Port guide: Luxor, Egypt
The Nile River is the most astonishing river cruise destination in the world, and Luxor has some of its biggest and best sights.
Who goes there
Abercrombie & Kent, APT, Avalon, Riviera, Travelmarvel, Uniworld, Viking and Sanctuary are among companies with Nile ships. Some hotels such as Oberoi and Movenpick operate vessels too, and many tour companies offer land-river packages. The best but busiest season is October to April; you'll save considerably if you think you can bear the fierce (but dry) off-season heat.
Sail on in
You ought to be glued to the ship's deck for the entire Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, which dishes up a glorious parade of villages, temples, farmland and orange desert landscapes. You'll also enjoy kids greeting you from bridges and rowboats, and an endless flotilla of passing ferries and feluccas. As you sail into Luxor, you'll see grand ancient temples and a cacophonous town rise on the east side of the river, while on the west bank lies the brooding silence of the barren hills that lodge pharaohs' tombs.
Berth rites
The smaller your ship, the closer to town it will likely dock, but all ships tie up somewhere along the east bank's Corniche. Given poor public transport, most airport transfers are included by cruise companies, saving you worry about exactly where your ship will be. There's also an airport shuttle that will drop you off at ships.
Going ashore
The long riverside Corniche links old and new Luxor and provides for great strolling, especially when the sun sets across the Nile. You don't have to go far to see top sights. Luxor Temple is a complex of temples, courtyards, obelisks and sphinxes, onto which has been cobbled a Roman sanctuary and later mosque. It looks spectacular under evening illuminations. Further down the Corniche is the fascinating Mummification Museum and then Luxor Museum, filled with sculpted masterpieces.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
a day ago
- West Australian
New APT tours spotlight Botswana's Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta
APT has unveiled its 2026–27 Africa program with three brand-new itineraries including Botswana — one of the continent's most remote and wildlife-rich regions. The new tours includes Botswana's Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta, home to some of Africa's highest concentrations of wildlife. + 7-day Chobe & Okavango Explorer : An immersive journey through Botswana's pristine wilderness, from the game-rich Chobe River where guests can witness the wonders of the natural world from both land and water to luxurious tented camping in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Kasane to Maun, from $15,695 per person with 2026 early bird savings of up to $1,400 per couple. + 19-day Botswana & Southern Africa Discovery : Combining the splendour of Botswana, South Africa and Zambia, this 19-day adventure also discovers vibrant Cape Town and enjoys direct access to Victoria Falls from dawn until dusk. Kasane to Livingstone, from $34,195 per person, with 2026 earlybird savings of up to $2,600 per couple. + 30-day Ultimate African Journey : A comprehensive exploration of the soul of Africa. Venture into Chobe National Park, the Okavango Delta and spot wildlife aboard a traditional mokoro dugout canoe. Stops also include Cape Town, Kruger National Park, Olduvai Gorge, Serengeti National Park and the Maasai Mara. Kasane to Nairobi, from $53,895 per person with 2026 earlybird savings of up to $3,600 per couple. The tours expand APT's luxury small-group offering across Southern and East Africa, with services of an expert APT Tour Director and local guides, expert-led safaris, and luxury stays including the exclusive Chobe Game Lodge. APT Africa tours include internal flights, game park fees, luxury accommodation, local guides, and are capped at a maximum of 24 guests per departure. Discover APT's full Africa 2026-27 program by visiting .
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Ten things I learnt on my first visit to India
I'm anxious about my first visit to India. Faced with its vast scale, history and humanity, its crowds, poverty and colour, I'm determined to channel Judi Dench's intrepid, open-hearted character from Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Evelyn Greenslade. I fear, however, that I will quickly turn into Penelope Wilton's uptight and unadventurous Jean Ainslie, who soon flees back to her less challenging English homeland. My apprehension increases when I hear that even Traveller's resident Tripologist and Indophile, Michael Gebicki, has succumbed to illness while there, despite more than 20 visits. What hope is there for a first-timer like me? The journalist visa process is a frustrating jumble of red tape and clunky websites, and my first (domestic) flight is booked in the wrong direction. It feels like the universe is warning me not to risk it. I'm travelling with a small group on a brief yet unquestionably luxurious journey to Rajasthan with Abercrombie & Kent. The flight from Melbourne to Delhi is jam-packed with members of Australia's Indian diaspora, regarded as the nation's most successful. There are crying babies, pungent wafts of curry and a handful of passengers ignoring (or not understanding) the attendants' instructions to remain seated after landing, resulting in frustrated yelling from said attendants. It seems like another sign of the chaos that's undoubtedly to come. As we land at Indira Gandhi airport, I help a family laden down with bags and toddler paraphernalia until they get to passport control, where we part ways. But later, as I emerge with my own luggage into the arrivals hall, their young daughter spots me in the crowd, runs over and gives me the biggest hug – and suddenly I begin to understand the warmth of India's welcoming embrace. Here are some other things I learnt.
The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
Ten things I learnt on my first visit to India
I'm anxious about my first visit to India. Faced with its vast scale, history and humanity, its crowds, poverty and colour, I'm determined to channel Judi Dench's intrepid, open-hearted character from Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Evelyn Greenslade. I fear, however, that I will quickly turn into Penelope Wilton's uptight and unadventurous Jean Ainslie, who soon flees back to her less challenging English homeland. My apprehension increases when I hear that even Traveller's resident Tripologist and Indophile, Michael Gebicki, has succumbed to illness while there, despite more than 20 visits. What hope is there for a first-timer like me? The journalist visa process is a frustrating jumble of red tape and clunky websites, and my first (domestic) flight is booked in the wrong direction. It feels like the universe is warning me not to risk it. I'm travelling with a small group on a brief yet unquestionably luxurious journey to Rajasthan with Abercrombie & Kent. The flight from Melbourne to Delhi is jam-packed with members of Australia's Indian diaspora, regarded as the nation's most successful. There are crying babies, pungent wafts of curry and a handful of passengers ignoring (or not understanding) the attendants' instructions to remain seated after landing, resulting in frustrated yelling from said attendants. It seems like another sign of the chaos that's undoubtedly to come. As we land at Indira Gandhi airport, I help a family laden down with bags and toddler paraphernalia until they get to passport control, where we part ways. But later, as I emerge with my own luggage into the arrivals hall, their young daughter spots me in the crowd, runs over and gives me the biggest hug – and suddenly I begin to understand the warmth of India's welcoming embrace. Here are some other things I learnt.
