The mighty Nile has been the lifeblood of Egypt for the reason that starting of civilization, and guests in trendy instances can cruise down it on the Steam Ship Sudan. Historic Egypt prospered alongside its fertile banks, surrounded by the sands of the desert.
Hundreds of years lure guests in with the stays of breathtaking monuments, a rugged shoreline teeming with coral life, and a tradition that has advanced over millennia. We knew it was time to journey to this Northern African nation to see if the magic nonetheless existed.
Egypt is the reward of the Nile, so there isn’t any higher strategy to discover than a cruise down the river. Discovering a ship extra becoming for a cruise than SS Sudan is hard. It’s the solely steamship that also sails the Nile and has performed host to Agatha Christie and the King of Egypt. The wood steamer dates again over a century and can transport you again in time to the traditional wonders of Edfu, Dendara, and The Valley of The Kings.
The Steam Ship Sudan nonetheless ferries visitors backwards and forwards from Luxor to Aswan. It’s a magical journey and one in all our favorites in years. Watch the video beneath or learn on to see what touring on the Steam Ship Sudan is all about.
Cruise the Nile River on the SS Steam Ship Sudan
I can’t fairly bear in mind what introduced me to the Steam Ship Sudan web site. At all times searching for one thing distinctive, I’m sure it was a Google search that went one thing like this, “Distinctive methods to cruise the Nile River.”
As quickly as I noticed pictures of the Steam Ship Sudan, I knew it was the ship we might expertise Egypt on.
This ship is over 100 years outdated, and between 1922 and 1935, it loved the “golden age” of Nile River cruising. In 1933, Agatha Christie launched into an archaeological mission and was impressed to put in writing Dying on the Nile, with individuals she met on the cruise turning into real-life characters within the e-book.
When the Second World Battle began, the SS Sudan was docked for over 50 years. Between 2000 and 2011, Unique Journey utterly modernized and renovated it, providing luxurious crusing journeys up and down the Nile.
Now it sits as one of many final reminders of the golden period in Egypt. It’s simply probably the most lovely ship on the Nile and solely battles a number of for probably the most luxurious Nile river cruise title.
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Steam Ship Sudan Nile River Cruise Itinerary
Most Nile River cruises begin in Luxor and cruise to Aswan or vice versa. We had no choice, however as a result of ship’s scheduling, we boarded in Luxor and cruised for six nights/5 days to Aswan. Alongside the way in which, we stopped at many well-known historical Egyptian websites.
Each day was stuffed with one thing new and distinctive. Abdul, our English-speaking information joined us every day to share tales about Historic Egyptian life. All itineraries will go one thing like this.
Board Ship in Luxor
Passengers start to board the Steam Ship Sudan from 10 am onward. Lunch is served on board, after which it’s time to discover the well-known Karnak Temple. This is among the most well-known sacred websites on the planet!
Karnak is a big website and begins any Egypt journey off with a bang. You’ll have a number of hours to discover Karnak Temple earlier than returning to the Steam Ship Sudan and crusing to Qena. This was our first time really crusing the Nile and admiring the banks of the Nile River with the solar setting.
Discover Abydos and Dendara
As soon as in Qena, we awakened nicely earlier than dawn to go to Abydos. Abydos is a two-hour drive from the port and one of many less-visited websites in Egypt. We wanted police escorts for at the present time, as it’s off the crushed path.
Abydos is a holy metropolis; it was a pilgrimage website and is among the oldest Historic Egyptian websites. From a non secular viewpoint, Abydos is the principal place of worship of Osiris, the most well-liked of the funerary gods. Guests want a great three hours to discover right here.
On the way in which again, we stopped on the Temple of Dendara. Dendara is the spot of the temple of Hathor, Goddess of Love and Pleasure. It stays my favourite cease on our whole Egyptian journey.
It’s not on the well-visited path both and is really totally different than every other historical Egyptian website we visited. Nice for all our woman readers to get pleasure from because it’s just about all about womanly love.
Valley of the Kings and Queens/ Luxor Temple
One other early morning begin introduced us to the Valley of the Kings. Close to Luxor, this can be a valley in Egypt the place tombs have been excavated between the sixteenth to eleventh century BC for the pharaohs and different nobles.
Close by is the Valley of the Queens, the place the wives of pharaohs have been buried in historical instances. Essentially the most well-known and most costly website to go to right here is the Tomb of Queen Nefertari. It’s inside this tomb that the hieroglyphics and work come alive.
The descriptions are probably the most lovely and colourful we noticed in all of Egypt. Customer time contained in the tomb is proscribed, and no cameras are allowed (moreover telephones). I might extremely advocate paying the value to see this tomb, however it’s included within the Steam Ship Sudan cruise tour. A nice shock!
The day isn’t over fairly but as you’ll now head again to Luxor to see Luxor Temple earlier than lunch and luxuriate in a night on board.
Temple of Edfu and Kom Ombo
One of the preserved historical buildings in Historic Egypt is the Temple of Edfu, situated within the trendy metropolis of Edfu. A part of this temple is devoted to Horus and Hathor.
