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Catriona Rowntree shares tips for picking the perfect souvenir

<p dir="ltr">After travelling the world as the host of <em>Getaway</em> for almost 30 years, Catriona Rowntree has collected a stash of souvenirs to remind her of her travels. </p> <p dir="ltr">Like many travellers and tourists, Catriona has spent much time in a souvenir shop trying to decide on the best trinket to remind her of unique corners of the world. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to the well-travelled TV host, there is one go-to souvenir that is far superior to others: magnets. </p> <p dir="ltr">Catriona has a dedicated wall in her kitchen for the magnets that she's collected from all over the world, each of which she associates with a special memory.</p> <p dir="ltr">She told <em><a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/scenic-catriona-tip-for-finding-the-right-travel-souvenirs/8b9874ed-41b3-4c09-b92a-86e34be0c100">9Travel</a></em> that they are the ideal souvenir for anyone to pick up on their travels. </p> <p dir="ltr">"If you're going to collect something, stick to something that's easy to just grab and go."</p> <p dir="ltr">"You can get one at any airport, just before you leave to come home," she says.</p> <p dir="ltr">For her, the tradition started when a visitor in her home remarked that for a travel reporter, Catriona didn't have many trinkets around the house which showed off all the places she'd visited.</p> <p dir="ltr">And so she started her collection, even buying a magnetic sheet to affix inside her pantry, where she keeps her souvenirs for all to see. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I, of course, could stand here and tell you a story for every single magnet there," she remarks, looking at the wall with fondness.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I absolutely adore taking a look at this wall and seeing all the crazy places I've gone to. Of course, the crazier the magnet the better," she laughs, pointing out a magnet of a sailor's head which doubles as a bottle opener.</p> <p dir="ltr">Catriona added that some travellers similarly love to collect snow globes or postcards from every destination they visit around the world, but for her, you can't get better than a fridge magnet that can be displayed proudly. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Travel Tips

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Catriona Rowntree shares her Europe travel hacks she picked up from locals

<p dir="ltr">After decades of hosting <em>Getaway</em>, Catriona Rowntree has learned a thing or two about travelling. </p> <p dir="ltr">Along the way, the 52-year-old has picked up some must-know secrets from locals that every traveller should know before heading to Europe.</p> <p dir="ltr">While in Mallorca in Spain, Rowntree quizzed locals on how to make the most out of her experience, and what faux pas to avoid. </p> <p dir="ltr">She was given advice on the best way to start a day at the markets, told why you should never rent an Airbnb or buy seafood on a Monday, why takeaway coffee is a bad idea and the secret to a longer, healthy life. </p> <p dir="ltr">The TV host shared a little known secret when it comes to buying fresh fish, and said travellers should not buy fish on Monday, because fishermen don’t fish on Sundays, meaning fish purchases on Mondays won’t be fresh. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The life expectancy of a Spaniard is 84, they're a healthy lot, loving a Mediterranean diet, a dollop of sun and a good climate,” she added. </p> <p dir="ltr">The presenter also discovered that all the locals she has spoken to don't like Airbnb accommodation and prefer for tourists to stay in hotels. </p> <p dir="ltr">“All the locals I've spoken to say that's what's pushing them out of their apartments as the town centres are slowly gentrified,” she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The average wage is low, most locals rent, sadly landlords prefer the higher fee of an Airbnb. Not cool!”</p> <p dir="ltr">Catriona's final tip is not to get your coffee takeaway, but rather sit down in a cafe, enjoy your coffee and take it slow. </p> <p dir="ltr">“People sit down to enjoy their coffee, they don't get a takeaway: 'If you can't sit for five minutes and talk to a person what's wrong with you!',” she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">Catriona said she was told by a local that the best way to start your day is to explore the markets by getting a hot chocolate and some churros. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Not every day as you'll be round, but market day for sure," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Travel Tips

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Catriona Rowntree’s touching health update

