Nile Cruises

A journey through time: All you want to know about “Nile River Cruise.”

The “Nile Cruise” trips are a unique travel icon in Egypt, an unparalleled experience of sailing in the heart of history on the eternal Nile River. It is more than just a river trip. It is like a super floating hotel with comfortable accommodation that takes you on a journey through time to explore the treasures of ancient Egyptian civilization on both banks of the Nile between the cities of Luxor and the magician of Aswan.

What is the Nile Cruise?

The River Nile Ship is a floating hotel experience that travels between the famous tourist Egyptian cities of Luxor and Aswan along the magical Nile River. The Nile Cruise Journey offers a cozy and seamless starting point for your whole journey to Egypt. It provides expanded services to satisfy all of your requirements while visiting southern Egypt. In contrast to the hotels in Luxor and Aswan, where you change for each site.
The Nile River boat is enormous and ranges between 30 and 60 cabins, designed to host 120 guests during one trip, and all meals are provided during the day. Additionally, it possesses all the amenities typically found in hotels. These cruises are usually held on board specially designed ships, ranging from comfortable regular boats to five-star luxury ships and even Nile Cruise Economy. The duration of the trip usually varies between 3 and 4 nights, while providing travel tracks in both directions (from Luxor to Aswan or from Aswan to Luxor).

What is the history of Nile cruises in Egypt?

The “Nile Cruise” trips were not the result of the modern era but rather an extension of a long history of travel and exploration along the Nile, which has always been the lifeline and the focus of interest in Egypt. Here is a glimpse of the development of these trips through time:

Early beginnings in the nineteenth century:
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Nile Travel began to take an organized form. Traditional sailing boats were the main means of transporting tourists and first explorers from Cairo to the cities of Upper Egypt (to Luxor and Aswan), rich in antiquities. At that time, the Egyptian government provided facilities to support these trips, including providing security and care for passengers.

The turning point: Thomas Cook and the organization of Nile tourist trips.
British businessman Thomas Cook is the spiritual father of modern organized tourism in the world and has played an essential role in converting Nile cruises in Egypt into a luxury tourist product available for a broader segment of people.
In 1872, Thomas Cook started organizing regular tourism trips in Egypt. These trips were not limited to just transportation but rather were an integrated experience that included residency and visits to organize archaeological monuments.
Building ships: Cook introduced the use of steamships, which were quicker, more comfortable, and safer than sailing boats, which caused a revolution in traveling through the Nile.
The Steamboat “Sudan”: One of the most famous ships built by Thomas Cook, which is still sailing on the Nile River today, is the historical ship “Sudan Nile Ship” that was built in 1885. It gained global fame after the writer Agatha Christie was inspired by her famous novel “Crime on the Banks of the Nile.”

The twentieth century: a golden age for Nile trips.
In the first half of the twentieth century, the Nile trips became synonymous with luxury and sophistication and attracted the wealthy, celebrities, kings, and princes from all over the world. These trips were the most prominent tourist product in Egypt, where the “Dreams Journey” was for every tourist visiting the country.

Modern development for Nile Cruise trips.
Over time, Nile River ships have evolved into comfortable “floating hotels” that include all modern amenities, such as swimming pools, large restaurants, and entertainment programs, while maintaining their classic character that allows visitors to enjoy the beauty of the picturesque Nile and watch daily life on its banks.
Today, the Nile Cruise trips continue to be one of the most wonderful tourist experiences in the world, as it combines the pleasure of sailing on a legendary river and the greatness of exploring one of the oldest civilizations in history.

What is the nature of the Nile Cruise?

The Nile cruises are one of the most wonderful tourism experiences that can be done in Egypt, as they are not just a means of transition between two cities, and the nature of Nile cruises is not limited to archaeological visits only. Life on the boat is an integral part of the experience. Travelers can relax on the surface of the board and watch the daily rural life on the banks of the Nile or enjoy evening parties that include shows of oriental and skirt dance, as well as the famous “Galabiya party” in which guests wear traditional costumes.

Where are the Nile cruise trips in Egypt?

Nile River cruises are the main popular Travel destination in Egypt; it is an experience that reflects the life of the Nile and takes different forms according to its location on the map, and because Egypt is characterized by the length of the waterway for the Nile River, the Nile trips are available in many places in Egypt.

1. Between Luxor and Aswan.
   If you are looking for the classic image of a Nile cruise, those that decorate the covers of tourist magazines and tell the stories of the Pharaohs, your destination is undoubtedly southern Egypt. Here, in the golden distance linking the cities of Luxor and Aswan, lies the largest and most famous fleet of Nile ships.
   Along the Nile Corniche in Luxor, and in front of the extended beacons in Aswan, dozens of these floating hotels are lined up, from the huge luxurious ships to the most intimate and romantic sailing. This is where most of the trips that take 3, 4, or 7 nights begin and is truly considered the main artery of Nile tourism in the world.
2. Lake Nasser.
   For a traveler looking for a deeper and quieter experience, there is another extension of this trip in the south. Here, the cruise does not sail on the Nile but on Lake Nasser, the vast industrial lake that formed behind the High Dam.
   The ships of Lake Nasser start from Aswan on a unique journey towards the legendary Abu Simbel temples. This experience is radically different. The banks are not green villages but rather a vast desert beach under a clear sky, which gives a sense of isolation and prestigious tranquility. The ships here are less numerous, and the journey is more contemplative.
   The temples you visit here are those that UNESCO saved from drowning after the construction of the dam, which adds to your journey a contemporary human and historical dimension. You will see forgotten treasures such as the temples intentionally, Al-Nakkah, Wadi Al-Saboua, and the castle of the IBRIM Palace, which stands alone on an island, before reaching an unforgettable scene for the interface of Abu Simbel’s sculpted temples in the rock. This is a Nile trip for lovers of calm and deep history.
3. Nile Cairo.
   A Nile cruise in Cairo today is a different, fast, and intense experience. It is not a stay for days but an “evening trip” for a few hours. On the Nile Corniche in areas such as Maadi and Old Cairo, you find fixed or sailing boats that offer luxury and dinner trips.
   Here, the goal is not to visit the temples but to enjoy the bright Cairo panorama at night from the heart of the river. There is a delicious dinner buffet with live music, and you can see the skirt and Egyptian folklore dance shows. It is a festive entertainment experience that provides you with a modern and vibrant face. But if you find a show by “Nile Cruise from Cairo to Luxor,” this often means that the offer includes the transition from Cairo by air to start the actual sailing from Luxor.