LUXURY NILE RIVER CRUISES 2012

For more than 5,000 years the River Nile has been the lifeblood of Egypt, and today there remains no better way to explore the wealth of history, culture and architecture than along the same waterway that gave rise to it originally.

Most River Nile cruises run between Luxor and Aswan. From Luxor, cruisers can explore the Luxor Temple - built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II - before heading to Karnak Temple along an avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, once the centre of worship.

On the other side of the Nile, excursions will take you to the Valley of the Kings, the tomb of Hatshepsut, the only female pharaoh, the Colossi of Memnon and the Valley of the Queens.

After cruising south for 100 km you'll reach Edfu, home to one of the best-preserved temples and a highlight of a Nile cruise. Dedicated to Horus, the temple offers a rich bounty for Egyptologists with plenty of information about the ancient civilisations within its inscriptions.

Further on, your cruise ship will dock at Kom Ombo, a popular stop off point for thousands of years with travellers making the journey along the caravan route from Sudan through the Arabian deserts. The temple here is dedicated to Horus the Elder and to Sobek - the renowned crocodile god.

Eventually your cruise will reach its destination at Aswan, a relaxed and friendly town, however the experience does not have to end here. Excursions are available to the Aswan High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the island of Philae - a sacred complex of monuments.

At the end of your Nile cruise - or even before - do consider a short extension to Cairo, to explore those classic icons of ancient Egypt, the Pyramids and the Sphinx, or to Alexandria, the ancient capital.

Oberoi Nile River Cruises are internationally recognised for all-round excellence and fantastic service, offers luxury cruise journeys on the Nile and the Kerala backwaters. Find out more information on Oberoi Cruises here and their river boats: Oberoi Philae, Oberoi Vrinda & Oberoi Zahra.

Sonesta Nile Cruises are 5-star luxury modern riverboats which take guests between Luxor and Aswan in style and comfort, in 3-, 4-, 6- and 7-night voyages. Find out more information on Sonesta Nile Cruises and its five luxury river cruise boats: Nile Goddess, Sonesta George I, Sonesta Moon Goddess, Sonesta Sun Goddess & the Star Goddess

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