A few years ago we embarked upon a holiday of a lifetime to Egypt. We boarded a Nile cruise from the port of Cairo and travelled all the way down to Aswan. We searched for the same trip again, but there didn’t appear to be an operator who offered the same trip.

We hunted around and made contact with the Egyptian tourist information centre in London. They informed us that all Nile cruises from Cairo to Luxor had stopped about five year previously, because the river had become too dangerous with its shifting sand banks. There were routine instancies of vessels experiencing trouble and running aground on the sand. When stranded, the liners might have to sit there for several days until another vessel could arrive to tow them back to deep water. We were advised to look at the alternative routes that were available, or switch to one of the many quality Egypt hotels. Work, according to the Egyptian authorities, is underway to map a navigable area for all of the cruise vessels. Much of the infastructure needed some maintenance, mainly the docking areas and the roads leading out to the main tourist attractions. i understood that the job was complex and would need many years to complete.

The cruises operate between Luxor and Aswan and Abu Simbel, and will remain this way until the works have been done. Other routes take in the sights of Abu Simbel and Luxor where you can see the ancient temples built to honour the Pharoah Rameses II and his Queen.

You are transported over to the eastern shores of the Nile in Luxor, where you can walk among the vast temples of Amon Ra. You would be walking down the avenue of the sphinxes close to the temples of Luxor and Karnak. The voyage goes on to Esna and finally Aswan, where you can disembark and explore the vast dam. These trips are some of the best Egypt holidays available, and help to stimulate the body and soul.

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