Nile Cruises and Boat Rides

The tradition that links Luxor to the Nile River dates back to ancient Egypt, even when the city was still called Thebes and occupied a sacred and strategic space in the reigns of the pharaohs. Because of its importance in trade and as a navigable route to the territories of other civilizations, the Nile has a lot to tell and one of the best alternatives to discover it is through a cruise excursion on the tributary.

Among the best activities you can do in Luxor are navigating the river on cruise tours or in a falucca, a typical local boat. Among the options you can choose half-day, full-day or even multi-day sailing experiences, with stops at other nearby sites that also developed around the Nile and the prosperity it brought since the origins of ancient Egypt.

If you want to live a complete and unforgettable experience around the Nile, you can embark on a 4-day cruise excursion from Luxor to Aswan, the city located at the eastern end of the river and containing the famous falls. This trip will allow you to explore the rich history and culture of ancient Egypt at your own pace, in a perfect combination of independence and the assistance of an expert local guide.

On the first day of the tour you will see the main sites of the city on the banks of the Nile, such as the Temples of Karnak and Luxor, where the stories of the gods Amun, Mut and Khonsu come to life. During these stops you will be able to discover the interior of these religious buildings and also the skyline of Luxor from the east and west sides of the river.

The second day will allow you to discover the Valley of the Kings in one of the best balloon rides in Luxor. In addition, after watching the sunrise from the heights, you can tour the valley which is famous for containing the tombs of the most famous Egyptian kings, such as Tutankhamun. You will also visit the Funerary Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.

The third day will take you to the Temple of Edfu and the Temple of Kom Ombo, allowing you to experience the luxury of ancient architecture and the history of these religious sites. The trip culminates on the fourth day with a visit to the Temple of Abu Simbel in Aswan, before returning to Luxor.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately €870 per person. This cost usually includes round-trip transfer with hotel pick-up and tickets for activities.
• Duration: about 4 days.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will be able to see the main attractions on the banks of the Nile on a luxury cruise.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: they require several days in the city, so they will not be compatible with a short stay in Luxor.

The Temple of Dendera, located in the city of the same name, is a beautiful religious building that is often left out of tourist recommendations for areas near the Nile. On these excursions, you can rescue it from oblivion with a cruise that will take you along the few kilometers that separate Luxor from Dendera and allow you to discover not only the landscapes of the river, but also the temple.

During the tour, from the deck of the boat, you will be able to distinguish on the horizon some of the monuments and archaeological sites that make up the tours of the best tours of Luxor. You will also be able to contemplate the scenery that surrounds both banks of the river and, usually, you can also enjoy a buffet lunch.

Also note that Dendera is located north of Luxor, when most Nile cruise excursions are to the Aswan Falls, located in the south, so these experiences will allow you to see the northern end of the tributary, a rare circumstance in the exploration of this river.

As soon as you approach the Temple of Dendera, Egypt's best preserved temple dedicated to the Goddess Hathor, you can participate in a guided tour that will immerse you in its rich history and significance in a full-day excursion that will not only offer you a journey through the waters of the Nile, but also a complete cultural experience.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately €110 per person, including lunch and entrance to the Temple of Dendera.
• Duration: about 12 hours.
• Advantages of these tours: not only will you get to know one of the most famous stretches of the Nile River but also one of the most beautiful and least visited temples north of Luxor.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: apart from the fact that you will be able to see the temples on the banks of the Nile from the deck, these tours do not usually include stops other than Dendera.

If during your visit to Luxor you want to take part in an indigenous experience, you can opt for an excursion to Banana Island on a traditional Egyptian falucca, the region's iconic boat, which will take you on a trip down the Nile with views of the city from the river. This will allow you not only to sail on a traditional African barge, but also to discover the skyline of Luxor from a different perspective.

Upon arrival at Banana Island you will have the opportunity to explore this natural oasis filled with banana, mango and guava plantations. The lush vegetation will immerse you in an environment of pure nature, offering you a unique experience in the middle of the Nile. There you will also learn about the fertile goodness of the river banks, which made this tributary famous and turned ancient Egypt into an agricultural power in the region.

At Banana Island you will also learn about some of the conspiracy theories surrounding ancient Egypt, since there you will find millenary plantations that did not originate in the fields of Africa, which puzzles experts and leads them to wonder how they got there. This curious concern will be the main excuse to review the theories spread about the construction of the pyramids of Cairo.

