Nile Cruise From Luxor to Aswan

If you are planning to spend your vacation in Egypt, maybe you don’t know where to go and what to do there to enjoy a new and unique vacation. Some people think that it’s better to stay in Cairo visiting the museums there. That’s a great opinion, but which do you think is better? To spend your vacation visiting some museums that tell you about a specific culture to spend it visiting those places in reality? 

Other people think that a vacation means relaxation, but what about having the rest you need in a quiet and calm place while seeing extraordinary places that are totally new to you? 

That’s what you can find on a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan. As you enjoy the romantic calm life in the Nile while seeing the majesty of ancient Egypt. In this article, we will tell you some tips and tricks to enjoy the best Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan.

Why is the river Nile important?

Egyptians consider the Nile as a life giver because it helps them in all life aspects. The Nile river is the main source of water for Egypt. It’s the first and only source for agriculture, and drinking.  Also, people in ancient Egypt didn’t have any ways to transport goods and expand their trades except using the Nile boats for transportations.

History of Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan

Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan origins go back to the late nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century. During the eighteenth century Dahabeya sailboats were the only way to travel across the Nile. It used to take about 50 days to reach Luxor from Cairo, and a few days to reach Aswan. That was because of using the power of wind to sail the boat. After that, Thomas cook Ltd invented the rapid streamers that used electricity instead which made a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan takes only 20 days. 

A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan Nowadays 

In modern Egypt, A nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is totally different. It became a fancy way to see the glory of the Nile with the royalty of ancient Egypt. There is more than one type of a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan. The first one is Dahabeeyah trips which became a great experience for rich travelers. The second type is Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan which take 3 or 4 days and sometimes even 7 day. The third one is Lake Nasser Nile cruises that generally take 5 days and 4 nights. 

Are 3 days enough for a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan? 

When it comes to vacation, no one can get enough of having a free and good time, and when it comes to the historical places in Egypt, no one can get enough of seeing majestic and awesome places that take him back thousands and thousands of years! But, Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan generally cover the most important sites to visit so you will feel as if you were out of the real world for some days. The most famous places you will visit during your cruise are Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, river west bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan High dam, and Philae temple. 

Are Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan worth it? 

Being surrounded by water is considered as a blessing as it helps you to relax and clear your head. Also visiting historical places and knowing more about different cultures sounds interesting. But some people think that it costs so much money that it isn’t worth it. If you are worried about paying too much time for a worthless trip, you need to continue reading the following lines! 

The other option you have instead of having a Nile cruise in Egypt will be staying at a fancy hotel on a Nile view, with visiting all the temples on your own. Which means that you have to pay a ticket for each temple, accommodation that won’t cost you less than 50 $ per day, and transportations to and from the hotel to the temples and back. Besides hiring a tour guide in each temple. All of these things will cost you much money and at the end of the day you won’t feel the Nile that near! So whether you are thinking money wise or enjoyment wise, Nile cruises always win.

What is the best time for a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan?

It’s known that the temperature in Luxor is usually higher than Cairo and other seaside cities. Thus, the best time to go on a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is from the beginning of October till the end of April. Also, Easter time is a perfect time to spend your vacation by the Nile. 

Is river Nile safe to swim in?

A lot of people think that it’s not safe to swim in the Nile while actually this is not true. Some areas on the Nile are not for swimming while there are a lot of areas you can swim in. The life guards on the Nile cruise boat will guide you to those areas and will take care of you whenever you want to swim.

Are Nile cruises from Luxor and Aswan suitable for kids?

Kids generally love to see new things and places as well as discovering everything around which make Nile cruises perfect for their vacation. They will have some quality time with their families besides enhancing their information. Learning about different cultures will help your kids build their characters as well. Also, Nile cruises always have some different activities to do other than visiting the historical places and enjoying the Nile. Those activities are enjoyable and suitable for people of all ages and cultures. Also, all cruise ships are designed with rooms that accept kids or a family of 3 members and sometimes more. You can ask your guide about the size of the room before booking.

What to see on a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan?

As mentioned above, during your Nile cruise you will visit different historical places that show you the majesty and royalty of ancient Egypt. The most important of those places are Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, river west bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan High dam, and Philae temple. In the following lines, we will tell you more about what you will see in each of them.

Karnak Temple

Karnak temple is the largest building for religious purposes ever to be constructed. It contains a large number of temples. In Karnak temple, you will see Ramses III temple, The Great Hypostyle Hall, Hatshepsut’s Standing Obelisk, the Sanctuary, the great temple of Thutmose III, the sacred lake, and temple of Khonsu. All these places are really enjoyable and must-visit sites that you will never forget.

Luxor Temple

Luxor temple is considered as a ceremonial place that gathers temples for all Egyptians pharaohs who got crowns. When you visit Luxor temple you will see the temple of Seti I, the temple of Hatshepsut, and the temple of Ramses II in addition to other temples that are really interesting and worth-visiting. 

 

River west bank

The west bank of the river Nile in Luxor contains a huge number of monuments. While visiting river west bank, you will see the valley of the kings, the breathing tomb of the king Tut Ankh-Amun, the mortuary temples of ancient Egyptian pharaohs such as queen Hatshepsut and Ramses III and many other tombs. 

Edfu

Horus temple in Edfu is the most famous historical site there. At Horus temple you will see The pylon, the courtyard, the Great Hypostyle Hall, the Inner Hypostyle Hall, and the Naos.

Kom Ombo

Kom Ombo temple is very famous for its decorations and drawings on its walls. When you visit the temple you will see a front courtyard, hypostyle hall, three inner halls, and some small rooms.

Aswan High dam

Aswan high dam is very famous while a lot of people don’t know the reasons behind this fame. The first reason is its importance in saving Egyptian lives as it is the main source of water in Egypt. Another interesting and shocking reason is that the high dam contains 18 times the amount of the materials used to build the great pyramids of Giza! The Dam is 3600 meters long, 980 meters thick at base and 111 meters tall. You won’t imagine how massive it is except after seeing it yourself. 

Philae temple

Visiting Philae temple is like a time trip that takes you back to explore the Egyptian mythology of Isis and Osiris. This journey has a lot of sites to visit. You will see the temple royalty gateway, the main courtyard, the gate of the inner temple, the inner temple, house of Isis, the Gateway of Hadrian, the temple of Hathor, and much more sightseeing places that are really worth visiting. 

Summary

A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan could be the perfect choice for your vacation in Egypt whether you are seeking relaxation or a historical trip. It’s a trip of minimum 3 days and maximum of 7 days but it’s a trip full of activities, sightseeing places, and joy! Get to know more about the Egyptian culture and see Twitter Egypt travel’s different packages for a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan.