Viking Cruises

The first cruise to set sail here occurred in the early 1870s when Thomas Cook & Son built a fleet of steamships that transported wealthy travellers between Cairo and Aswan. To this day, the Nile offers a most spectacular route, sailing close to cultural treasures that recount centuries of history akin to turning the pages of a history book. While tourism plays a significant role in the Nile's modern identity, its banks are more than ornamental. Thanks to the nutrient-rich soil deposited by annual floods, they remain crucial to Egypt's vibrant agricultural and fishing industries. As a result, almost all Egyptians reside close to the river, and part of the pleasure of sailing the Nile is immersing oneself in the rhythm of everyday life along its shores. Exploring Egypt is a journey of contrasts. Cairo, Egypt's vibrant capital city, is a bustling metropolis compared to the country's quaint Nubian villages. The ancient pyramids at Giza stand side-by-side with the newly built, state-of-the-art Grand Egyptian Museum, housing approximately 100,000 ancient artifacts. And the Nile's lush and verdant riverbanks are juxtaposed with its sand-covered landscapes leading to golden-hued mountains. Discover Luxor, previously known as Thebes, which many historians consider to be one of the world's greatest open air museums due to the scale and magnificence of the mudbrick relics that have remained intact since the 18th to 20th pharaonic dynasties. The Temples of Luxor and Karnak on the city's east bank are among the world's largest and most impressive ancient temple complexes, with their 21-foot-tall columns and majestic, sphinx- lined avenue. In the hills across the river, Ancient Egyptians constructed royal tombs dedicated to Egypt's great pharaohs, with the most famous being that of the boy-king Tutankhamen. Known today as the Valley of the Kings, this necropolis combined with Ancient Thebes, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. KARNAK TEMPLE, LUXOR Discover more at viking.com 20

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