Cabin Fever Chronicles – Getting Outdoors with Rod

A highlight of our Egyptian experience was spending 3 days on a riverboat! It’s a laid-back, comfortable way to see some of the most important archeological sites, which are all in the river valley. Our boat took us from Aswan to Edfu and then Luxor.

The rooms were spacious! Generous beds, desks, bathroom, and deck all ours. Housekeeping did a great job keeping it clean.

The ship had four decks, including the rooftop deck with bar and swimming pool. On the river level, there was another bar and the restaurant. All our on board meals were included. The food was good! The lobby area was grand. Polished granite everywhere, spiral staircase, and a stained glass overhead light.

For me, the best place to be was up on the covered roof deck. There, we all found ourselves lounging at the cocktail tables, enjoying the cool Nile breezes, watching life unfold on shore.

The “ship” would dock at various points of interest along the river. In Edfu, we spent the night at the dock, and then departed very early in the morning to be the first at the ruins when they opened. At Kom Ombo, we stopped after dark for a floodlit tour of its temple. For Luxor, we arrived in the morning and checked in at a hotel before taking a minibus to the Valley of the Kings.

Up on deck, the views were ever changing. Sometimes looking down upon the neighboring boat, which might have a sphinx on its bow. Or, looking past the docks to a Coptic Christian cathedral.

Many tours of Egypt include some time on these “river ships.” They’re definitely a highlight!