A Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor is the perfect way to complete your Egypt vacation. This has been the most important part of an Egypt vacation since the Victorian era. When you take a Nile cruise, you can feel the idyllic and romantic atmosphere of ancient Egypt. Today we will take you to discover this Nile River cruise and all you need to know on your journey.
How did the Nile cruises start?
The history of the Nile cruise dates back to the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, when the Nile cruise was created as the centerpiece of a journey through Egypt. Before that, the only way to explore the Nile was on a dahabiya, a large cross-sail houseboat that took up to 50 days to travel from Cairo to Luxor and then full days to explore Luxor and Aswan. In 1870 A.D. that all changed when a thriving tour company called Thomas Cook Ltd. introduced a new technology called the fast steamer.
History of Egypt Nile River Cruise
This sped up time by two-thirds or half and made possible a new invention, the Nile cruise, which no longer depended on the wind, a force that made the journey from Cairo to Aswan take 20 days and from Luxor to Aswan a week. The Dahabiyas were reserved for leisure travelers and wealthy travelers. The company also standardized itineraries and fit a wide range of Nile routes and shed someone hidden gems such as Thebes, Philae, Abydos, and the great Abu Simbel.
Luxor
The Egyptian city of Luxor has been considered a tourist Mecca since steamboats began plying the Nile in the 19th century, inviting visitors to the ruins of Thebes, the Egyptian capital of the New Kingdom, and its adjacent monuments. The concentration of sights in the region is overwhelming. In the city itself is the Luxor Temple – an elegant decoration of the promenade and business district – and about a mile to the north is the Temple of Karnak, a huge complex that has been under construction for more than 1300 years. On the opposite side of the river are the impressive tombs and funerary temples of the necropolis of Thebes. That’s enough, but Luxor also serves as a starting point for excursions to the temples of Isna, Idfu, Dendera and Abydos, located upstream and downstream of the Nile.
Aswan
Aswan is a city in southern Egypt. It is located on the Nile River and is the strategic and commercial gateway of southern Egypt. There is so much to see and do in Aswan – with villages, gardens, markets and more, as well as the nearby Aswan Dam, you will have a lot of fun if you decide to visit Aswan as part of your trip to Egypt.
Aswan has its own airport. It is the Aswan International Airport, which is also known as Daraw Airport and is located 16 km away from the city. It is classified as a “small international airport”. Flights from Europe usually go via Cairo and then on to Aswan itself.
