Cruise the Nile to Discover Ancient History

You'll be in the company of ancient royalty, vagabonds and tradesmen when you elect one of the Nile cruises. The watery highway slides by scenes rural and pastoral as well as those of antiquity. The weight of the years won't crush you down for you will be journeying on the most modern of the cruise counterparts of the pharoah's barques.

The Nile was the heart's blood of the Egyptian civilization. Its yearly floods nurtured and enriched the lands around them, making them farmable and able to support a large population. The river allowed trade and commerce along its length replacing roads as the primary method of transportation for the ancient Egyptians.

Today, you can take a cruises along the same channels that served the creators of the Pyramids, experiencing the millennia-old history and culture in the most appropriate of settings.

Because of the reliance on the Nile for transportation, many of the most amazing sights in Egypt experienced on excursions taken from your cruise ship. Some common stops while on the Nile cruise include:

* The Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens

* Temples honoring Horus, Osirus, Isis, and other gods

* The Museum of Antiquities, where Tutankhamen's treasures are displayed * The Esna Locks and the High Dam

* Cultural activities like belly dancer demonstrations and lessons, felucca rides, and botanical gardens

* Optional excursions including swimming and sunbathing, light and sound shows in ancient temples, plane, helicopter, and hot air balloon tours, and much more.

The most popular Nile cruises start in the city of Luxor, known for its sprawling open-air artwork and its huge temple in the middle of the town. You then journey up the river ending your voyage in Aswan, one of the most beautiful and relaxing towns on the Nile, known for its bustling market. Many choose to see the modern marvel, the Aswan Dam, which controls the flooding experienced down the Nile for eons. Additional tours can be added on for either before or after your cruise, giving you the chance to see the Pyramids at Giza, the city of Cairo, and other attractions.

The cruise ships make floating on the Nile a glamorous and enchanting experience. Most offer cabin rooms with panoramic views, full board and an array of Egyptian specialties like Moussaka Cauliflower or Pumpkin Pudding for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The river cruise up the Nile would not be as enriching without the Egyptologists who identify the sights and relate the history of the areas you pass.

Entertainment on board can include native belly dancers, Nubian music, and Egyptian costume evenings. It's a total immersion, tourist-style, into the far past. For hundreds of years, most people journeying on the Nile used feluccas, traditional Egyptian sailboats. Egypt's southerly winds are perfect for pushing boats upriver, and feluccas are still commonly seen aboard the Nile. Many cruise lines offer felucca trips as a side excursion as part of their Nile tours.

The cruise ships themselves include a wide range of configurations, from large party boats to private yachts. You won't see the enormous mega-ships while on the Nile, due to the depth of the water. Your trip will be a less crowded, a more personalized experience of Eqypt, modern and ancient. ...