Experiencing the antiquity—and comfort—cruising along the Nile River
By Debbie & Adam Wetzel, 9-time travelers & Vacation Ambassadors, Saxtons River, Vermont
Egypt wasn’t originally on our must-see destination list, but a combination of the cold Vermont weather and the excellent last-minute deals and availability led us to hop aboard Grand Circle’s Ancient Egypt & The Nile River cruise. We hardly had time to read through our Egypt information packet before we were off ... but we knew that Grand Circle would have everything taken care of, so we didn’t worry about any of the details for our new adventure.
One sees so many pictures of the pyramids, but we were astounded at the size and beauty of these monuments. Our first glimpse of them from the bus window was exciting. Our Program Director took us in the morning, when it was cooler and not so crowded. And our camel ride was a hoot!
The temples were all so different and amazing. We took in as much of the ancient history as we could. Our guides, who were all Egyptologists, patiently answered all of our questions. It was fun to see Adam looking like Indiana Jones! The weather was perfect, with warm and sunny days and cool evenings.
We never thought we’d get to go inside of a mosque and learn more about the religions of the area. We were especially impressed with our optional Spiritual Cairo excursion.
The ship was great—it was our first time on a Grand Circle River Cruise. We found it very nice to have a home base each day, not having to unpack, and watching the shoreline pass by from the top deck, while chatting with friends and enjoying a cool drink. And how could you not be blown away by the hot air balloon ride? The view from above the Valley of the Kings was one of the highlights of the trip.
But we enjoyed the “little things” too: Drinking hibiscus juice, buying spices at the bazaar, interacting with women wearing scarves or burqas, learning to speak a few Egyptian phrases, attempting to use a carpet loom, hearing the call to prayer echo across the Nile, smelling the jasmine flowers at Philae temple, seeing how papyrus is created, and seeing a mirage in the desert for the first time. The experience was simply unforgettable.
Stroll through the bustling bazaars or visit the ancient temples on our Ancient Egypt & The Nile River cruise.