EGYPT NILE CRUISE TRAVEL GUIDE

The Nile is the longest river in the world and one of the most famous: the life-giving source of all Egypt's rich history. Every one of its cities and the majority of Egypt's population live along the banks of the Nile, and more importantly for travellers, the majority of Egyptian historical landmarks are within touching distance of the great river. It is unsurprising, then, that a River Nile cruise is one of the most popular ways to see the sights of Egypt.

Most cruises start from Luxor, allowing travellers to visit two of the most famous historical sites, The Valley of the Kings and The Valley of the Queens, before departure or on one of the early stops. These valleys contain dozens of tombs, ranging from the single chamber burial site to hugely complex tombs with over a hundred chambers.

These tombs are all underground, after the Pharaohs of the Upper Kingdom learned the lesson of their forebears in the earlier Middle Kingdom, whose tombs were the Pyramids. Unfortunately thieves looted all the Pyramids in subsequent years. It is testament to the popularity of the Luxor tombs that on average they receive four to five thousand visitors per day, and testament to the popularity of the Nile cruise that when the boats come in, the number of visitors to the tombs is closer to nine thousand.

A Nile cruise is also one of the best ways to see the authentic Egyptian way of life. Along the banks of the river it is common to see cattle being grazed on the mud bars in the middle of the river; women wash their clothes on the riverbank as kids play in the water or kick a football around.

The reed cattle pens and homes of the people line the river's route and the Nile is still at the heart of Egyptian life for many of its population outside the big cities. Further up the river, heading towards the dam at Aswan, sites such as El Kab are common, and many stops will be made on the journey. El Kab is home to more historical sites of the Upper Kingdom, as well as some much older, dating back to the Epipalaeolithic era (between 6500-5980 BC).

Egypt holidays are always going to be interesting but a Nile cruise must be one of the most enjoyable. A number of British carriers fly direct to Luxor, such as Fly Monarch.

Cruises last anything from a week to a fortnight - the only thing that is guaranteed is that the time will just sail on by.