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Nile cruise from Luxor to Assuan

Hotelships

The best way to explore the antique places on upper Nile is a seven to nine day Nile cruise. The cruising ships are build on an egypt wharf in Kairo and appear at least outwardly very similar.
In comfort however there are big differences. Not every 5-Star Ship is actually Luxury class, some are real seller of souls like our ship right.
An absolute KO criterion is, if you cannot open the cabin window kann und die Klimaanlage somit als die einzige Frischluftzufuhr dient. Die Antriebsmotoren befinden sich bei den Hotelschiffen im Heck. Deshalb sind die Kabinen im hinteren Schiffsteil am lautesten und es kann nach Diesel riechen.		 More floating death trap then luxury Nile cruise ship
Egyptian security soldier with machine gun and shield

Security during a Nile cruise

The piers of the river Nile ships in Luxor, Kom Ombo, Esna and Assuan are hermetically cordoned with barbed wire and police guards against the Egyptian people. Only Egyptians with special permission and tourists are allowed to enter the quay and the Nile cruise ships. The bus ride from Assuan (Aswan) through the desert to Abu Simbel (250 km) is carried out in convoy under heavy police protection. At each bigger junction, there are roadblocks and to the teeth armed police or military. Also taking a bus to the Egyptian seaside resorts of Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh is carried out in convoy under police protection. Therefore I would prefer a flight in any case.
On 11.02.2011 Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has resigned after thirty years in power due to massive pressure from the Egyptian people. Since then, chaos reigns in Egypt. Always observe the travel advice of the Foreign Office of your country before booking a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan.		 Swimming pool and massage on the five star Nile cruise ships
Theben West

Luxor

Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple

Theben West

Valley of Kings, Queen Hatshepsut Temple, Medinet Habu - The the Mortuary Temple of Ramses III, Colossi of Memnon		 Giant scarab beetle with obelisks in Karnak temple
Pylon of Edfu Temple with bird God Horus

Edfu

The Edfu Temple is dedicated to the birds god Horus and his portal (pylon) belongs to the best preserved temples in Egypt. To Edfu temple we drive comfortable from the ship pier on the river Nile with a horse drawn carriage.

Kom Ombo

Kom Ombo double temples is dedicated to two gods. The side facing away from the Nile was Sobek, the crocodile headed water and consecrated god of fertility and the Nile facing side the falcon-headed Haroeris, a manifestation of the bird god Horus. I was fascinated of the relief of well-preserved lion with the foot of Pharaoh. Only the Pharaoh had the courage and the privilege to go with a lion as a companion into the war.

Esna lock

The river Nile lock at Esna is a real bottleneck for the cruise ships at the headwaters of the Nile between Luxor and Aswan (Assuan). We had to wait ten hours near the Esna lock in a queue of hotel ships. Only two ships per hour are locked. At the end of November the Esna lock is in revision, then the Nile cruise ends in front of the lock and is continued by bus to Aswan. Now, after the Egyptian revolution, the conditions for a Nile Cruise, of course, changed dramatically.

Assuan

Philae Temple of Isis - On the dammed river Nile at Assuan a egypt Felucca ride with visit of the botanical garden is an absolute highlight.
Templeguard in Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel

Daytrip from Assuan: Convoy travel on buses and police escort 250 km across the desert to Abu Simbel.
Parked river Nile cruise ships in front of Kom Ombo Temple
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