River Nile Cruise

While it’s not suggested you eat up your entire vacation budget while on some ritzy cruise, where you would see more of a ship than Egypt, many have found Nile river cruises worth the price and time. Nile cruises usually last three, four or seven nights, with the shorter trips operating between Luxor and Aswan. Longer cruises may travel up to Dendera, though it’s best to save some time to travel on land so that you can also soak up the culture found in many of the towns and cities that dot Egypt. And, if you’re looking to score points with the kids, try a short day-trip on a felucca, a traditional Nile sailboat.

The Egyptian government contends that “there is no better way to trace the course of Egyptian history than to follow the course of the Nile.” Indeed. The river has served as Egypt’s lifeline for thousands of years, irrigating land along its bank and inviting pharaohs and nobles to build magnificent monuments in its vicinity. Without advertising a specific company or tour operator, its best to ask your hotel concierge or travel agent to organize a short trip for you. Prices, of course, will vary—as will the length of the cruise. But build a schedule that offers a few hours, if not a few days, on the river Nile.