviews
According to reviews, the Nile cruise is one of the most interesting and informative for those who want to immerse themselves in the history of such an ancient country. True, they also advise to prepare for a number of inconveniences. First of all, the fact that the heat will be very strong, and the sun will mercilessly burn, and at night, on the contrary, it can be quite cold. In addition, Egyptian carriers are not particularly punctual, so you often have to wait for departure at points.
But in general, with this method of travel you will have to get used to the fact that the tour program will be very eventful. In no case should you leave the group, because there is the possibility of being late or even getting lost. The cruise will be quite tiring - you will need to walk for a long time in the sun and get up very early, so for travelers with young children and elderly people this vacation will not be the most convenient. But then you can get acquainted with a number of the most interesting sights of the country so quickly.