Luxor Balloon Crash

Sadly yet again Egypt makes the news for all the wrong reasons. The tragic balloon accident at Luxor this morning which is reported to have claimed the lives of at least 19 foreign tourists including some British will do the Egyptian tourism industry and especially Luxor no good.

There have been previous balloon accidents, notably in 2009 when one crashed into a telephone mast injuring many of the passengers but none fatally. This then prompted a huge number of new regulations, increased training for the pilots and then finally new restrictions and guidelines introduced before flights could resume including a balloon airport and limiting the number of balloons in the air at the same time.

The balloon flights have proved a very popular excursion trip for tourist even allowing for the the very early start, generally around 0500 with the balloons taking off from 0600, however most if not all UK tour operators do not sell them directly, Atp Travel included, partly due to insurance restrictions and partly as the local Egyptian tour operators like to sell these locally as it is a main source of income for them.

It is very hard to see how the balloon excursions can carry on or that any tourists would feel safe taking one or that their insurance would infact cover them for the trip.

However at this time our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones

Tutankhamun tomb: Human breath wreaks havoc in Egypt

The latest new for Egypt to make the main page of the BBC website is again not good news but its nothing really new. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21089027

For years anyone that knows anything about Egypt and the fabulous tombs of the Valleys of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, news that human breath was affecting the pigmentation in the Tomb of  Tutankhamun and may cause it to close is nothing new. Stories about this have been reported regularly stating that due to humidity levels increasing the tombs may have to be closed in order to stop the fantastic rich colours from disappearing.

Will anything be done, er probably not. At a time when the country is crying out for more tourists telling potential visitors that they cant visit one of the top 5 attractions (V|alley of the Kings) and view the Tutankhamun tomb would seriously not help. With all Nile Cruise excursions visiting the Valley of the Kings as well as the normal Classical Tours any closures will make these holidays a lot less appealing.

So although its unlikely that we will see any closures soon it might be a good idea to think about that Luxury Nile Cruise or Classical Tour Holiday sooner so that you can enjoy all of Egypt's fantastic historical treasures before they disappear.

So if you are looking for a great value Luxury Nile Cruise on some of the newest and most luxurious boats on the Nile then please contact us at info@atptravel.co.uk or call on  0845 680 9261 for details. There are some great deals over the next few months so checkout our website www.atptravel.co.uk for details

Nile Cruising - What Sites and Temples you see on a cruise

A Nile Cruise offers the opportunity to visit some of the most intact historical sites in the world. For over 5,000 years the world’s longest river has been the lifeblood of Egypt and a Nile Cruise on the Nile has to be among the world’s most exciting and romantic voyages.

In general  most Nile Cruises run between Luxor and Aswan and back, with the majority of the sites being in Luxor and Aswan. Several cruises, the RA II being one of them, also sail north from Luxor to Abydos to visit the Temple of Dendera which then allows a whole days sailing back to Luxor which  is surely one of the highlight of any Nile Cruise.

Dendera Temple


The Dendera Temple Complex is one of the best-preserved temple complexes in Egypt, and covers a huge area of over 40,000 sq. m. with the oldest building dating from 360-343BC. The site is believed to have been used as an area for chapels and shrines however since the beginning of Ancient Egypt with the most famous of all the sites in Dendera, the Temple of Hathor, being built in 1st century B.C.  The site has recently gone through a large restoration process.

LUXOR

Valley of the Kings

The famous Valley of the Kings, located on the west bank opposite Luxor, is resting place to many of the great Pharaohs including Tutankhamen  A place of great archaeological interest, the tombs and burial sites found here still offer research and intrigue, and excavations regularly find new pieces of history. The tombs here give an insight into Egyptian beliefs of the time, with perfect examples of mummification and of the material goods rulers were buried with still to be seen when exploring.

Colossi of Memnon

A very popular tourist photo stop, originally built over 3000 years ago to stand guard at the entrance to Pharaoh Amenhotep III’s memorial temple, these two giant statues of the pharaoh in a sitting position towering 60ft over visitors. The statues were actually built during Amenhotep’s lifetime, protecting the temple he had already built for himself.