<p>Catriona Rowntree has shared a positive health update following her sister Lucinda's <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/catriona-rowntree-s-devastating-family-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stage four cancer diagnosis</a>. </p> <p>The <em>Getaway</em> host revealed that her sister was responding well to treatments after undergoing a  US trial which has shrunk her tumours and is finishing another round of chemotherapy, according to the <em>Herald Sun</em>. </p> <p>"Lucinda is doing well. Very tired as she nears the end of her chemo, but the doctors are happy and results will be in this week," Catriona told the publication. </p> <p>Catriona also revealed that her family have celebrated a number of other milestones, which have kept their spirits high. </p> <p>“In happy news, her daughter Katie, also a teacher like her mum, just got engaged and her other daughter Georgia, my goddaughter, has been asked by Blue Illusion to be in a shoot with my mum celebrating three generations of women," she said. </p> <p>"Lots to look forward to … and live for.”</p> <p>Catriona also said that her sister and their family have raised money and awareness for the charity called <em>Dreams to Live 4</em>, which grants the wishes of adults with Stage 4 cancer </p> <p>Lucinda's friends have also organised a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/lucinda-wunderlich" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fundraiser</a>, which has so far raised over $50,000 for the Sydney teacher and mother of four, who couldn't continue working. </p> <p>In April 2023, Catriona marked her sister's birthday and opened up about her own heartache over Lucinda's "apparently incurable" cancer. </p> <p>Despite the devastating diagnosis, Catriona has <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/bringing-bucket-list-wishes-to-life-catriona-rowntree-s-joyous-update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared that her sister remains positive</a> and has been determined to bring "Bucket List wishes to life," as they spend more time together.</p> <p>“I’m trying so hard to choose my words carefully here, other than to say a lot of tears have been shed, BUT Lucinda is fighting and positive. We all are," she said at the time. </p> <p>"She has started chemo (sheer hell) and immunotherapy (our bright light) at #royalnorthshorehospital Lucinda is now unable to work as she commits to the fight of her life." </p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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"Bringing Bucket List wishes to life": Catriona Rowntree's joyous update

<p dir="ltr"><em>Getaway</em> host Catriona Rowntree has provided an update on her sister Lucinda’s battle with stage four cancer, just months on from revealing the frightening diagnosis to her followers. </p> <p dir="ltr">Thankfully, however, the news was positive this time around, with the veteran host reporting to<em> 9Entertainment </em>that “she’s on a trial treatment from the US and it’s responding well.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I think her doctors are feeling relieved to know that something is moving in the right direction regardless of the treatment that she's on."</p> <p dir="ltr">Catriona’s social media supporters were kept in the loop with a heartfelt post to Instagram, where she shared that “on a happy note, Lucinda is doing well, I was able to give her a big hug recently in Daylesford.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She went on to describe how she never expected she’d be “cheering my sister for eating a full meal”, but that “it’s been a while since she’s been able to do that”, before thanking everyone for their kindness and support in such a challenging time for the family. </p> <p dir="ltr">Another note about Lucinda closed out the caption, with Catriona revealing a shift in her sister, one that saw Lucinda “focussed on bringing Bucket List wishes to life, not waiting and milking every moment between her treatments. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a great outlook don’t you think, milk today, who knows what tomorrow brings.” </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct8kYUrP3q0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct8kYUrP3q0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Catriona Rowntree (@catrionarowntree)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Catriona also revealed to <em>9Entertainment </em>that the family were trying their best to remain in a “positivity bubble”, and while it was oftentimes difficult, the sisters have been celebrating every step along the way, especially as they enjoy their time in Daylesford together. </p> <p dir="ltr">"On one of the first nights we went to this place called the Farmers Arm, it has a legendary pub restaurant and she [Lucinda] said, 'that's one of the best meals I've ever had in my life'," Catriona shared.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We had a beautiful time sampling the best of the regional Victoria area, she went to Hanging Rock and enjoyed the winery at the base.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The presenter went on to explain that since Lucinda’s diagnosis, she’d learned “a lot of life lessons”, and that making the most of every moment had never been more important to her, something that put Lucinda’s Bucket List into new perspective. </p> <p dir="ltr">And the elder sibling had plenty to get on with on that front, with Catriona noting that “I know there are two things on her bucket list, one is to go to Ningaloo, I have to admit that's on my bucket list too, and then she'd love to meet a quokka - a quokka selfie is a must.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Catriona Rowntree's devastating family news

