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Contact your local Viking travel advisor, call us on 138 747 (AU), 0800 447 913 (NZ) or visit viking.com | 29 plows working in crop fields while traditional feluccas with their cream-coloured sails billow in the warm breeze. In the distance, the hazy backdrop of honey-coloured limestone cliffs contrasts with the verdant fertility of the Nile's plant-rich shores. Qena is the gateway to the magnificent ruins of the Dendera Temple, located on the Nile's west bank. Admire its hieroglyphic-adorned crypts and columns, which are some of Egypt's best-preserved structures, as well as its many examples of Ptolemaic Egyptian art. Enjoy an exhilarating morning of spectacular sunrise views as you float high above the Valley of the Kings in a hot air balloon. Travelling further along the riverbank lies the town of Esna. Its glorious Temple of Khnum is celebrated for its 1st-century Roman Hypostyle Hall, with 24 columns awash with mysteriously chiseled floral capitals in the form of palm leaves, lotus buds and papyrus fans. An important port on the northern end of the First Cataract, Aswan is a gateway to experiencing the real Egypt. In ancient times it was a garrison town for military campaigns against Nubia. Today, the riverbank still buzzes with city life, and further along the water's edge, the landscape gives way to sleepy, sorbet- coloured Nubian villages dotted with street murals and fragrant markets that are piled high with colourful spices, dried fruits and wooden crafts. It is an ideal place to learn about local culture by spending time with Nubian families and visiting local schools. The Nile and its many archaeological wonders are a year-round destination for history lovers. Discovering the secrets of this ancient world is an unforgettable deep dive into how one of history's greatest civilisations came to life, with the Nile at the beating heart of its golden past.