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Traversing the ancient waters of the mighty Nile on a Nile Cruise is an age-old tradition that goes back to the times of the Pharaohs. In modern day, taking a Nile River Cruise in Upper Egypt between Luxor and Aswan is the optimal way to see as many ancient landmarks as possible. From ancient ruins and grand temples to the idyllic countryside and small town life, there is so much to see on a Nile River Cruise. The list of monuments to see are endless but among the famous sites, you will find that the ancient temples, once dedicated to the worship of Ancient Egypt’s fabled gods, are the most awe-inspiring sites along the shores of the mighty river.

The Temple of Kom Ombo

Situated along the banks of the River Nile is an eccentric temple with a twin design penned the Temple of Kom Ombo. The unique temple was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty (180 - 47 BC), in the town of Kom Ombo near the city of Aswan.

The temple was built by the Ancient Egyptians to worship the gods Haroeris and Sobek. The northern side of the temple is devoted to the falcon god Haroeris also known as Horus the Elder, along with Tasenetnofret the Goddess Sister, taking on a special form of the goddess Hathor, and Panebtawy also known as the Lord of the Two Lands. The other part of the temple was erected to worship the crocodile god Sobek who was the deity of fertility and regarded as one of the creators of the world alongside the deities Hathor and Khonsu.

This location is a true treasure, with Nile River Cruises stopping here along their routes to allow you to revel in the splendor of the great pharaohs. Once you touch down on its sacred shores, you will see two identical entrances leading to two twin halls. Each hall features identical columns covered with glorious drawings and engravings illustrating historical stories and even an ancient Egyptian calendar. Deeper inside the temple, you will witness holy places showcasing the relationship and enshrinement of these gods that priests continued to visit until the Roman era.

Temple of Isis

The Philae Temple or the Temple of Isis is one of the most arresting shrines to come out of antiquity. This special temple offers visitors the chance to glean a great understanding of how Egyptian and Greek culture fused and mingled together. The temple is a microcosmic representation of Egyptian history as it was directly impacted by the Roman domination, Byzantine Empire, religious persecutions, Napoleonic invasion, and Muslim occupation.

It is one of a number of temples dedicated to the goddess Isis, hence why it is also known as Temple of Isis. The temple was built on an island and ever since antiquity, it was considered a sacred space by both the Egyptians and Nubians because they held the same shared belief that the god Osiris was buried there.

Even though Philae is devoted solely to the holy goddess Isis, a short distance away visitors will find a small temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor, who can be compared to Aphrodite for the Greeks.

In the late 20th century, the construction of the Aswan High Dam endangered the temple and threatened to flood it, damaging a number of shrines. So, when plans of a new and even larger dam came out in the 60s, the Egyptian government took action quickly to protect the ancient Upper Egypt temples from total destruction, and the Philae Temple was among those selected. The authorities eventually decided that the Agilkia island will house the Philae Temple's new home and shaped it to look as close as possible to the original location. This arduous work was completed in partnership with UNESCO.





The Temple of Queen Nefertari

Although this magical temple is not directly along the typical Nile River Cruise route between Luxor and Aswan, it can still be visited if you add on the optional trip to Abu Simbel from Aswan. This is highly recommended as it allows you to witness an added layer of Egyptian history.

Constructed north of the iconic Abu Simbel Temple, the smaller and more modest Temple of Queen Nefertari is a celebration of the divine feminine. The temple is also dedicated to Hathor, the goddess of women, fertility, love, and sky. Hathor is usually depicted in her animal form as a cow. Even when taking on her human form, she is still seen with cow ears.

The temple features a two-sided entrance engraved with scenes of Ramesses II presenting wine to ReHorakhti (ReHorakhti is the union of the god Ra and the god Horus). The entrance’s arches are ornamented with cartouches and texts pertaining to Nefertari and Ramesses II. After passing through the primary entrance, a narrow passageway opens into a square hall featuring six square columns supporting the temple’s ceiling. Ramesses II and Nefertari are depicted on each column offering sacrificial gifts to a number of different gods and goddesses. kauai sunset dinner cruises is given equal attention and features carvings depicting Ramesses II in the act of dedicating the temple to Nefertari. Here, the queen is the personification of the goddess Hathor, the wife of the living king, the eye of god Ra and the mother of the future Pharaoh all in one.

An entrance leads to the inner sanctuary which is located in the center of the west wall. This entrance is ornamented with cartouches in the shape of Nefertari, protected by the vulture goddess Nekhbet's wings. A small niche carved out in the temple’s western wall features a rock-cut figure of the goddess Hathor in the form of a cow protecting the great Ramesses II.