Rising 1,140 feet above the surrounding flat plain, Uluru is an extraordinary sight. As the world’s largest rock monolith, Uluru is taller than the Eiffel Tower and the Chrysler Building.  The base alone spans a massive 5.8 miles in circumference. Set in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Uluru began forming around 550 million years ago. This iconic landmark is fondly known as the heart of Australia’s Red Centre in the Northern Territory – but it’s much more than an enormous rock. Uluru is a sacred landscape for the traditional owners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta, the Anangu Aboriginal people, one of the oldest continuous cultures in the world. In honour of World Heritage Day, we look at the cultural and spiritual significance of Uluru, Australia, and share how you can experience the wonder of Uluru on our Inspiring Australia tour. 

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The traditional guardians of Uluru

When you set eyes on the red sandstone monolith, you’ll marvel at the sheer size and impact of Uluru, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But if you observe Uluru transforming throughout the day in different shades of red, orange and violet, you’ll know you’re witnessing something truly remarkable.

Towering above the red desert plain, over 280 miles from the nearest large town (Alice Springs), the remoteness of the landscape lends itself to the powerful atmosphere that Uluru evokes. But this is far from untrammelled land. The Anangu people have been the guardians and traditional owners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta for over 60,000 years. Anangu is the name used by Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal people to refer to themselves. Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara are the two main languages spoken in Uluru-Kata Tjuta.

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The spiritual significance of Uluru 

Uluru and the nearby domes of Kata Tjuta are places of great cultural and spiritual significance to the Anangu people. The Anangu believe Uluru was created as a sacred site by their ancestral beings at the beginning of time. The traditional story says that each region of Uluru was formed by around 10 different ancestral beings. Uluru has several caves and fissures, also formed by ancestral beings, and the Anangu people still hold ceremonies in these caves. There is incredible physical evidence of this culture throughout the landscape, including rock art and remnants of ancient ceremonies and rituals.

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An unbreakable spiritual connection

For the Anangu people, Uluru and the nearby Kata Tjuta domes aren’t just rocks. They are living cultural landscapes and resting places for ancient spirits. The Anangu people live by Tjukurpa, the foundation and philosophy linking the people to their ancestors and the world. It governs everything from their customs and laws to mapping important places to find water and food. It also expresses their relationship between people, places, animals and the land. Tjukurpa is conveyed in stories, rituals, song lines, art and the landscape, and Uluru is an important part of this.

This spiritual connection to Uluru and the land remains strong today. The Anangu people continue to fulfil their duty to care for the earth and pass on their traditions and beliefs. Since the European discovery of Uluru, this sacred site has been horrifically mistreated, from the land being stolen to people climbing the rock face of Uluru despite the spiritual violation. In 2019, people were finally banned from climbing Uluru and the trail to the top was permanently closed. The Anangu people will continue to fight to protect their unique and ancient culture, history, and way of life.

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Remarkable learning experiences

When you visit Uluru in Australia, you’ll see how this special region is an educational beacon and hub of information, with physical links to an ancient world. There’s a living history within the Anangu people who live much the same way they did thousands of years ago.

You’ll have the chance to witness some of these traditions on our Inspiring Australia tour. You’ll stay right on the edge of Uluru at the five-star Sails in the Desert and hear some of the ancient stories of the Anangu people. Experience the wonders of Uluru at sunset when you listen to the didgeridoo during the award-winning Sounds of Silence dinner. You’ll take guided walks through Uluru-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and learn about the importance of the land. Then see Uluru in a new light at sunrise when you witness Bruce Munro’s enchanting Field of Light art installation. The coloured glass spheres light up the desert in a magical experience.

You can experience the wonders of Uluru-Kata Tjuṯa National Park on our Inspiring Australia luxury tour, which takes you from the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef to the Outback, Alice Springs and Sydney.

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A source of life and power for millennia the River Nile is rightfully known as the grandest river in the world. Its history, prestige and modern-day influence is rooted in its central role in the development of one of the world’s greatest civilizations. The Nile is not only a source of stunning scenery, but also a treasure trove of historic sites that provide a glimpse into the rich and fascinating history of Egypt.

A sacred river

The Nile is the longest river in the world, stretching over 4,000 miles from its source in Lake Victoria to its mouth at the Mediterranean Sea. For thousands of years, it has been a vital lifeline for the people of Egypt, providing water for agriculture, transportation and trade. The river was also a key factor in the rise of ancient Egyptian civilization, with many of the country’s most iconic landmarks and monuments situated along its banks.

