If you’re looking for a relaxing, romantic way to visit the best Ancient Egyptian tourist sites then there’s only one way to do it – on a luxury Nile cruise. The ancient Egyptians lived along the banks of this iconic river, that’s why the Pharaohs built the majority of their temples and tombs on or near its banks, and that’s the reason the best way to navigate these attractions is from the water itself.

If you’re about to go on a cruise, or are thinking of booking one, we’ve selected our favourite wonders from this ancient world that you must visit to make the most of this dazzling destination. You can start your cruise from the northern city of Cairo or do the reverse journey from the south, starting at Luxor or Aswan. In this post, we’re following the river’s current and will start our sightseeing extravaganza at the beautiful city of Aswan, the southernmost frontier of ancient Egypt. The second post will focus on the delights of Luxor, followed by our final instalment on Cairo’s epic landmarks.

Aswan – the real jewel of the Nile

Aswan was the southernmost frontier on Ancient Egypt and is where the Nile is at its most beautiful, cutting through golden deserts and flowing around emerald islands. Originally known as Swen or Swenet, it was the gateway to Africa and represented an important crossroad for trade. It’s also where the granite was quarried for most of the monuments and temples constructed in ancient times. Aswan is a wonderful city to visit and it’s relaxed Nubian culture is quite unlike the bustle of tourist destinations in Luxor or the frenetic activity you’ll experience in Cairo. There are several must-see attractions you can visit from here, including:

• Abu Simbel– This ancient temple complex isn’t the easiest to get to, but it’s definitely worth the effort. Created during the reign of Ramesses II, the temple is comprised of two chambers, guarded by four colossal statues of Ramesses himself. The awe inspiring structure was originally carved into a rock face and took some 20 years to create. Incredibly, the temple was actually relocated in the 1960’s, to protect it from erosion due to construction of the Aswan High Dam.

• Temple of Isis at Philae– Considered by many to be the last temple constructed in the classic Egyptian style, this amazing temple was also relocated by UNESCO prior to construction of Aswan High Dam. Visitors to the site can also marvel at the hieroglyphics and soaring columns at night, during the Light and Sound Show.

• Kom Ombo– This unusual double temple is dedicated to the crocodile God Sobek and the falcon God Haroeris. The soaring structure is perfectly symmetrical and features multiple chambers that would have been halls, sanctuaries, temples and courts. Stroll under the multiple colonnades and be transported back to ancient times.

• Temple of Horus at Edfu– Situated on the West Bank of the river, some 60 km north of Aswan, the Temple of Horus is one of Egypt’s best preserved ancient monuments. Dedicated to the son of Isis and Osiris, the Ptolemaic temple follows a classic structural design with statues, courts, numerous chambers and walls adorned with hieroglyphics. The second largest temple in Egypt, the Temple at Edfu is incredibly popular among tourists and offers one of the most authentic experiences of life in ancient Egypt.

Next month, we’ll focus on the excursions and tourist attractions you can visit from further up the river Nile, at the renowned city of Luxor. If you’re interested in booking a luxury Nile cruise, we have a fantastic range of cruise and stay packages on offer. We can guide you to the best Egypt has to offer, and have a range of packages on offer to suit all budgets. Let our experts find the right cruise for you by contacting us on 020 3797 3255 or you can email [email protected].