Ancient Egypt / Nile Have I left it too late?

I once walked around the pyramids on google maps!

I have been on the Nile cruise twice. There is certainly a lot of walking involved and especially in the Valley of the Kings there are steps to be negotiated. I seem to remember there was some provision for less able visitors. It would be worth visiting a travel agent or googling various tour operators.

Might you also need to consider the temperature?

Sadly, with wobbly legs (mobility problems) I think a Nile cruise isn’t really possible. As you say, clambering around boats would be a problem - they moor alongside each other overnight and the more expensive boats get the outside, berths, so cabins have a river view - that means to disembark, you have to cross, via gangplanks from one boat to another. As I remember, there wasn’t a lift and meals were taken down at water level.
Temples, etc aren’t visible from the river and often involve long coach trips, leaving the boat before dawn and even longer walks in searing heat depending where you go. It’s 45 degrees at the moment!
Life on board the boats varies from boat to boat and I guess you only get what you pay for.
We had good food, including afternoon tea taken on deck and cocktails watching the sunset, then evening entertainment after dinner.
We had a wonderful time other than almost being hijacked in the middle of the desert! We took a hot air balloon flight over The Valley of the Kings, but while you could enjoy life on board, I think the excursions would be too strenuous for you.

keepingquiet

I once walked around the pyramids on google maps!

Sadly, had to cross it off my bucket list but I never thought of doing that.

Thank you, keepingquiet, I'll give it a try 🙂

I went on a Nile cruise quite a few years ago now. We went with both my parents and they are no longer with us. Mum wasn’t terribly mobile but could walk on the flat. The boat was no problem, I think we had one flight of stairs to negotiate to our cabin. Walking over other boats wasn’t a problem either because the gangplanks were pretty solid with handrails. It’s the excursions that might be problematic for you. Some of them are definitely on uneven ground. The heat is also to be considered. If you do decide to go, take one, or even two, walking sticks with you as they will be helpful.

keepingquiet

I once walked around the pyramids on google maps!

I think that’s the only way I’ll be going too Keepinquiet . 😄

We went on a Nile cruise when Dh was in his late 60’s. Apart from what seemed to be a large family group and a man in his 40’s with a son of about ten, we were the youngest there!

Some people were really quite afflicted with various bodily problems, although no one was in a wheelchair but they still made the best of the trip. Walking across the boats wasn’t an issue, they’re moored pretty closely and it’s not as though it’s at sea with big waves or anything.

Some sites are more rugged than others and it might be harder to ‘access all areas’ but there are still things to be seen at all of them. Other sites are easier to access and you’d be able to see everything.

Guides and other staff at the sites were helpful and attentive to people who needed a hand, chaperoning them around and trying to showcase as much as they could, even if not everything was accessible.

Temperatures are a personal thing, really. It’s never too hot for my Dh or dd but I melt into a greasy puddle very easily! I found it bearable in October although I didn’t go on the long trip to Abu Simnel because I knew the v early start and exceedingly high temps at the site would make it a misery for me.

It was a stand out trip and far exceeded our expectations.

Ive been to Egypt several times but I was younger and more mobile then. First time I booked a cruise and later travelled independently booking my own hotels. I loved the country and the ancient sites. The heat was a bit of a problem. It was only May and in the 40s. I enjoyed the Valley of the Kings but the tour began at 6am! Yes there are a lot of rickety entrances and shaky ramps. But this was in the 1990s.

I kind of feel this way about the Galapagos islands which I would love to visit but fear that it is not the place for those with mobility issues.

Hi there, I do have mobility issues that make walking and climbing difficult at times. We just had a recent trip on Egypt
with my wife and decided to try a Nile cruise to experience the major sites along the river. I'm so glad we did!

Our cruise was a wonderful and accessible way to see many amazing places without having to do a lot of walking. We sailed between Luxor and Aswan on a 5-day itinerary, stopping at major stops like Kom Ombo, Edfu and more: www.egypttoursportal.com/egypt-nile-cruises/ . The ship had handicap-accessible rooms and facilities, and tenders/portable wheelchairs were available to get on and off at each port. Our guide was also very accommodating of my needs.

While a cruise still involves some movement, it allowed me to fully experience Egypt in a way that minimized physical challenges. I'd highly recommend looking into cruise options if mobility is a concern. You could also consider a guided tour for additional assistance: gowithguide.com/egypt we booked here. Egypt was absolutely worth visiting despite my limitations. The history, sites and culture are truly awe-inspiring. I hope you're able to find a way to experience it too!

Lovely post drainedme - makes me think about Egypt after all.

Thank you so much for all your info, there is hope for me yet! i'll be visiting a travel agent and doing more online research.