<p>Veteran Getaway host Catriona Rowntree has revealed the tragic news of her older sister Lucinda Wunderlich being diagnosed with stage four cancer.</p> <p>Catriona took to Instagram to celebrate Lucinda’s birthday, sharing an emotional post about her sister’s health battle.</p> <p>The beloved TV presenter revealed her sister’s cancer was "apparently incurable" and that a GoFundMe campaign had been launched to help pay for her living expenses.</p> <p>Lucinda, a mum of four, had to quit her job as a schoolteacher in Sydney’s Upper North Shore after receiving the heartbreaking diagnosis.</p> <p>Catriona began her Instagram post with a tribute to "blonde beauty" Lucinda, describing her as a "true gem" whose "smile and laugh warms everyone’s heart".</p> <p>The Getaway star also recalled how her sister "never caused her parents an ounce of worry" as a child, and that she didn’t suffer "boyfriend dramas" as she married her childhood sweetheart Johnno.</p> <p>“I'm trying so hard to choose my words carefully here, other than to say a lot of tears have been shed - but Lucinda is fighting and positive. We all are.” Catriona said about her sister’s diagnosis.</p> <p>"She has started chemo (sheer hell) and immunotherapy (our bright light) at Royal North Shore Hospital. Lucinda is now unable to work as she commits to the fight of her life. Her girlfriends have created a GoFundMe page to ease the household stress and I've asked her permission to share this with you," she continued.</p> <p>Catriona also revealed that Lucinda is the "first to be placed on a new medical trial" that may not save her life but could help others battling with cancer in the future.</p> <p>She concluded her post with a heartfelt message, “Trust me when I say to live your life to the absolute max.”</p> <p>“None of us knows what each moment holds for us and please say a little prayer for Lucinda tonight. Thank you.”</p> <p>Catriona is the youngest of four siblings, with one brother Andrew and two sisters Lucinda and Marisa.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Catriona Rowntree shares holy grail travel tips

<p dir="ltr">After 25 years gallivanting around the world as the host of <em>Getaway</em>, Catriona Rowntree knows a thing or two about travelling. </p> <p dir="ltr">She has scoped out every corner of the globe from Canberra to Canada, and Sydney to Spain, with the 51-year-old veteran travel journalist sharing some of her holy grail tips to make travelling a breeze. </p> <p dir="ltr">Catriona sat down with <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/tv/catriona-rowntree-travel-hacks-75162">TV Week</a> to share her hacks on flying well, packing like an expert and planning your travel itinerary with ease. </p> <p dir="ltr">When it comes to curing jet-lag, she says it all comes down to where you’re heading. </p> <p dir="ltr">She said, “Use your phone to find out what the time is where you're going to and plan your sleep according to that. The day you leave, go for a walk, and try to get as much vitamin D as you can.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“When you land, repeat that. Don't fall asleep until after 8pm, don't nap during the day, and avoid leaving your phone by your bed (the blue light isn't your friend).”</p> <p dir="ltr">After being a seasoned luggage packer, Catriona said the answer to perfectly packed bags lies in preparation, as well as simple trial and error. </p> <p dir="ltr">She says, “I prep a week before I leave: I add, I subtract, take nothing that needs to be ironed, stuff socks into shoes, stick to three colours and add a fold-out bag (like a Longchamp) in case I do extra shopping.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When it comes to carry-on bags, Catriona has a list of essentials she will never leave behind. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Wet Ones, a Band-Aid, Lanolips, a moisture spritzer, hand sanitiser (Bondi Wash), emery board, Panadol and magnifying mirror (Change Skincare has a light-up one), she said.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“For [overseas], I do pack extra knickers, deodorant, Clarins' Beauty Flash Balm, socks and Cetaphil wipes. Anything to avoid the cabin loo.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Planning your itinerary carefully is key to any successful holiday, with Catriona saying the best way to find hidden gems is through social media. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Go to Instagram, hashtag where you're going, see what's popular, what they're wearing and what's respectful. Then look up the weather app to see what temperatures you're heading into. Boom, your phone is key,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Catriona Rowntree stuns fans with ageless looks

