Originally published May 2014
Poor Egypt gets some bad press at the moment and in the process their tourist numbers have fallen dramatically and that is understandable, however, in cities like Luxor tourism provides employment in one way or another for some 85% of the city’s workers. Result—hardship in an already poor country. So taking a Nile cruise from Luxor upriver towards Aswan and the massive Aswan dam is both helpful to the tourism numbers as well as very agreeable because the major sights to visit are very uncrowded.
Arriving initially at Luxor, originally Thebes, the ancient capital of Egypt during the time of the New Kingdom, and you have almost too many options of sites to visit. Saving the best to last, the Valleys of the Kings and Queens on the West Bank, just start with a tour around the great temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor.
Start your tour early in the morning as the sun steadily becomes stronger and hotter as the morning wears on. Happy, somewhat wilted and footsore you return to your vessel for an afternoon departure. Settle yourself down on the upper deck and just watch Egypt’s panorama unfold before your eyes! (To be continued)