Might be worth considering something like this - Saga seem to cater well for less mobile people, though I would avoid going at the height of their hot season. We went some years ago - not with Saga - can't remember the name of the company, but it was so interesting and, if you are interested in Egyptian history it's definitely worth pursuing. The Saga holidays usually have excellent and well-informed guides.
holiday.saga.co.uk/holidays/africa/egypt/the-nile

My daughter and I visited Egypt at the Luxor resort on the Nile about 20 years ago....the heat in May was unbearable as someone also mentioned upthread...but, the memory of visiting here was tainted as, once off the resort and onto the complimentary bus into the town, as soon as we got off the bus we were surrounded by men who were trying to separate us and grab us...it go so bad we had to run to the nearest hotel entrance.and request the resort bus to come and pick us backup ...it was very frightening...if we had a male with us, the hotel rep said this probably wouldn't have happened.- I don't know if things have changed now, but I wouldn't go back...the resort itself was beautiful and accommodation in bungalows excellent as was the infinity pool and children's play area with pool...we left a lot of clothes and toiletries at the hotel as we noticed a poster in reception saying that a local children's home/hospital were short on supplies...
And I personally didn't like the camels and their spit😮 (resort had small private zoo) but daughter thought they were amazing...

Maybe it's just me but I would not feel comfortable traveling anywhere in or near the Middle East.

We went to Egypt (and Jordan) earlier this year. The cruise was with Viking. I have two replacement knees plus shoulder and a mild heart condition. Yes the surfaces in cities, villages and archaeological sites can be very challenging but you decide what you can do. Just being there and seeing these structures is awesome and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I didn’t do the balloon flight but my husband did. I knew I would struggle to get in/out of the basket as I’ve been in a balloon before I was far less physically able.

Do go to Egypt if you can - its magical visiting the pyramids and temples for real, and cruising down the Nile. I can't remember how long ago I went, but travelled with a firm called Bales - I hope they still exist, because we had wonderful tour guides and were very well looked after. Do look them up - good luck! Keep us posted.

We went for three weeks in our 50s and I think others have covered all the points. We went to Abu Simbel, across Lake Nasser and up/down the Nile with temple visits, Valley of the Kings, Pyramids, Cairo, etc. It was hot and there was a good deal of walking, stairs and accessing boats. I don't think we could do it now 20+ years later.

Hi Op I used to work in Egypt for a holiday company. I have no experience of the boats I’m afraid but re the tourist sites.
Valley of the Kings - where the coaches park there is a short uphill walk to the main area, to access the tombs there are a lot of steps down to some of them but they do have handrails and once inside the floor is fine.
Temple of Hatshepsut - it’s a large area with steps up at the main entrance but once up is easy enough to walk around.
Karnak Temple is fine to get into and walk around without any real problem
Luxor Temple is a bit more tough and ready if I remember correctly.
The heat can be horrendous in Luxor but unless you go in December/January it’s hard to avoid really. I was based in Sharm but spent a month working in Luxor and loved it there much more than Sharm. It just felt more like ‘proper’ Egypt, an older more laid back way of life. I used to see people washing clothes in the river occasionally . And the tombs and temples are breathtaking.

Hi mrsba Most of the points raised by posters can be overcome if you do your research and choose a company that specifically caters for travellers with mobility issues. I would also suggest travelling when the heat is more bearable - we went on a Nile cruise mid February - some locals were wearing heavy coats - we were melting in the 30°+ heat. There was quite a lot of standing around/queueing at the sites so at least take a uv-umbrella which may give you enough shade. If it’s a possible I’d say do it as it’s a unique destination.

Mrsba - I did a 12 day Nile cruise in January this year. The climate was perfect, I’m not good in heat these days but it was perfect.
Book a smaller ship, we upgraded to a boat with 30 cabins rather than one of the huge ones. The war in Gaza is putting tourists off so it was half full - perfect for us. The staff couldn’t have been more helpful or friendly. We had tour guides in Cairo who helped us to the flight to Luxor where our cruise started and ended. A tour guide on the boat who escorted us to the visits to eg valley of kings. There’s some walking on the big sites but at a slow pace with lots of rest opportunities.
Tour guide escorted through various airports - everything ran so smoothly
I loved every minute of the tour. Highly recommend

Best holiday I ever had! But the Guide we had made it so ... about 22 years ago. I am certain that some companies will do cruises for the less abled if you look around. Maybe Saga

I went in February, the temperature was about right as I cannot cope with heat.

Crossing boats will be fine, but may have steps down to the cabins.

If you get the right company that adjusts the itinerary a bit I'm sure you'd be fine, have a lovely time!

Brilliant idea keepingquiet!

I went to Egypt when I was much younger and my hair much brighter and sorry to say I hated it. The number of people who thought it was ok to come a stroke my hair was unbelievable I wasn’t the first or the last ginger hair person to visit, but I was suffered the most invasion of privacy of anyone else in our party. My friends used form a circle around me to stop people touching my hair and face.