<p>Getaway presenter Catriona Rowntree has caused a stir among her legion of diehard travel fans after archival clips of her first ever travel segment resurfaced – leaving many to ponder how she has remained so unchanged.</p> <p>The now 51-year-old seems to have not aged a day since first gracing our screens back in 1996, and the resurfaced footage has amazed Getaway fans, as a then-25-year-old Catriona looks pretty much the same as she does right now.</p> <p>Throughout the years, the mum-of-two has been open in sharing her beauty tips, and walked us through some of her favourite secrets that have helped preserve her incredible youthful appearance.</p> <p>She said she keeps her skincare routine simple, only using a gentle cleanser, serum, and moisturiser, but said staying hydrated with lots of water, taking collagen, and consuming olive oil is the most important.</p> <p>While flying all the time isn’t the best for your skin, Catriona says she uses “liquid gold” jojoba oil to keep her skin dewy and fresh while travelling long distances.</p> <p>“I love to do really quick facials like the SOS ones (10 minutes while having my brekky) and of course Clarins Beauty Flash is essential,” she previously told House of Wellness.</p> <p>“That said, daily olive oil is my saviour too. On salads, directly rubbed into cuticles, a baby’s dry scalp, you cannot beat nature as a cure all.”</p> <p>“I take collagen daily, guzzle the water, consume olive oil whenever possible and moisturise the neck, the décolletage, and tops of hands,’” Catriona told Marie Claire.</p> <p>“My skin has always been sensitive, so I’m thrilled I can use serums which I also now add to my foundation for extra glow."</p> <p>Catriona also likes to eat a healthy, natural diet filled with plenty of wholefoods and dark green leafy vegetables from her family’s farm.</p> <p>She will also never have more than two cups of coffee per day, and if she wants another hot drink, she switches to camomile tea.</p> <p>The TV presenter has hosted Getaway for more than 25 years, and has travelled to nearly 100 countries throughout her very rewarding career.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty / Nine / Catriona Rowntree </em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Catriona Rowntree looks back on her all-time favourite Getaway locations

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As Australia’s most iconic travel program, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Getaway</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, celebrates its 30th season, presenter Catriona Rowntree is looking back on her time on the show.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her dream to share people’s stories started when she was just 14, when she was inspired by the passion her friend’s dad, Brian White, had for his job.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She never thought that dream would include becoming a presenter on the program, which she joined in 1996.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“In one sense you feel nothing but gratitude for the life that it’s given you,” she told 9Entertainment. “Also to be able to be the conduit, to share other people’s stories, different religions, different cuisines, different cultures, with people that may never have the opportunity to experience what you have, and equally to inspire others to maybe take your advice.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rowntree continued, “It’s humbling to know that we’ve been supported for this long, literally through thick and thin, and you can imagine I say that with all my heart from the year that we’ve experienced, so we just feel incredibly grateful.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To celebrate 30 seasons, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Getaway </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">will be airing a special 30th anniversary episode at 5.30pm on Saturday, May 22. As part of the episode, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Getaway</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will also be reminiscing on some of its celebrity appearances, including Catriona’s interview with former US president Donald Trump before he had even considered joining the presidential race.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Speaking to Trump about his hotel and tourism empire, Catriona has been reluctant to talk about meeting him in more recent years because people didn’t want to hear any positive anecdotes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I met him under the best circumstances where I was going to interview him about an award that one of his hotels had won. We shared an interest in travel and tourism, we discovered a shared interest in feng shui, which I had learned about on my travels through Asia, and that he applied to the hotels that he created,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"He was as charming to me as he was to my sound operator, he was generous with his time, and the person that was later depicted was not the person that I met.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"However, I found that a lot of people didn't like me telling that story because I didn't have anything negative to say, and so I stopped telling the story. I sensed that people were only interested if I was going to say something derogatory and that wasn't my experience."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another memorable  moment that will be appearing in the special episode is her time with business magnate Richard Branson and his family at their home on Necker Island.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We're both Cancerians, I think we're a day different with our birthdays, and we just clicked straight away, and definitely and he was very generous with his time and unbelievably kind," she recalled.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Catriona’s experiences with people have been mostly positive, her animal encounters while on the show have left her feeling everything from fear to awe.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Definitely one of the most extraordinary surreal experiences was swimming through jellyfish lake in Palau, where the jellyfish have lost their sting because they have no predators. The jellyfish are through your hair, between your legs, you're smothered in jellyfish and you are totally discombobulated by the experience,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I'm up for anything because both I and my bosses quickly realised that people found it funny when I showed my fear, so how I react is how most people react, but on TV I think people try to be too cool for school and that doesn't work.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, it’s this vulnerability that made her so endearing to viewers, and what really warms her heart about her time on </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Getaway</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has been how the show has become a part of viewers’ lives.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"And sometimes I'll meet people and they'll say that 'Our family puts a picnic blanket down in front of the tele and you take us around the world' — just tiny little comments like that mean the world to me."</span></p>

