A cruise on Lake Nasser gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy the world’s largest manmade lake, serene desert vistas and unique vantage point from which to explore the remote historical sites along it. Egypt Escapes have Lake Nasser Cruise itineraries available from just £699pp.
Lake Nasser is an artificial lake, which was created after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. It is more than 500 kilometres long, of which 150 belongs to Sudan (Lake Nubia) which borders Egypt to the south. Lots of historical sites were flooded and lost forever when the new dam was built in the 1960s. Although some that were deemed too important still survive today, including the magnificent Abu Simbel. This important ancient site was painstakingly saved by moving it, brick by brick!
As if all this were not enough, the poor Nubian community in Egypt had to be displaced from their homes as with the rise of the water level their towns also sank. The Land of Nubia is the name of the ancestral home of the Nubian people before their farms and villages were flooded by Lake Nasser. The ancient land of Nubia is one of the areas earliest civilizations, with a history which can be traced back to around 2000 BC. Nubia was also known as ancient the Kingdom of Kush.
As well as the unfortunate Nubians, animals and wildlife were disrupted too, as the Nile flow was obviously altered beyond imagination.
There has been some positive affects though. The West bank of the lake has vast stretches of shallow shore line which attracts wild birds and their predators. In contrast, the East bank is scenically very different, mostly made up of wild and rugged desert landscapes where the Nile has pushed up against a ranges of mountains on its way north into the Mediterranean Sea.
Over 100 resident species of birds have been recorded and the lake is also an important staging point for migrant and over-wintering birds. During the autumn and spring months millions of birds pass over the lake following the Nile River on their annual migrations between Europe, Asia and Africa.
The bird populations have created a food chain with an impressive variety of mammals and reptiles. In many areas, crocodiles and monitor lizards make their home; other types of wildlife include Dorcas gazelle, jackals, desert fox, hyena and various smaller desert mammals are also found.
The residents are desert nomadic camel and sheep herdsmen, who graze their flocks on the shoreline’s sparse vegetation. Transient peasant fishermen fish the lake using old methods, simple wooden rowing boats with gill nets and live in ramshackle temporary camps. There is no modern commercial fishing on Lake Nasser.
LAKE NASSER CRUISE ITINERARIES:
3-NTS ABU SIMBEL – ASWAN – FRIDAYS – FROM £699PP
DAY 1: ABU SIMBEL
Transfer to your 5-star boat for embarkation before lunch, visit the great temples of Abu Simbel, dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 2: KASR IBRIM – AMADA – WADI EL SEBOU
Morning sailing to Kasr Ibrim for a visit from the lake to see this Nubian monument, which is situated on the original site, surrounded by water. Lunch on board while sailing to Amada. At Amada visit the oldest monument on Lake Nasser the temple of Amada. Sail to Wadi el Sebou with Sound & Light show. Overnight at Wadi el Sebou.
DAY 3: WADI EL SEBOU – ASWAN
Breakfast on board and morning visit to Wadi el Sebou temple entered through an avenue of sphinxes, the temple of Dakka dedicated to the god of Wisdom, Thoth of Pnubs and the ruins of the temple of Maharakka. Sail to Aswan, dinner on board with Nubian show evening entertainment. Overnight at Aswan.
DAY 4: ASWAN
Breakfast on board and morning visit to the Temple of Kalabsha – dedicated to the Nubian God Mandulis and the Temple of Beit el Wali – House of the Holy Man – which was carved from rocks during the reign of Ramses ll and Beit el Wali. Check out and onward transfer.
4-NTS ASWAN – ABU SIMBEL – MONDAYS – FROM £899PP
DAY 1: ASWAN
Transfer to the cruiser for before lunch. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner on board with Nubian Show evening entertainment.Overnight at Aswan.
DAY 2: ASWAN – WADI EL SEBOU
BreakFast on board and morning visit to the Temple of Kalabsha – dedicated to the Nubian God Mandulis and the Temple of Beit el Wali – House of the Holy Man – which was carved from rocks during the reign of Ramses ll. After lunch sail to Wadi el Seboua. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 3: WADI EL SEBOU – AMADA
Morning visit to Wadi el Sebou temple entered through an avenue of sphinxes, the temple of Dakka dedicated to the god of Wisdom, Thoth of Pnubs and the ruins of the temple of Maharakka. Lunch on board. Sail to Amada to visit the oldest monument on Lake Nasser the temple of Amada. Also visit the Derr Rock Temple built by Ramses ll dedicated to the rising sun and finally visit the tomb of Pennut. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 4: AMADA – KASR IBRIM – ABU SIMBEL
Morning sailing to Kasr Ibrim for a visit from the lake to see this Nubian monument, which is situated on the original site, surrounded by water. Sail onto Abu Simbel where the great temple of Ramses 11 appears to be rising from the depths of lake. Carved into the mountain and dedicated to Ra-Harakhty, Amun, Ptah. Also visit the temple of Nefetari, the beloved wife of Ramses ll.
DAY 5: ABU SIMBEL
Breakfast, check out and onward transfer.