The Nile was not only a source of life for the people who lived along its banks but also a key factor in their social, political and economic systems. In ancient times, the Nile was worshipped as the god Hapi, who was believed to be the source of all life. The annual flooding was seen as a gift from the gods, as it provided the necessary water and nutrients to sustain crops and livestock.

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Known for its strategic importance

The Nile also provided a means of transportation for goods and people, which facilitated trade and commerce throughout the region. During the colonial period, European powers recognized the strategic importance of controlling the Nile and its tributaries. The Nile Valley became a focal point of international competition, and Britain, France and Italy vied for control of the region.

Today, the Nile remains a vital source of water, food, and energy for millions of people in Egypt, Sudan and other countries along its banks. The Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970, harnesses the power of the Nile to generate electricity and irrigate crops. It ended the cycle of flood and drought in the Nile River region, and exploited a tremendous source of renewable energy, but had a controversial environmental impact.

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Sublime from the water

One of the best ways to experience the Nile is by boarding a luxury river cruise. From the comfort of your ship, you’ll be able to soak up the stunning scenery and visit some of Egypt’s most famous landmarks and historical sites.

As you cruise down the Nile, you’ll see why it is the grandest river in the world. Here you can relax and soak up the spectacular scenery. From the lush green banks of the river to the stark desert landscape beyond, the Nile offers a breathtaking variety of landscapes to admire. And as the sun sets over the river, the atmosphere becomes even more magical, with the sound of traditional music and the scent of exotic spices filling the air.

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Cairo

One of the major sights of the Nile is Cairo. The ‘City of a Thousand Minarets’ is the capital of Egypt and is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. A city rich in history, museums and ancient artefacts, Cairo is also the place to indulge in exceptional hospitality and delicious cuisine.

Egyptian food is a mixture of all the different civilizations that came to Egypt. Savoury dishes, with aromatic spices enable you to taste all these cultures on one plate. In ancient times, the proximity of Egypt to the Middle East and the presence of the River Nile, made trade easy. Hence Egypt enjoyed produce from foreign countries as well, heavily influenced their cuisine.

Cairo is also famous for the Giza Pyramids Complex, which holds one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Great Pyramid of King Khufu.

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Giza – the Great Sphinx and the Pyramids

A spectacular landmark that can be seen from the Nile, the Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the most famous sculptures in the world. This magnificent statue of a lion with a human head is one of the most recognizable symbols of ancient Egypt, along with the great Pyramids. The Pyramids of Giza were built as tombs for the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure in the 26th century BCE. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the largest and most famous, standing at over 480 feet tall.

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The Luxor Temple complex

The spectacular Luxor Temple complex spans both banks of the Nile, the grandest river in the world, and houses seven great temples and monuments: Goornah, Deir-el-Bahari, the Colossi of Memnon, the Ramesseum, and Medinet Habu on the West Bank; and Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank. A stunning example of ancient Egyptian architecture and art, the temples were dedicated to the god Amun, his wife Mut and their son Khonsu.

This vast complex of temples and chapels was built over a period of 2,000 years and is one of the largest religious complexes in the world. Towering columns and intricate carvings reveal what life was like for the pharaohs and priests who once worshipped here. The avenue of sphinxes, which connects the temples to the Karnak Temple complex, is also a major highlight.

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Kom Ombo

 The Temple of Kom Ombo is another historic site along the Nile and was built in the 2nd century BCE during the Ptolemaic dynasty. The temple is unique in that it is dedicated to two gods: the falcon-headed Horus and the crocodile-headed Sobek. Its divided into two sections, each with its own entrance, hall and sanctuary.

One of the most interesting features of the Temple of Kom Ombo is the presence of a number of medical texts and surgical instruments. These artifacts suggest that the temple may have been used as a centre for healing and that the priests who served there may have been skilled in medicine.

 Abu Simbel

Another must-see historical site along the grandest river in the world is Abu Simbel, located in southern Egypt near the border with Sudan. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to two temples built by the pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BCE. The temples are famous for their colossal statues of the pharaoh, which are over 60 feet tall, and for their intricate carvings and hieroglyphs.

The most magnificent of the monuments Ramses II built, Abu Simbel is both the perfect example of the ambition of this pharaoh’s reign and also a model illustration of the achievements of modern engineering and global cooperation. Today, visitors here still crane their necks in disbelief at the behemoth temples just as the pharaoh’s subjects would have done when the temples were first raised.

The entire temple complex was transplanted from its original location and lifted piece by piece to its current site by an international UNESCO team working against the clock to preserve it from being flooded by the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s.

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To savor the riches of the Nile, the grandest river in the world for yourself, take a look at our limited-edition tours to Egypt. Whether you choose to cruise the waters or travel by land, enjoy luxurious accommodations, exceptional cuisine and first-class service every step of the way.