International Travel

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Why you MUST visit the Nile in Egypt

<p>Are you ready for an adventure like no other? Could the Nile be the alluring getaway you have been waiting for? A river that stretches through 11 countries might just be the trip of a life time you have been waiting for.</p> <p>For many who travel down the Nile, it is a life source – giving water, fertile land and a means of transport through 11 countries.</p> <p>For others, it is the destination of a lifetime and a connection to the past for its rich culture and mysterious antiquity that has and continues to gravitate historians, archaeologists and tourists alike.</p> <p>Travel expert Catriona Rowntree has travelled the world for over 23 years, exploring the sights each place has to offer and seeing the world through the lens as host of <em>Getaway</em>.</p> <p>In the hundreds of trips and countless journeys she has experienced, Rowntree has decided to share her favourite trips by water.</p> <p>Here’s why, according to <em>The World of Cruising</em>, you should travel to Egypt and the Nile.</p> <p><strong>There are views everywhere you turn </strong></p> <p>One of the best parts about taking a scenic trip ashore down the mystique river of the Nile means everywhere you turn is a picture-perfect postcard view.</p> <p>It’s not just a home that is overwhelmingly reminiscent of your History textbook – it is the place where temples have risen and fallen, where tributes in honour of pharaohs have been carven from the lands soil.</p> <p>Rowntree wrote: “But the river itself … glorious! You won’t take a bad photo. The light is exquisite. Little children in tiny feluccas, sliding up next to your boat to sing for you or ask you to buy belly-dancer costumes.</p> <p>“The difference with this tour is that the devil is in the detail. It’s not the castle in the distance, or the rising vineyards snaking up the castle in the distance…</p> <p>“But it is the lone fisherman by the river’s edge, the elegant birdlife, the animals gently roaming in and out of the water…”</p> <p><strong>It’s a historical treasure </strong></p> <p>Without the serene waterway that is the Nile, there would be almost little to no ways to access the antiquities of Egyptian life there is on offer today, nor any way to see them.</p> <p>The Nile is not just a life source nor a large and magical chunk of history to hook your talons into – it is a basin that covers more than 10 per cent of Africa and spreads through 11 countries and holds an otherworldly connection to locals that has existed for over thousands of years.</p> <p>Being able to undergo a journey like a cruise along the Nile is stepping into a part of the Egyptian way of life.</p> <p>The historical river hosts connections to temples centuries old and heirlooms virtually untouched. It’s an easy glide from the waterway to marvels that rest on the banks of the river plains, including the Kom Ombo Temple and finally Aswan for the unfinished obelisk, Qena and Hathor’s Temple at Dendera, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfua, a felucca cruise to a Nubian village, and the Osiris temple complex at Philae, raised from the floods.<br /> </p> <p><strong>The ports are magical </strong></p> <p>From the banks of the Nile in Cairo to the tomb of Tutankhamun and the Valley of the Kings, cruisers will get the opportunity to explore it all at each of the handy ports created to take you as close to the wonders of Egypt as possible.</p> <p>Tour the Egyptian Museum which hosts the world’s largest collection of pharaonic antiquities and experience the significant artefacts that have stood the test of time. However, if you’re interested, you better get in fast! Queues start early.</p> <p>Luxor is another key port and is the home of the Temple of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings and Queens. Just a short trip from the main part of the city lies a little piece of earth you will never quite see ever again, with over 100 rooms to find yourself in and 63 tombs to see for yourself.</p> <p>The city of Luxor also features the Mummification Museum, giving you a whole new understanding of the age-old culture that enamours Egypt and gives insight just as to why it’s considered “the cradle of civilisation”.</p> <p>“Luxor, for me, is where that reputation all fell into place,” Rowntree writes.</p> <p><strong>Whether you’re a solo traveller or a big family – Egypt is a getaway for all</strong></p> <p>Both a wonderful holiday for both single travellers looking to explore the world of Egypt alone and families ready to take it all on together – cruises on the Nile cater to everyone.</p> <p>Would you like to take a scenic tour along the mystical Nile river? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

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