Nile Cruise Egypt

Nile Cruise 

In Egypt 

Many asked us why did you spend 5 days almost half your stay in Egypt in a cruise on the  River Nile ?

Its because from the past Egypt existed because of Nile .

It was not only the main river it saved Egypt from becoming a desert .

If Egypt had an ancient civilsation it was on its riverbanks .

The longest river in the world starts from lake Victoria in Uganda flows through 10 countries

Burundi ,Tanzania ,Rwanda,Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya ,Uganda,Sudan ,Ethiopia South Sudan and finally through  Egypt to flow into the Mediterranean .

Egypt literally has no rainfall so its the freshwater of Nile that gave it life .

In ancient times the Nile would flood often and once waters recede the land would become fertile .

Whenever flooding fails for few years then Egypt would wither .

Transport of people and cargo was by Nile in ancient Egypt .

On East bank the houses farms cities orchards all were present while West bank was more of a bank of after life where Pharoahs built pyramids temples monuments etc .

After the British built first Aswan dam in 1906 floods stopped .

In 1965 the greater Aswan dam was built and Lake Nazer was formed in South Egypt south of Aswan in Abu Simbel .

Luxor is another city where in valley of kings more than 60 tombs were unearthed including one of king Tutankhamen which was one of the greatest finds .

Between Aswan and Luxor there were Kom Ambu the crocodile temple ,Edfu and Esna .

The cruises now sail between Aswan and Luxor stopping on way at important sites .

So by travelling in a cruise you are visiting important monuments memorials temples etc of Egypt .

Egypt is often known for its pyramids which are truly legendary but the country is riddled with the past all over .

We traveled from Cairo to Aswan overnight around 14 hrs by train and checked into cruise in Aswan .

Hapi was name of our cruise .

It was nothing to being Happy but on HAPPI the Nile God of fertility of floods etc .

We checked into a very luxurious stately big room with a huge window which could give us uniterrupted view of river Nile and its banks .

It had all facilities like a 5 star hotel .

Unlimited Food was free in dining room but one needed to pay in bar or for even soft drinks or water .

But one could buy water and soft drinks from outside when berthed and we went to see monuments .

Our guide Hamdi too travelled in cruise 

He had 6 of us under him .

There were other guides too and they had same food and they stayed in cruise too .

As we were berthed in Aswan we went to Philae an island temple that afternoon 

Next day at dawn to Abu simbel 300 km from Aswan amd returned late evening only .

The cruise moved off from Aswan in the night on that second night .

Next day morning it stopped at Edfu 

Later at Esna 

Both places we got out .

Hamdi took us to the famous temple in Edfu

We went to Kom ombo the crocodile temple too .

We reached Luxor on day 4 .

Stayed in cruise one more day .

Went for hot air baloon ride in dawn

Later we checked out next day and went to valley of kings and queens and for a Feluca ride 

We then reached Luxor railway station taking the overnight luxury train to Cairo  .

Food was nice with variety 

Evening tea with pastries was good too

Swimming pool in deck was bit chilly with powerful winds or even if sunny still cold .

Evenings we had music and dances too .

So Nile cruise was unforgetable .