Is there a name that conjures more exotic, history-filled memories and sheer awe than the Nile? Inspiration for many a film and book over the years, the world’s longest river is as practical as it is dreamy and plays a vital role in Egyptian culture and commerce. For centuries, travellers and traders have drifted up and down the glossy waters, and today a cruise is a time-honoured way to explore the treasures that line its banks. From multi-tiered cruisers to the ancient dahabiyyas – 19th century sailing boats and the ultimate in romance – there are plenty of vessels to choose from to suit your cruising style. All will stop at the renowned sights and monuments (the temples at Luxor, the High Dam and Obelisk, and the temple of Horus in Edfu, depending on your route), but it’s the unexpected sights of river life that are perhaps the most enjoyable: children splashing in the shallows, farmers tending to their sugarcane, families taking tea outside their mud-brick houses and the sails of feluccas catching the breeze…