 This article contains affiliate links. Our travel journalism is written and edited by independent experts to inform, inspire and advise our readers about the best choices for your holidays. We also feature properties and itineraries from a specially selected list of trusted operators. These buttons and adverts are clearly signposted, and provide direct links through to external sites. If you click and buy a product, we may earn revenue. Show more Show less A cabin on the MS Darakum Best for watching the world go by Those who like to take the long route and stay on a boat for the duration of their Egyptian adventure in Egypt will enjoy a cruise on the 52-cabin MS Darakum. Thanks to its very low draft, it is one of the very few vessels that can sail from Cairo to Luxor. After an intoxicating few days in the capital, exploring its markets, mosques and ancient wonders, it's time){kind=link}
Nick Boulos
Wednesday September 6 2023, 11:00am
Sailing through timeless landscapes on a cruise is the best way to see the River Nile. It’s one of the richest destinations on earth and has long enticed and seduced travellers, from pharaohs and prophets to modern-day adventurers, to say nothing of fictional Agatha Christie characters. Sailing on the world’s longest river, which flows through 11 African countries for 4,100 miles before spilling out into the Mediterranean, is a breathtaking experience, and there are more cruise lines plying the Nile than ever.
So which one to take? The majority of itineraries cover the Upper Nile – a section of the river in southern Egypt known for the country’s most impressive and important ruins and archaeological discoveries, such as the Valley of the Kings in Luxor – and end some 150 miles downstream in Aswan. The trick is to find the right way to explore this amazing river, whether that’s aboard a brand new riverboat, a restored paddle steamer or a luxury dahabiya modelled on a traditional sailing boat. Here are the best Nile cruises.
Main photo: traditional felucca boats on the Nile at Luxor (Getty Images)