Lake Nasser

A Lake Nasser Cruise will take you through the ancient land of Nubia, the vast, beautiful desert region that stretches south from Aswan far into Sudan and that was called the ‘Land of Gold’ by the ancient Egyptians. Also known as the ‘Cruise behind the Dam’, cruising on Lake Nasser is a complete contrast to the experience of sailing on the Nile. It is the ultimate way to arrive at the awe-inspiring rock-hewn temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel.

Uninhabited Nubia’s wilderness landscapes are of burnt rock and sandy desert. The temples, although smaller and generally less imposing than those found further downriver, retain a wonderful feeling of remoteness and are still washed by the encroaching desert sands as they have been for thousands of years. The pleasure of being able to combine visits to these little-visited ancient Egyptian sites with time relaxing on deck while enjoying the grand sweeping landscapes of Lake Nasser cannot be understated. In the 1960s, the monuments of Nubia were saved from rising water levels through a massive international effort spearheaded by UNESCO. Most of the Nubian temples are now very remote; consequently, most sites can only be visited on one of the handful of boats that offer cruises on Lake Nasser.

Lake Nasser Cruises between Abu Simbel and Aswan (or vice versa) are three to four nights in duration. En route, you will visit the temple of Kalabsha, Beit El Wali, and the picturesquely situated kiosk of Kertassi. The complex of Wadi Es Seboua (Temple of the Lions), Dakka, Meharakka, Amada, and Derr is also visited, together with the Tomb of Penout. There will be a stop to view the fortress of Kasr Ibrim, and you will be able to explore the temples of Abu Simbel when the day trippers have departed.