Nile Cruise

One of the most interesting websites that I would highly recommend is Su Bayfield’s “Reflections in the Nile”, particularly if you want to know more about the Nile before your cruise. When you visit Su’s site you can tell it is written by someone who truly loves Egypt and the Nile. In fact I did ask Su if she would allow me to interview her for an episode of the Nile Cruise Podcast but to date I havent’ been able to convince her. Maybe one day…

(If you want a great example of Su’s writing please take a look at “Cruising To Dendera“, I think you’ll really enjoy it).

Anyway, I was reading some posts on Su’s website yesterday when I saw a request from the folks who operate the “Eternal Egypt” website asking Su if she would be prepared to write some articles for their site because, in their words, “we sensed your immense passion for Egypt and it would be an honor to have your work on our pages”.

Wow, that’s a real compliment.

But at the same time I followed the link to the “Eternal Egypt” website and, again, its’ another website that you MUST VISIT!! It’s an absolute must for anyone travelling to Egypt and particularly if you are thinking of cruising the Nile.

I’m just exploring the website myself as there is so much to see, experience and read so over the coming weeks I’ll be posting more about the site as I find resources and features I think you’ll like.

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I just came across this interesting article about the 3 Pyramids of Giza:-

“In ancient Egypt, the sacred river Nile flows south to north right through the Egyptian countryside. Along the river, as we cruise down towards Giza, our eyes meet with one of the greatest ancient marvels, the pyramids of Giza. It is believed in Egyptology, that the 3 pyramids were built with absolute astronomical perfection in the period of the Old Kingdom to resemble a phenomenon in the Milkyway Galaxy.

In the early months of spring, in March when one stands along the banks of the Nile, we can witness a cluster of stars meandering through the skies above. Among these very stars is the famous constellation of Orion, who is identified by the 3 belt stars and the 4 stars that mark his body from shoulders to knees. Orion is one of the most ancient Egyptian Gods, revered and honored in the same way as Aton (Sun god) and Horus (Falcon god). The ancient Egyptians meticulously constructed these pyramids, not just to bury their dead but also to study what is beyond death and recorded them in their Book of the Dead. The 3 pyramids of Giza along the Nile are a mirror image of the 3 belt stars of Orion constellation along the Milkyway galaxy in the months of spring”.

To read the whole article please visit the website where I found the article I think you’ll find it very interesting.

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I was reading the following post on a travel forum yesterday and thought while I was reading it that quite a few people may want to cover the exact amount of ground as this travellers while enjoying their first Nile cruise…

“So while we are in Egypt we want to see the pyramids, loads of temples and statues, the Sphinx, Temple of Luxor, take a Nile cruise, and Alexandria. But what I’m really excited about is getting to RIDE A CAMEL! …”

No problem regarding riding a camel (!) but not everyone realises that you will have a pretty hectic week if you try and combine seeing the Pyramids, the Sphinx AND enjoy a Nile cruise too.

The problem being that Nile cruises start and finish in Luxor and the Sphinx and Pyramids are near Cairo. And Luxor is 721km’s away from Cairo, which is quite some distance.

You can take a day’s excursion up to Cairo by air in the middle of your Nile cruise but your going to have to get up pretty early and really race around a fair bit in Cairo to get everything done. Plus it’s not a cheap day’s excursion as it involves a plane fair.

It’s far better to consider either returning to Egypt at a later date and staying in Cairo and really doing it justice OR consider getting us to arrange 2 nights in Cairo at the start of your trip. See all you want to see at a much more leisurely pace and then fly down to Luxor to join your Nile cruise. You’ll enjoy things much more and you’ll probably find that it wont’ cost you that much more than that “rushed” one day Cairo excursion would cost you.

If you’d like a quote for a Cairo add on please give Barbara or myself a call on our Freephone number 0808 1089 100.

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One of the extra excurisons you can take whilst cruising the Nile is to Abu Simbel.

Here’s a report I read on the SASI Wingees blog which you might find interesting:
_________________________________________________________________

Egypt Moblog #2 - Abu Simbel - Rameses II’s crown jewel
Filed in General Interest-Travel, November 21, 2007, 3:02 am by Sukumar

Yesterday we reached Aswan. It is a beautiful city. No hustle and
bustle like Cairo. The hotel we stayed in, the Basma Aswan, was
beautiful as well. We left Cairo at 2AM and reached Aswan by the early
morning.

In Aswan, due to the security procedures all the cars to Abu Simbel go
in a convoy accompanies by the military. It was a long 3 hour drive
and we reached Abu Simbel at 2pm accompanies by our guide Sammy. (more…)

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Ancient Egypt Magazine

For those interested in travelling on a Nile Cruise and doing a little research and homework before you go you might be interested in the Ancient Egypt Magazine.

