NILE RIVER CRUISE

Starting from Luxor and the main tourist sites of ancient Thebes, a Nile cruise is an excellent way to explore southern Egypt.

It allows travelers to visit key destinations along the navigable Nile, including Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan.

From an aerial view, it becomes clear that the Nile is a vital artery, nourishing Egypt's vast desert regions along its course.

Stretching 4,132 miles (6,650 kilometers), the Nile is considered one of the longest rivers in the world.

Nile cruise ships offer the comfort of a 4- or 5-star hotel with an "all-inclusive" package, and as mentioned, they allow travelers to visit major sites along the riverbanks during stops.

These ships can accommodate over 100 passengers and often feature a pool as well as relaxation areas on the deck.

So, whether you're relaxing on a lounge chair, in the pool, or from your cabin, you can admire...

...the beauty of the landscapes unfolding like a movie before your eyes.

About 18 miles (30 kilometers) from Luxor, here is the east bank, dominated by the high plateaus of Gebel el-Nezzi.

From these mountains, a few rare tributaries of the Nile flow peacefully.

As the boat glides along the Nile, life comes alive in the villages lining its banks.

From the deck, you can observe fishing villages where locals go about their daily activities, offering a unique glimpse into their way of life.

In these villages, many houses are still traditionally built with sun-dried mud bricks.

Images unfold along the Nile, like those of women washing their laundry on the riverbanks.

While the boat made a stop, this Egyptian man, standing on the Nile's bank, caught my attention!

He remained still, like petrified, statue-like, for a good fifteen minutes.

Then the ship resumes its journey, gently gliding along the shores amidst a landscape of agricultural fields.

Key stop: passing through the Esna lock.

Tourist ships sometimes have to wait their turn here for several hours.

This creates a highly anticipated opportunity for local merchants!

These vendors take bold risks: showcasing their products (often shawls) from small boats, negotiating, and even "throwing" their goods onto the deck, ready to swim and retrieve them if necessary!

Further south, near Aswan, the west bank of the Nile is lined with fine sand dunes.

This is the region of Nubian villages, with their characteristic blue houses.

As evening falls, the boat gently glides through this majestic landscape, where palm trees are bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun.

It is hard not to shiver while witnessing the breathtaking beauty of the sunset over the Nile.

Personally, I loved those moments at sunset, when the night gently enveloped the boats gliding on the Nile in a captivating atmosphere.

All photos of the Nile River Cruise © 2002 and 2010 by Richard Soberka