Nile river cruises are one of the best ways & safest way to explore the rich history of ancient Egypt. Typically your Nile river cruise will begin in Luxor and end in Aswan. The approximately 120-mile stretch between these two Nile cities (about 400 miles south of Cairo) is home to an an amazing amount of pharaonic riches, from the legendary Valley of the Kings, where Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered in 1922, to the temples of Luxor, Kom Ombo and Philae, to name just a few. The modern city of Luxor was built on the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes and its famous ruins that lie on both sides of the Nile.
Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its cultural and historical significance. The east bank of the Nile near Luxor is home to some of Egypt’s most famous temple complexes, while the western bank is where the ancient royal necropolis sits.
Nile River Cruises 2020
Nile river cruises vary from 3 to 10 days. Since flights are in and out of Cairo, many tour and cruise companies will add a few nights there either at the beginning or end of the trip. Prices can vary quite a bit depending on the length of the trip, the type of cabin you choose and the hotels offered as well.
Some popular options include Elegance of Egypt. On this 7 day trip you have 3 nights in Cairo and a 3 night Nile river cruise visiting Luxor, the Valley of King, Edfu & Kom-Ombo. A popular budget option, with prices starting at $1,599 is the Egyptian Escape with Nile Cruise. On this trip however, you have to purchase sightseeing separately vs. it being included in the price like other companies do. We suggesting browsing out full selection of Egypt tour packages and Nile river cruises, and then speaking to a travel specialist who has visited the region to help you select the best option.
Here are some of the sites you can expect to see cruising along the Nile.
Temple of Hathor
The Temple of Hathor is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. It the most significant building of the Dendera Temple Complex, with evidence that some of the temples date back as far as 2500 BCE. The Temple of Hathor displays influence from Egyptian, Greek and Roman rulers over the millenia, and features a grand entrance with intricate carvings, hieroglyphs, and elaborately decorated ceilings. The site consists of three temples: the birthing temple, the temple of Isis, and the main temple dedicated to Hathor, the goddess of love.
The Colossi of Memnon
The Colossi of Memnon consists of two massive statues depicting Amenhotep III on his throne looking east toward the Nile. The over-60 foot high statues once guarded the mortuary complex that formerly stood behind them. Due to earthquakes, floods, and the practice of reusing materials for new construction, little remains aside from the two Colossi of Memnon.
The Temple of Luxor
One of the most famous and best-preserved ancient monuments you will see on a Nile River cruise is the massive Temple of Luxor. Construction of the temple began c. 1400 BCE under the rule of Amenhotep III and completed by later rulers Tutankhamun and Horemheb during the New Kingdom era. Later on, Ramesses II also added to the temple and there is a shrine dedicated to Alexander the Great who ruled as Pharaoh of Egypt from 332–323 BCE.
Several significant buildings that comprise the Luxor Temple. The Court of Rameses II features 74 papyrus columns, and the Colonnade of Amenhotep III has seven pairs of open-flower papyrus columns with reliefs on the walls with the names of rulers including Tutankhamun, Horemheb, Ramesses II, Seti I and Seti II.
The Pylon of Ramesses II features two towers with a relief depicting Ramesses in battle. Two Obelisks once stood at the gateway, but only one remains today – the other obelisk is on display in Paris. Lastly, an avenue of nearly 1,000 sphinx statues known as the Avenue of Sphinxes lines the path from the Temple of Luxor to the Temple of Karnak.
The Valley of Kings
While rulers of the Old Kingdom period in Egypt built pyramids to house their elaborate tombs, pharaohs of the New Kingdom constructed elaborate underground mausoleums in the hills of Upper Egypt, located in the south near modern-day Luxor.
The Valley of the Kings was the royal burial ground for over 60 pharaohs and nobles constructed between the 16th and 11th centuries BCE. Today, you can explore 18 of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings that remain open to the public. Highlights include the tomb of Tutankhamun, whose mummy is encased in a gilded sarcophagus, as well as the tomb of Ramesses VI, one of the largest and most elaborately detailed tombs in the Valley of the Kings which depicts the Ancient Egyptian netherworld Book of Caverns.
Hatshepsut Temple
One of ancient Egypt’s first female pharaohs, Hatshepsut’s reign lasted more than two decades. Hatshepsut constructed her vast mortuary temple next to the Temple of Mentuhotep II to reinforce her position among other pharaohs. The strikingly beautiful temple lies beneath the cliffs at Deir el-Bahar and features three levels with courtyards and colonnades with vibrant reliefs, paintings, and statuary.
Browsing our Egypt Tour packages and Egypt river cruises along the Nile.