I liked attending to this cease early with the ship as we have been the primary to reach and have the location all to ourselves. After the Temple of Edfu, we lastly had some free time to benefit from the ship’s magnificence and utterly calm down.
As we continued our journey to Aswan, we stopped off at another temple on the way in which. Kom Ombo is devoted to the Falcon God and Crocodile God. We have been capable of enterprise into this temple at evening and even see mummified crocodiles!
Temple of Philae
Our final full day noticed us crusing to Aswan. After having fun with the morning on board the SS Sudan, we docked in Aswan to discover the Temple of Philae. House to Isis, the Goddess of marriage and fertility, motherhood, and magic, that is simply one in all Egypt’s most essential and most visited temples.
Aswan and the Outdated Cataract Lodge
Sadly, the time had come after we needed to depart the SS Sudan. We have been transferred by Felucca to the Outdated Cataract Lodge in order that we might get pleasure from and discover Aswan. The SS Sudan works along with the Sofitel Outdated Cataract, and nearly half the passengers on board the SS Sudan continued to the Outdated Cataract for a number of days.
The Outdated Cataract is probably the most iconic lodge in all of Egypt. It’s over 100 years outdated and has had many notable visitors, together with Tsar Nicholas II, Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Jimmy Carter, Princess Diana, and Agatha Christie. It’s a dreamy place to remain and the right spot to start out or finish your Nile River Cruise.
Observe that this itinerary is usually reversed because the cruise sails each from Aswan to Luxor and Luxor to Aswan.
The Steam Ship Sudan Inside
The SS Sudan has 5 suites and 18 cabins. We stayed within the lovely Aida suite within the stern. The suites are luxurious and supply unparalleled views of the Nile.
On the SS Sudan, additionally, you will discover a lovely eating room and Nineteen Thirties-style bar. That is additionally the place you will see that restricted WiFi. On the ship’s high are one other bar, loungers, and an all-around rest level. It’s the right spot for studying a e-book and watching the sundown on the Nile.
The SS Sudan Workers
Most, if not all, of the employees on board the SS Sudan are Egyptian. They’re all pretty and exit of their strategy to make your keep on board extra comfy.
With out them, the ship wouldn’t even be half as enjoyable. Don’t neglect to ask the captain or engine guys to point out you the absolutely operational engine room down beneath deck!
Amir, the ship’s supervisor, speaks wonderful English, French, and Arabic and is the right smiling face to the Sudan as a complete. Thanks!
Onshore guides are primarily freelancers employed out by the SS Sudan many instances. They’re all amongst a few of the finest within the enterprise. The passengers on our cruise have been divided between English and French audio system, and every group had its personal information. Nonetheless, if you happen to communicate one other language, allow them to know through the reserving as they’ve guides for all languages.
Abdul, our English-speaking Nubian information, was wonderful and offered enthusiasm and data that stored our group excited always!
Ought to You Cruise the Nile on the Steam Ship Sudan?
We adjusted our whole Egyptian itinerary to make a Nile River Cruise on the Steam Ship Sudan occur and weren’t disenchanted. We have been searching for one thing completely distinctive, totally different, and delightful to make this iconic journey and located it with the SS Sudan and her crew.
If you wish to see Egypt and are excited by cruising the Nile, I wouldn’t hesitate to e-book a visit on the Steam Ship Sudan for a second. To at the present time it stays as a spotlight of all our travels (and we’ve traveled to seven continents and 90 nations!) Right here is to a different 100 years with this steamer on the Nile!
Plan and Pack for a Nile River Cruise
Are you planning a visit to Egypt and questioning what to put on? We simply returned from a improbable month within the nation and liked each second of our time. Nonetheless, the Egyptian gown code can get complicated. In any case, it’s a scorching desert nation, however it’s additionally a conservative, predominately Muslim nation.
Plan Your Journey to Africa
Journey Insurance coverage: We don’t journey with out journey insurance coverage and neither do you have to. You by no means know what can occur whereas touring so it’s finest to be ready. HeyMondo supplies wonderful short-term and long-term journey insurance coverage. Journey Waterbottle: Once we’re unsure in regards to the water provide we use our Grayl Air purifier. It’s are available in exceptionally useful round Africa. Digicam Gear: Chances are high you’ll need a digital camera on your journey to Africa. We love the Sony RX100V for a pocket-size digital camera and the Fujifilm XT-4 for an expert digital camera. Take a look at our favourite cameras for Africa. Safari Garments: Light-weight, beige, and moisture-wicking clothes are nice for touring Africa. See our favourite safari clothes right here. Safari Hat: A great hat is each trendy and useful.Safari Bag: A sturdy bag is good for touring round Africa. Safari Pants: We advocate neutral-colored pants as they’re nice at hiding grime and may match most shirt colours.Safari Shirt: Shirts like these are light-weight and preserve the bugs away!Boots: Whilst you don’t have to put on sturdy sneakers every single day, not less than one pair of safari boots will make your journey nicer! Journey Adapter: You’ll want a particular journey adapter for touring Africa. Get one earlier than you get there so that you don’t pay a premium on the bottom.