| Holidaymakers visiting Egypt with a view towards | | | | The Temple of Luxor was constructed by |
| learning more about the country's ancient past might | | | | Amenhotep III for the purpose of hosting the Festival |
| want to take in many of the area's biggest historical | | | | of Opet, although other rulers placed their own marks |
| sights at once on a Nile cruise. | | | | on the structure by adding to it over time. It is guarded |
| The Nile was the main lifeline of the ancient Egyptians, | | | | by Ramses II's huge twin statues and is quite a sight to |
| attracting those looking for somewhere lush and fertile | | | | behold. |
| to settle down and ultimately giving rise to one of the | | | | Even more impressive is the Temple of Karnak, which |
| most powerful civilisations. | | | | was the most important of all of the places of worship |
| A number of significant attractions can be seen on the | | | | to be used during the time of the Theban dynasty. The |
| banks of the Nile - the eerie and unforgettable Valley | | | | temple is a massive complex comprising various |
| of the Kings is home to Tutankhamen's tomb, as well | | | | obelisks, sanctuaries and pylons and is 1.5 km by 0.8 |
| as the final resting places of some 60 other pharaohs, | | | | km in terms of area. |
| including Ramses the Great and Tuthmosis III. | | | | A cruise down the Nile is one of the most unique |
| Egypt's ancient rulers moved their tombs to the valley | | | | ways of seeing the fragments of ancient Egypt left |
| after finding that grave robbers found it easy to home | | | | behind by time and also one of the most convenient - |
| in on the more lavish pyramids used to honour the | | | | there is no need to organise separate transport and |
| dead kings of Egypt in the past. | | | | accommodation for each leg of the journey from |
| Visitors to Egypt will also find a number of | | | | lower to upper Egypt and the warm climate means |
| architecturally stunning temples along the Nile, most | | | | that there are plenty of sunbathing opportunities to be |
| notably the Temple of Luxor and the Temple of | | | | had on the deck in between sightseeing excursions. |
| Karnak. | | | | |