Luxury River Cruises in Egypt and the Middle East

The majestic River Nile, considered by many toancient monuments in the world. From the
be the lifeblood of Egypt and the Middle East,magnificent temples of Karnak to the Valley of
offers the ultimate in luxury river cruising.the Kings on the river's West Bank, Luxor is the
Temples, sacred valleys and amphitheatresjewel of any journey.
abound on a cruise between riverside destinations.One of the first stops in the city must be the
Few places on earth continue to captivate fromTemple of Luxor - built by Amenophis III.
one century to the next.The Temple of Luxor is a large Ancient Egyptian
All luxury river cruises in this region feature Cairotemple complex located on the east bank of the
as a top sightseeing destination. Cairo is the capitalNile. The temple begins with the 24 metre high
and largest city of Egypt and aptly translates toFirst Pylon, built by Ramses II. The main entrance
"the triumphant."to the temple complex was originally flanked by
Cairo is located on the banks and islands of thesix colossal statues of Ramses - four standing,
Nile River in the north of Egypt.and two seated - but only two have survived.
Cairo is a fascinating juxtaposition of ancient andJust outside of Luxor lies another spectacular
modern architecture, citing such monuments asdestination for sightseeing. The Valley of the Kings
the Pyramids, the Hanging Church, the Sphinx, andis a valley where, for a period of nearly 500
Heliopolis as its own. The oldest part of the city isyears, tombs were constructed for the kings and
east of the river.nobles of the New Kingdom. The valley stands on
The Egyptian pyramids are essential viewing whenthe west bank of the Nile, within the heart of the
in Cairo. There are over 100 pyramids in Egypt.Necropolis. The area has been a focus of
The best known Egyptian pyramids are thoseconcentrated archaeological exploration since the
found at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo. Theeighteenth century. In 1979, it became a World
Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest pyramidHeritage Site.
and the only one of the Seven Wonders of theOutside Egypt, you may also want to explore
Ancient World still in existence.Dubai by water. Dubai is a modern metropolis
No luxury river cruise is complete without a visitsituated on the Persian Gulf coast of the United
to the city of Edfu - situated on the west bankArab Emirates. Dubai Creek is a large body of
of the Nile River. Edfu is the site of the Ptolemaicwater (suitable for large ships to enter) running
Temple of Horus and an ancient settlement, Tellnortheast-southwest through the city, making for
Edfu. Of all the temple remains in Egypt, thean ideal destination for river cruises.
Temple of Horus is the best preserved.A Dubai river cruise offers stunning views of the
Esna is a city that is situated on the west bank ofcity. Tour Dubai and the Arabian Gulf and witness
the River Nile, 55 kilometres south of Luxor. Thisthe beauty of Dubai in all its present and former
city was built in the area of ancient Latopolis andglory. Points of interest along the way include: the
is the site of a major temple dedicated to theNational Bank of Dubai, the Heritage Village and
god Khnum. Ancient texts mention that it wasSheikh Saeed's house.
built on the site of a temple that may have beenDubai is known internationally as a premier tourist
constructed as early as the reign of Tuthmosis III.destination. Dubai offers an endless array of
Aswan is the ancient city of Swenet, which inunique opportunities for things to see and do.
antiquity was the frontier town of Ancient Egypt.Highlights include: desert safaris, dune driving;
It stands on the east bank of the Nile and is asand-skiing; moonlit Arabian desert barbecues,
busy market and tourist centre and one of thecamel racing, horse racing, falconry, and exploring
driest inhabited places in the world. The stonethe old city markets.
quarries of ancient Egypt were located at Aswan,Sightseeing opportunities include: traditional
due to its abundance of Syenite, a granitic rock.architecture; ancient mosques, magnificent
One of the highlights of an Egyptian river cruise ispalaces, dusty Bedouin villages, lush oases, and
a stop at Luxor. Translating to 'the palaces', Luxorbeautiful sunsets.
is home to the most awe-inspiring collection of