Since the birth of the Egyptian civilisation 5000 years ago, Egypt has long been considered one of the most awe-inspiring places on Earth, with the breathtaking, man-made structures of the pyramids and the Sphinx giving way to a natural, expansive desert and the limitless beauty of the River Nile. This mighty river courses through the desert from Abu Simbel to the delta on the Mediterranean Sea, and a cruise down the Nile is an unrivalled way of taking in the serene beauty of the country as well as Egypt’s great monuments and ancient cities.

Luxor has long been referred to as the "world's greatest open air museum" and is the site of the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes. The city is also home to the ruined temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor and attracts thousands of visitors every day to the East Bank of the River Nile, where they are situated. The Luxor Temple, in particular, has been immortalised in feature films including the James Bond film 'The Spy Who Loved Me' and Agatha Christie's 'Death on The Nile', while nearby on the West Bank sits the famed Valley Of The Kings and Valley Of The Queens making Luxor a 'must visit' destination.

Although also on the Nile, Cairo is not a destination covered by most Nile cruise itineraries. It is however very easy to extend a Nile cruise with a hotel stay in Egypt’s capital city..Founded in 949 AD, the city has been the administrative capital of Egypt for centuries and is home to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, featuring the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the world with 136,000 items on display and many more hundreds of thousands in its basement storerooms. Old Cairo is another area that many travellers frequent during their brief stop in Cairo, and the area is home to attractions including the Babylon Fortress, which contains several of the oldest Christian Egyptian churches. Nearby, The Hanging Church is another of the oldest churches in Egypt, with churches on the site dating back to the 3rd century AD and offers a fascinating glimpse into the rich history of Cairo and Egypt as a whole.

Another worthwhile extension to a Nile cruise holiday is to visit one of Egypt’s Red Sea resorts where you some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling can be found. The area of Sharm El Sheikh is especially popular, due to the colourful soft and hard coral reefs fringing the coastline and offshore islands, as well as a plethora of reef fish and marine mammals inhabiting the waters. Further down the Red Sea coastline, the resort of Hurghada can be found. Now a thriving cosmopolitan centre, Hurghada has proved very popular with diving enthusiasts, with turtles and octopus filling the nearby waters and a host of different diving experiences to try, from shore diving to drift diving. This area is also perfect for those who prefer a more remote area to enjoy the sun and sand, rather than the bustling resorts nearer the capital.

For budding Egyptologists and sun-seekers alike, Nile cruise holidays offer an almost perfect mix of culture, history and stunning attractions, and promises to be an experience few travellers will ever forget.

Tags: agatha christie, river nile, valley of the kings