The Nile River has long been considered the lifeline of Egyptian civilization. The river is the longest river in the world, with headstreams beginning in the East African Great Lakes region. The river empties into a delta on the Mediterranean coast. Nearly all of Egypt's great historical and modern cities lie on the fertile Nile River.
Nile River cruises offer visitors the chance to visit several important historic and modern sites in Egypt. One popular route for cruises is Aswan to Luxor. This route often includes tours of the Aswan Dam and stops at several Egyptian temples.
Another popular cruise travels on Lake Nasser, the world's largest man-made lake constructed in conjunction with Aswan Dam. The lake cruises make stops at a variety of historic sites, including temples erected by Ramses II, and often offer world-renowned fishing excursions.
Although a call at Cairo is not as popular as the Aswan-Luxor and the Lake Nasser cruises, many multiday cruises stop at the capital city. Cairo is the launching point to see the historical Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Cairo is also the most metropolitan city in Egypt.
Nile River cruises can be considered very affordable by Western travel standards. As of July 2009, prices range on average from $75 to $200 per day, per traveler, for all-inclusive cruises. Some very luxurious options are available at higher price points.