Here’s what Ancient Egypt Magazine is all about:

“Ancient Egypt is a magazine researched and written by experts in the field of Egyptology. Its lively and informed style appeals to the many thousands of ordinary people fascinated by this early civilisation, and provides them with the latest news on their interest.

With reviews of international exhibitions, visits to museums at home and abroad, educational material, book reviews, features and an introduction to hieroglyphs, every issue of Ancient Egypt appeals to both the committed student and those who are new to the subject”.

You can subscribe to the magazine for £24 for 6 issues and I would think that doing so can only enhance your enjoyment of your cruise.

Here’s just a sample of an article about the The Red Chapel’ of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III at Karnak.

Visitors to the great temple of Karnak do not always realise that to the left of the first courtyard when entering the temple, is an area known as the ‘open air museum’ writes Bob Partridge. A separate ticket is needed for this museum, but it is well worth it, for it is there you will find some of the oldest buildings in the huge temple complex.

It would appear that the blocks were carefully stored. within the temple for future use. Some seem to have been reused fairly quickly, but it was Amenhotep Ill, who used all the remaining blocks as filling for his Pylon (now known as the Third Pylon, which was a splendid new river‑facing entrance to the temple).

You can continue reading the article here.

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Karnak Temple

I found this video of a typical excursion to Karnak Temple, Luxor and thought it would give you a good indication of how magnificent the temples and sites are that you can visit whilst enjoying a Nile cruise.

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Abu Simbel.

In our latest interview for the Nile Cruise Podcast, I spoke to Lorraine Flack, one of our clients who has taken three Nile cruises so far.

When I asked Lorraine what her highlight was from all of the trips and excursions she has taken during her three cruises she told me that by far it was Abu Simbel.

You can hear Lorraine’s description of Abu Simbel in our next Nile Cruise Podcast which will be posted up on the Nile Cruise Podcast page on Monday, (15th October).

In the meantime I thought it would be useful if I posted a link to Su Bayfield’s wonderful Egypt Sites website and her description of Abu Simbel. Su is also a wonderful photographer and you will see a lot of Su’s photographs of Abu Simbel on her website.

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I would like to recommend a wonderful resource for anyone thinkg of taking a Nile cruise or for those of you who have travelled to Egypt and would like to find out even more about this mysterious and wonderful country.

I came across EgyptSites when doing some of my own research and realised immediately what a fabulous resource it would be for anyone hoping to visit Egypt.

The site has been lovingly created by Sue Bayfield who obviously has a great passion for the country.

Here, in her own words, are Su’s reasons for putting together such a wonderful resource…

“The website has been designed with two aims. The first is an introduction for first-time visitors to the ancient sites they may encounter on a package tour or Nile cruise - a taster with photographs of what they may see. My second aim is to provide a greater level of detail on the history and archaeology of the monuments for those with a deeper interest in the study of Egypt’s ancient history”.

If you are cruising from Luxor you will be visiting Upper Egypt and if you visit our “typical Nile cruise itinerary page” you will see which of the sites, temples and monuments you will be likely to visit.

Rather than nipping out and buying an Egyptian Travel book I would suggest you visit Su’s website and read her descriptions instead. Su is also an accomplished photographer and she illustrates her descriptions with wonderful photographs that will really whet your appetite. Here is the “Upper Egypt” page from the website…

I have asked Su for permission to link to some of her website’s content as I feel it is truly wonderful resource so please visit the website and enjoy the excellent resources Su has provided. And perhaps you might want to drop her an email telling her what you have enjoyed when exploring the site. If you do please mention that you came across the site whilst reading the Nile Cruises 4u Blog.

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One of the most spectacular destinations we visited on our first Nile cruise was to The Valley Of The Kings at Luxor. It truly is a breathtaking sight when you arrive at the site.

Once again I would recommend you visit the Tour Egypt website where you will be able to read a really informative article about The Valley of The Kings, its’ history and what to expect when you get there.

Usually on the King Tut and El Fostate cruises The Valley of the Kings is a featured trip towards the end of the week but please call us on our Freephone number 0808 1089 100 to check if the excursion is included on the Nile cruise you may choose to book.

To give you a flavour of the Tour Egypt article here’s a snippet:

The Egyptian belief that “To speak the name of the dead is to make him live again” is certainly carried out in the building of the tombs. The king’s formal names and titles are inscribed in his tomb along with his images and statues. Beginning with the 18th Dynasty and ending with the 20th, the kings abandoned the Memphis area and built their tombs in Thebes. Also abandoned were the pyramid style tombs. Most of the tombs were cut into the limestone following a similar pattern: three corridors, an antechamber and a sunken sarcophagus chamber. These catacombs were harder to rob and were more easily concealed. Construction usually lasted six years, beginning with the new reign. The text in the tombs are from the Book of the Dead, the Book of the Gates and the Book of the Underworld. See also a history and overview of the Valley of the Kings.
Click here to read the complete article.

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