Just back from Egypt, having toured its incredible treasures... from the ancient Pyramids at Giza, to the Temple of Ramses II in Abu Simbel. An early morning hot air balloon flight over the West Bank - was an exhilarating experience - to float over the West Bank necropolis at sunrise, giving one a unique perspective to this ancient sight!
Time was short, I so did not have the luxury of enjoying a cruise on the Nile this visit, experiencing the sights along the Nile via a road journey between Aswan and Luxor instead. And, what an experience! The drive from Aswan to Luxor is only 3 hours driving time, however, it took me almost a day, stopping to visit the usual "cruise sights" of Edfu and Kom Ombo, as well as enjoying a picnic lunch on the banks of the Nile, as well as touring sights that are seldom visited by tourists.
A true highlight was the lovely drive thru agricultural/pastoral landscape, observing the "real Egypt" passing through small villages, seeing the locals go about their daily routines. This route also follows along the Nile River so we could see the Nile cruise boats as we drove! 
We stopped at El Kab, an Upper Egyptian sight and once the ancient city of Nekheb, dedicated to the vulture goddess of Upper Egypt. El Kab has a small collection of tombs, the best preserved being that of Daheri, royal scribe and tutor and son of Tuthmosis I with its beautiful drawings in very good condition. This sight was opened to tourists in the 1980's but is rarely visited, as most people do this route by Nile cruise.
Although a Nile cruise is an enchanting highlight, my drive from Aswan to Luxor was an eye-opener showing me another side of Egypt. Having visited Egypt countless times since my first visit in early 1981, this latest tour was a true off the beaten path experience and one that I shall never forget!
Our Ancient Roads of Egypt private journey incorporates this drive and is ideal for the traveler who has limited time, or who's travel dates do not coincide with Nile cruise sailing dates.
—Nicole Beattie, Cox & Kings Arabia & North Africa Product Manager, 1-800-999-1758
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