Luxor, Aswan and the Nile

As a result, a cruise along the river takes in many of this fascinating country's myriad highlights. Starting out at Cairo (or, indeed, in reverse from Luxor), luxurious liners ply the Nile as it meanders lazily, the history of the world's longest-lived empire - which spanned 3,000 years and 29 dynasties - unfurling before you. All the better to enjoy this experience on a dahabiyya boat amid 19th century style elegance, over five or six languid days, dining each evening on a long, finely polished wooden deck under a canvas awning.

Upstream, the ancient city of Thebes - latter day Luxor - has been described as the 'world's largest open air museum' and the Valleys of the Kings and Queens respectively (and the lesser known but equally memorable Valley of the Nobles) rate amongst the finest sites in antiquity. There is a huge amount to see here, and Original Travel can arrange the services of an expert guide to bring the mysteries of the ancient Egyptians vividly to life.

Further south still, and beyond the navigable reach of boats, lies Aswan and the incomparable Abu Simbel. An awe-inspiring feat of engineering saw these huge temples moved after the construction of the Aswan dam - block by massive stone block - 250 yards up an almost sheer cliff to safety from the rising waters of the newly formed Lake Nasser. Gazing up at the colossal statues of Ramasses II it becomes only too obvious why today's equivalent of a quarter of a billion dollars was spent on the project.

And when the sheer density of cultural attractions becomes overbearing, we can always arrange an elegant escape at one of the fine hotels on the Red Sea coast where the best diving close to the UK is yet another bonus.