The Nile is incredibly important to Egypt. It’s been the base for all civilisations throughout the history of the nation, as it provides relief from the deserts that make up the rest of the country. This is one of the major benefits of a river cruise on the Nile, as the many wonders of Ancient Egypt are always within a short distance from port meaning you can unwind in comfort.
Take, for example, the Pyramids of Giza. These are probably some of the most famous tourist destinations in the entire world, and you can easily get to them from the Nile. There are three main pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure. It’s also the site of the Sphinx, the huge lion with a human head that was believed to have been built by Khafre, builder of the second Pyramid.
The Valley of the Kings is a valley near Luxor where the notable Pharaohs and nobles were buried between the 16th and 11th centuries BC. Each tomb has a King’s Valley (KV) number. You can explore the tombs of Thutmose III, Horemheb, Merneptah andmost famously the Tomb of Tutankhamun, although this does entail an extra ticket. It’s an interesting sight although the most exciting features like the treasures have been removed and taken to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Memphis was the capital of Ancient Egypt at one time, and while much of the heritage has been stripped away either by erosion or for the construction of other sites in the country you can still see the large Colossus of Ramesses II, an impressive statue that was discovered close to the Temple of Ptah and now residing in a museum in the city.
Close to Memphis is Saqqara. Saqqara is the name of both a village and a separate ancient necropolis close by. It’s home to a number of fascinating things to see if you’ve an interest in the heritage of Ancient Egypt including the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the Pyramid of Teti I and the Tombs of Mereruka, Kagemni and Ankhmahor. You can see the Unas Causeway which takes you to the Pyramid of Unas, and the Imhotep Museum dedicated to the vizier of Djoser and a renowned philosopher, poet, physician and architect, and is credited as being responsible for many of the ideas and techniques that future Egyptian builders used.
Dahshur is becoming more popular since 1996; before this it had been a restricted military zone. There are three interesting pyramids in Dahshur: the Black Pyramid of Amenemhat II, the Red Pyramid of Sneferu and the Bent Pyramid of Sneferu. The Red Pyramid is Egypt’s oldest pyramid without steps or bends, with its interior open to the public. The Bent Pyramid probably pre-dates the Red Pyramid although it has a bend which gives it its name; it’s built in such a way that it begins at a steep angle before bending inwards to reach a point.
All of these treasures are easily accessible from a Nile cruise, so whether you’re fascinated with the history already or you just want an interesting cruise you’d be smart to look into a river cruise in the region.
By Ian Lewis