Temple of Hatshepsut

The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut is located at Deir el Bahari, and was built as a funerary Temple for one of Egypt’s most successful Pharaohs  the great Queen Hatshepsut. The temple was also a dedication to the sun god Amon-Ra. On the middle terrace can be found a relief depicting the expedition sent by the pharaoh to trade goods with Punt (now known as Somalia), the first pictorial documentation of a trade excursion.

Karnak Temple

The Temple of Karnak was built over 2000 years ago and today is the second most visited historical site in Egypt, only behind the Great Pyramids at Giza. Part of the city of Thebes, it was built in dedication to the Theban Triad, Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. Karnak, and is the largest ancient religious site in the world. One of Karnak’s most famous features is the Hyposyle Hall, an area of over 50,000 sq. ft., and the biggest room in any religious building in the world.

Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple faces the Nile and was originally joined to Karnak Temple by an avenue of Sphinxes over 2 kms long and parallel with the riverbank. King Amenhotep III who reigned from 1390-53 BC built this beautiful temple and dedicated it to Amon-Re, king of the gods, his consort Mut, and their son Khons. This temple has been in almost continuous use as a place of worship right up to the present day. It was completed by Tutankhamen and Horemheb and added to by Ramses II

EDFU

Edu Temple

The temple of Edufu was dedicated the Falcon god Horus, and is yet another well preserved temple. Located north of Aswan the temple took over 180 years to build, being completed around 57 BC. The walls of the temple are covered in inscriptions that tell many stories, including how the temple was constructed.

KOM OMBO

Kom Ombo Temple

The Temple of Kom Ombo was built to honour the gods Horus and Sobek by Ptolemy VI, in 119BC. The temple became well known in Ancient Egypt for its healing powers, and became a sanctuary for many patients who would come to the temple to fast for a night. There are still many of the three-hundred original crocodile dummies which were made here in honour of Sobek, the crocodile god.

ASWAN

Philae Temple

Relocated from its original setting to an island in Lake Nasser due to the building of the Aswan Low Dam, The temple was built as a dedication to the goddess Isis during the 13th dynasty, and following the construction of the Aswan Low Dam spent half a century partly flooded. Following a campaign by UNESCO all the buildings on the island were painstakingly relocated to their current home of the island of Philae.

High Dam

Located just south of Aswan, the world famous High Dam was an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960s. It contains 18 times the material used in the Great Pyramid of Cheops. The Dam is 11,811 feet long, 3215 feet thick at the base and and 364 feet tall. Today it provides irrigation and electricity for the whole of Egypt and is probably the most important site/place in the whole of Egypt

Unfinished Obelisk

The Unfinished Obelisk is situated in an ancient quarry in Aswan. Had it been finished, it would have been more than 40 metres long, and weighed 1,200 tons, making it the largest stone obelisk erected in ancient Egypt: almost one third longer than the nearest completed obelisk. However, during quarrying work on it a large crack developed which ruined the obelisk and it was abandoned.


ABU SIMBEL

Abu Simbel Temple

Situated on the banks of Lake Nasser, Abu Simbel Temple is a symbol of ancient and modern engineering genius. It was completely relocated to higher ground following the building of the Aswan High Dam in 1968. Originally built during the reign of Ramesses the Great, and dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah. The entrance to the Great Temple is an iconic site of Egypt, with four 20m statues of the pharaoh Rameses sitting either side of the doorway.

Luxury Nile Cruises

As the winter Nile Cruise season starts we are seeing a rise in demand for Luxury Nile Cruises. These boats are generally the same size as those of lower standards but are normally much newer, have superior facilities a higher level of service and also of cuisine.

One question we get asked frequently is whether the extra cost is justified against other boats and if a Luxury Nile Cruise offers value for money.  Although not an easy question to answer part of our reply will always include the statement "what you pay is what you get" and we explain this by saying that it is possible to have a great Nile Cruise holiday on a 5* or 5* superior boat but as these boats tend to be older and are being sold at a lower price there are other factors that can have an effect.

