Nile Cruises to Resume

UK tour operators are to resume Nile cruises at the end of this month after the Foreign Office lifted its ban on travel to Luxor.

Discover Egypt said it would re-launch charter flights from Gatwick and Manchester to Luxor on February 28. Red Sea Holidays said its Nile cruises would resume on February 28.

Other tour operators are expected to announce the re-launch of their programmes shortly since the Foreign Office is no longer advising against travel to Luxor.

Discover Egypt director Philip Breckner said: "We are delighted with this amendment to the Foreign Office advice for travellers going to Egypt and wishing to cruise the Nile and visit Luxor.

"The disruption to our programme and the operations following the onset of the disturbances was difficult for all concerned so naturally we are delighted with the news.

“From the start of the unrests we have been in constant contact with our ground handlers and partners in Egypt. We have received confirmation that hotels, Nile cruise boats and excursions are all ready to receive visitors.”

Discover Egypt’s weekly departures to Luxor were cancelled January 31 after the Foreign Office advised against all non-essential travel to Luxor due to the political unrest.

Following the resignation of Egypt's ruler, President Mubarak on February 11, tensions across the country have eased, though the Foreign Office is still advising against non-essential travel to the capital Cairo and Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast.

Operators have continued their programmes to Egypt's Red Sea resorts without interruption as the area has remained unaffected by the troubles.