Many recommend the Nile Cruise along Nile river, so through Mr. Hassan (owner of Oasis Hotel in Luxor) we got a good price for 50US$ / pax for 1 night in a 5-stars cruise ship. We quite skeptical at 1st and not expecting too high but to our surprise, it was freaking AWESOME!!! From our Luxor hostel we were being picked up at 10am after breakfast to the ship
our cruise ship Semiramis II by Sun Rise Resorts and Cruises, Egypt
from Luxor - Aswan
contact ---- www.sunrisehotels-egypt.com
main lobby
check in please !
2nd floor
our comfy luxury room
bathroom was clean and just amazing. After many days in Hostel...i can get use to this :)
after we settled down,we checked out the facilities
bar area...uh
dining area...ah
they also have billiard room, mini library and swimming pool
we knew from these look, we gonna have an incredible 3 days and 2 nights on the cruise ship
best 50US$ ever spent in Egypt ;)
deckchairs for sun bathing later ...muhahaha
if you get tired of eating, sleeping and more eating....there's also a small gymnasium...burrp
just in case
drinks price list
oh ya! everything is included, 4 meals a day but drinks are not....as we knew something like this will happen...thank god we stock up 6 mineral waters with up before we boarded the cruise ship :) or of cause you have buy mineral waters on the ship they only cost 15EGP/ bottle
set sail :)
Boon waste no time...hehe
ah....the natural view was simple beautiful
Finally after more than a week in Egypt, no body trying to sell us things, no one asking questions, only us with the natural surroundings and peacefulness
local kids greeting us
enjoying our (included) afternoon tea...ah
life is beautiful
just when i though how nice is it that no one disturb us, here comes the local vendors. They row their small boat near to the cruise ship and tie their rope on the side of the ship and tries to sell papyrus, t-shirts, alabaster....bla bla bla. I really do respect their determination, just to put foods on the table for their family...salute!
as the ship goes further south the view just gets better and better
the desert mountains, trees and the lovely Nile river
there are many many cruise companies, you can always compare the prices
some water pump house
Boon @ the cruise ship
along the Nile river we saw alot of plantations
the sunset view was really breathtaking
silently we enjoyed the natural environment
@7pm, we had our lunch. Too bad we were busy stuffing ourselves with foods to take any photos :)
During dinner, a couple from Canada ate too much, that they felt sick later that night....that is how good the food was.
Tip: on the cruise the meals are always in buffet style...so there are always enough food for everyone and it's definitely clean. If you eat too much and have tummy ache, that's your own doing my friend!
After our dinner, we went up to the deck and enjoy the winter breeze. during the day the temp was around 24-26 degrees Celsius and at night it can drop to less than 10 degrees
2nd day
Early morning after a nice breakfast @ 8am, we went up to the deck again
we saw some felucca also, but i do not recommend it during winter, though it's cheaper. Like i said at night the temp will drop really low and the sleeping area is on the deck. probability that you will fall sick is quite high .
during our 3 days cruise from Luxor to Aswan. In between the ship will also stop @ Edfu and Kom Ombo.
We didn't visited Edfu as from the port you need to take the hose carriage to the temple and the local tries to rip us off with a ridiculous starting price. So we walked around the town and bought some more mineral waters ....then came a group of small boys offered to take us to the temple for only 15EGP/ 4 person...hehe but at that time we have lost interest to go to the temple.
tip: if you want to get a cheaper horse carriage to the Edfu temple, make sure the other tourist have all gone and then that is when you will get a good bargain ;)
from Luxor you can also take the train to Aswan for only 42EGP(1st class) or 25EGP(2nd class) for 1 way
some ancient ruin
shortly after our afternoon tea we've arrived @ Kom Ombo Temple
the temple was easily reached on foot
as it stands right next to the river
as the cruises are parked side by side. we managed to snap other Cruise's facilities...
not bad!
ok back to Kom Ombo. the entrance fee : 15EGP for student and 30EGP for normal tickets
This temple was dedicated to 2 God, Horus and Sobek but mainly deciated to the God Sobek (the crocodile God)
the temple is of Greco-Roman structure, dating back 199 B.C
when Ptolemy VI, who started the construction,, then Neos Dionysus (father of Cleopatra VII) finished most of the building and Emperor Augustus added the final touches
this temple became famous for its healing power and becoming a major pilgrimage site.
A healing cult was also developed and the Temple became a sanctuary for many patients who seek help and treatment
this is the old area where they used to display mummified crocodiles, which were found in the vicinity of the Temple. Now the mummified crocodiles are being moved to a new building they built, located just beside the temple but it's now close for renovation
sunset @ Kom Ombo is really beautiful
spooky
just lovely
in the northwest side of the Temple, there is a huge well with a staircase, which was connected with the worship of the crocodile and also was used as a Nilo-meter
one last photo of the temple before we leave and dinner time ;)
3rd day!
we've arrived in Aswan!
Right after breakfast we checked-out and checked-in back to reality
bye bye 5 stars cruise and hello no star hostel :(
our next adventure Aswan..
~ Tesbahey ala Khear ~