On Nile Cruises of a lower standard or price, the quality of the food and standard of the cabin is generally not as good. For the food this can mean a lot of repetition of meals, less choice and lower quality. For the cabins, these may not have as many facilities, the windows may not open and they may also be alot smaller. Also where boats are sold at a much lower price there is more of a tendency to push sales and other extra revenue making opportunities which can have an adverse effect on the holiday.

The modern Luxury Nile Cruise boats are truly floating hotels and offer an oasis to return to after a long but enjoyable days sightseeing.

Cabins are of a generous size and all will have fully opening windows to enjoy the Nile floating by. Bathrooms will be equipped with showers and bathtubs and finished to a very high standard. The lounge bars and public areas will provide a very relaxing and comfortably area to enjoy a drink or just to relax. The restaurants will serve a superb choice of meals and most will now serve dinner as a la carte. The sun decks will offer sumptuous day beds and relaxed sofas to soak up the sun. Many now also offer spa and health facilities.


Atp Travel Ltd feature 3 of the newest and most luxurious boats on the Nile, Ms Farah, Ms Mayfair, Ms Esplanade as well as the Luxury Creative Dahabeyas.

Prices start from just £899.00 pp and include return flights, 7 nights full board, transfers and sightseeing itinerary.

For more information please contact us on 0845 680 9261 or email us at info@atptravel.co.uk

Atp Travel All Inclusive Nile Cruises

For this winter Atp Travel will be featuring several All Inclusive Nile Cruise boats offering great value for your Nile Cruise holiday.

From just £649.00 pp on selected departures, guests can enjoy 7 Nights on a 5* Superior boat on an All Inclusive basis and the sightseeing itinerary plus transfers.

Our featured boats will be the very popular Domina Prestige and the Nile Festival both of which offer superior levels of accommodation and a host of facilities which will make your Nile Holiday experience even more memorable.

Excursions on these Nile Cruise boats include the Temples of Luxor, Karnack, Horus, Sobek, Philae and Queen Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings, the Aswan High Dam and a Felucca cruise along the Nile in Aswan.

If a Nile Cruise holiday is something you have wanted to take and you want great value for your money, then one of our All Inclusive Nile Cruise boats could be what you are looking for.

For further details contact us at info@atptravel.co.uk or on 0845 680 9261

LUXOR NEWS

Luxor is a city in transition with the local government embarking on a huge plan of development to improve a number of features of the city not just from a tourists point of view but also for the local population.

Many buildings around the tourist sites have been destroyed to open up access and the view. Renovation of the avenue of Sphinx's from Luxor temple continues and a number of new international chain brand hotels are starting to be built in Luxor.

For tourists familiar with Luxor who have not visited in the last six months there have been two important developments.

Firstly part of the corniche road running along the Nile from Luxor to Karnak Temple has been closed and is being destroyed. This is part of a larger plan to make the whole of the corniche area pedestrian only and lowered to the level of the Nile.

The main effect now is that a number of Cruise boats that used to moor along this part of the corniche have had to move and are now docking further down in Luxor or at the new docking area some 7kms south of Luxor close to the bridge crossing to the West Bank. A short video is attached showing boats moored outside of Luxor at one of the new docks.

For boats that are still docking in Luxor, good sites are at a premium and at one point I viewed 10 boats lined up side by side which would make for a pretty long walk! For the boats moored outside of Luxor, the locations are obviously quieter but you have to take a transfer if you wish to come back in for the bazaars or tourist attractions.

I was told that the plan is for all boats to be mooring outside of Luxor within the year.

The second and far more attractive development is that the West Bank is now lit at night with an array of lights that really do showcase the whole site.

Although the photo does not do it justice at least it gives an idea of the view. Therefore those staying in a Nile facing hotel room or lucky enough to be on boat with views of the West Bank will be able to enjoy this new spectacle.