Nile Cruise

Hacer un crucero por el Nilo es la mejor manera de conocer muchos de los templos más importantes que la antigua civilización egipcia erigió a sus orillas. Vivirás una experiencia impactante e inolvidable cuando en plena navegación veas desde la motonave las estatuas gigantescas de los dioses, las columnas milenarias y todas esas joyas que te transportarán automáticamente a la vida de hace miles de años.

A cruise on the Nile is an economical option to do this type of trip and with this modality, for prices that you will not be able to find in other areas, such as the Caribbean. Many people hear “cruise” and automatically associate it with a luxurious and very expensive trip. In this article we will show you that the Nile cruise does not fall within what is generally considered an expensive trip.

Itineraries and options
Cruises on the Nile are made following the course of the river from north to south and vice versa, that is, they can be done in one direction or the other. The most common option is from Luxor to Aswan, that is, from north to south, especially since the journey from Cairo to Luxor is closer than from Cairo to Aswan. But there are direct flights and trains in both options, so you will find trips available from the capital to take the Nile cruise in the direction you prefer.

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The stops that are usually made on the Nile cruise are always the same, with few exceptions. The difference is that from Aswan to Luxor they usually last one day less than from Luxor to Aswan, which means that in the first case some visits are more concentrated. But with any travel agency or tour operator that you hire, it includes the following monuments, cities and points of interest:

• karnak temple
• Luxor Temple
• King’s Valley
• hatshepsut temple
• edfu temple
• Kom Ombo Temple
• Philae Temple

The Abu Simbel temples are usually paid separately and you can book this excursion on the same cruise or book it in advance. The second option is more recommended, since you make sure there is room and, depending on the case, it may be cheaper. And there is no option for you not to do it: if you have visited all those beauties sailing down the Nile, the grand finale is, without a doubt, the imposing Abu Simbel.

There are other optional excursions that are not usually included in the cruise pack and that, in case you have time and feel like doing them, can be very interesting:

Crocodile Museum in Kon Ombo
Visit to the Aswan High Dam
Valley of the Queens in Luxor
Visit to the Nubian Village in Aswan

What are motorboat cruises like?
The motor ships are small boats and fully prepared to navigate the Nile. The vast majority have three to four floors with a restaurant lounge, reception room, cabins, swimming pool and other facilities so that the experience is as complete as possible. Despite being a Muslim country, cruise ships are authorized to sell alcohol, so you can also find bars inside the motor ships.

They are totally safe and hardly sway slightly during the journey, so it will be a relaxing trip. Food is usually included in the vast majority of packages that are contracted on Nile cruises and on a full board basis: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alcoholic beverages are charged separately. The variety of dishes is very large and there are usually many options even for vegetarians or vegans.

Prices for a cruise on the Nile
It is best to book a cruise on the Nile with a tourism agency or from a website. But do it in advance, so that you can pay by card and have everything planned and insured before your arrival.

There are three types of cruises on the Nile that can be hired, the difference of which is in the category of the ship you want: standard 5-star, luxury 5-star and superior 5-star. And the price also depends on two other factors: whether or not you include Abu Simbel (which we recommend you do) and whether you take the cruise from Luxor to Aswan (5 days and 4 nights) or from Aswan to Luxor (which is one day). less, 4 days and 3 nights).

Prices from Luxor to Aswan with Abu Simbel range from €320 for a standard 5-star cruise to €420 for a superior luxury 5-star cruise, while on a 5-star luxury ship the price is €370. In the opposite direction, from Aswan to Luxor, where it is one day less and always including Abu Simbel, the cheapest is the 5-star standard at €270, followed by the 5-star luxury cruise for €320 and the 5-star deluxe superior at €370.

Tips are usually paid at the end of the trip, directly with the cruise authority that decides it or by giving the money to the tour guide. It is usually between €15 and €20 per person. Everything can be paid in euros and dollars, without problems, but we recommend that you take Egyptian pounds just in case, because if you want to buy something in a market or at a stop they will be very useful.

Photos of Nile Cruises