Amarna (Egypt)

Amarna (Akhetaton) is a Nile River cruise port and an Ancient Egyptian city (in Upper Egypt's Minya Governorate) where are the ruins of Egypt's capital established in 1346 BC by the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Akhenaten. The city was built by Akhenaten but was abandoned just after 14 years (in 1332 BC) after the king's death.

Amarna is on Nile's east bank and located approx 60 km (36 mi) south Al-Minya, approx 310 km (190 mi) south of Cairo and approx 400 km (250 mi) north of Luxor. The closest to Amarna modern city is Deir Mawas - approx 7 km to the west (directly across the river).

Amarna was intended as a capital dedicated to new worship - to Aten (Aton) - symbolized with the Sun Disc (an aspect of god Ra). Although the city was completed in 1341 BC, it started to function as capital in 1343 BC. Most buildings were made using mud-bricks, while only the most important ones were stone-faced.

As cruise port, Amarna is included in the regular schedule of the Movenpick Hotels and Resorts owned riverboat (hotel ship) Movenpick Darakum. The ship operates on 10-day and 14-day cruise tours between homeports Aswan and Luxor, with included domestic flights from or to Cairo. The next table shows the 10-day itinerary as a ports sequence.

Prices start from ~USD 2500 per person (double occupancy cabin rates).