The long Nile cruise

For those susceptible to the romance of Egypt, a cruise along the Nile must rank as one of things they must, must do before they die. For sixteen years now, although the Upper Nile has been open to such a possibility, the Lower Nile hasn’t. Cruises were stopped in 1994 for various reasons, including security concerns and the fact that the river was becoming severely silted. But the ‘long Nile cruise’ between Cairo and Aswan is possible again — with the opportunity to see the tombs at Beni Hasan and the temple of Dendera to Goddess Hathor, before a flight south lets you take in the wonders of Abu Simbel. The two-week cruise also means longer spells relaxing on deck, watching life on the banks of one of the world’s truly great rivers.

The information

Fly Kuwait Airways (kuwait-airways.com) from Mumbai to Cairo (from Rs 32,000 approx. return). The long cruise (15D/14N) is offered by many operators; see tourism.egypt.com (from $1,300 on twin sharing) and gattours.com (from $1,480).