On the way back to the shores of Luxor from these tours, which are often included among the best excursions in the city, you will usually enjoy a traditional Egyptian meal on board. In addition, in the late afternoon, you can watch the sunset over the horizon, which will tinge the ancient city of Thebes with orange hues in an unmissable visual spectacle on the banks of the Nile River.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 50 euros per person. This cost usually includes lunch and the guided tour of Banana Island.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will get to know the fertile goodness of the banks of the Nile, which contributed to the fame of the tributary during ancient Egypt.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: although the weather is usually warm on the Nile, during cold days the low temperatures tend to disrupt the falucca travel experience.

If you want a quieter and shorter experience, which only includes a ride on the waters of the Nile you can opt for a private tour on the river in a falucca. These experiences, recommended at sunset time, will allow you to discover the horizon and its west while sailing and observing the daily life of the banks, which involves camels, donkeys, farmers and fishermen.

The convenience of these private tours, which usually include transfer services to and from the hotel, is that you can visit one of the most famous stretches of the Nile in a short tour, which is ideal if you are planning a short stay in the city and do not have time for a multi-day tour. In addition, you can combine this tour with a visit to the Temple of Karnak at night to experience the sound and light show.

One of the best views of the skyline that you will see during this tour is the sun slowly dipping over the West Bank and the Valley of the Kings. In addition, during the tour you will be assisted by an expert local guide among the crew, who will tell you about the history and legends of the sites you encounter on either side of the shore during the tour.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 30 euros per person.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Advantages of these tours: they are short experiences along the Nile River, ideal to enjoy during a short stay in the city and to combine with other experiences close to the shore.
• Disadvantages of these tours: Although they are private tours, unlike other similar experiences in this case you will not be able to modify the tours or choose your own itinerary.

You can book these tours in advance online, at the time of itinerary planning, or once you are in the city. Keep in mind that Luxor is usually a very busy city all year round in Egypt, especially because of the spillover effect of tourism in Cairo, so if you book in advance you will be able to choose better conditions for your experience and secure the price.

In addition, if you organize an itinerary before your trip you can combine any of these Nile tours with other typical experiences of the city effectively, such as participating in balloon rides in Luxor or taking a trip to the outskirts of this destination. The river tours are so popular among the local offerings that you will usually be told about them and offered them as soon as you get off the plane at the local airport.

If you book online you will also be able to have the details of the tour service provider in advance, which will make your excursions more secure and also avoid the need to hire with cash on arrival at the port area.

In this type of excursion you can discover the natural beauty that characterizes the Nile River and also discover its historical importance, which is inextricably linked to the history of Luxor and Thebes, the ancient name of the city when it served as the capital of the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt. Throughout the tours, whichever one you choose, you will learn about its vital role in international trade and com merce.

If you choose to take a falucca tour, you will not only live a local and indigenous experience, but you will also learn about the importance of agriculture on the Nile River, since these boats were used to transport raw materials to nearby sites along the Nile route. During the tours you can also visit the nearby temples, which are located on the banks of the tributary.

On longer tours, such as the 4-day cruise from Luxor to Aswan, you will have a more relaxing experience, which will not only take you to the end of the river, but will also allow you to discover the Nile waterfalls and other archaeological sites that are part of the main circuit of the tributary.

Keep in mind that in ancient Egypt life developed around the river, so from the boat you can discover the cities that emerged thanks to its tireless flow and the fertility of its banks. If you are really interested in local history, you will find no better way to discover it than on one of these excursions.

If you are planning to visit Luxor and you have already decided to take a Nile River tour, I advise you to book the activity in advance, which will allow you to have the information about the experience before you arrive at the river bank. This will make the tour safer and allow you to relax, whether you choose a cruise or a falucca tour , a typical boat of the local civilizations.

Also, keep in mind that in Egypt informal services are very common and a bit messy, by hiring online you make sure you have the information of the provider in advance, which will be useful in case of any mishap. On the other hand, if you are traveling during one of the religious festivals of Islam, consider that many activities are suspended or modified, especially during Ramadan.

The Nile is a central pillar in Egyptian culture, because around it was formed what was one of the most advanced civilizations at the time, so if you plan to visit Luxor, which became the most important city of ancient Egypt, you can not fail to navigate this tributary to learn about its significance.

In addition, this river crosses the entire city from end to end, so most of the attractions of Luxor are located in an area close to the banks of the Nile. This will allow you to easily access the river cruise or falucca excursions and also combine this experience with a visit to the Temple of Karnak or the archaeological site of the Colossi of Memnon.